![Southern Living Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole served on top of egg noodles](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.southernliving.com/thmb/-xMP7mfAnALhYZbcGmrHSezy59M=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Chicken_Cordon_Bleu_018-4171e68416d94af8adc8160228c613ca.jpg)
Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox
With all the flavors of the classic dish, our Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole is creamy and cheesy with a crunchy Panko breadcrumb topping—and none of the complicated assembly. It uses shredded rotisserie chicken and a package of diced ham for maximum convenience, but you can also use leftover ham to make this easy casserole.
The chicken and ham are stirred into a simple, creamy sauce made with Swiss cheese. Taking a few extra minutes to make the sauce from scratch is totally worth it. Soon enough, you’ll have a comforting casserole, perfect for a chilly evening.
Serve over the side of your choice: cooked rice, egg noodles, or mashed potatoes are all great options.
What Does Cordon Bleu Mean?
In French, "cordon bleu" literally means blue ribbon. It's a reference to the blue ribbons or sashes worn by French royalty.
In today's parlance, cordon bleu usually refers to dishes of chicken or veal that is stuffed with ham and Swiss cheese. The dish originated in Switzerland in the early 1900s, making its way to the U.S. in the 1960s. It has since been adopted by Americans looking for a tasty, if not fancy, meal.
Ingredients for Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole
- Cooking spray: You'll need this to grease the pan, but you can also use butter instead, if you like.
- Unsalted butter: Some of the butter will be used for the roux in the casserole, and some will be used for the breadcrumb topping.
- Kosher salt, onion powder, garlic powder, and freshly ground black pepper: For seasoning the sauce.
- All-purpose flour: For the roux.
- Whole milk: For the sauce. We don't recommend substituting in low-fat or skim milk—using whole milk helps keep the sauce from breaking.
- Dijon mustard: Mustard is commonly used in Chicken Cordon Bleu, and it adds a nice note of acidity to the sauce, helping to balance out the richness from the dairy.
- Swiss cheese: Another ingredient from the classic dish; you can also use another cheese that melts well, like Monterey Jack or low-moisture mozzarella. Whichever cheese you pick, we do recommend shredding it yourself for maximum melting potential.
- Diced cooked ham: While we call for an 8-ounce package of diced ham, you can easily use leftover ham from another meal in this casserole.
- Shredded cooked chicken: As with the ham, we're calling for rotisserie chicken to keep things easy. But you can cook your own if you prefer.
- Panko breadcrumbs: Panko, or Japanese-style, breadcrumbs are larger and crunchier, making them perfect for the casserole topping.
- Paprika: Adds a little extra flavor to the breadcrumb topping
- Fresh chives: An optional, but recommended, garnish. You can also add a sprinkle of chopped scallions.
- Cooked rice, egg noodles, or mashed potatoes: We recommend serving this over something starchy. Feel free to pick your favorite!
![Southern Living Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole ingredients](https://www.southernliving.com/thmb/wzoOaqr6c0i7NLXoJb-srRe7HjE=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Chicken_Cordon_Bleu_001-a7b3878bfbcf45eda91de385a0b2ffe4.jpg)
Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox
How to Make Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole
This creamy chicken casserole is fast enough for the weeknight, so while it may require a few steps, it's in the oven quickly. Here's a brief outline. The full recipe is further below:
- Step 1: Prepare the baking dish and preheat the oven.
- Step 2: Make the sauce: First, make a roux, then add the milk and cook until thickened. Then, add most of the shredded cheese and stir until it's melted and smooth.
- Step 3: Stir in the ham and chicken, then pour into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle over the remaining shredded cheese.
- Step 4: Prepare the breadcrumb topping and sprinkle over the shredded cheese.
- Step 5: Bake until breadcrumb topping is browned and casserole is bubbly. Serve over your choice of cooked egg noodles, rice, or mashed potatoes.
More Family-Friendly Chicken Casseroles
If you love a casserole as much as we do, you'll leave these, too:
Ingredients
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Cooking spray
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1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, divided
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1 1/4 tsp. kosher salt, divided
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1 tsp. onion powder
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3/4 tsp. garlic powder
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1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
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1/4 cup all-purpose flour
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4 cups whole milk
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2 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
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8 oz. Swiss cheese, shredded and divided (about 2 cups)
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1 (8 oz.) package diced cooked ham
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4 cups shredded cooked chicken (from 1 rotisserie chicken)
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1 cup panko breadcrumbs
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1/2 tsp. paprika
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2 Tbsp. chopped fresh chives, for garnish (optional)
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Cooked rice, egg noodles, or mashed potatoes, to serve
Directions
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Prepare oven and pan:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 13- x 9-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
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Melt butter:
Melt 4 Tbsp. butter in a large skillet over medium. Add onion powder, garlic powder, 1 tsp. kosher salt, and pepper. Cook 30 seconds, stirring constantly.
Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox
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Prepare roux:
Add flour and cook, stirring, until golden, about 2 minutes.
Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox
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Cook sauce until thickened:
Gradually whisk in milk, whisking constantly. Bring to a simmer and cook 5 minutes or until thickened slightly.
Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox
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Add cheese and meat:
Remove from heat. Whisk in mustard and stir in 1 1/2 cups cheese until melted.
Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Drain any moisture from the ham; stir into sauce.
Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Stir in chicken.
Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox
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Pour into prepared baking dish:
Pour mixture into prepared baking dish.
Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Sprinkle over remaining 1/2 cup cheese.
Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox
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Prepare breadcrumb topping:
Melt remaining 4 Tbsp. butter in a medium microwave-safe bowl in microwave on HIGH in 15 second intervals until melted. Stir in breadcrumbs, paprika, and remaining 1/4 tsp. salt until evenly coated. Sprinkle over the casserole.
Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox
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Bake the casserole:
Bake until the top is golden and the casserole is bubbling, about 25-30 minutes. Sprinkle with chives, if using.
Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Serve with rice, cooked egg noodles, or mashed potatoes.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes! You can use any mild, semi-firm cheese. Monterey jack, low-moisture mozzarella, fontina, Havarti, or provolone will all work.
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This recipe will work well with chopped leftover ham. You’ll need about 1 ½ cups.
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We recommend serving this casserole with cooked rice, egg noodles, or mashed potatoes. Roasted broccoli or asparagus would be great on the side as well.