Description
Hearty chicken cordon bleu casserole brings classic French-inspired comfort to dinner tables with rich, creamy layers of tender chicken, savory ham, and melted Swiss cheese. Crispy breadcrumb topping and simple ingredients make this dish a crowd-pleasing meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 4 cups chicken breast, chopped
- 8 ounces (226 grams) ham, diced
Dairy and Cheese:
- 1 cup Swiss cheese, shredded
- 1 1/4 cups milk
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Seasonings and Other Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon thyme leaves, fresh or dried
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 can (10.75 ounces/305 grams) cream of chicken soup
- 1 cup Panko bread crumbs
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- Salt to taste
- Cracked black pepper to taste
- Cooking spray
Instructions
- Prepare the oven at 350F (175C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray for optimal non-stick performance.
- Combine chopped chicken, diced ham, and half of the Swiss cheese in a mixing bowl, ensuring thorough integration of ingredients.
- Distribute the chicken-ham mixture evenly across the prepared baking dish, creating a uniform base layer.
- Whisk cream of chicken soup, milk, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, thyme, salt, and pepper in a separate bowl until achieving a smooth, well-blended consistency.
- Carefully pour the seasoned soup mixture over the chicken and ham layer, guaranteeing complete coverage.
- Generously sprinkle the remaining Swiss cheese across the surface, creating a rich, melty topping.
- Mix melted butter, Panko bread crumbs, and paprika in a small bowl to create a crispy, flavorful coating.
- Evenly distribute the buttery bread crumb mixture over the casserole, ensuring complete top coverage.
- Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes until the surface turns golden brown and the casserole develops a bubbling texture.
- Let the casserole rest for 5-7 minutes after removing from the oven, allowing ingredients to settle and flavors to meld.
Notes
- Swap ham for turkey or prosciutto to create delightful variations that suit different taste preferences.
- Use gluten-free Panko breadcrumbs and cream of chicken soup to make this dish completely gluten-free and accommodate dietary restrictions.
- Add extra herbs like rosemary or parsley to boost the flavor profile and create a more complex taste experience.
- For a lighter version, substitute Greek yogurt for half the milk and use low-fat cheese to reduce overall calorie content without sacrificing deliciousness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 370 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 680 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg