Description
Comfort meets elegance in this chicken cordon bleu meatloaf, blending classic French-inspired flavors with hearty American home cooking. Creamy Swiss cheese and savory ham nestled within juicy ground chicken create a delightful twist you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 2 lbs ground chicken
- 0.5 lbs ham, diced
- 0.5 lbs swiss cheese, shredded
Binding and Moisture Ingredients:
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 2 large eggs
- 0.25 cup milk
Seasoning and Flavor Enhancers:
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- 1 tsp salt
- 0.5 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp dijon mustard
- 0.25 cup mayonnaise
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and prepare a large baking dish with non-stick spray or parchment paper.
- In a spacious mixing bowl, thoroughly combine ground chicken, diced ham, and shredded swiss cheese, ensuring even distribution of ingredients.
- Add breadcrumbs, eggs, and milk to the meat mixture, blending gently but thoroughly to maintain a light texture.
- Incorporate all seasonings including garlic powder, onion powder, dried parsley, salt, black pepper, dijon mustard, and mayonnaise, mixing until ingredients are uniformly integrated.
- Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish, carefully shaping it into a compact, even loaf without compressing the meat too densely.
- Smooth the top of the meatloaf to create a uniform surface, which will help ensure consistent cooking.
- Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and roast for approximately 55-60 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F when checked with a meat thermometer.
- Remove the meatloaf from the oven and allow it to rest for 10-15 minutes, which helps retain moisture and makes slicing easier.
- Slice the meatloaf into thick, generous portions and serve hot, optionally garnishing with fresh herbs or additional dijon mustard.
Notes
- Customize the recipe for gluten-free diets by swapping traditional breadcrumbs with almond flour or gluten-free breadcrumbs.
- Enhance moisture retention by avoiding overmixing the meat, which can lead to a dense, tough texture.
- Keep the meatloaf juicy by selecting ground chicken with a slightly higher fat content, around 15-20% fat.
- Create extra flavor depth by sautéing minced garlic and onions before adding them to the meat mixture, intensifying the overall taste profile.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 135 mg