Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole

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!
  

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:

• King Ranch Chicken Casserole
  
• Chicken-And-Rice Casserole
• Chicken And Stuffing Casserole
• Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole
• French Onion Chicken Casserole