Let’s face it, if you tell someone you are making Chicken Cordon Bleu for dinner, most people won’t know what it is. Maybe you don’t know what it is… but they’ll think you are some masterchef because it sounds French. So go ahead, let them think you are an amazing chef and just don’t let them in the kitchen while you make this. Sure, there are plenty of complicated and difficult ways to make it, but we’re in college, we want something easy and delicious. (Side note: you’ll have some leftover ingredients which can be used to make sandwiches for easy lunches later on which are always a plus).
Here is a recipe for Chicken Cordon Bleu that I paired with some frozen vegetables (easily cooked by boiling them in a pot of water for about 10 minutes or whatever the package recommends). The only part where you actually have to do anything is for 10 minutes in the beginning, and then you can go watch your favorite 30-minute TV show while it cooks and enjoy the aroma of a home cooked meal.
Chicken Cordon Bleu: (Makes enough for 2 people if you add a side dish like vegetables)
Ingredients:
- One large chicken breast
- A few slices of ham (I used lunch meat ham for this)
- A few slices of your favorite cheese (I used pre sliced provolone cheese)
Steps:
1.Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2.Make a large cut through the middle of the chicken breast to hold your meat and cheese in but make sure you don’t cut all the way through it (think of the chicken breast as a hot dog bun).
3.Stuff 2-3 slices of ham and 2-3 slices of cheese into the insert you just cut.
4.Place the chicken in a baking dish or on a baking sheet and put it in the oven for about 30-40 minutes depending on how big your chicken breast is (see below on how to tell if chicken is fully cooked).
5.Put it on a plate, add some vegetables and maybe a glass of wine and enjoy your fancy dinner!
*A chicken breast is fully cooked if it is no longer pink in the middle and if the juices run clear. What this means is if you press down on the chicken breast with something (like a spatula or knife), some juice will come out from the bottom of the chicken-this should be clear. An easier way to tell is to just cut into the chicken a little (usually cut the largest part because this part will take the longest to cook) and check to make sure it is no longer pink inside. When it is no longer pink, it is fully cooked.
**If you want to add some more flavor, here are a few options:
- Season the chicken with some garlic salt and pepper (and any other spices you like) before putting it in the oven.
- Bread the chicken (it will be easiest to do this after cutting it but before stuffing the chicken) using one egg (beaten) and 2 ounces of dry bread crumbs. Just dip the chicken in the egg then in the bread crumbs. You can also sprinkle some bread crumbs on the top again before you put it in the oven for extra breading.