If you are looking for a much easier, but still classically-flavored chicken cordon bleu recipe than this casserole is the recipe for you!

I’m not really a casserole lover, I must admit (do you still love me??). Something about all those ingredients trapped together makes me uncomfortable, especially in light of the fact that “open and dump” casseroles just aren’t my thing, really.

But I have had success with a few other wonderful casseroles in my lifetime and this chicken cordon bleu concoction ranks right up there.

White plate with a serving of chicken cordon bleu casserole.

In fact, it just might take the casserole cake for deliciousness.

Tender potatoes coated in a creamy, rich cheese sauce are layered in a dish and topped with chicken and ham.

All of these lovely ingredients are covered in the same silky sauce and topped with a buttery bread crumb crust.

The casserole is baked until bubbly and golden and the result is such a wonderful combination of flavors that it made me realize I can put off conquering “real” chicken cordon bleu for a while and enjoy this instead.

A perfect dish to take-in to someone, equally perfect for a potluck, and it made wonderful leftovers. Personally, I had to tie my arms to my chair in order to resist going back for thirds.

White casserole dish with chicken cordon bleu casserole.

What To Serve With This:

Roasted Asparagus
Divine Breadsticks
Spinach Salad with Sweet-Spicy Nuts, Apples, Feta & Bacon or Strawberry Spinach Salad

One Year Ago: White Velvet Sugar Cookies
 Two Years Ago: Buttermilk Banana Bread

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Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole

Yield: 8 Servings
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
4.50 stars (18 ratings)
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Ingredients

Topping:

  • 4 slices white sandwich bread, torn into quarters
  • 2 tablespoons butter, melted

Filling:

  • 3 pounds russet potatoes, about 4-5 medium, peeled and sliced 1/8-inch thick
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 4 tablespoons butter
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 3 medium garlic cloves, finely minced
  • 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • ¾ cup heavy cream or milk
  • 6 ounces Swiss cheese, shredded, about 2 cups
  • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, trimmed of excess fat and sliced thinly
  • 9 ounces deli ham, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley leaves

Instructions 

  • For the topping, process the bread and butter in a food processor until coarsely ground. Set aside.
  • For the filling, preheat the oven to 400 degrees, making sure the oven rack is in the middle. Place the potatoes, 6 cups water and 1 teaspoon salt in a large pot.
  • Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to a simmer and cook, uncovered, until the potatoes are partially cooked, about 2 minutes (don’t overcook because they will continue to cook in the oven!). Carefully drain potatoes, or remove them with a slotted spoon, and transfer them to a bowl. Set aside.
  • Meanwhile, melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion, thyme, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook until the onions are softened, about 6 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, stirring constantly, about 1 minute. Add the flour and cook, stirring constantly, until golden, about 1 minute (this helps cook out the flour taste in the roux). Slowly whisk in the chicken broth and the cream or milk. Bring the mixture to a simmer, whisking often, until slightly thickened (if using milk instead of cream, you may have to cook longer for it to thicken up a bit).
  • Off the heat, whisk in the Swiss cheese, Dijon, and cayenne pepper until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Cover and set aside until ready to use.
  • Toss the potatoes with half of the sauce and spread into the bottom of a lightly greased 9X13-inch baking pan. Layer alternating pieces of the chicken and ham over the potatoes, overlapping as needed. This is not a scientific procedure, just make sure that the chicken is in a single layer (not on top of each other) so that it cooks thoroughly. Pour the remaining sauce evenly over the chicken and sprinkle with the bread crumb topping.
  • Bake until the chicken is cooked through and the casserole is bubbling, 30 to 35 minutes (add about 5-7 additional minutes onto the baking time if baking it after it has chilled in the refrigerator for more than a couple of hours). Sprinkle with parsley and cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Notes

Make-Ahead Tip: I made the entire casserole the morning before I wanted to serve it and stored it in the fridge all day. It cooked up beautifully. The original recipe recommends making the topping and cheese sauce and then refrigerating them in separate bowls for up to 1 day. To reheat and assemble, poke several vent holes in the plastic wrap covering the sauce and microwave it for about 3 to 5 minutes, until it is hot. Cook the potatoes and assemble and bake according to the recipe directions.
Serving: 1 Serving, Calories: 650kcal, Carbohydrates: 46g, Protein: 44g, Fat: 32g, Saturated Fat: 17g, Cholesterol: 165mg, Sodium: 1057mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 3g

Recommended Products

Breville Food Processor
Cookware
White Ceramic 9X13-inch Dish
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Recipe Source: Cover and Bake from the editors of Cook’s Illustrated

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