Ingredients
Cooking spray
3 oz. prosciutto
6 tbsp. unsalted butter
6 tbsp. all-purpose flour
1 c. chicken broth
1 c. whole milk
1 tbsp. Dijon mustard
1 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
2 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1" pieces
8 oz. cubed ham
4 c. shredded Swiss cheese (about 1 lb.), divided
1 c. panko bread crumbs
Chopped fresh parsley, for serving
Preparation
Step 1Preheat oven to 350°. Coat a 13"-by-9" baking dish and a rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray.Step 2Arrange prosciutto on prepared baking sheet in an even layer with no overlap. Bake until crispy, 10 to 15 minutes. Let cool (they will continue to crisp while cooling).Step 3Meanwhile, in a large saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Whisk in flour and let bubble until light golden brown and toasted, about 2 minutes. Pour in broth and milk and simmer, whisking occasionally, until thickened, 4 to 6 minutes. Whisk in mustard, salt, and pepper.Step 4Stir chicken and ham into sauce. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until chicken is cooked through, 9 to 11 minutes. Stir in 2 cups cheese and immediately transfer mixture to prepared baking dish. Top with remaining 2 cups cheese.Step 5Place cooled prosciutto in a small bowl. Using the handle of a wooden spoon, crush into fine crumbs. Add panko and toss to combine. Sprinkle prosciutto mixture evenly over baking dish.Step 6Bake until filling is bubbling and crumbs are golden brown, 30 to 35 minutes. Top with parsley and serve.
What is the “bleu” in chicken cordon bleu? In the case of this dish or its original inspiration, “bleu”—which is French for “blue”—doesn’t refer to the color or even the cheese, but rather the “cordon bleu,” a blue ribbon that was worn by the highest-ranking knights beginning in 16th-century France. The term may refer to either the excellence of the dish or the fact that the chicken was wrapped around the delicious fillings like a ribbon. Of course, in this casserole, there’s no wrapping involved. What is the difference between chicken kiev and chicken cordon bleu? Chicken cordon bleu and chicken kiev are both stuffed chicken recipes that utilize breaded chicken. The difference is that chicken kiev is stuffed with an herbed garlic butter, while chicken cordon bleu is stuffed with ham and cheese. The more you know! Made this? Let us know how it went in the comments below.
