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Keto Chicken Cordon Bleu is a low-carb version of a classic chicken dish. Smoky ham and Swiss cheese tucked inside a tender chicken breast for a crowd-pleaser hit for people of all ages. A rich and easy-to-make creamy sauce adds a fancy touch to this comfort food, taking it from good to exceptionally great.
Whether you need a simple family meal or are hosting a special dinner, this must-make keto chicken cordon bleu will leave everyone coming back for more.
With its classic combination of chicken, ham, gooey cheese, and luscious sauce, this dish easily creates an impressive and fancy dinner without the hassle. Everyone at the table will love the rich flavors and satisfying textures, and it will become your go-to recipe for both busy weeknights and fancy dinners fast.
But the best part about this chicken dinner is how simple it is. There’s no dredging. No mess. It’s all baked to tender perfection in just 30 minutes, delivering a delicious and satisfying meal without the fuss.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Short prep and cooking time – You’ll need only 20 minutes of hands-on time and 30 minutes in the oven – this dish can be on your table in under an hour, with plenty of time to make a quick salad.
- Amazing flavors – The combination of tender chicken, savory ham, and creamy cheese sauce creates delicious goodness.
- Family-friendly and kid-approved – Who doesn’t like chicken, ham, and cheese? Together, they make a perfect family meal that both adults and kids will rave about.
- Basic kitchen equipment – No fancy tools are needed here. Just your standard cooking utensils.
- Easy-to-follow directions – There’s no need for dredging in this keto version of chicken cordon bleu, making it a simple and hassle-free dish.
How to Make Keto Chicken Cordon Bleu
Whip up this delicious low-carb chicken dish quickly, using only a few ingredients and minimal prep time. The chicken rolls require just three simple ingredients, plus salt and pepper, while the creamy sauce comes together quickly with eight basic ingredients.
You’ll be able to enjoy the mouthwatering flavors of this classic comfort food in no time with this easy, no-fuss, no-dredging recipe.
Ingredients You Need
Gather your ingredients before you begin.
For the chicken:
- Chicken breasts – This lean and tender cut of meat makes a perfect canvas for flavorful fillings. Use boneless, skinless chicken breasts and opt for thinly sliced cuts or pound them with a meat mallet to create even and uniform pieces.
- Ham – Adds a savory and smoky taste to the dish, complementing the chicken and other flavors.
- Swiss cheese – Slightly nutty and mildly sweet, Swiss cheese creates an incredibly flavorful gooey cheese filling.
- Salt and ground black pepper – Enhances the overall taste, bringing out the flavors of the other ingredients.
For the sauce:
- Butter – Used as a base for the creamy sauce and provides richness and smooth texture.
- Chicken broth – Adds flavor but also helps to thin out the sauce, making it creamy without being too heavy.
- Heavy cream – Helps to make the sauce rich and velvety.
- Cream cheese – Thickens and adds savory flavor to the sauce.
- Dijon mustard – Adds a subtle tanginess and complexity, balancing the creaminess with a hint of sharpness.
- Fresh parsley – Minced parsley adds a burst of fresh herbal flavor, brightening up the overall taste.
- Garlic powder – Infuses the sauce with a mild garlicky taste.
- Parmesan cheese – Adds a nutty hint to the sauce.
Ingredient Substitutions
Even though this is such a simple recipe, you might be missing one of the key ingredients. Review the recommendations here for quick and clever substitutions.
Here are suggested substitutions:
- Cheese – While Swiss cheese is the traditional choice for chicken cordon bleu, you can experiment with other cheeses like gouda, Gruyere, provolone, or even cheddar.
- Chicken thighs – You won’t get uniform rolls, but chicken thighs will work in this recipe if that’s all you have. Pound them with a meat mallet to create thin and even thickness.
- Other cured meats – Swap out the ham with prosciutto, cooked bacon, or thinly sliced turkey.
Variations
Want to add your own spin? Make these fun variations and stretch this recipe into more delightful renditions.
Try these keto chicken Cordon Bleu variations:
- For a classic chicken cordon bleu with a crusty outer layer, do simple dredging: prepare a bowl of low-carb breading and a separate bowl with one whisked egg. Roll the chicken first, then dip it in the egg, and roll the meat in the breading consisting of 1½ cups of pork rinds or Parmesan cheese. Then continue baking in the oven. You may need to add a few additional minutes of baking time.
- Place a few blanched asparagus spears or spinach leaves on top of the ham before rolling the chicken, adding a lovely texture and splash of green color.
- Saute sliced mushrooms and layer them on the ham, then use smoked Gouda cheese to give a smoky twist.
- Spread a thin layer of pesto sauce on top of the ham before rolling the chicken for a refreshing basil flavor.
What Diet Is This Best For?
As written in the recipe card, this recipe is naturally gluten-free, sugar-free, low-carb, low-oxalate, and low-fiber. If you have additional dietary needs, consider the following modifications.
- Dairy-free – Because this recipe naturally has many dairy ingredients, I don’t recommend making this recipe with dairy-free alternatives.
- Carnivore diet – As a low-fiber recipe, this is keto carnivore-friendly. Omit the black pepper, mustard, garlic, and parsley for a strict carnivore recipe.
- Paleo diet – If you are not strict paleo and tolerate dairy, follow the recipe as written.
- GAPS diet – Ensure the ham does not contain sweeteners. Butter, heavy cream, and Swiss and Parmesan cheeses are allowed on full GAPS first. Use un-creamed dry curd cottage cheese instead of cream cheese, or omit it completely.
This recipe is nut-free, grain-free, egg-free, nightshade-free, phytate-free, and low in histamine.
Step-By-Step Instructions
This Chicken Cordon Bleu recipe offers a delicious keto twist on the classic dish.
Oven-baked chicken breasts rolled with ham and Swiss cheese and drizzled with a creamy sauce make a mouthwatering low-carb meal ready in 30 minutes.
You can prep the sauce while the chicken cooks and overlap the prep time with the cooking time.
Follow these simple directions, and you can’t go wrong!
- Preheat oven to 400 F.
- Lay the chicken flat and place 1½ pieces of cheese and one piece of ham towards the end of each piece. Season with salt and pepper. Roll the chicken tightly and use two toothpicks, one on each side, to hold it closed.
- Transfer the chicken to a baking dish and bake for 30 minutes or until the internal temperature is 165 F.
- While the chicken is baking, cook the sauce in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Melt the butter, and add broth, cream, and cream cheese. Mix until the cream cheese melts. Stir in the mustard, parsley, and garlic powder. Slowly add the Parmesan cheese, a few tablespoons at a time, stirring between each addition. Reduce the heat to low and simmer until the sauce thickens.
- Remove the chicken from the oven and let it rest for a few minutes before serving with a generous portion of sauce poured over the top.
Expert Tips
- Tenderize chicken. Arrange the chicken on a cutting board and cover with plastic wrap. Pound from the center (thickest part of the chicken breast) out to the edges with a mallet until the chicken breast is uniformly thin. This is a helpful video, if you want to see the process in action.
- Taste and adjust. I recommend taste testing while making the sauce so you can get to know the dish and adjust the seasoning as you like best.
- Rewarm the sauce. If the sauce separates upon cooling, warm it on low heat and whisk until smooth again.
Nutritional Info
This recipe yields four servings of keto chicken cordon bleu.
Per serving:
- 695 calories
- 55 g protein
- 51 g fat
- 2 g total carbs
- 0 g fiber
Please note that the nutritional value will change if you substitute ingredients. Use a nutrition app to recalculate and reflect your changes.
How to Store This Recipe
To store keto cordon bleu, transfer leftover chicken into an airtight container and refrigerate for up to four days. Remove the toothpicks so they don’t become soggy.
I use transparent containers with easy lock lids so I can see what’s inside and how much is left. Plus, the lids are easy for my children to open and close and make a very secure seal, which means food spills rarely happen.
You can pop it in the microwave for a few minutes to reheat. Or reheat in a preheated 350 F oven in a covered baking dish for 10-15 minutes or until warmed through.
Avoid repeatedly reheating the chicken cordon bleu to maintain the creamy texture and flavors.
Can I make keto chicken cordon bleu ahead of time?
Yes, this dish can be made up to four days in advance, but it tastes better when freshly made.
Can I freeze keto chicken cordon bleu?
Yes, you can freeze the chicken portion of the recipe, but I don’t recommend freezing the sauce as the dairy will separate upon freezing and thawing.
To freeze the baked chicken rolls, wrap them tightly in foil or plastic wrap and place them in a freezer-safe container or bag. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and reheat when ready. While the chicken reheats, make the creamy sauce to pour over it.
What to Serve with Keto Chicken Cordon Bleu
Serving keto chicken cordon bleu is easy because you have a wide range of side dishes to complement this classic dish. Pair it with quick creamed collard greens for a flavorful and nutritious addition. Or go with a creamy cauliflower mash as an alternative to traditional mashed potatoes.
For a burst of freshness and to keep dinner simple, serve it with a roast vegetable, side salad, or even a few tablespoons of fermented veggie like sauerkraut. Because it’s such a hearty dinner option with classic flavors and textures, the possibilities are endless on how to serve it.
More Cheesy Chicken Recipes To Try
If you make this keto chicken Cordon Bleu, please leave a review. I appreciate each 5-star rating and review comment!
Keto Chicken Cordon Bleu Recipe
Keto Chicken Cordon Bleu is a low-carb version of a classic chicken dish. Smoky ham and Swiss cheese tucked inside a tender chicken breast for a crowd-pleaser hit for people of all ages. A rich and easy-to-make creamy sauce adds a fancy touch to this comfort food, taking it from good to exceptionally great.
For the chicken
- 4 chicken breasts boneless skinless, approximately 6 ounces each, see notes
- 4 slices ham thinly sliced
- 6 slices Swiss cheese
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Prevent your screen from going dark
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Preheat the oven to 400 F.
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Lay the chicken flat on a cutting board and place 1½ pieces of cheese with 1 piece of ham toward one edge of each piece. Season with salt and pepper. Roll the chicken tightly and use two toothpicks, one on each side, to hold it closed.
4 chicken breasts, 4 slices ham, 6 slices Swiss cheese, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
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Transfer the chicken to a baking dish and bake for 30 minutes until the internal temperature is 165 F.
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While the chicken is baking, cook the sauce in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Melt the butter, add broth, cream, and cream cheese. Mix until the cream cheese melts. Stir in the mustard, parsley, and garlic powder. Slowly add the Parmesan cheese, a few tablespoons at a time, stirring in between each addition. Reduce the heat to low and simmer until the sauce thickens.
½ cup butter, ¼ cup chicken broth, ¼ cup heavy cream, 1 ounce cream cheese, 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, 1 tablespoon fresh minced parsley, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, ½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
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Remove the chicken from the oven and let it rest for a few minutes before serving with a generous portion of sauce poured over the top.
- Tenderize chicken. Arrange the chicken on a cutting board and cover with plastic wrap. Pound from the center (thickest part of the chicken breast) out to the edges with a mallet until the chicken breast is uniformly thin.
- Taste and adjust. I always recommend tasting while making the sauce so you can get to know the dish and adjust the seasoning as you like best.
- Rewarm the sauce. If the sauce separates upon cooling, warm it on low heat and whisk until smooth again.
Serve: Serve with your favorite side dish or salad for a simple dinner. Roasted vegetables pair well with chicken Cordon Bleu.
Store: Transfer leftover chicken into an airtight container and refrigerate for up to four days. You can pop it in the microwave for a few minutes to reheat. Or reheat in a preheated 350 F oven in a covered baking dish for 10-15 minutes or until warmed through. Avoid reheating the chicken Cordon Bleu multiple times to maintain the creamy texture and flavors.
Calories: 695kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 55gFat: 51gSaturated Fat: 29gSodium: 1372mgFiber: 0.3gNet Carbohydrates: 2g
To obtain the most accurate representation of the nutritional information in a given recipe, please calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients and amounts used, using your preferred nutrition calculator. Under no circumstances shall the this website and the author be responsible for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on the given nutritional information.
