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Three-Cheese Chicken Cordon Bleu

Chicken

Dinner

Inspired by a kiev, a Swiss fondue and a cheesy ham toastie.

Crispy three cheese chicken cordon bleu
Three-Cheese Chicken Cordon Bleu

A keto friendly chicken kiev from the Key For Keto recipe book.

I really enjoyed this twist on the traditional Swiss fondue, Ham and Cheese Toastie and Chicken Kiev. The dish was a downright winner in our house, and certainly a step-up from toasties for dinner. The recipe only took about 20 minutes longer which I was more than delighted to cook.

I combined the cheeses, I could not find Appenzeller cheese so I doubled the Emmentaler cheese, with nutmeg and then added the cheese into the chicken breast atop of a piece of ham spread thinly with mustard. Folding the top of the chicken back over, I baked for 35 minutes.

Birds and bees v’s chicken and butterflies

Butterflying a chicken breast is an easy technique that enhances the flavor and reduces cooking time. To butterfly a chicken breast, simply place your hand flat on top of the chicken breast and using a sharp knife, slice into the thickest part of the meat. If you’re careful, you can avoid cutting through to the other side.

Open the chicken breast and lay it flat, then pound with a meat tenderizer to even out the thickness.

Stuffed chicken breasts sprinkled with parmesan
Cheese and Ham inside the Chicken Breast, brushed with oil and sprinkled with Parmesan

What is Swiss cheese?

Gruyere, Emmentaler, and Appenzeller are some of the most well-known and popular cheeses from the Swiss Alps. These varieties of cheese have long been lauded for their rich flavor, meltability, and versatility in recipes. Gruyere is often characterized by its nutty, slightly sweet taste, while Emmentaler has a more mild and savory flavor. Meanwhile, Appenzeller cheese is known for its sharp and intense flavor, which makes it a popular choice for those who prefer bolder tastes. Aside from these distinctive flavors, what really sets these cheeses apart is their texture. All three are renowned for their signature meltability, making them ideal candidates to use in all kinds of recipes that call for melted cheese.

What is Cordon Bleu

Cordon Bleu, or blue ribbon, is a cooking technique that involves wrapping meat or fish in cheese and breading it before frying. The term originated in Switzerland in the 1700s to describe bone-in chicken breasts wrapped in ham and then breaded and fried. Today, cordon bleu can refer to different styles of food preparation, but the breaded and fried version is most common. The traditional cordon bleu dish contains chicken breast, Emmentaler cheese, and Prosciutto.

Cordon Bleu is a popular dish in French, Swiss, and Italian cuisine. At its core, Cordon Bleu is all about taking a basic ingredient – like chicken or fish – and enhancing it by adding layers of flavor and texture.

Three-Cheese Chicken Cordon Bleu

Inspired by a kiev, a Swiss fondue and a cheesy ham toastie.

Serves

Prep Time15 Mins

Cook Time35 Mins

Total Time50 Mins

Ingredients

  • 0.5 cup shredded organic Gruyere cheese
  • 0.5 cup shredded organic Emmentaler (Swiss) cheese
  • 0.25 cup shredded organic Appenzeller cheese
  • 0.125 teaspoon of ground nutmeg
  • 2 large boneless, skinless, free-range chicken breasts
  • 4 slice nitrate free ham
  • 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 0.5 cup grated organic Parmesan cheese
  • 0.5 teaspoon seasoned salt
  • 2 tsp Dijon mustard (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
  2. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
  3. In a small bowl, combine the Gruyère, Emmentaler, and Appenzeller cheeses with the nutmeg.
  4. Lay the butterflied chicken breasts flat on a work surface and divide the cheese mixture between the two breasts.
  5. Then place 2 slices of ham on top of the cheese on each breast, followed by 1 teaspoon of Dijon mustard in the middle (if using).
  6. Fold the chicken breast over to enclose the filling.
  7. Brush the chicken with olive oil, then sprinkle it with the Parmesan cheese and seasoned salt.
  8. Place the stuffed chicken breasts on the baking sheet and bake until the internal temperature reaches at least 165°F, about 35 minutes. Serve hot.

Nutrition Facts Per Serving

Calories 850g
Fats 52g
Protein 88g
Net Carbs 3g
What we think

“Three Cheese Chicken Cordon Bleu tastes just like a mash-up of a cheese and ham toastie and a chicken kiev. I wholly recommend adding the mustard. The melted cheese softens the spice to just a slight tang. I managed to find some nitrate-free ham in the local store which was slightly more expensive but tasted a little more wholesome than standard sliced ham. I took the chicken out of the oven after 35 minutes as I knew that 50 minutes would be too long. The recipe card above reflects this. I rated this simple tasty dinner recipe 5 out of 5 stars.”

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Thanks for reading as always!
- Lucy & Will

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