March 3, 2014
updated
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This healthy chicken cordon bleu is a delicious, grain-free rendition of the classic recipe made with prosciutto, cheese, and a crispy grain-free coating.
Whether or not you eat grain-free, once you take that first bite, it won’t matter. This will be a family-favorite meal you’ll make often.
What is Chicken Cordon Bleu
Classic chicken cordon bleu involves chicken breasts filled with cheese, wrapped in smoky prosciutto, and topped with a crispy breadcrumb coating then pan-fried or baked to perfection.
It is a delicious recipe my grandmother would make on special occasions and let me tell you it was perfectly crispy and cheesy.
Healthy Low-Carb Chicken Cordon Bleu
Now that I do the cooking, I wanted to make a lightened-up version of chicken cordon bleu that would remind me of my grandmother’s. This recipe has all the flavors but uses coconut and almond flour for the breading and skips the frying so it’s easier to assemble for weeknight dinners.
The results? A baked chicken cordon bleu with a crispy, grain-free crust. I call that a success!
Making family-favorite dishes into healthier options is how I created a clean eating meal plan to help families eat better, together. This baked cordon bleu is a perfect example and my kids’ have no problem devouring it.
Healthy Chicken Cordon Bleu Ingredients
Here’s a list of everything you need to make this low-carb chicken cordon bleu:
- boneless, skinless chicken breast: white meat chicken is lean and packed with protein.
- prosciutto: an upgrade to regular deli ham that’s salted, cured, and sliced super thin. However, if ham is what you have on hand, use that.
- grated Fontina or Gruyere cheese: instead of Swiss cheese, I prefer grated Fontina or Gruyere. Both are aged cheeses and add more “bite”.
- grain-free flour: to make this grain-free, we use a combination of almond and coconut flours to coat the chicken and help the cheese crisp up.
- seasonings: dried thyme and garlic powder.
- butter: just a tablespoon of melted butter is all you need to stir into the flours and seasonings.
If grains aren’t an issue for your family, you can swap the almond and coconut flour for regular or Panko breadcrumbs. I have a gluten-free Panko Breadcrumb recipe that’s super easy to whip up with rice cereal in a food processor.
Related: More Epic Low Carb Dinners
How to Make Baked Chicken Cordon Bleu
My recipe for baked chicken cordon bleu doesn’t require you to bread the chicken breast or stuff the cheese in the center. Breading is time-consuming and involves dirtying several dishes, not ideal for an easy weeknight dinner. This saves us both precious time in the kitchen.
Instead, we top the chicken breasts with prosciutto then coat with a cheese and flour mixture, and bake on a sheet pan, until the cheese and flour transform into a golden crust.
Sounds good to you? Here are the step-by-step directions to make this recipe happen:
- Prep
Preheat the oven to 350F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. - Make the coating
In a small bowl, combine the grated cheese, almond flour, coconut flour, seasonings, and melted butter. - Assemble
Place the chicken breasts onto the baking sheet. Top each fillet with a pinch of the cheese mixture then a folded piece of prosciutto.
Evenly distribute the cheese mixture over each chicken breast. - Bake to perfection
Pop the baking sheet in the oven ad bake for 20 minutes or until the cheese is browned and the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165F. - Give it a rest
Remove the baking sheet from the oven and allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes before serving.
This recipe proves you can make healthier versions of your family’s favorite meals that are just as delicious and simple to prepare. And if eating better as a family is something you’ve been trying to figure out, the Family Kickstart is just what you need to get started.
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What to Serve with Chicken Cordon Bleu
All we need now are a few yummy sides to make this chicken cordon bleu a complete meal. To keep things grain-free I’m including my favorite roasted veggies and salads that are simple to whip and crowd-pleasing.
Easy Chicken Cordon Bleu
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts, boneless and skinless
- 4 thin slices prosciutto di parma*
- 8 ounces grated Fontina or Gruyere*
- ⅓ cup almond flour*
- 1 teaspoon coconut flour*
- ¼ teaspoon ground dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon butter, melted
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Place chicken breasts on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- In a small bowl, combine the grated cheese, almond flour, coconut flour, dried thyme, garlic powder, and melted butter.
- Sprinkle a pinch of the cheese mixture onto each chicken breast, and top with one folded slice of prosciutto, then evenly distribute the cheese mixture over the chicken.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes until the coating is golden brown and the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165F.
- Remove from oven and allow to rest 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- You can use deli ham if you can’t find prosciutto. I suggest you season your chicken with a little salt if you use the ham route. It’s not as salty. I used Jarlsberg because that is what I had on hand.
- If you don’t eat grain-free, you can omit the almond flour + coconut flour and substitute with ½ cup bread crumbs.
Kallie
Another amazing healthy version of a family favorite!
isabel
love that you make healthier versions of our fave recipes like this chicken cordon bleu
Sara Bradford
I love this idea SO MUCH. You’re brilliant! I write a lunchbox blog and sometimes I pop over and have a peak at what you’re creating – and it makes me so happy. I need to start sharing the love with my readers 🙂
Laura Fuentes
Thank you so much Sara!
Anne
This was fantastic! Both my 4 yr old and 18 month old gobbled it up. We used deli ham and bread crumbs though. I also used cheddar cheese infused with herbs and garlic instead of adding the spices as that what was in my fridge. Delish!
Jennifer
Hi Laura! Made these tonight and man it was a hit! Few changes though. I only had chicken thighs. If I had thought earlier about it, I also had chicken strips but I used the leftover breading from the Healthy Bakes Salmon Nuggets from last night so I wouldn’t waste it and I threw those in the freezer last night. I didn’t use some of the ingredients like I replaced Basil for the Thyme which I didn’t have, and coconut flour I didn’t have. Other than that, it did not look at all like your picture, but it still tasted pretty amazing! It was so juicy! I didn’t have parchment paper and lined my try with foil and sprayed on coconut spray and i think that’s what made it so slippery. Didn’t realize it being a thigh would yield juice and the butter that it called for. I also used mozarella string cheese cuz I didn’t have any other on hand. It was sooo good though. I also used a trader joes uncured bacon. my son ate it with brocolli and my daughter ate alright too. But it was a winner with hubby. I placed it over a bed of romaine lettuce and spinach. Thinking of serving this for Father’s day if we have family over!
Laura Fuentes
heck, even though you modified the ingredients it was a success! This recipe stemmed from me modifying someone else’s ingredients. It’s how we make our own recipes! glad it was a success.
Michelle
Such an easy and yummy recipe! The whole family enjoyed it! My 6 year old loved it, but she did ask for more cheese next time 🙂
Becky
This looks amazing…I’m trying it tonight. Can I just omit the almond flour because of allergies?
Laura Fuentes
Yes you could Becky! Let me know how you enjoyed them.
Becky
It was amazing! Everyone loved it.
Magee
What can i use instead of ham because i do not eat pork.
Laura Fuentes
you could omit it but then it’s not chicken cordon bleu
M S
You could use a sugar-free turkey bacon as a substitute for pork and get similar flavor.
Laura Fuentes
For sure! You can definitely use turkey bacon for this recipe. Enjoy!
Liz
Looks really good. Thanks Laura. Enjoy your time! You have lots of energy and good for you. Have a Wonderful Week!