Mar 3, 2014

5 from 19 votes

A delicious grain-free version of the classic recipe that's baked to perfection with a crispy, cheesy crust.

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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.

healthy chicken cordon blue on a plate with simple salad

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.

side by side photo of in-process making healthy chicken cordon bleu

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.

chicken cordon bleu on a plate with small salad

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.

It’s a 4-week meal plan that features fresh, real-food recipes for breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. And each week gets its own menu with a done-for-you shopping list and a prep guide to help you stay one step ahead.

The planning part helps us parents stay on track while the recipes help introduce healthier eating in a way that everyone finds enjoyable and crave-worthy. Find out more about the Family Kickstart below.

Eat better as a Family

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I Need This!

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

Laura Fuentes

5 from 19 votes

A delicious grain-free version of the classic recipe that’s baked to perfection with a crispy, cheesy crust.

Servings: 4

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 20

Total Time 30

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.

Equipment

Family KickStart Program

Almond Flour

Coconut Flour

Nutrition

Serving: 1 servingCalories: 526kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 44gFat: 37gSaturated Fat: 15gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 151mgSodium: 641mgPotassium: 476mgFiber: 3gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 644IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 362mgIron: 1mg

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