Description
Hearty chicken cordon bleu casserole brings classic French flavors into a comforting one-dish meal. Creamy layers of chicken, ham, and Swiss cheese create a satisfying dinner that invites you to savor each delicious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups Swiss cheese (shredded)
- 1 lb pasta (penne or fun-shaped)
- 1 cup chicken breasts (cooked and cubed)
- 1 cup ham (cooked and cubed)
- 1 ½ cups milk
- 8 oz (226 g) cream cheese (softened)
- 1 cup Panko crumbs
- ½ cup butter (melted, divided)
- 2 tbsps dried minced onion
- salt (to taste)
- pepper (to taste)
- cayenne pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Pasta Preparation: Cook pasta in salted water until perfectly tender, drain completely, and return to the pot.
- Protein Integration: Fold cubed chicken and ham into the cooked pasta, ensuring uniform distribution throughout the dish.
- Sauce Creation: Whisk milk, cream cheese, and minced onion in a saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring continuously until transforming into a silky, smooth sauce.
- Flavor Enhancement: Pour sauce over pasta and protein mixture, blending Swiss cheese, salt, pepper, and cayenne for a delightful flavor profile.
- Casserole Assembly: Transfer mixture to a baking dish, creating an even layer and topping with Panko breadcrumbs.
- Butter Drizzle: Coat breadcrumbs with melted butter to promote golden, crispy texture.
- Final Broiling: Position casserole under broiler for 3-4 minutes, watching carefully to achieve a perfectly golden-brown crust without burning.
- Serving: Remove from oven and let rest briefly before serving hot, showcasing the dish’s creamy interior and crisp topping.
Notes
- Pasta Perfection: Cook pasta al dente to prevent mushiness and maintain a delightful texture in the final casserole.
- Protein Distribution: Cube chicken and ham uniformly for consistent flavor and even cooking throughout the dish.
- Sauce Smoothness: Whisk sauce ingredients slowly and steadily to prevent lumps and achieve a silky, creamy consistency.
- Broiler Caution: Watch the casserole carefully during the final broiling stage to achieve golden-brown crispiness without burning the breadcrumbs.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 536
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 860 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 39 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 94 mg