Air Fryer Chicken Cordon Bleu is tender chicken breast, coated in crispy Panko that’s been stuffed with smoky ham and melty Swiss cheese. It’s a scrumptious 30-minute-easy air fryer recipe. (Can also be oven baked.)
Air Fryer Chicken Cordon Bleu is company worthy and definitely perfect for a date night. It looks impressive, even though it’s simple to prepare.
This air fryer chicken cordon bleu recipe is easier than the classic chicken cordon bleu recipe. And, it air fries (or bakes) in less than 30 minutes!
It’s proof that air fryer chicken can be juicy and tender, as well as being flavorful and utterly delicious.
My air fryer cordon bleu has a crispy outer shell with no actual frying involved. And, you can bake it in the oven if you don’t have an air fryer.
What is Chicken Cordon Bleu?
Classic Chicken Cordon Bleu is a chicken breast that has been pounded to about 1/4″ in thickness, layered with ham and Swiss cheese and then rolled into a roulade (a spiral rolled roll of meat and cheese or cake and filling). The chicken breasts are then breaded in crumbs and herbs and fried.
Cordon Bleu is French, of course, and means “blue cord”. Chicken Cordon Bleu was named after the blue ribbon worn by “L’Ordre des Chevaliers du Saint Esprit”, a special order of knights formed by King Henry III of France.
The image below is from the first time I made this Air Fryer Chicken Cordon Bleu recipe and prepared it in the classic roulade fashion.
What I Changed
After preparing Air Fryer Chicken Cordon Bleu several times to get it right for this post, there are a few things I decided to do differently from the classic preparation. I did try the classic, but prefer the simpler, quicker method.
I think my version is a deliciously simple one and updates classic chicken cordon bleu to be a dish that can easily be prepared by busy people.
- The first major difference in my air fryer Chicken Cordon Bleu recipe is that I cut a pocket in the side of each chicken breast, rather than pounding it and rolling it as a roulade. All, I had to do was to insert the ham and Swiss cheese into the pocket and close it with toothpicks. This was much quicker than rolling and dredging and then coating, plus it eliminated the need for a 30 minute chill time required before cooking the roulade.
- I didn’t use an egg wash to adhere the crumbs to my chicken breasts. I chose mayonnaise (mostly eggs, right?) to help hold in moisture, add flavor and still aid in the browning process. I mixed the mayonnaise with stone ground mustard and salt and pepper.
- I don’t like Dijon mustard. lol So, the other change is that I used stone ground mustard. Use the mustard you like best.
- And of course, the other difference from the classic is no frying. I air fried my Chicken Cordon Bleu. It can also be baked if you don’t have an air fryer and I’ll tell you how, below.
The Ingredients
Prepare the Chicken Breasts:
- Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
- Swiss Cheese
- Deli Ham
- Mayo
- Stone Ground Mustard
- Italian Seasoned Panko Bread Crumbs My Panko comes already seasoned with Italian herbs and seasonings. If you buy plain Panko, add garlic powder and Italian seasoning to your bread crumbs.
For the Sauce:
- Heavy Cream
- Whole Milk
- Stone Ground Mustard
- Homemade Chicken Bouillon – I used my homemade chicken bouillon powder. If you use commercial bouillon start with only one teaspoon, since it is MUCH saltier than my homemade recipe. Taste and adjust amounts as you go.
- Parmesan Cheese
FAQs
Sure. If you don’t have an air fryer, you can definitely bake chicken cordon bleu in your oven. If you have a convection feature on your oven I recommend you use it, for quicker and more even cooking. Preheat the oven to 350°. Place an oven safe cooling/baking rack [affiliate link] on a rimmed baking sheet [affiliate link] . Place the chicken cordon bleu rolls onto the rack, seam side down if you can tell where the seam is. Bake for 35 to 45 minutes, until the internal temperature of each roll reaches 165° F. Serve with prepared sauce.
Sure, the classic recipe has always used regular bread crumbs. I haven’t tried it with this recipe and my guess is that without frying the air fryer Chicken Cordon Bleu, they aren’t going to get as crisp as with Panko. One option that could help would be to toast the regular bread crumbs in a dry skillet on the stove top before sprinkling them on your prepared chicken breasts. Panko is more coarse and has more jagged surface area, so the end result is crisper.
Absolutely. The sauce does soften the crust a bit. So, for an extra crispy shell, you can simply omit the sauce. Especially since we deviated from the classic and have added the mayo/mustard coating directly on the chicken breast before air frying it. That adds tons of flavor.
Can I Make this Recipe Gluten Free?
Yes. The only ingredient with gluten in this recipe is the Panko. There are many gluten free Panko varieties [affiliate link]available, nowadays. Substitute your favorite, keeping in mind that my Panko is Italian seasoned. If you buy plain Panko, add garlic powder and Italian seasoning to your bread crumbs.
Can I Use Frozen Chicken?
No. The chicken needs to be thawed, so you can cut a pocket and stuff each chicken breast.
However, you CAN make your chicken cordon bleu ahead, flash freeze them and store in the freezer until you are ready to cook them. You can cook the frozen chicken cordon bleu using the same instructions in the recipe card. But you will need to add extra time (5 to 10 minutes) to reach an internal temperature of 160°, before the resting period.
What to Serve With Air Fryer Chicken Cordon Bleu
If you would serve it with any other chicken dish, then it will work as a side with Chicken Cordon Bleu.
I love keeping the sides light, like a House Salad or Air Fryer Green Beans alongside some Perfect Brown Rice.
Air Fryer Chicken Cordon Bleu would also be delicious served with Cranberry Apple Salad, my scrumptious Kale Salad with Apples and Roasted Butternut Squash or even a Broccoli Cauliflower Salad
Try it with Mandarin Orange Salad, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, or even Sweet Potato Casserole. You definitely won’t be disappointed!
How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Cordon Bleu
(Full Video Tutorial in the Recipe Card)
Prep the Chicken:
- Preheat the air fryer (or oven) to 400° F.
- Cut a pocket into the center of each chicken breast, lengthwise. See the video for a visual demonstration.
- The easiest way to insert the ham and cheese is to fold a slice of the baby Swiss cheese in half and wrap a slice of deli ham around it as many times as the ham will reach.
- Place a folded ham and cheese portion into the pocket in each chicken breast.
- Use toothpicks to “stitch” the pocket closed and hold the ham and cheese in place. (See the video)
- Whisk together the mayo, stone ground mustard, salt and pepper in a small bowl.
- Brush each chicken breast generously with the mixture.
- Sprinkle Italian seasoned Panko over each boneless skinless chicken breast and press the bread crumbs firmly into the mayonnaise mixture. (Remember if you purchased plain Panko, add 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder and 2 teaspoons of Italian seasoning to your bread crumbs before applying them to the chicken.)
- Turn the chicken breasts over and repeat, brushing with the mayo mixture and pressing in the crumbs.
Make the Air Fryer Chicken Cordon Bleu and Prepare Sauce:
- Spray the air fryer basket with pan spray.
- Place each chicken roll into the air fryer basket leaving space between them.
- Spray each prepared chicken breast lightly with pan spray.
- Air fry at 400° for 18-20 minutes, until the internal temperature reaches 160°. (After a brief resting time the temp will have risen to the USDA recommended 165°.)
- Five minutes before the Air Fryer Chicken Cordon Bleu is done air frying, prepare the sauce by whisking together all ingredients and warming in a saucepan over low heat. Do NOT boil the sauce or you may curdle it. Just keep the heat low.
- Remove your chicken cordon bleu from the air fryer and allow it to rest for two to three minutes.
- REMOVE THE TOOTHPICKS.
- Serve with the prepared sauce and your favorite sides.
I think you’re going to love making chicken cordon bleu in the air fryer. If you do get a chance to make this recipe, I hope you’ll consider coming back to leave a comment and 5 star rating. 5 star ratings help others find this recipe in a Google search. Thank you so much!
The Recipe
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Air Fryer Chicken Cordon Bleu
- Total Time: 27 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
Air Fryer Chicken Cordon Bleu is tender chicken breast, coated in crispy Panko that’s been stuffed with smoky ham and melty Swiss cheese. It’s a scrumptious 30-minute-easy air fryer recipe. (Can also be oven baked.)
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 2 chicken breasts
- 2 slices Swiss cheese, I use baby Swiss
- 2 slices deli-sliced ham
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 2 teaspoons stone ground mustard
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 2/3 cup Italian Seasoned Panko Bread Crumbs
For the Sauce:
- 1/4 cup Heavy Cream
- 2 Tablespoons whole milk
- 2 teaspoons Homemade Chicken Bouillon
- 2 teaspoons Stone Ground Mustard
- 2 Tablespoons Parmesan Cheese
Instructions
Prep the Chicken:
- Preheat the air fryer (or oven) to 400° F.
- Cut a pocket into the center of each chicken breast, lengthwise. See the video for a visual demonstration.
- The easiest way to insert the ham and cheese is to fold a slice of the baby Swiss cheese in half and wrap a slice of deli ham around it as many times as the ham will reach.
- Place a folded ham and cheese portion into the pocket in each chicken breast.
- Use toothpicks to “stitch” the pocket closed and hold the ham and cheese in place. (See the video)
- Brush each chicken breast generously with the mixture.
- Sprinkle Italian seasoned Panko over each boneless skinless chicken breast and press the bread crumbs firmly into the mayonnaise mixture. (Remember if you purchased plain Panko, add 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder and 2 teaspoons of Italian seasoning to your bread crumbs before applying them to the chicken.)
- Turn the chicken breasts over and repeat, brushing with the mayo mixture and pressing in the crumbs.
Air Fry the Chicken Cordon Bleu and Prepare Sauce:
- Spray the air fryer basket with pan spray.
- Place each chicken roll into the air fryer basket leaving space between them.
- Spray each prepared chicken breast lightly with pan spray.
- Air fry at 400° for 18-20 minutes, until the internal temperature reaches 160°. (After a brief resting time the temp will have risen to the USDA recommended 165°.)
- Five minutes before the Air Fryer Chicken Cordon Bleu is done air frying, prepare the sauce by whisking together all ingredients and warming in a saucepan over low heat. Do NOT boil the sauce or you may curdle it. Just keep the heat low.
- Remove your chicken cordon bleu from the air fryer and allow it to rest for two to three minutes.
- REMOVE THE TOOTHPICKS.
- Serve with the prepared sauce and your favorite sides.
Notes
These are LARGE servings if you use them as two. I recommend cutting each chicken cordon bleu in half to serve it. Then it will make 4 generous servings.
This recipe is made with Italian Seasoned Panko Bread Crumbs (I buy Great Value brand at Walmart.) If you use plain Panko for this recipe, mix 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder and 2 teaspoons of Italian seasoning into your bread crumbs.
To Bake in Oven instead of Air Fryer
If you don’t have an air fryer, you can definitely bake chicken cordon bleu in your oven. If you have a convection feature on your oven I recommend you use it, for quicker and more even cooking.
- Preheat the oven to 400°.
- Place an oven safe cooling/baking rack [affiliate link] on a rimmed baking sheet [affiliate link] and spray it with pan spray.
- Place the chicken cordon bleu rolls onto the rack and spray them lightly with pan spray.
- Bake for 20 to 30 minutes, until the internal temperature of each roll reaches 160° F. They will continue to cook for a bit after being removed from the oven. So, they will reach the USDA recommended safe serving temperature of 165° F after a brief resting period.
- Remove from the oven.
- Remove tooth picks.
- Serve with prepared sauce.
- Prep Time: 7 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Dish, Chicken
- Method: Air Fry or Bake
- Cuisine: French-American
More Delicious Chicken Recipes
About Glenda
I believe cooking from scratch doesn’t have to be complicated and that YOU can do it. My simple recipes, tutorials, and cooking tips will help you get weeknight dinners on the table with less stress. Forget takeout or the drive-thru. Let me show you how to make homemade easy. Read more...
Fantastic!
Di, I’m so happy you enjoyed it!
I don’t like mayo can I use the egg wash?
I also don’t like mustard what do you suggest?
Hi Rosemary. Those are just traditional Cordon Bleu flavors, but you could mix it up to suit your own tastes. Do you like sour cream or plain yogurt? Maybe even Ranch Dressing? I think those would work better than an egg wash if you want the same textures as a Cordon Bleu. As far as a substitute for the mustard, it would depend on flavors you DO enjoy. Barbecue Sauce? Horseradish Sauce?, Ranch Dressing? I have never tried any of those, but if I was switching things up, that’s probably the first place I would start. Hope you find alternatives that you love. If you do, please let me know what combination you liked best.
oh wow, great tips for one of my favorites. I may be in trouble with how quick this is to make now!
Thanks, Paula! I was genuinely shocked at how simple it could be. Hope you emjoy it!
This recipe is a winner! Loads of flavor!
Thank you, Paula!
I never thought of making chicken cordon bleu in an air fryer. It turned out so tender and flavorful. Highly recommended!
Journa, thank you! I’m excited that you are enjoying the recipe!
The easiest way to cook cordon bleu! Thanks for the tips
Thank you, Cam! So glad the post was helpful.
What a great way to make chicken cordon bleu! Your tips made it so easy, and the air fryer did the rest to make a delicious entree for dinner.
Dana, yay! I’m excited that the recipe is serving you well.
I love this pocket technique! It made everything so much easier and it came out perfectly. I’ll definitely be making this again now that I have a super easy method. Thank you!
Genevieve, that was the game changer for me, too! So happy you enjoyed the recipe.
Now this is one easy way to cook chicken. Love how delicious the result looks!
Thank you, Mahy! It turns out absolutely scrumptious every time. I love how simple classics can become in the air fryer!
This was such a great way to use the air fryer. So delicious.
Dannii, I agree. We often think of the air fryer for snacks or “fast food” style cooking, so I love when it works beautifully for a beautiful main dish.
Oh my gosh! This is the easiest cordon bleu recipe ever. Really enjoyed the ease and taste. Thanks!
Tara, I’m thrilled that you think so, too. I absolutely love this recipe. Thanks for stopping by to let me know you’d tried it!