I am thrilled to share my air fryer gluten free chicken cordon bleu recipe with you! The flavor combination of thinly sliced ham, Swiss cheese, and juicy chicken breast is incredible. Make this for a busy weeknight since it cooks in under 30 minutes!
If you don't have an air fryer, don't worry because I include an oven-baked option too.
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Mr. Fearless Dining and I used to love chicken cordon bleu before going gluten-free. I don't know why I haven't made a gluten free version. That flavor combination was so amazing; what has taken me so long?
It took a bit to figure out how to get it perfectly crisp on the outside, but I am certain I finally got it. I couldn't wait any longer to tell you all about it.
Can't get enough of this gluten free stuffed chicken breast? You should check out some of my other gluten free chicken recipes.
Why this recipe is great:
Everyone will eat this one of the meals, including my picky one! It is quick and easy to make, and the saltiness from the ham adds so much flavor to the chicken!
When you take each bite of this crispy chicken, ensure you get a bit of all the yummy ingredients on your fork. The explosion of flavors in your mouth is unforgettable.
If you love using the air fryer, you will want to make my juicy air-fried gluten free chicken nuggets too!
What you need to make this:
- Thinly sliced fresh chicken breasts - You can usually buy chicken breasts sliced thinly. If not, buy regular chicken breasts and thinly slice them horizontally into cutlets.
- Ham - Use thinly sliced ham, which will make these rolls easier.
- Swiss cheese - I use thinly sliced.
- Gluten free panko or bread crumbs - or make your own gluten free bread crumbs!
- Toothpicks to hold it all together until it is cooked.
How To Make Gluten Free Chicken Cordon Bleu:
Step 1: Layout the thinly sliced chicken on a plate or dishwasher-safe cutting board. These days you can purchase chicken breasts thinly sliced. If you can't find it, you can use a knife to thinly slice regular chicken breasts or a meat pounder to pound your chicken.
You want your chicken to be about ¼ inch thick. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add ham and Swiss cheese on top.
Step 2: Carefully roll your chicken breasts over the ham and Swiss cheese to make a roll. Use toothpicks to hold the rolls in place.
Step 3: Dip the chicken roll in mixed egg and roll to coat the chicken. Next, roll the chicken in the breadcrumb mixture.
Air fryer instructions:
Corsori gave me an air fryer for this post. My old one broke quickly, and I had been trying to decide which to buy when Corsori reached out.
This air fryer is inexpensive and works so well. There is no off-gassing of any smells, and it is so easy to use that my son uses it to reheat foods. I bought this accessories kit to fit in my air fryer, so I expect many more delicious gluten-free air fryer recipes in the future.
Step 4: Spray the inside of the air fryer with oil and place the chicken gently inside the fryer basket. Spray the top of each chicken roll with oil. This will help the outside breading get nice and crispy. I love to use this oil mister so the oil is finely sprayed.
Step 5: Preheat the air fryer for 5 minutes at 360º F, then cook the chicken rolls for 12-13 minutes. The cooking time will vary depending on how thick your chicken rolls are. Open the air fryer, turn the chicken over, and cook for 5 minutes.
Use a meat thermometer to check the temperature in the center of the rolls. You want your chicken to have an internal temperature of 165º F.
Step 6: Remove the toothpicks. Serve hot.
Oven instructions:
If you don't have an air fryer, no problem! To bake these in the oven, preheat your oven to 350º F. Place the chicken in a greased 8x8 pan. Spray oil over the chicken rolls and bake for 30 minutes.
Check the internal temperature to make sure it is 165º F. The exact baking time will depend on how thick your chicken was sliced and how large the rolls are.
Cooked chicken breast should be firm to the touch but break apart easily when you try to shred it. Try not to overcook the chicken, or it will be dry and flavorful.
Don't forget to check out my easy Gluten Free Air Fryer Recipes for even more dinner ideas!
What To Serve With Chicken Cordon Bleu:
If you are like me, you enjoy a complete meal at least every once in a while. There are so many delicious sides to serve with chicken cordon bleu. Take a few of these side dish ideas to try out.
- Mashed Potatoes - The creaminess of the potato is a delightful flavor and texture with the chicken.
- Kale Salad - You can choose a fresh vegetable salad or go big with a gourmet-style salad. Either way, it works!
- Roasted Vegetables - Brussels sprouts, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, radish, or anything else you think sounds good is worth a try.
- These Cinnamon Brown Sugar Carrots are very popular, especially with kids and teens.
- This Italian Air Fryer Green Beans recipe is another delicious side that tastes incredible with chicken cordon bleu.
Storage:
You can easily store the leftover gluten free chicken cordon bleu in an air-tight container in your refrigerator. Store the chicken in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
To reheat the leftovers in the microwave. Place a towel over the chicken before heating so it doesn't make a mess. When you reheat the chicken, the outer breaded coating will not stay crisp.
Expert Tips and Recipe FAQ:
This chicken dish originated in Switzerland, and Swiss cheese is very popular there.
Although the classic recipe uses Swiss cheese, you can use any cheese you like. Many types of cheese taste delicious paired with ham.
I love to use gluten free panko, but any gluten free bread crumbs will do. I have even used Trader Joe's Rice Crumbs in a pinch.
You will know the chicken is done when you can insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part and the temp is at least 160º F. Keep in mind the chicken should be 165º F. before you consume it, but it keeps cooking for a few minutes after you remove it from the heat.
Another thing to watch for is that when you pierce the chicken, you notice that the fluids are clear that run out of it. If the fluid is brown or red, that is a great indicator; it's still not done cooking.
You can use frozen chicken breasts, but you need to thaw them before rolling them with the bread crumbs mixture.
I do not recommend leaving chicken out too long. If the chicken is raw, I would not recommend leaving the chicken out for more than an hour. If it is summer, I will leave it out even in less time.
More delicious chicken dinner ideas:
If you are heading out to dinner away from home, don't forget to check out my article: Safe Gluten Free Dining Tips And My Most Popular Gluten Free Recipes. It will save your sanity, and you will know the correct questions to ask so you don't have a gluten emergency.
Recipe
Gluten Free Chicken Cordon Bleu
Ingredients
- 1 pound thinly sliced chicken * see notes
- 4 slices ham
- 4 slices Swiss cheese
- 1 ½ cups gluten free panko or bread crumbs
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 1 egg
Instructions
- In a bowl, add an egg and mix well.
- In a second bowl, add the panko and seasoning and mix well.
- Take a thinly sliced chicken breast and lay it on a plate. Add a slice of ham and Swiss cheese on top.
- Slowly roll the chicken breast around and secure it with toothpicks.
- Repeat with the rest of the chicken.
- Dip each roll into the egg mixture, then roll it around the panko mixture.
- Preheat your air fryer for 5 minutes to 350º F. To cook in your air fryer, spray the fryer lightly with oil. Add your chicken rolls and spray the oil mist onto the chicken. Cook for 12 minutes at 360º F. Open the air fryer and turn the chicken over. Cook an additional 5 minutes. Check the internal temperature of the rolls to ensure it is 165º F.
- To cook in the oven, preheat your oven to 350º F. Add your chicken rolls to a greased 8x8 pan. Mist oil over the chicken and bake for 30 minutes. Check the internal temperature like above. (*see note)
Notes
- These days you can buy chicken breasts sliced thinly. If you can't find them at your local grocery store, you can use a meat pounder to flatten your chicken breasts.
- Cooking time will vary depending on how thick your chicken is sliced, and how large each roll is.
- You can use gluten free panko, bread crumbs, or even Trader Joe's rice crumbs.
- Make homemade gluten free bread crumbs, which are so much less expensive than store-bought.
- This chicken will keep up to 4 days in an air-tight container, or up to 4 months in the freezer.
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.
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