Creamy Easy Chicken Cordon Bleu Without the Work

SarasotaCook's Note:

Going through old recipes and finding all kinds of things ... One's I completely forgot about which can be fun. Well this is not completely my recipe. This came out of some small grocery store book years ago, which is long since gone. I did on search with Campbells and couldn't find it, so it's origin is history I guess. I still love it even though it has canned soup, which is something I don't like to use, but I still make this and it is always well liked. I have added some fresh herbs and I like to use a good smoked ham but it can't get much easier.

• Total Time: 1 hrs 20 mins
• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 1 hrs

Ingredients:

Serves: 4

Yield: 4.0

• 1 lb chicken breast, cut lengthwise into thirds
• 1 cup smoked ham (Deli sliced 1/4-inch thick ham chopped)
• 1 shallot, thin sliced
• 1 (11 ounce) can cream of chicken soup
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1 cup swiss cheese, shredded
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped fine
• salt
• pepper

Bread Crumbs

• 1 cup fresh bread
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• remaining parsley
• 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
• 1 pinch salt
• 1 teaspoon butter

Directions:

1. Bread Crumbs -- In a food processor finely chop the bread crumbs and then add the paprika, salt and pepper. In a small saute pan on medium heat, add the butter and melt. Add the bread crumbs and toss well to coat. Cook until golden brown. Remove and set to the side.
2. Sauce -- Add the soup, sour cream, salt (go easy, the soup has salt), pepper and 1/2 of the parsley to a small bowl.
3. Chicken -- Spray a small casserole dish with Pam or any non stick spray and add the chicken, then the ham and top with the soup mixture.
4. Bake -- Heat the oven to 325 and bake for 45 minutes uncovered. After 20 minute, add the cheese and top with the bread crumbs and remaining parsley and cook until golden brown and bubbly.
5. Serve with some rice pilaf or butter noodles. Comfort food!

Reviews

[The Wallaces]

Wonderful comfort food, a quicker and easier version perfect for a work day dinner! I too am not a huge fan of cream of something soups, but the sauce was great in this, and a bit healthier than the traditional cream-based sauce. The instructions did not say what to do with the shallot, so I just sauteed it in the butter and then added it all to the crumb mixture. Instead of making my own bread crumbs, I used panko and it crisped up nicely! Definitely a keeper, thanks for posting!