Slow-Cooker Chicken Cordon Bleu

Satisfying a craving for old-fashioned chicken cordon bleu sometimes means spending a fair amount of time in the kitchen. But this slow-cooker chicken cordon bleu recipe makes it much easier to enjoy this savory dish on busy nights or for a weekend dinner with friends. Pop it in the crockpot, then head to work, run errands or get caught in a binge-watching sesh, and it will be ready when you are.

Chicken cordon bleu is one of those fancy restaurant recipes we love to indulge in. It starts with chicken breasts pounded thin, then rolled with ham and Swiss cheese. The roll-ups are dipped in egg, breaded and usually pan-fried. This slow-cooker version eliminates many of these steps by layering the chicken, ham and cheese in the pot with a rich, creamy sauce. A topping of seasoned stuffing replaces the breading and cooks up alongside the chicken. It’s comfort food with a twist—a slow-cooker chicken recipe that will make everyone run to the table.

Ingredients for Slow-Cooker Chicken Cordon Bleu

• Chicken breasts: Boneless skinless chicken breasts make this a breeze to prep and cook.
• Swiss cheese: Use grated Swiss cheese for that classic cordon bleu flavor. Cheese that you grate yourself has better meltability and taste.
• Condensed cream of chicken soup: Canned condensed soup creates the savory, creamy sauce for this chicken cordon bleu in a crockpot.
• Ham: The recipe calls for sliced deli ham, but you can easily use leftovers from a weekend glazed ham dinner. Ham adds smoky flavor and a smidge of saltiness to the cordon bleu.
• Milk: Instead of reconstituting the cream soup with water, use 2% or whole milk for extra-creamy gravy.
• Reduced-sodium stuffing mix: This is an unexpected but very delicious addition to the chicken cordon bleu! Dry stuffing mix soaks up flavor and moisture from the other ingredients in the slow cooker.
• Butter: Dot the stuffing with sliced butter to infuse the whole dish with flavor.
• Black pepper: Even with reduced-sodium ingredients, this recipe has enough salt. You’ll need just a small amount of black pepper to season the chicken cordon bleu.
• Chopped fresh parsley: This optional garnish adds a pop of color at the end.

Directions

Step 1: Layer the ingredients in the slow cooker

Place the chicken in a 5- or 6-quart slow cooker. Layer with ham and Swiss cheese. In a small bowl, mix the soup, milk and pepper; pour over the top of the layered ingredients.

Sprinkle everything with the stuffing mix. Layer butter slices over the stuffing.

Step 2: Cook

Cook, covered, on low for four to five hours or until chicken is tender. If desired, sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley before serving.

Slow-Cooker Chicken Cordon Bleu Variations

• Use homemade soup: Make a homemade version of cream of chicken soup for even better flavor. Try making a double batch and then freeze the leftovers for whenever you need them.
• Skip the stuffing: To serve chicken cordon bleu with other sides like cooked pasta or mashed potatoes, omit the stuffing from the recipe. Sprinkle toasted seasoned bread crumbs over the finished chicken instead.

How to Store Slow-Cooker Chicken Cordon Bleu

Allow the slow-cooker chicken cordon bleu to cool, then transfer it to a tightly covered food storage container. Store the chicken cordon bleu in the fridge for up to four days.

Can you freeze slow-cooker chicken cordon bleu?

Because this recipe contains milk and cream soup, we don’t recommend freezing slow-cooker chicken cordon bleu. These dairy ingredients tend to separate and become grainy when thawed after freezing. It’s best to store this dish in the refrigerator instead.

How should you reheat slow-cooker chicken cordon bleu?

You can reheat this chicken cordon bleu in the oven. Place it in a baking dish and cover with foil. Bake the chicken in a 350°F oven until it’s heated through. Another way to reheat the chicken is in a covered skillet set over medium heat on the stovetop. Cook until it’s heated through, adding a splash of milk if needed to help loosen the sauce.

Slow-Cooker Chicken Cordon Bleu Tips

Can you use another type of chicken for this recipe?

Though chicken cordon bleu traditionally features chicken breast, you can make this slow-cooker version with boneless skinless chicken thighs instead. They should cook through in the same amount of time; the internal temperature of the chicken should be 165° on a digital thermometer.

What can you serve with slow-cooker chicken cordon bleu?

No need to prepare a starchy side dish; what’s great about this chicken cordon bleu in a crockpot is that the seasoned stuffing cooks up right in the dish. Focus instead on vegetable sides such as roasted asparagus and leeks, green beans Amandine or air-fryer Brussels sprouts. Or, try a fresh side like a mixed green salad with a tangy vinaigrette.