Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole For Two – An Easy Leftover Ham Recipe

If you love the taste of Chicken Cordon Bleu but never make it because it takes too much time, you are going to love this casserole recipe! It has all the flavors of the classic dish but can be prepared in minutes.

In fact it is one of my favorite recipes to make with leftover ham after the holidays. Not only does it help me use up what I have in the refrigerator, it is a true comfort food meal that tastes absolutely delicious.

It is the perfect dinner recipe on a cold winter night or on a busy weeknight when I don’t have much time to spend in the kitchen. And because this recipe is designed for two that means I won’t have to worry about storing more leftovers that might go to waste.

What Is Chicken Cordon Bleu

If you aren’t familiar with what Chicken cordon bleu is, let me explain. It is a classic dish that consists of boneless, skinless chicken breasts that have been pounded thin and then stuffed with ham and Swiss cheese. The chicken is then breaded and either pan-fried or baked until golden brown and crispy.

The spelling “cordon bleu” is the French spelling for the dish, and it is traditionally used in English as well. It is pronounced like the English word blue.

There are a few reasons why the French spelling is typically used for chicken cordon bleu. First, it is the more authentic spelling of the dish. Second, it helps to distinguish the dish from other dishes that use the word “blue,” such as blue cheese or blue corn.

However, there is nothing wrong with using the English spelling “chicken cordon blue” when referring to this recipe. However, if you want to be more authentic, it is best to use the French spelling.

Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole Ingredients

Cooked chopped chicken – You can use leftover rotisserie chicken, canned chicken, baked, broiled, or boiled chicken for this recipe.

Diced ham – Dice the leftover ham into half inch, bite size pieces so that they don’t require any cutting when you go to eat the casserole. If you don’t have leftover ham you can cut deli ham and use that in this recipe.

Sour cream – Sour cream is not only used as part of the casserole filling. It is used to provide a little tang to the dish as well. Use can use full-fat, reduced-fat or fat-free sour cream.

Grated Swiss cheese – Packaged shredded Swiss cheese is difficult to find. Therefore it is best to grate your own from a block of fresh cheese. However I have found a package of shredded Swiss and Gruyère cheese at my local Kroger store and it works well in this recipe.

Dijon mustard – Another layer of moisture and tang comes from a little Dijon mustard.

Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup – The creamy base also includes condensed cream of chicken soup. You can make your own or use store-bought soup. Just be sure to purchase low-sodium or salt-free whenever possible.

Seasonings – Both garlic powder and onion powder are used in the filling to add a hint of flavor. Of course you will also need salt to cook the pasta.

Penne Pasta – No casserole would be complete without some sort of starch and for this Chicken Cordon Bleu casserole we will use pasta. Penne is the pasta of choice for both its size and texture. However feel free to substitute rotini, elbow or ziti.

How many cups of pasta to use?

Although most standard casserole recipes that are intended to feed a family call for a box of pasta, this isn’t the case when it comes for making dinner for two. Sometimes it can be difficult to figure out how much pasta to add when cooking a small batch recipe.

For this chicken cordon bleu casserole you will need 4 ounces of dried penne pasta. That equals out to 1 cup of uncooked pasta, or 2 1/2 cups of cooked penne pasta.

The Topping

In order to get that exterior crunch that is found in the classic dish, the casserole will be covered in a crunchy topping. You have two options when it comes to making the topping.

Crushed crackers: Crushed crackers are a great option for a crunchy casserole topping. You can use any type of cracker but for this recipe Ritz crackers is the best choice.

A typical sleeve of standard size Ritz crackers holds 32 crackers. However you can now purchase them in small packets that hold 14 in each smaller size sleeve. Depending on the size of your baking dish you will need 14-17 crackers for the topping.

Breadcrumbs: Breadcrumbs are another classic casserole topping that provides a nice crunch and a slightly nutty flavor. You can use store-bought breadcrumbs or make your own by toasting and crushing bread.

Best Size Casserole Dish To Use

The best size baking dish for making a casserole for two people is a 2-quart or 8×8-inch baking dish. This size dish will provide enough space for the ingredients to cook evenly and will also be large enough to hold enough leftovers for another meal.

Gluten-Free Options

Gluten-Free Breadcrumbs: Replace traditional breadcrumbs with gluten-free breadcrumbs or crushed gluten-free crackers. These alternatives provide a similar texture and crunch without the gluten.

Ham: Ham in itself is naturally gluten-free. However, some processed ham products may contain added ingredients, such as wheat-derived dextrin or modified food starch, which can contain gluten so be sure to check the packaging label carefully.

Soup: Standard condensed cream of chicken soup contains gluten. Therefore be sure to use a gluten-free variety.

Dijon Mustard: Double-check to ensure that the mustard is gluten-free.

Gluten-Free Pasta: There are several brands of gluten free pasta available at most grocery stores. My personal favorite is Banza Chickpea pasta.

Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole For Two

*A printable recipe card is located at the bottom of this article which contains the specific measurements, temperatures and cook times. However, continue reading below to learn about more helpful tips about this specific recipe.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups cooked chopped chicken
• 1 cup diced ham
• 3/4 cup sour cream
• 3/4 cup grated Swiss cheese
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1/4 tsp onion powder
• 1/8 tsp garlic powder
• 5.5 ounces Unsalted condensed cream of chicken soup (1/2 standard can)*
• 2 teaspoons butter, melted
• 1/2 standard sleeve Ritz crackers
• 4 ounces penned pasta, cooked

*Use the other half of the can of soup to make Old-Fashioned Chicken & Noodles.

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Lightly spray an 8 x 8 inch baking dish with cooking spray. You can also use a 5 x 5 inch baking dish for a thicker casserole.

Combine chicken, ham, sour cream, Swiss cheese, Dijon mustard, onion powder, garlic powder, and cream of chicken soup together in a medium size bowl. Mix well.

Spread the mixture into the prepared pan. Set it aside.

Combine crushed crackers and melted butter and mix until the crackers are just moist. Sprinkle the crumb evenly over the chicken mixture.

Place the Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole in the preheated oven and bake uncovered for 30 to 40 minutes. Then remove the baking dish from the oven and let it sit for 5 minutes before serving.

Enjoy! Mary

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