Chicken Cordon Bleu

This simple way to make chicken cordon bleu only takes about 15 minutes prep time with 30 minutes baking time. I always used to wonder how chefs got the ham and cheese inside the chicken. After I realized how easy it was, I had to laugh. If you can make a burrito, you can make this dish. It's really not fancy at all once you know how to make it, but it sure is good!

4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts (or however many your family will need)
8 pieces of reduced fat, sliced Swiss cheese (or 2 per chicken breast)
~1 cup reduced fat, shredded mozzarella cheese
4 pieces of 96% fat free, sliced ham (~1/4 inch thick)
1 packet of Italian-style Shake-n-Bake (or Progresso Italian bread crumbs)
~1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

Pound and flatten chicken breasts between two pieces of wax paper on a hard surface with a kitchen mallet. (You can get these at your local supermarket for under $3 OR just use the heel of your hand...but it starts to hurt and takes longer if you do this.) Once all the chicken breasts are thinned out evenly to ~1/4 - 1/2 inch in thickness, lay one piece of Swiss cheese at one end of each piece. Lay a piece of ham on top of the cheese and then place another piece of cheese on top of the ham. Sprinkle on ~1/4 cup of shredded mozzarella. Now carefully, from the loaded end, roll up the chicken like a burrito so that the seam is tucked under at the bottom.

Transfer each chicken piece carefully to a foil-covered baking pan that has been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. If any shredded cheese falls out the sides, just gently push it back in. Brush each chicken piece with olive oil, making sure to coat all sides. Sprinkle and pat on the Shake-n-Bake, covering the tops and sides of each chicken piece.
Bake at 375 for 30 minutes.

Now that you know how easy it is to make chicken cordon bleu, you won't want to pay so much for it at those fancy restaurants anymore! Now you can make it at home in no time and for a fraction of the price, the fat, and calories! 

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