Home SeasonalWinter Air Fryer Chicken Cordon Bleu

Air Fryer Chicken Cordon Bleu

by amazonskylers

This Air Fryer Chicken Cordon Bleu with creamy cheese sauce will blow your mind! Perfectly golden-brown on the outside, + juicy, cheesy incredible on the inside. It’s a fancy-feeling anytime dinner that’s ready in under an hour!

air fryer chicken cordon bleu sliced into pieces with melting cheese coming out.

Note from Danielle

There is no blue cheese in this recipe, I PROMISE. ‘Cordon Bleu’ is actually French for ‘blue ribbon’. These days, it’s a term for describing food cooked to very high standards by an incredible chef. The best in the land! And this chicken, well yes, it is the best in the land. And you are the incredible chef!!

But for real, this chicken is stuffed with ham and gruyère cheese, then smothered in an incredible creamy cheese sauce. Chicken DOES NOT get better than this, people. This has got to be one of my favorite chicken recipes of all time.

By the way – here in the post content, you’ll find detailed information on the ingredients used, possible substitutions, and helpful tips for successful results based on my experience with this recipe.

For the printable recipe card with a list of ingredients followed by concise instructions, keep scrolling down or hit the ‘Jump to Recipe’ button at the top of the page. Frequently asked questions are located below the recipe card.

Recipe Overview

Total Time: 55 minutes
Difficulty: Moderate
Method: Air Fryer & Stovetop
Prep: Make-Ahead Friendly

Note: I’ve rated this recipe as Moderate difficulty because there are a couple different cooking techniques required – raw meat handling, tenderizing, and making a cream sauce from scratch. Each step by itself isn’t tricky, but when you put them all back-to-back, it equals a Moderate difficulty recipe.

What are the ingredients in this Air Fryer Chicken Cordon Bleu?

What I absolutely love about this recipe is that with a couple simple techniques, you can turn all these basic ingredients into a quite fancy-feeling dinner. Here’s a list of everything you’ll need for this recipe, plus info on swaps or substitutions when it works:

  • chicken breasts – Look for two boneless skinless chicken breasts of equal size. This way when you cut them into four slices and prep the cordon bleu, they should all cook evenly. The tenderloin piece can be hard to cut in half and roll up, so I prefer to look for chicken packaged without it.
  • deli ham – A thin sliced smoked deli ham works really well here, but if your ham is a little thicker, just use one slice each.
  • gruyère cheese – Traditionally, cordon bleu is made with Swiss cheese, but honestly, I don’t like it much. So I opted for Gruyère, which I think is even better. It’s slightly sweet, which contrasts well with the salty smoked ham.
  • flour – All-purpose flour is used to coat the chicken as well as make the base roux for the creamy cheese sauce.
  • garlic powder – Adding a little garlic powder to both the flour seasoning step and the sauce gives a nice subtle flavor without spending any time mincing!
  • egg – Another step in breading involves covering the prepared chicken in whisked egg and a little milk, before the final step of adding breadcrumbs.
  • milk – I add a little bit of milk to the egg as well as using milk for the base of the cheese sauce. I actually used unsweetened almond milk, but cow’s milk would also work just fine.
  • panko breadcrumbs – The last step of breading! Press a nice layer of panko breadcrumbs on the chicken before placing it into the air fryer basket. Panko is a thicker crumb that will work really well for this quick breading method.
  • butter – A small amount of unsalted butter is used for the base of the cream sauce. Butter gives the best flavor!
  • dijon mustard – This adds a bit of flavor to the cream sauce and gives a nice contrast to the chicken and ham.
  • fine sea salt & fresh ground black pepper – Of course, everything is seasoned well with salt and pepper. I definitely recommend sprinkling salt on the chicken after tenderizing, as well as adding salt and pepper to the flour and the cream sauce to enhance flavor.
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ingredients required to make chicken cordon bleu before starting.

Equipment you’ll need to make this Air Fryer Chicken Cordon Bleu:

You do need a couple different tools to make this recipe come out amazing. While you could always bake chicken cordon bleu, this recipe was written for the air fryer. Here are my recommendations:

  • air fryer – The air fryer I’m currently in love with and pictured in this post is the Cosori Turboblaze 6 Quart Air Fryer (affiliate link!). I just started using this model in 2024, and I’m loving how easy it is to clean. Plus it’s way quieter than my older model!
  • sharp chef’s knife – To safely and successfully slice chicken breasts in half horizontally, you definitely need a sharp knife. I recommend a Misen Chef’s Knife (affiliate link!).
  • meat tenderizer – Honestly any heavy object can work to tenderize meat, but I love this style: slightly heavy, round and flat (affiliate link!).

How do you make this Chicken Cordon Bleu?

While it may look super restaurant style fancy, I promise this Chicken Cordon Bleu is something you can easily nail in your own kitchen! Top tip: Don’t be afraid of the raw chicken, and use gloves if you want to!

Start by preparing the chicken breasts for rolling. Use a sharp knife to cut both chicken breasts horizontally and create 4 evenly sized cutlets. Here’s a video on how to cut chicken horizontally and then tenderize it, if you are a visual learner!

Next, to tenderize, place 2 cutlets into a gallon sized zip-top bag, lay them flat on the counter, and use a flat tenderizer, mallet, or cast iron pan to flatten them to about 1/2 inch thick. This can also be seen in the video above. Be gentle enough not to shred the chicken. Repeat with remaining 2 chicken slices. Sprinkle both sides of all tenderized chicken pieces with salt, then get ready to stuff and roll!

using a tenderizer to pound chicken breasts in a zip-top bag.

Before proceeding with stuffing the chicken full of ham and cheese, set aside 2/3 cup shredded cheese for the sauce. Of course you can use Swiss cheese if you prefer, but I am loving using Gruyère instead! The sweet nuttiness contrasts perfects with the salty ham.

Lay 1 piece of tenderized chicken flat on a cutting board or plate. Place the ham slices flat towards one end of the chicken. Next, take a large pinch (or small handful) of shredded cheese and squeeze it together in your palm so it sticks together, then place it on top of the ham.

Start rolling from the ham covered end, rolling the chicken up while tucking the ham and cheese inside, then secure it closed with a toothpick. It does not have to be perfect! If it doesn’t stay secured, use another toothpick. Set the chicken aside or on a small plate. Repeat with all 3 remaining pieces of chicken.

Next, use 3 low edge bowls or plates to set up a breading station as follows:

  • In bowl 1, add the flour, garlic powder, sea salt and black pepper and stir together.
  • In bowl 2, whisk 1 egg with 1 tablespoon of milk.
  • In bowl 3, add the panko breadcrumbs.
step by step of chicken breast being stuffed with ham and cheese then rolled up.
raw chicken cordon bleu in the air fryer basket before cooking.

Bread each rolled up chicken breast in the following order: flour, egg, panko breadcrumbs. Set each one into the air fryer basket as they are coated. Air fry all four of the the chicken cordon bleu servings at 350F for 21-23 minutes. While the chicken is cooking, make the creamy cheese sauce!

To make the sauce, start by melting the butter in a large skillet over low heat. Once it’s melted, add the flour and whisk until combined. Let it bubble and begin to foam for about 2 minutes, whisking occasionally.

Next, add the milk in small additions, about 1/4 cup at a time, whisking thoroughly to combine between each addition. Add the dijon mustard and garlic powder, followed by the gruyère cheese.

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step by step of making cheese cream sauce for the chicken cordon bleu.

Whisk continuously until the cheese is melted and a smooth sauce has formed. Add sea salt and black pepper if you wish. Keep the sauce on low, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is done. This should be around the same time!

The chicken cordon bleu is done when the outside coating is golden brown and the temperature reads 165F, though this can be hard to measure with stuffed chicken. Do a visual check by slicing the largest piece in the middle – there should be no pink in the chicken.

Let the chicken rest on a cutting board for 5 minutes – this helps it retain all the moisture – then slice each one into 4-5 slices. Serve the chicken with a generous amount of sauce on top!

cooked air fryer chicken cordon bleu in the air fryer basket.
sliced air fryer chicken cordon bleu with gruyere and ham inside.

Best tips for making Chicken Cordon Bleu in an air fryer:

Here are my best tips for making this chicken cordon bleu recipe successfully in your own kitchen:

  • Don’t skip tenderizing! Combined with air frying the chicken, this makes the juiciest, most tender chicken you’ve ever had. Be sure to use a zip-top bag to contain the mess when tenderizing, plus have an easy cleanup.
  • When breading the chicken, try to keep one hand dry (flour and breadcrumbs) and one hand wet (egg). This will help keep you from basically breading your own fingers.

air fryer stuffed chicken breast on a plate cut in half.

If you like this, you’ll love:

If you like this Air Fryer Chicken Cordon Bleu recipe, you will love my Air Fryer Stuffed Chicken!! Parm, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, made in the air fryer too!

Get the recipe

Why cook chicken cordon bleu in the air fryer vs. the oven?

Both the oven and air fryer can cook up delicious chicken cordon bleu, and stuffed chicken. But there might be cases where you need to use the air fryer – your oven is broken; your oven is full of something else; or maybe you don’t have an oven!

Baking stuffed chicken breast in the oven can take anywhere from 30-45 minutes depending on the size of the chicken breasts. Air fryer chicken breast takes around 20-23 minutes to cook.

sliced air fryer chicken cordon bleu on a cutting board.

What to serve with this Chicken Cordon Bleu?

When I photographed this recipe, I also made some oven-roasted asparagus and simple garlic rice pilaf from a box. All of these meal components together were unbelievably delicious! But the possibilities for what to serve with this chicken cordon bleu are endless and totally up to you. Here are some other ideas to try:

  • serve with any roasted vegetables
  • mashed potatoes! Or any kind of potato
  • serve over your favorite rice or pasta
  • serve with a side salad and fresh cut veggies

Make-ahead ideas for this recipe:

There are a couple ways to save time by preparing all or part of this recipe ahead of time. Here are some options:

  • Complete prep: Prepare the recipe from start to finish. Then, store your cooked chicken cordon bleu in an airtight container to reheat and eat during the week. You can even reheat it in the air fryer and it will still be crisp on the outside!
  • Assemble chicken only: Prepare the recipe through Step 2, then cover and let sit in the fridge for up to 24 hours. Proceed with the recipe when you’re ready!
sliced chicken cordon bleu on a plate.
sliced air fryer chicken cordon bleu with creamy cheese sauce on top.

How to store Air Fryer Chicken Cordon Bleu:

Store leftovers separately in sealed containers in the fridge and enjoy within 4 days.

How to reheat Air Fryer Chicken Cordon Bleu:

Reheat chicken in the air fryer for best results, though the microwave would work as well. Reheat at 350F for 6-7 minutes. Reheat the sauce on the stovetop, whisking and adding additional milk to thin it out if necessary.

Recipe

air fryer chicken cordon bleu sliced into pieces with melting cheese coming out.

Air Fryer Chicken Cordon Bleu

Prep: 25 minutesCook: 30 minutesTotal: 55 minutes

Ingredients

For the chicken:

For the sauce:

Instructions

  1. Prepare chicken breasts: Begin preparation by using a sharp knife to cut both chicken breasts (2 large) horizontally to create 4 evenly sized cutlets. Next, place 2 cutlets into a gallon sized zip-top bag and use a flat tenderizer (or your fist!) to flatten them to about 1/2 inch thick. Be gentle enough not to shred the chicken, but forceful enough to flatten and tenderize the chicken. Repeat with remaining 2 chicken slices. Sprinkle both sides of all tenderized chicken pieces with salt.
  2. Assemble: Set aside 2/3 cup shredded cheese for the sauce – the rest of the cheese gets stuffed into the cordon bleu. Lay 1 piece of chicken flat on a cutting board or plate. Place the ham slices (8) flat towards one end of the chicken. Next, take a large pinch of shredded cheese (about 1/4 cup each) and squeeze it together in your palm, then place it on top of the ham. Start rolling from the ham covered end, rolling the chicken up while tucking the ham and cheese inside, then secure it closed with a toothpick. Repeat with all 3 remaining pieces of chicken.
  3. Coat the chicken: Use 3 low edge bowls or plates to set up a breading station. In bowl 1, add the flour (1/3 cup), garlic powder (1/2 teaspoon), sea salt (1/2 teaspoon) and black pepper (1/4 teaspoon) and stir together. In bowl 2, whisk 1 egg with 1 tablespoon of milk. In bowl 3, add the panko breadcrumbs (3/4 cup). Bread each rolled chicken breast in the following order: 1 flour, 2 egg, 3 panko breadcrumbs. Set each into the air fryer basket as they are coated.
  4. Air fry: Air fry the chicken cordon bleu at 350F for 21-23 minutes. The chicken is done when the outside coating is golden brown and the temperature of the chicken reads 165F, though this can be hard to measure with stuffed chicken. Do a visual check by slicing the largest piece in the center – there should be no pink in the chicken.
  5. Make the sauce: While the chicken is cooking, make the cheese sauce. In a large skillet over low heat, melt the butter (2 tablespoons). Once melted, add the flour (2 tablespoons) and whisk until combined. Let it bubble and begin to foam for about 2 minutes, whisking occasionally. Next, add the milk (1 1/3 cups) in 4-5 small additions, whisking thoroughly to combine between each addition. Add the dijon mustard (1/2 tablespoon) and garlic powder (1/2 teaspoon), followed by the gruyère cheese (2/3 cup). Whisk continuously until the cheese is melted and a smooth sauce has formed. Add sea salt (1/2 teaspoon) and black pepper if you wish. Keep the sauce on low, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is done.
  6. Serve & store: When the chicken is done, let it rest on a cutting board for 5 minutes, then slice each piece into 4-5 slices and remove the toothpicks. Plate the chicken pieces, then add a generous amount of sauce on top, and serve. Store leftovers separately in sealed containers in the fridge and enjoy within 4 days.

Notes

Cheese: I prefer Gruyère over Swiss cheese, so that’s what I used in this recipe. My local grocery store sells Gruyère in 5-7 ounce blocks, which I shred at home before making this recipe.

Bake: To bake this chicken cordon bleu instead of air fryer, follow the recipe as written, but bake in a preheated 350F oven for 30-35 minutes.

Nutrition information estimated with My Fitness Pal.

Nutrition Information

  • Serving Size: 1 chicken cordon bleu
  • Calories: 643
  • Fat: 28g
  • Carbohydrates: 18g
  • Protein: 75g

Cuisine:
Swiss-inspired

Method:
Air Fryer

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this recipe freezer-friendly?

No, I would not recommend freezing this recipe, due to the breading and sauce components. The chicken would probably taste good, but ultimately, this recipe is best when enjoyed freshly cooked or as next-day leftovers.

Can I use chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts?

No, I recommend sticking to chicken breasts for this recipe.

Does the chicken taste good without the sauce?

Honestly, yes, the chicken is incredible and cheesy even if you don’t make the sauce. If you’re short on time or want to skip the sauce, that would be okay. In that case, you’ve basically got ham and cheese stuffed breaded chicken, which is also quite good!!

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