Want the yummy flavors of Chicken Cordon Bleu, but without the extra fat, carbs, and calories? You found it!

The name of one of France’s most famous dishes, Chicken Cordon Bleu can be quite misleading.

First, although it has a French name, and you can find it in myriad Parisienne restaurants, it is most likely not a French creation.

The story most believed says a Swiss chef invented it in order to stretch the quantity of her meat. By stuffing it with ham and cheese, she was able to serve all of her guests, and the dish was a big hit!

Second, Chicken Cordon Bleu is not made with blue cheese or anything blue at all. The French term cordon bleu simply translates to “blue ribbon.”

The term has, of course, come to mean food of the highest quality made by outstanding cooks. However, it originally referred to the blue ribbon worn by L’Ordre des chevaliers du Saint-Esprit, the highest order of knighthood. So, I guess that means this Low-Carb Chicken Cordon Bleu is indeed pretty special.

Traditionally in preparing Chicken Cordon Bleu, the chicken cutlet would be fried, breaded, and stuffed with ham and cheese. But what I really love about this recipe is that because it really is an “Inside-Out” Chicken Cordon Bleu, it is healthy (no frying), low carb (no breading), and easy to prepare (no stuffing).

Hmmm, maybe I should be calling it Easy Chicken Cordon Bleu? Or, with the low-fat cheese and low-fat ham, you can actually even call it Healthy Chicken Cordon Bleu! Whatever you call it, it is delicious, loaded with flavor, and something you’ll want to make again and again!

In a way, this Low-Carb Chicken Cordon Bleu is what you get when comfort food meets fancy restaurant dining. Kids love the gooey cheese, yet it’s sophisticated enough to serve at a dinner party or even to your most discerning guests.

Additionally, it’s an easy dish to prepare if you’re entertaining, as the majority of the work can be done ahead of time!

The Chicken Cordon Bleu Sauce is optional, especially if you are watching your calories. The truth is that the meal both looks appetizing and tastes wonderful without it.

As for suggested side dishes, please see What to Serve with Low-Carb Chicken Cordon Bleu below.

Low Carb Chicken Cordon Bleu Recipe
Servings: 6

Ingredients
2 pounds chicken tenders
½ cup Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons low-fat mayonnaise
½ pound low-fat ham, sliced thin
4 slices low-fat Jarlsberg cheese

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 375°.
2. Brown chicken tenders on both sides in a frying pan and place on a well sprayed sheet pan.
3. Mix the mayonnaise and Dijon together to make dijonnaise, and put a layer on all of the tenders.
4. Slice the cheese in thirds and place a strip on each of the tenders.
5. Take one slice of ham and place it on top of each tender so it is centered. Fold each side of the ham underneath the tender so that it is rolled completely around the tender.
6. Bake in oven for approximately 10 minutes until cooked through. I pull it out at 160° so that it will reach 165° after sitting a few minutes.

Tips
1. If you don’t have chicken tenders, you can cut boneless chicken breasts into the approximate size called for.
2. Many cheeses can replace the Jarlsberg. Good choices include Swiss cheese, Comté/Gruyere, Munster, or even mozzarella.

Meal Prep
1. If you cook this Low-Carb Chicken Cordon Bleu ahead of time, slice it before reheating.
2. This is a great meal to serve to guests as you can do steps 1-5 before they arrive and have the dish ready to pop in the oven 10 minutes before serving.

Chicken Cordon Bleu Sauce (optional)
Servings: 8

Ingredients
1 cup dry white wine
1 cup vegetable broth, low sodium
¼ cup Dijon mustard
¼ teaspoon ground rosemary
½ tablespoon minced garlic
½ cup fat-free sour cream

Directions
1. Bring wine to a boil. Lower it to a simmer, and reduce the wine by half.
2. Add vegetable broth, Dijon mustard, ground rosemary, and minced garlic, and simmer for approximately 10 minutes.
3. Strain if needed and return it to the saucepan.
4. Reduce heat and whisk in sour cream a little at a time to thicken.

What to Serve with Low-Carb Chicken Cordon Bleu

I do believe in eating a well-balanced meal with lean protein, a healthy carb, and plenty of veggies. So, because this entrée is low carb, it means you can have a carb as a side dish in addition to a vegetable!

In fact, that’s another great reason to make this recipe! I like to balance the richness of the cheese with simple sides, here are a few that pair well:

Wild Rice Almandine
Steamed broccoli
Sautéed garlic kale or spinach
Pasta with garlic and olive oil

What to do with leftover Chicken Cordon Bleu

I always hope for leftovers when I make this dish as there’s many ways to use them! Here are my favorites:

Chicken Cordon Bleu Sandwich: You can use whatever bread, bun, or roll you have in your house. However, keeping in French mode, I find a piece of baguette makes the perfect Chicken Cordon Bleu Sandwich. Spread additional dijonnaise on your bread of choice, and you’ve got a gourmet sub.

Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole: Whisk 1 egg into 1 cup of dijonnaise. Chop the remaining Chicken Cordon Blue and toss into the dijonnaise mixture. Pour the chicken mixture into a well-sprayed casserole dish and even it out. Then top it with a layer of your cheese of choice, and a layer of ham. Bake at 350° until the egg mixture is cooked through.

Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta: I love Buccatini pasta for this dish! You can toss the pasta in the Chicken Cordon Bleu Sauce, or in olive oil and garlic. Then slice the chicken Cordon Bleu and arrange it on top of the pasta.

More Recipes

If you like Chicken Cordon Bleu, you may want to try my recipes for the following:

French Cheese Board
Croque Monsieur
Fish Francaise
Quiche Lorraine
Low-Cal Lyonnaise Salad

For more on a couple of elegantly delicious French sandwiches, read: Croque Monsieur vs. Croque Madame.

If you want to do a calorie splurge, try the decadent version of Chicken Cordon Bleu in The Joy of Cooking, by Irma S. Rombauer, Marion Rombauer Becker, and Ethan Becker.