Air Fryer Chicken Cordon Bleu
Who doesn’t love chicken cordon bleu? Crispy-coated tender chicken stuffed with ham and cheese is a restaurant classic that you can make at home in your air fryer. This Air Fryer Chicken Cordon Bleu is every bit as tasty and half the work!
Air fryers revolutionized home cooking, and of all my air fryer recipes, this Air Fryer Chicken Cordon Bleu is one of my favorites. I love making this chicken at home for family or friends, and it’s so much easier in an air fryer versus deep-fat frying, which is the traditional way of making this dish.
Air Fryer Chicken Cordon Bleu
Don’t be intimidated by this recipe! It’s really easier to make than you might think, and the results are so delicious. Flex your inner chef and impress everyone today with this classic French recipe that’s been modernized for your air fryer!
By the way, we love our new air fryer and how quick you can make a meal for dinner guests!
Why I love this recipe
- It’s a show-stopping dish that always wins rave reviews.
- You can prep the chicken ahead of time and just cook it before serving.
- Making it from scratch is much more affordable than dining out.
Gather these ingredients for Chicken Cordon Bleu
Get the sliced Swiss cheese and ham from your deli to cut down on work!
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts – Cut into 8 equal pieces and flattened.
- Swiss cheese – Thinly sliced.
- Deli ham – Thinly sliced.
- Egg whites
- Water
- Parmesan cheese – Grated.
- Panko bread crumbs
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Dried parsley
- Paprika
- Ground black pepper
- Salt
What are Panko bread crumbs?
Available in the Asian aisle or with the bread crumbs in your grocery store, Panko bread crumbs are not your usual bread crumb. This is a Japanese bread crumb made from white bread that’s flaked and then lightly baked to give it extra crunch.
How to make air fryer Chicken Cordon Bleu
- Separate the eggs and prepare the egg wash by beating the egg whites and water in a shallow bowl. Set aside.
- Combine the Panko bread crumbs, Parmesan, garlic powder, onion powder, dried parsley, paprika, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
- Pound each piece of chicken breast into thin slices about ¼-½ inch thick using a meat mallet.
- Season the chicken with salt and pepper.
- Lay a slice of cheese on top of each chicken breast to cover the chicken, tearing it to fit.
- Add a slice of ham on top of the cheese.
- Roll the chicken and place it seam-side down on a plate. Repeat until all the chicken is rolled.
- Roll each piece of chicken in the egg wash and then in the seasoned Panko crumbs until evenly coated.
- Preheat your air fryer to 400-F.
- Lightly spray the basket and the tops of the chicken with nonstick cooking spray.
- Place the chicken on the air fryer rack without touching each other and air fry until the chicken is crisp and golden brown and the internal temperature is 165-F.
Tips & substitutions
- Pounding the chicken can be a bit messy. Place the chicken into a plastic bag or cover it with plastic wrap to contain the mess.
- If your chicken won’t stay rolled, secure it with toothpicks or kitchen twine.
- You can pound, stuff, and roll the chicken ahead of time. Save the egg wash and dredging in bread crumbs until just before air frying so that the crumbs stay crispy.
- Don’t care for Swiss cheese? Use any cheese you like! Cheddar, Pepper Jack, gouda or your favorite easy-melting cheese will work in this recipe.
- All air fryers cook differently. Use an internal meat thermometer to ensure the chicken is cooked to 165-F before serving.
- A basket air fryer will cook faster than an oven-style air fryer, but you may need to cook the chicken in batches.
- If you don’t have an air fryer, we love our COSORI Pro II Smart Air Fryer 5.8QT (affiliate link).
Serving suggestions
This is a flavorful dish, so make sure that your side dishes don’t compete flavor-wise with your air fryer Chicken Cordon Bleu. One of my favorite sides to go with this dish is Green Beans with Bacon and Onions, but it’ll also pair nicely with roasted vegetables or a fabulous salad.
Storage
Store any leftover chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. You can reheat any leftovers in the air fryer, in a low oven, or in the microwave.
Check out these awesome chicken recipes while you’re here
Get the Recipe:
Chicken Cordon Bleu in Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 2 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into 8 equal pieces, flattened
- 8 slices Swiss cheese, thinly sliced
- 4 ounces deli ham, thinly sliced
- 2 large egg, whites
- 1 tablespoon water
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
- ½ cup panko bread crumbs
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven or the air fryer to the temperature required for your cooking method (see below). Separate the eggs and prepare the egg wash by beating the egg whites and water in a shallow bowl. Combine the Panko crumbs, parmesan, and seasonings together in a small bowl.
- Using a mallet, pound each piece of chicken breast into thin slices, about ¼-½" thick. Season the chicken with salt and pepper.
- Lay down a slice of cheese on top of the chicken breasts to cover the chicken (you tear it to fit).
- Layer a thin slice of ham on top of the cheese.
- Carefully roll the chicken, laying on a plate, seam/side down (you can use toothpicks or twine if you need, for keeping it rolled).
- Roll each chicken piece in the egg wash, then roll in the seasoned panko crumbs until coated evenly.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (if your air fryer preheats).
- Lightly spray the basket and the tops of the chicken with nonstick spray. Place chicken on the rack (not to touch each other) and fry for 12-15 minutes. The chicken will be crisp, golden brown, and the internal temperature should reach 165°F.
- Remove, let rest a few minutes, then serve with green beans.
Notes
Hello and welcome to my home and table!
I’m Sandy—lover of food, family, cooking, THE BIG BOARD, travel, and bringing people together. Through great recipes and connection around the table, we become better, stronger, and more courageous people. Feasting on Life is real, and every time we do it, we grow a little more. Read more...
