When you’re looking for one of those dreamy creamy chicken pasta recipes with plenty of savory cheesy deliciousness and a little mmm, mm good you need chicken cordon bleu casserole! I’m here to tell you that the tastiest pasta recipes don’t have to be complicated or come out of a box.
This chicken cordon bleu casserole recipe isn’t one of those complex chicken recipes that will have you in the kitchen all day, it can be on the table in under an hour. This is one of the most amazing chicken casserole recipes in my arsenal and I can’t wait to share it with you!
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What I Love About Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole Recipe
I absolutely love that this chicken cordon blue can be prepped in 20 minutes and on the table in under an hour. This makes it an easy favorite on busy weeknights. You don’t have to spend hours in the kitchen to prepare a wholesome meal that tastes fantastic.
There are so many reasons to love this chicken cordon bleu casserole recipe and here are a few of my favorite:
- Ready in under and hour
- Smoky cheesy deliciousness
- Super simple to make
- Great prep ahead meal
- Buttery crispy topping
Recipe Notes
Have I mentioned how easy it is to make this chicken cordon bleu casserole recipe? Well, in spite of the simplicity involved there are a few things I’d like to mention just to ensure optimum results the first time around.
First, the noodles. You’ll want to cook them al dente since you’ll be putting them in the oven. They should still be a little firm in the middle. Of course, make sure they are to your liking.
Speaking of which, you should definitely salt your pasta water. I use about 1 tablespoon in 4 quarts of water. It will help save your pots if you add the salt to boiling water.
Anyhow, this will flavor your pasta from the inside out just infusing more incredible yum into your chicken cordon bleu casserole recipe. Pasta soaks up water as it cooks. If that water is salted, it will soak up that seasoning as well giving you a substantially tastier pasta.
You can adjust the crispiness of the bread crumb topping by adjusting the amount of butter mixed with the bread crumbs. If you follow the recipe exactly, you will get a really crispy crust, but there’s wiggle room in either direction.
Now, I understand that tastes vary and so does the preference for the way the topping is cooked. Some people may prefer a more browned crust than what the recipe produces or the difference in oven temperatures could be to blame. Either way, you can kick the broiler up to high and watch your casserole carefully for maybe 2 minutes.
Ingredient Notes
I like to use egg noodles for this recipe, but spirals will work too. Egg noodles have plenty of valuable real estate to pick up all that smoky creamy sauce. Plus, they are full of protein and essential amino acids.
Also, you’ll want to use undiluted cream of chicken soup for this recipe. It will soak up all the natural juices released from the chicken and cheese which will give your chicken cordon bleu casserole recipe a ton of flavor! Plus, the sour cream will thin it out just a little and give it that dreamy indulgent texture.
This recipe also calls for one cup of shredded Swiss cheese. I have used processed shredded cheese for this chicken cordon blue many times in the past and it came out just fine. But, here’s the thing. Processed shredded cheese often contains potato starch and powdered cellulose to prevent it from caking together.
What I’m trying to say is that if you really want to make a thing of beauty, you may want to grate the cheese off a block. It won’t take long because its not much and it will make your dish that much creamier!
Storing Tips
Storing your chicken cordon bleu casserole recipe is as easy as covering it and tossing it in the fridge. That’s the easiest way to save all that awesome crispy buttery topping. There usually aren’t a lot of leftovers, so you should be able to put it in a covered container.
If you need to save room in your fridge, you can put your leftovers in a large Ziploc bag, but your tasty topping may get mixed all up into your casserole. It will still taste incredible, but some people can get a little picky about their topping actually being on the top, even in the leftover stages (Quietly raises hand).
Can You Freeze This?
Yes!! You can absolutely freeze this dish. Just prepare it as directed, then wrap it up and toss it in the freezer instead of the oven. I actually double wrap mine but I like to wrap the entire casserole dish the second time around just to prevent freezer burn.
It will stay good and you’ll have a ready-made meal for up to 3 full months. Its great for when you have company unexpectedly pop up or you volunteer for a potluck dinner.
Make Ahead Tips
Preparing this chicken cordon blue ahead of time just makes busy weeknight dinners that much easier. Just cook the pasta and put your dish together before covering and tossing in the fridge. Then you’ll just have to go from the fridge to the oven, but it must be cooked in 24 hours. I always liked to put mine together on Sundays because it made for an easy wholesome Monday night meal.
How Long Can You Keep This In The Fridge?
Chicken cordon bleu casserole recipe will stay good in the fridge for 3-5 days after cooking. This is the recommended stay fresh time frame for most casseroles according to the USDA. It is important to ensure that your leftovers are properly protected from air and kept at or below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Here is a great article on food storage safety from the FDA. It is also important to reserve the 2-hour rule for serving.
Recipe Variations
There are some really great variations to this chicken cordon blue recipe, and it all depends on your mood. You can try using different types of ham, such as country ham or spiral ham. This can add some beautiful subtle cues to your casserole. Try different types of chicken for that matter. If you’ve got some leftover grilled or baked chicken, toss it in.
Some people even like throwing some green peas in this dish and I must say, it really works! Onions or scallions are another nice addition. Take things in another direction by using rice instead of pasta and adding broccoli.
You can also try different things with the toppings. People often make this dish with Ritz crackers instead of bread crumbs but parmesan cheese works well too. Crushed Chex cereal is another tasty topping that will kick things into overdrive. Don’t forget that you can vary the amount of butter in the topping to achieve your desired crunch. There are so many different things you can do with this recipe it really is amazing!
What Other Cheesy Chicken Dishes I Can Try?
Cheesy chicken casserole and chicken parmesan pasta are two cheesy chicken dishes that are similar to chicken cordon blue with a few key differences. The thing is that they are equally as easy to throw together and equally as delicious.
You can never have too many good cheesy chicken pasta dishes to make a wholesome family meal! I am a firm believer in that and I think my family backs me up here.
Can I Use Bacon Instead of Ham?
Absolutely! Turn this into a chicken bacon ranch casserole or add bacon to your chicken cordon bleu casserole recipe. You can’t go wrong. It’s like a multicultural flavor bomb going off in your mouth. Pair it with a side salad or some broccoli and you’ve got a meal fit for a king.
Throw things in the crockpot and make chicken bacon ranch pasta that is ready when you get home. Your family will be glad you did.
Can Broccoli Be Added In This Recipe?
Yes!! Chicken broccoli casserole is absolutely amazing. Pair it with a side salad and corn on the cob for a meal the family will flock to. Want to add a grain for good measure? Make a chicken broccoli rice casserole. Its one of my favorites and the kiddos always seem to love it too. Wholesome casseroles are a great way to enjoy a nutritious family dinner together without slaving over a hot stove for hours.
How Can I Add A Mexican Flavor To This Recipe?
Undelay, Undelay, Ariba! Chicken tortilla casserole is a Tex-Mex blend of chicken and creamy goodness set off by cumin and green chilies. It’s just a little smoky, not too spicy and you’ll love the layers of flavor. It just doesn’t get much better than this. Esta muy Bueno!
Mexican chicken casserole is another way to add some nice Mexican flair to your chicken casserole. It will take you on a flavor journey South of the border with no regrets and you won’t even need a passport. It’s a meal the whole family will love.
Can The Sauce Be Changed?
Sure! Make chicken florentine pasta with savory mushrooms, fresh spinach and plenty of delectable cheesy cream sauce that will leave you begging for more. It’s got a complex flavor profile that make an impressive dish.
You can also make chicken piccata pasta with a lip smakin’ lemon butter sauce that is out of this world. This clean simple dish is kind of hard to beat. It is a full-bodied recipe that is as beautiful as it is scrumptious.
Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole
Ingredients
- 12 ounces dry egg noodles
- 2 cans condensed cream of chicken soup
- 3 cups chicken cooked and cubed
- 16 ounces regular sour cream
- 1 cup ham diced
- 1 cup swiss cheese shredded
- 1 1/2 cups panko bread crumbs
- 1/3 cup butter melted
- 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9X13 inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
- Cook pasta according to its package instruction just until pasta is al dente. Drain pasta.
- In a medium mixing bowl, mix cream of chicken soup (straight from the can-undiluted) and sour cream. Add chicken, ham, swiss cheese and cooked and drained noodles, then fold until everything is evenly coated. Pour into prepared baking dish.
- In a small bowl, mix the panko and melted butter. Sprinkle evenly on the top of the casserole.
- Bake in preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until the casserole is heated through.
- If topping hasn't browned, place under broiler, watching carefully, and broil just until topping is golden brown.
Nutrition
More Chicken Casserole Recipes
Easy full-flavored chicken casserole recipes are a simple wholesome way to feed your family nutritious meals on those busy weeknights or tempt crowds at friendly get togethers. They are flexible recipes with something for everyone. Take a Tex-Mex flavor journey South of the border, re-live those wonderful tastes of the holidays or put a new spin on family taco night.
As far as I’m concerned, you can never have too many of these wonderful recipes on hand. Here are a few more of my favorite chicken casserole recipes for you to try.
- Chicken Stuffing Casserole
- Chicken Casserole with Ritz Crackers
- Chicken Taco Casserole
- Dorito Chicken Casserole
- Shredded Chicken Casserole
Conclusion
Chicken cordon bleu casserole is a creamy indulgent chicken pasta casserole with the salty undertones of ham and a beautiful crispy topping to pull it all together. Of course, all that gooey cheesy goodness doesn’t hurt a bit. It’s actually pretty hard to resist! You can serve this recipe with vegetables or put them in the casserole, which speaks to its flexibility.
This chicken cordon bleu casserole recipe is by and large one of my favorite chicken pasta casseroles and I’m not the only one. It’s hard to believe you can get so much incredible flavor in under an hour!
Try it for yourself and let me know what you think.
Source: very slightly adapted from Plain Chicken
Erica says
January 30, 2020 at 10:49 pmI have it in the oven now! Can’t wait ! I tasted it as I was pouring it in the baking dish . I must say it is delicious
Kathleen says
January 31, 2020 at 9:58 pmI also do that sometimes XD. Thanks for sharing, Erica!
Jessica Miska says
August 23, 2019 at 6:02 pmCan you make this without cooking the chicken first?
Kathleen says
August 23, 2019 at 9:30 pmHi Jessica!
On this one you really need to cook the chicken first to ensure it reaches the proper internal temperature. If you need to save time, however, you can used canned chicken or even rotisserie chicken. Hope this helps!
Taryl Gibson says
August 30, 2018 at 8:17 pmAnother great recipe tasted very similar to chicken cordon bleu Yummy
Kathleen says
August 31, 2018 at 4:25 amThanks so much, Taryl!
Cyn says
April 12, 2018 at 5:17 pmOk, I get that the recipe calls for 2 cans of soup, but what SIZE cans?
Kathleen Smith says
April 13, 2018 at 6:14 pmHi Cyn, just the standard size 10.5 ounces.
Elise B says
May 2, 2016 at 8:04 pmThis looks delicious and I am planning on making it tonight! Any chance this recipe is already in the database on myfitnesspal.com?
Kathleen says
May 2, 2016 at 10:07 pmHi Elise. I haven’t input it into myfitnesspal. Sorry!