Description
Savory chicken cordon bleu meatloaf brings classic French-inspired comfort to dinner tables with elegant simplicity. Home cooks discover a delightful fusion of tender chicken, rich ham, and melted Swiss cheese that delivers hearty satisfaction in every delectable slice.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Protein:
- 500 g (1 lb) ground chicken
- 6 slices deli ham
- 1 large egg
Cheese and Dairy:
- 1 cup shredded Swiss or Gruyere cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup milk
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon butter
Dry Ingredients, Seasonings, and Topping:
- 1 cup breadcrumbs (panko or regular)
- ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon melted butter
- ½ teaspoon dried parsley (optional)
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare a clean workspace and gather all necessary ingredients for the chicken cordon bleu meatloaf.
- Mix ground chicken with breadcrumbs, Parmesan, milk, egg, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper in a spacious mixing bowl until thoroughly combined.
- Spread parchment paper on a flat surface and gently flatten the meat mixture into a rectangular shape approximately 10-12 inches wide.
- Carefully arrange ham slices across the meat surface, ensuring even coverage while leaving a small border around the edges.
- Place Swiss cheese slices over the ham layer, creating a delicate flavor foundation.
- Utilize the parchment paper to assist in rolling the meatloaf from one short end to the other, creating a compact jelly-roll style formation.
- Seal the edges firmly and position the rolled meatloaf seam-side down in a prepared loaf pan or on a baking sheet.
- Create a crispy topping by mixing melted butter with additional breadcrumbs, then generously sprinkle over the meatloaf surface.
- Optional: Scatter extra shredded Swiss cheese on top for enhanced richness.
- Preheat the oven to 375F (190C) and bake the meatloaf for 50-60 minutes, monitoring internal temperature until it reaches 165F (74C).
- If the top browns too quickly, loosely cover with aluminum foil during the final 15 minutes of cooking.
- Remove from oven and allow the meatloaf to rest for 5-10 minutes, enabling flavors to settle and texture to stabilize.
- Slice and serve warm alongside your preferred side dishes.
Notes
- Use ground chicken with a slightly higher fat content to ensure the meatloaf stays moist and doesn’t become dry during baking.
- Create a flavor boost by adding finely chopped fresh herbs like parsley or thyme to the meat mixture for extra depth.
- Prevent the meatloaf from becoming soggy by patting the ham and cheese dry before layering to remove excess moisture.
- For a gluten-free version, swap regular breadcrumbs with almond flour or gluten-free breadcrumbs and ensure all other ingredients are certified gluten-free.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 750 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 125 mg