Chicken Cordon Blue Casserole is a Kid Approved Recipe!
In fact, it's my picky eaters FAVORITE recipe!
Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole received a 9.5 Star ranking from my son who went back for seconds and told his dad he better hurry and eat before it’s gone.
This Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole is a fun twist to the traditional chicken breast stuffed with ham and Swiss cheese.
Containing all of your favorite traditional ingredients but in a deconstructed manner and served with pasta.
Chicken Cordon Bleu Instant Pot meal is such an easy dinner to throw together and requires very little effort on your part (who doesn’t love that?)
With a creamy and flavorfully rich dinner like this on the plate you know you’ll have a crowd-pleasing dish that has everyone asking for seconds.
Optionally, you can serve your Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole with crushed Ritz crackers.
This really helps to give that extra flavorful punch and bring the dish full circle, similarly to my Chicken Divan recipe.
Simply 1 tube of crushed crackers with ¼ cup of melted butter and sprinkle over the dish before serving or even throw it under the broiler for a few minutes to toast up.
So many of you wonderful readers have requested for a healthier version of this recipe and I am so happy to share that with you.
For a healthier version of this Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole check out my Skinny Chicken Cordon Bleu with less fat and sodium! It’s so great that even my picky son loves it!
How to Make Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole
- Melt Butter and add garlic to Instant Pot. Saute’ cubed chicken in Instant Pot until no longer pink. Add Salt and Pepper, & Dijon Mustard and Ham and heat through quickly. Turn off Instant Pot.
- Add Broth, Water and Whipping Cream. Stir. Add Pasta and make sure it’s covered. Place cream cheese on top
- Set on Manual for 6 minutes. Quick Release and Stir pasta. Sauce will be thin. Add Parmesan Cheese and Swiss Cheese. Stir to melt
- Let sit for 10 minutes. Sauce will thicken as it cools. Sprinkle with crushed crackers (optional)
- Serve and enjoy your deconstructed Chicken Cordon Blue!
Can I make Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole on the Stove?
Yes! This recipe is an Instant Pot recipe, however we have included the needed directions for stove top on the recipe card below.
Please note that some of the ingredient measurements are adjusted because of the difference.
Does Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole really only take 6 minutes in the Instant Pot?
Yes! And Actually depending on how done you like your noodles and the type of noodles you are using it can take less.
I find that Bowtie and Shells seem to need longer (by a minute). As you use your Instant Pot, you will find the time that works for your liking. But 6 minutes seems to be a good standard.
Can I add the Cream Cheese after the cooking time for the Instant Pot?
Yes! You can. Make sure it’s sat out on the counter for a minute to not be as hard and it will easily melt into the hot pasta from the Instant Pot after the cook time.
Is the Chicken fully cooked?
In this recipe with the Instant Pot instructions you have cooked the chicken on Saute’ until you no longer see pink and then the chicken has cooked for 6 minutes under pressure.
If you are in doubt check the internal temperature that the chicken has reached 165 degrees.
What to serve with Chicken Cordon Bleu
For side dish ideas, you really can’t go wrong with vegetables. Asparagus pairs great with this dish and makes it feel fancier, but steamed green beans can make the dish feel more like a comfort dish.
Can I use Chicken Tenders instead of Breasts?
Absolutely! By using chicken tenders you can also cut down on some of the prep work and make dinner a little faster!
Simply omit the step that asks you to saute the chicken and instead place your frozen chicken tenders on top of the pasta for the required cook time.
Can I use Dairy in the Instant Pot / Pressure Cooker?
Yes you can, Thanks to the high fat content of the dairy in this recipe, you don’t have to worry about it curdling or separating during the cooking process.
Making meals my family will eat is a high priority, finding a recipe my picky eater son will devour is another and when I do, I make a huge point to share with others hoping other picky eaters will love it too!
This is definitely one of those recipes as Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole is made so easily and has all the ingredients kids love.
Traditionally Chicken Cordon Bleu is a chicken breast stuffed with ham and Swiss cheese, breaded and baked in a wonderful sauce. It’s delicious.
This fun twist to Chicken Cordon Bleu has all the same elements deconstructed and with pasta.
I talk a lot about “my picky eater son”, haha… he is particular in what he eats but will actually eat a lot of things.
He just needs to know it has “normal” ingredients without ingredients hidden in them. Like veggies!
However, if he is unsure, he won’t even try a meal. So finding recipes that he goes back for seconds for is something we love and as adults appreciate the flavors is a bonus in my world.
Update:
I had a huge request to make this recipe for Chicken Cordon Blue Casserole with less fat and sodium.
Get the Skinny on this Skinny Chicken Cordon Bleu Recipe. Lose the fat but not all the flavors you want from a Chicken Cordon Bleu Recipe.
And you just might be amazed what my picky eater son ranked this recipe. Go take a look and decide for yourself which recipe you prefer.
Quick Tips
This recipe needs time to cool for the sauce to thicken, otherwise the sauce is very thin. But thick or thin, the sauce is wonderful!
You don’t want to lose this recipe ~ PIN and SAVE for Later!
More Amazing Chicken Instant Pot Recipes!
- Chicken Carbonara
- Chicken Cordon Bleu Soup
- Fiesta Chicken Casserole
- Honey Mustard Chicken and Rice
- BBQ Chicken Tostada
- Cashew Chicken Lettuce Wrap
- Chicken Chili Verde
- Easy Chicken Fajitas
- Chicken Taco Alfredo
- Chicken Corn Chowder
Chicken Cordon Bleu
Ingredients
- 2-3 Large Chicken Breasts Cubed
- 2 tbs Butter
- 2 teaspoon garlic Crushed
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- Pepper To Taste
- 3 Cup Broth *or water
- 1 Cup Whipping Cream
- 1 Cup water
- 1 Tbs Dijon Mustard
- 1 Cup Ham Cut up
- 1 lb Pasta Penne, Shells, Bowtie
- 8 oz Cream Cheese
- ½ Cup Parmesan cheese
- ½ Cup Swiss Cheese Grated
- 2 Cups Crushed Crackers *optional for garnish
Instructions
Instant Pot Instructions
- Set Instant Pot to Saute' and allow to get Hot. Add Butter and Garlic.
- Add cubed chicken and cook until no longer pink. Add Salt and Pepper. Press Cancel on Instant Pot.
- Add ham cubes. I use the packaged diced ham chunks.
- Add Dijon Mustard
- Add broth, whipping cream, and water. Stir to combine.
- Add Pasta and make sure all is covered.
- Place Cream Cheese on top. Do not stir.
- Set to Manual for 6 minutes.
- Quick Release and open lid. Stir to break up pasta and stir in Cream Cheese.
- Add Parmesan Cheese and Swiss Cheese. Stir.
- Cover and allow to sit for 10 mins for sauce to thicken.
- Optional. *Sprinkle crushed Ritz crackers on top before serving.
Stove Top Directions
- In a frying pan over medium/high heat melt butter, add garlic. Then add cubed chicken and cook until chicken reaches 165 degrees. Add salt and Pepper and ham cubes. Heat through and remove from heat.
- In a large pot, heat water for noodles and follow direction on packaged noodles. Rinse and drain
- Sauce: Heat 2 cups whipping cream and 2 cup broth. Add Cream Cheese and allow to melt. Add Dijon Mustard. Then add parmesan cheese and Swiss cheese. Stir to melt. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add sauce to Pasta and Chicken Mixture. Stir to combine. Sauce will thicken as it cools.
- Optional * Sprinkle crushed Ritz crackers on top before serving.
Sigrid Howe
Made this for dinner last night. So delicious!! And Easy!!
Beth
I made this yesterday and followed the recipe exactly. It was wonderful! I will definitely keep it in my rotation!
Devour Dinner
Beth this is a favorite in our home and now you know why! So glad you enjoyed it.
Tracy
OM Goodness... just made this today.
My Daughter, grandkids my adopted daughter her boyfriend along with my newest grand-daughter that I just got to meet 💗 she is 2 weeks old.
Everyone absolutely loved the food and my daughters' want the recipe. My husband and I got them both I/Ps for Christmas 2 years ago and we send each other recipes all the time.
Thank you so much for this one it is definitely a KEEPER!!🙂
Britt
Question for you! So I made this and it was great, super yummy. However, I’m pretty new to the instant pot and when I did the quick release the pot literally shot sauce EVERYWHERE!!!!! lol what did I do wrong?
Devour Dinner
Hi Britt!
When you quick release, you can do a controlled quick release. Sometimes recipes will "spit" liquid out. When it does, just quickly close the pressure valve to stop the steam escaping. Allow it rest for a minute and then open the valve again. Do this in little bursts so you don't get a mess.
Erica
Why pre-cook the cubed chicken on sauté mode when 6 minutes will fully cook the chicken anyway? Won’t this make the chicken dry and over cooked?
Devour Dinner
Hi Erica, this is a great question. I like to saute' my chicken as it sears the outside. However, you are correct. The 6 minute cook time will fully cook the cubed chicken in this recipe. So feel free to skip this step if you wish!
Sarah
Im still new to instant pot cooking and im wondering if i use already cooked chicken leftover from something else if the time will need to be changed. Im not sure how much the heating of the pot from the saute part affects the pressure building part. It sounds great and i can't wait to make it.
Devour Dinner
Hi Sarah, That's a great question. For this recipe you could omit the saute of the chicken at the beginning. Since your chicken is cooked, you can add it at the end after the pasta has cooked when you add the cheese etc. I hope you follow along. I do Facebook Live Demo's each Sunday with a different recipe. Hope you join in!
George Ross
Very good, I give it 5 stars...
Devour Dinner
Thank you George! We think it's a 5 star too. You might also like the Chicken Cordon Bleu Soup too.
Christine
I am making this using the stove top version and I am confused about the whipping cream amount. Under ingredients it says 1 cp. and under the stove top version it says 2 cps. Which is it? I guessed for this time but if I like the recipe I'd like to know I'm making it using the right amounts.
Devour Dinner
I use 2 cups if making on the stove top. The process is a bit different on the stove top where you are cooking your noodles separate, rinsing and draining etc. So you will need 2 cups of cream to make the yummy sauce. In the Instant Pot, the cream mixes with the pasta starches and broth so it works to use less cream. 😉
Annette Allen
Loved it! The Ritz crackers on top were incredible. Hit with my teens too! Thanks
Devour Dinner
Oh this is a HUGE hit with my teen! He takes it as leftovers for school lunch. Winner recipe in our book too!
Rachelle
Can I somehow do this with frozen chicken tenders?
Devour Dinner
You sure can! Chicken Tenders can be used, just throw them in on top of the pasta. They cook in about 6 mins which works well with the pasta. Follow the rest of the directions!
Lois Kirkpatrick
This sounds so delicious!! Any chance there is a recipe for a slow cooker/crock pot?
Devour Dinner
Hi Lois, you have a great question. Unfortunately the nature of the Crock Pot would have some limitations for this recipe. Noodles would be extremely mushy if cooked the length of time needed in a traditional recipe. I do include stove top directions please note that some of the ingredient measurements are adjusted. I hope this helps. Happy Cooking!
Lynn Y Beumer
I did not see your Skinny Cordon Bleu post until Sunday when I was planning the regular one. I omitted the cream cheese, used 1 whole cup of grated Swiss, used only 1 tsp of mustard, and did not add the cup of whipping cream till after cooking for 5 minutes, as I like my pasta al dente. Perfect results.. Family took helping after helping, 17 year old granddaughter saying it might be her new favorite recipe. Grandson was the only member of his team to qualify for State Charter School 5K on Saturday. planning a trip to Wimberley, Texas, for that !
Devour Dinner
Lynn that is so great to hear!... This is a favorite of ours for sure. Tell your grandson Congrats qualifying for State Charter School 5k! That's legit! And wish him good Luck on his race for sure!
Becky
If I half the recipe, should I cut down the pressure time?
Devour Dinner
No. The pressure time would stay the same. You would only change the pressure time if you want a more chewy noodle as opposed to a softer noodle.
Alexandra Grater
If I increase the ingredients to 6 or 8 people does the cook time change
Devour Dinner
The cook time would stay the same. It will take longer to pressure up but that is not counted in the cooking time. This is a large recipe with 1 lb of pasta. So depending on the serving sizes you can feed 6 if you were feeding kids
Alexandra Grater
Thank you for your response. I was guessing it was the same since the ingredients increased. I increased the servings to 6 as I have adult kids. I have a 8qt Instant Pot.
Kierra Varney
How did this work for you? I am doubling the recipe for a work party and need to know what to set the cook time to?
Devour Dinner
The cook time would be the same. It may take a little longer for your pot to come to pressure. I hope everyone loves it!
Kierra Varney
After I hit 6 mins, is this including the time to let the pot build the pressure?? Or do I interrupt it after timing 6 mins and stir?
Devour Dinner
The time to pressure is not included in the cook time. Set your Instant Pot to 6 minutes. The timer will start after it is pressured up. Hope this helps!! Enjoy!
Kierra Varney
Thank you! One more question, I making this dish for a work party. If I double the recipe, I'm assuming I also double the cook time from six to twelve minutes? Is this correct? Has anyone tried?
Devour Dinner
You do not need to double the cook time. It should cook in the same time. 🙂
Lynn Y Beumer
I have a Cordon Bleu recipe I was going to try , but not for the Instant Pot. I will do this one. My grandson, in the ninth grade, runs X-C too. The meets are so exciting.
Thank you.
Devour Dinner
Cross Country is fun to watch and fun to see them improve on their own times! My son loves this recipe with all the carbs and cream. He burns so many calories a day he needs a lot of goodness. Wish your grandson good luck!
Lynn Y Beumer
Thank you.
Joseph runs 7 days a week; loves it.
Devour Dinner
That's great! My boy runs 5 days a week and then does a big bike ride or something different to get cardio in. It's great!
Lynn Y Beumer
In what State are you? We are in Texas. I plan to make your recipe for Sunday after Church lunch.
Devour Dinner
I hope you enjoy Chicken Cordon Bleu. It will be a perfect meal after church for lunch. 🙂