how do i cook store bought chicken cordon bleu

How to Get Store-Bought Chicken Cordon Bleu to Taste Like It Came From a Restaurant: Everyone loves chicken cordon bleu. When you put chicken, ham, and melted cheese together, you can’t say no. It can take a long time to make chicken cordon bleu from scratch, but you can quickly make a tasty meal by buying it from the store. But store-bought chicken cordon bleu doesn’t always taste or feel as good as homemade. With a few easy tips, you can easily turn chicken cordon bleu from the freezer aisle into a dish that tastes like it came from a restaurant.

Carefully Read the Packaging: The first thing you should do is carefully read the cooking instructions on the package. Different brands of premade chicken cordon bleu call for slightly different baking temperatures and times. Some may say to thaw the chicken first, while others say to cook it straight from the freezer. It’s important to follow the oven temperature and cook time given so that the chicken doesn’t dry out or the breading burns. It’s also important to use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature.

If the package says to thaw before cooking, make sure to do so overnight in the fridge or use the defrost setting on your microwave. Thawing at room temperature can cause bacteria to grow. A partial thaw is best because some ice crystals will create steam that will help the chicken stay moist while baking. Do not let the food thaw in water; this will make the breading soggy.

Use a Baking Sheet: If you bake your chicken cordon bleu on a sheet pan lined with foil or parchment paper, hot air will be able to circulate around each piece and make the breading crispy on all sides. It also holds any cheese that might leak out while it’s cooking. Leave at least 1 inch of space between each piece so the pan doesn’t get too crowded.

Brush With Olive Oil Or Butter
Right before baking, brush the top of each chicken cordon bleu with olive oil, butter, or even just water. This helps promote browning and crisping of the breading. You can brush on an additional layer halfway through baking for extra golden color if needed.

Bake At The Right Temperature
Ideal oven temperature for store bought chicken cordon bleu is 375-400°F. This allows the breading to crisp and chicken to cook through without drying out. Bake for the recommended time, then check internal temperature in the thickest part of the chicken to ensure it reaches 165°F. Continue cooking if needed until done.

Broil For A Crisp Crust
If the chicken cordon bleu is cooked through but still pale and soft, switch your oven to broil for 1-2 minutes at the end. Keep a close eye to avoid burning. This intense direct heat will crisp and brown the topping nicely. You can also pan fry or air fry instead of baking for a guaranteed crunchy crust.

Allow To Rest Before Serving
After baking, let the chicken cordon bleu rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing. This allows the juices to redistribute for a moister bite. Tempting as it may be, don’t skip this step!

Serve With Complementary Sides
Well-chosen side dishes can really enhance chicken cordon bleu’s flavor. Consider roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes, egg noodles, rice pilaf, or a fresh green salad. For a restaurant feel, serve it with a creamy mushroom, lemon butter, or Dijon mustard sauce on the side for dipping.

Add Fresh Herbs And Spices
One easy way to elevate the taste of premade chicken cordon bleu is to coat it with fresh herbs before baking. Try chopped rosemary, thyme, sage, parsley, or even lemon zest. You can also sprinkle on garlic powder, paprika, salt and pepper for extra flavor. Rubbing a minced garlic clove over the top adds wonderful aroma.

Experiment With Fillings
While ham and Swiss is classic, get creative with the fillings! Try provolone, mozzarella, cheddar, or Gruyère for the cheese. Substitute turkey, prosciutto, salami, bacon, or pancetta for the ham. Spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, and roasted red peppers also make delicious additions to the interior stuffing.

Make An Elevated Sauce
Serve your chicken cordon bleu with a homemade sauce for maximum impact. Options include lemon butter, white wine cream sauce, easy cheese sauce, Dijon mustard cream, and velvety mushroom gravy. Drizzle the sauce over the chicken or serve it on the side for dipping.

With these simple tricks, it’s easy to transform basic store bought chicken cordon bleu into a gourmet worthy dish. The right cooking techniques and complementary flavors will have your family thinking you slaved over the stove all day. Best of all, you’ll save time without sacrificing an ounce of taste.