What to serve with chicken cordon bleu is easy! But first, let’s talk about what this dish is all about.
Chicken cordon bleu is a classic French dish that is made by stuffing chicken with ham and cheese. How can you go wrong with such an incredible dish? Meat and cheesy filling just go so well together. Swiss cheese is the traditional choice but you may find recipes that have you use parmesan, cheddar, or other cheeses to make the dish new and exciting.
Once stuffed, the chicken is rolled in bread crumbs and then baked or fried. You can pop it into the oven or cook it in a frying pan- it’s totally up to you! CCB is actually a very easy meal to put together but looks fancy enough to have in a restaurant. Are you ready to enjoy such a great dish? One bite and we know you will be hooked.
Cordon Bleu Speciality (rolls with chicken breast, ham and cheddar cheese)
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What is Chicken Cordon Bleu served with?
There are many sides that are traditionally served with chicken cordon bleu. Since the meal has been around since the early 1940’s, people have had plenty of time to find what pairs best with CCB! When thinking about what to serve alongside the stuffed chicken, you want to consider the taste of the chicken itself.
Chicken cordon bleu is a very flavorful and hearty dish. The salty ham and the heavy cheese make for a chicken that has a bold and rich flavor. Keeping that in mind, you may want to opt for a side dish that is lighter and has a more mild flavor profile.
Since chicken and ham are also both proteins, you should consider a side that is a vegetable or carb rather than more meat-based sides. This will give you a nutritionally balanced meal in addition to giving you a good range of flavors. Keeping all of these things in mind, we found lots of options that you can try alongside your CCB. There are plenty of amazing sides that will suit everyone’s tastes and make your chicken cordon bleu recipe complete!
1. Perfect Roasted Asparagus
Asparagus is actually very easy to make and this asparagus recipe from Simple Green Moms makes it even easier. The asparagus is trimmed, seasoned with some salt and pepper, drizzled with olive oil, and baked on a baking sheet. The veggie roasts to be tender and slightly crisp, lending the perfect taste and texture to your chicken cordon bleu meal. This side is especially great in the springtime when asparagus is in season and fresh! Asparagus is also very healthy and will give you some vitamin A and minerals along with a unique flavor.
2. Dijon Mustard
Did you know that you could make dijon mustard from scratch? This recipe from Served from Scratch shows you how to blend mustard seeds, wine, vinegar, onions and season with salt and pepper to make an incredible, homemade dijon. Spread the dijon across the top of the chicken cordon bleu like a dijon sauce or try layering it inside with the fillings. You can even whisk it with some white wine and cream the simmer it on the stovetop to make a dijon sauce. The delicious taste of mustard is a wonderful accompaniment to your chicken cordon bleu.
Image Source: Served from Scratch
3. Lemon Rice
We mentioned that having a nice, light side dish is ideal when serving something alongside chicken cordon bleu. This rice is just that. The bright, zesty flavor is a wonderful compliment to the rich, creamy meat. We love this rice from Foodie Crush that only takes 5 minutes to put together and 20 minutes cook time. Pairing lemon rice with your cordon bleu will make for a lovely, complete French meal! This lemon rice is also wonderful with many other dishes so keep it in mind next time you are serving fish or just want a quick, bright side dish.
Image Source: Foodie Crush
4. Simple Skillet Green Beans
Fresh green beans are a super healthy and delicious veggie that you can serve with your chicken cordon bleu. All you need is some olive oil, salt, pepper and garlic and you are ready to go! The whole dish can be made in one skillet which means it is easy to make and tastes amazing. When perfectly cooked like in this recipe from Healthy Seasonal Recipes, the green beans will have a nice snap which goes great with the creamy texture of the cheesy chicken.
Image Source: Healthy Seasonal Recipes
5. Mashed Potatoes
Mashed potatoes may be one of the most classic sides to serve with chicken cordon bleu. They are definitely hearty and rich which means you may want to choose this side when you are feeling especially hungry. We love the mashed potatoes from Gimme Some Oven which are loaded with butter, garlic, and cream cheese. If you are going to make a hearty dish, you may as well load it up with flavor! Be sure to wash and peel your potatoes before cooking to give them that perfect creamy texture that you know and love.
Image Source: Gimme Some Oven
6. Roasted Brussels Sprouts
In the past few years, Brussels sprouts have made a comeback as a veggie that everyone now loves. Erren’s Kitchen will help you make the best Brussels sprouts you have ever had. Fresh sprouts are tossed with 2 tablespoons oil, pepper, garlic and parmesan then roasted to a crisp. Since this sprout recipe is packed with flavor and Brussels are pretty pungent themselves, they go great with chicken cordon bleu to give you a complete meal full of unique tastes.
Image Source: Erren’s Kitchen
7. Lemon Butter Sauce
Chicken cordon bleu without sauce is like serving the dish naked- you need to cover it in some kind of sauce! Lemon butter sauce is a perfect way to “dress” your meat and make the flavors of the cordon bleu really shine. The lemon butter sauce from Dash of Sanity only takes 15 minutes total time to put together and the bright flavor of the wine is fantastic when poured over the hearty, breaded chicken. You may want to keep this recipe in mind when making other meat or fish dishes too- it goes well with many recipes!
Image Source: Dash of Sanity
8. Crispy Baked Zucchini Fries
We mentioned that veggies are great accompaniments for chicken cordon bleu. These zucchini fries are a delicious way to eat your veggies. The fries are coated in breadcrumbs and parmesan then baked until perfectly crisp. Since chicken cordon blue is also baked, you will already have the oven on and preheated, ready to bake the fries alongside your dish! Both the cordon bleu and the fries also use breadcrumbs. The side and the main meat are quite similar but their tastes are very different which will ensure you have a perfectly balanced meal. Follow the recipe on Gimme Delicious and you will have your fries baking in just 10 minutes of prep time.
Image Source: Gimme Delicious
9. Baked Sweet Potato
Sweet potatoes are a very easy side dish to pair with your blue cordon chicken. The naturally sweet taste and the buttery center will complement your salty tender cordon bleu. To make the baked sweet potatoes from Skinny Taste, you just need to bake, melt butter, and season with salt and ground black pepper, and you are done! Be sure to scrub the potatoes well. Potatoes grow in the ground so they are always bound to have a little bit of dirt on them. One sweet potato with a chicken cordon bleu roll is enough to fill you up for sure! Of course you can always top the potato with some sour cream, chives, or even cinnamon and sugar to make it suit your tastes- get creative.
Image Source: Skinny Taste
10. Broccoli Casserole
Making a broccoli casserole is a great way to pair a hearty carb with a tender veggie. White rice and fresh broccoli are tossed with cheeses, light seasoning (just a 1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder!), and then baked in a casserole dish for this recipe from Dinner at the Zoo. Since everything is baked in one pan, it makes for easy clean-up (which we always love!) and the chances that you have leftovers are pretty high as well. Pack those extra chickens and broccoli casserole up in plastic wrap and enjoy it the next day for lunch as well.
Image Source: Dinner at the Zoo
11. Tossed Green Salad
While your stuffed chickens are baking, toss a fresh salad together for a simple, crisp, and healthy side dish. While you can really make a salad with any veggies, fruits, or nuts you have around the house, we love the perfect combination of ingredients found in this recipe from Creme de la Crumb. The dijon mustard dressing is a fantastic flavor to enjoy alongside your chicken cordon bleu as well. A few bacon bits, some sunflower seeds, and some pepper to taste and you have a custom-made, everyday kind of salad!
Image Source: Creme de la Crumb
12. Roasted Carrots
Add some sweetness and also some color to your plate by making roasted carrots to go with your chicken cordon bleu. Chelsea’s Messy Apron will show you two ways to make roasted carrots, giving you a sweeter, honey-coated version and an herby savory carrot option. Make whichever one seems fitting to you that day or, try them both! The savory and the sweet will both be great with your CCB. This recipe chops the carrots diagonally into pieces but you can also make them into strips to be carrot “fries”.
Image Source: Chelsea’s Messy Apron
13. Mushroom Risotto
Slow cooking a risotto in a nice big saucepan sounds like a culinary dream. This creamy, umami-packed mushroom risotto is as delicious as any restaurant risotto we have tried. Put the risotto on the side or plop your stuffed chickens right on top! A bite of both will be a lovely marriage of flavors right inside your mouth. A Family Feast has a fantastic, recipe for mushroom risotto that is full of parmesan cheese, dry white wine, arborio rice, and a perfect blend of spices.
Image Source: A Family Feast
14. Cauliflower Rice
If you have never made cauliflower rice, now is your chance! It is a great way to enjoy some delicious cauliflower, get your daily dose of veggies, and reduce your carb intake. Cauliflower rice has a very similar texture to regular white rice but without all the carbohydrates. The strong flavor goes well with CCB and will give you some extra vitamin C as well. Cauliflower actually has lots of health benefits so it will make your dinner even better for you. Follow the steps laid out by the Minimalist Baker and you will have a wonderful rice side dish.
Image Source: Minimalist Baker
15. Caprese Salad
If you are making CCB in the summer, you may want to consider serving it with a tomato, basil Caprese salad. This minimalist side dish is not short on flavor thanks to the fresh, meaty tomatoes. Fresh basil is also key and packs a serious punch which goes very well with your main stuffed meat. We like the version from Lauren’s Latest which features small mozzarella balls that are easy enough to pop in your mouth in just one bite.
Image Source: Lauren’s Latest
Any of these amazing, delicious recipes will be perfect when served alongside your chicken cordon bleu. Let us know which is your favorite by leaving a comment below. If you have any other delicious recipes that you love to pair with chicken cordon bleu, we’d love to hear about that as well! Enjoy.
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