Chicken Cordon Bleu

Ingredients:

• 1 half boneless skinless chicken breast

• 1 slice deli ham (honey, maple, or Black Forest work best)
• 1 slice Swiss cheese
• 1 cup bread crumbs
• 1 cup oil
• Salt and Pepper
• Toothpicks

Directions:

1. Pre-heat your air fryer to 400F.
2. Butterfly the chicken by slicing through the middle of the breast with the knife horizontal to your cutting board. Be careful to not cut all the way through the chicken. You should get close to the edge but not entirely slice through.
3. Season the inside or cut side of the chicken with salt and pepper.
4. Place the cheese onto the ham and fold the ham around the cheese so it fits inside of the chicken.
5. Fold the chicken over the ham and secure the seams with 2-3 toothpicks.
6. Dredge the chicken bundle first into the oil, and then into the breadcrumbs, making sure the chicken is evenly coated. Repeat on any thinly covered spots if necessary.
7. Place the chicken breast into the air fryer and cook for 12-14 minutes until the chicken breast reaches an internal temperature of 165F.
8. Remove from the air fryer and remove all toothpicks.
9. Serve warm

Author's note:

A Mid-Century classic, Chicken Cordon Bleu is comfort food personified. Its origins stem from a schnitzel being wrapped around Swiss cheese. Today’s recipes aren’t complete without the addition of thinly sliced ham. This affordable dish is easy to make and tastes much more expensive than the cost of the ingredients. It’s fun to experiment with other meats like pork or veal and different cheeses like Gouda or pepper jack also work well as fillings.