Slow-Cooker Cordon Bleu Inspired Chicken Pasta

It’s been a month since we’ve done anything even remotely “Cordon Bleu”, and Kiddo has been clamoring for Chicken Cordon Bleu. Every time we plan out a menu together; he suggest Chicken Cordon Bleu. I keep deflecting. Maybe it’s all this day in and day out of cooking two; three or more meals a day that is making me so darn lazy. Maybe making traditional Cordon Bleu is just too much work.

There’s all that pounding, and rolling and breading and the sauce (gotta have a sauce). Sometimes I will cheat; get frozen Cordon Bleu that we simply bake and serve with our own sauce – sometimes a cheese sauce or mustard sauce or white sauce. Still, my lazy butt just isn’t in the mood for even a spruced-up T.V. Dinner. Yeah, that’s bad.

Along comes my slow-cooker and some French-sounding American Inspiration with an Italian Twist. While the ethnicity of this humble chicken dish might be a bit confused; make no mistake about it – this is one deliciously satisfying supper.

Slow-Cooker Cordon Bleu Inspired Chicken Pasta
2 cups Chicken Stock
1 (15 oz) jar Alfredo Pasta Sauce
1 tablespoon Dijon Mustard
1/4 teaspoon Black Pepper
1 lb boneless skinless Chicken Breasts
2 cups uncooked Penne Pasta
4 oz coarsely chopped deli-sliced Ham
1 cup shredded Gruyère Cheese
1 tablespoon Butter
1/2 cup Panko Italian Breadcrumbs

Spray 5-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. In slow cooker, mix chicken stock, Alfredo sauce, Dijon mustard and pepper.

Cut chicken into 1-inch pieces. Stir in chicken into the sauce mixture. Cover; cook on HIGH heat setting for 90 minutes to 2 hours or until chicken is cooked through (at least 165-degrees F).

Stir Penne Pasta into the slow cooker. Coarsely chop the ham and add to cooker. Cover; continue to cook on HIGH for 25 to 30 minutes or until pasta is tender, stirring twice.

Finely shred the Gruyère Cheese. Add the cheese to the cooker, stir until cheese melts. Let stand covered 5 to 10 minutes or until slightly thickened.

In 8-inch skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add bread crumbs; cook 3 to 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until toasted. Top pasta with bread crumb mixture before serving.

Author: Rosemarie's Kitchen

I'm a wife, mother, grandmother and avid home cook.I believe in eating healthy whenever possible, while still managing to indulge in life's pleasures. View all posts by Rosemarie's Kitchen