Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta
This cheesy and delicious chicken cordon bleu pasta is so flavorful, and so easy to make!
Are you more of a menu planner or a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants type cook? I aspire to be a great menu planner, but usually only end up planning a menu and grocery shopping about every other week. On the off week, we usually just cobble together odds and ends from the pantry and cupboard, catch up on meals I didn't make from the week before, and/or eat out. As much as I would love to be organized enough to plan a menu every single week, I like having a little more flexibility than that, and we tend to have so much food in the fridge and pantry anyway that it's a good way to rotate through our stash. This chicken cordon bleu pasta is one that I make frequently in those in-between weeks. I almost always have cooked chicken and ham in the freezer, pasta in the pantry, and cheese and milk in the fridge, so it's a no brainer to throw everything together into a cheesy and filling pasta dish!
My kids always ask for seconds when I make this pasta, and I love that it's so simple and delicious! The combination of tender chicken and ham with a creamy swiss cheese sauce is fantastic. It's ready in less than 30 minutes, which makes it perfect for a busy night (as all of my weeknights seem to be lately). It's one of our go-to meals!
Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta
8 ounces rotini pasta
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons flour
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon salt
pepper (to taste)
1 cup grated swiss cheese
1 1/2 cups chopped cooked chicken
3/4 cup chopped ham
Cook the pasta according to the package directions and drain. While the pasta is cooking, in a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. When the butter is melted, whisk in the flour to form a paste. Let cook 2-3 minutes, until golden. Gradually add the milk, whisking so there are no lumps. Let cook for a few minutes until thickened, then gradually add the chicken broth, continuing to whisk constantly. Whisk in the salt and pepper, then let the mixture cook for a few minutes, until thickened to desired consistency. Remove from heat and whisk in the swiss cheese until melted. Return to heat and stir in the chicken, ham, and cooked pasta, until warmed through.
Read more..