Swiss Mushroom Chicken

Chicken breast dinners sometimes get a bad rap. Boneless, skinless chicken can sometimes come out dry, and, quite frankly, it can be boring. That’s not the case with Swiss mushroom chicken. With its combination of breaded chicken breasts, sauteed mushrooms, ham, and melted cheese, this chicken recipe is essentially a simplified version of chicken cordon bleu. Instead of stuffing and rolling the chicken breast, you layer the ingredients on top of it. A quick stop under the broiler after pan-frying the chicken ensures that the Swiss cheese melts perfectly. This versatile recipe is easy enough for a weeknight dinner, but its flavors also make it a standout choice for serving on a special occasion.

Swiss Mushroom Chicken Ingredients

• Chicken breast: You will need four boneless, skinless chicken breast halves for this recipe. They should be about 4 ounces each.
• Egg: A beaten egg adheres the cracker breading to the chicken.
• Cracker breading: Crushed butter-flavored crackers and salt are combined to make a simple breading for the chicken.
• Fresh mushrooms: Cooked mushrooms become an umami-rich topping for the chicken.
• Butter: The other thing that makes those mushrooms taste so good? Butter. Use salted or unsalted butter for this recipe—whatever you have on hand is fine.
• Deli ham: For an extra savory flavor, each piece of chicken is topped with a slice of deli ham. You could also use thinly sliced hard salami if you prefer.
• Swiss cheese: To take this dish over the top, a slice of Swiss cheese melts over the ham- and mushroom-covered chicken, adding a creamy flavor to each savory bite.

Directions

Step 1: Prep the chicken

Preheat the broiler. Flatten the chicken to a 1/4-inch thickness. In a shallow bowl, lightly beat the egg. Combine the cracker crumbs and salt in another shallow bowl. Dip the chicken in the egg, then roll it in the crumbs and set it aside.

Step 2: Saute the mushrooms

In a large cast-iron or other ovenproof skillet, saute the mushrooms in 1 tablespoon of butter until they’re tender. Remove them and set them aside.

Step 3: Cook the chicken

In the same skillet, cook the chicken over medium heat in the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter until it’s no longer pink, three to four minutes on each side.

Step 4: Top it with ham and cheese

Top each chicken breast half with a ham slice, mushrooms and a cheese slice. Broil 4 to 6 inches from the heat until the cheese melts, one to two minutes.

Swiss Mushroom Chicken Variations

• Change the cheese: Replace the Swiss cheese with a slice of Gruyere, Jarlsberg, cheddar, provolone or add a little heat with pepper jack.
• Add some seasoning: Easily change up the flavor of the chicken by adding seasoning to the breading, such as Italian seasoning, dried herbs, smoked or Hungarian paprika or garlic powder.
• Switch the breading: Use panko, seasoned bread crumbs, crumbled saltines or crushed corn flake cereal in place of the crumbled buttery crackers.
• Serve with a sauce: Chicken cordon bleu is typically served with a simple creamy mustard sauce. To make the sauce, melt 1-1/2 teaspoons of butter in a small saucepan. Add 1-1/2 teaspoons of all-purpose flour, 1/4 teaspoon of salt and a dash of black pepper. Stir until the mixture is smooth. Gradually add 1/2 cup of 2% milk and bring the mixture to a boil. Cook and stir the sauce for two minutes or until it’s thickened. Remove the sauce from the heat and stir in 1 tablespoon of Dijon mustard. Serve it on the side or drizzle it over the chicken before serving.

How to Store Swiss Mushroom Chicken

While leftovers won’t have the perfect flavor and texture of freshly melted cheese, they’ll still be pretty tasty. Transfer cooled chicken to an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator.

How long does Swiss mushroom chicken last?

When stored properly in the fridge, leftover Swiss mushroom chicken will last three to four days.

How should you reheat Swiss mushroom chicken?

For the best flavor and texture, reheat leftover breaded chicken in an oven or air fryer preheated to 350° until its internal temperature reaches 165°.

Swiss Mushroom Chicken Tips

Can you make this with other cuts of chicken?

You can also use boneless, skinless chicken thighs to make Swiss mushroom chicken. Pound them thin, as described in the recipe.

What can you serve with Swiss mushroom chicken?

Serve Swiss mushroom chicken with a flavorful salad or a vegetable side dish, such as green beans, Brussels sprouts, or asparagus. Or make a batch of pilaf or steamed rice to serve on the side. Freshly baked Parker House rolls or garlic knots would also be a tasty option.