Low-fat low-carb Chicken Cordon Bleu

Tonight's dinner was easy, and really funny - we keep a stash of frozen, ready to cook, Chicken Cordon Bleu in the freezer from Sam's Club. I didn't realize until I had made the dish that this is essentially the same - but lower in carb and I know exactly what's in it!

From DH:

Cheese-Filled Oven-Fried Chicken


vegetable oil spray
4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves
1/3 cup panko bread crumbs
1 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp paprika
1/2 medium lemon (times 2)
another 1/2 tsp dried basil
another 1/4 tsp dried oregano
4 part-skim mozzarella cheese sticks (string cheese)
1/8 tsp salt

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Lightly spray a nonstick baking sheet with vegetable oil spray.

2. Place the chicken breasts with the smooth side up between two pieces of plastic wrap. Lightly flatten the breasts to a thickness of 1/4 inch, being careful not to tear the meat.

3. Mix the bread crumbs, 1 tsp basil, 1/2 tsp oregano, and the paprika together. Set aside.

4. To assemble, put the chicken on the baking sheet. Squeeze the juice of half a lemon over the chicken. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 tsp basil and 1/4 tsp oregano. Place a cheese stick at one edge of each piece of chicken. Roll up jelly-roll fashion. Place with the seam side down on the baking sheet, leaving about 1/2 inch between the rolls.

5.  Squeeze the juice from the remaining lemon half over the rolls. Sprinkle with the breadcrumb mixture and salt. Lightly spray with vegetable spray (this helps it brown).

6.  Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the chicken is no longer pink in the center.
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Next time I might roll a slice of ham in with the cheese. I really like the flavor from the lemon and the extra seasoning from adding the herbs to the interior of the roll as well as in the breadcrumbs.  This was really easy - dinner was on the table in about 30 minutes - but I did stop to filet the chicken breasts earlier in the day. It was crunchy, but with the nice melty cheese. Definitely a do-again recipe.

We finished this meal with some leftover veggies and a salad from a bag.