What to Serve with Chicken Cordon Bleu: 13 Sides You MUST TRY - Jane's Kitchen (2024)

Indulgence, thy name is chicken cordon bleu.

Each bite packs the juiciness of chicken with the salty umami of ham and the satisfaction of melted Swiss cheese covered in your favorite sauces.

All those intermingled flavors enveloped in a crispy exterior, are the things dreams are made of.

Whether you like your cordon blue rolled into a roulade and deep fried, or simply stuffed and baked with black forest ham and gruyere, and coated with panko – you know what you’re looking for at the outset.

A satisfying meal that pops off the plate with flavor. It’s a little bit like its red meat cousin beef wellington don’t you think?

Fun trivia: The term “cordon bleu” means “blue ribbon” in French and who wouldn’t want to place a blue ribbon over a platter of perfectly prepared golden chicken breasts?

So, now we know what we’re looking for in the main dish, let’s talk about what to serve with chicken cordon bleu.

What we love are contrasting flavors and textures.

How about some apples tossed in a salad with blue cheese? Absolutely.

How about some extra buttery, browned-butter veggies? Oh, yeah.

And what about utterly delectable, insanely creamy mashed potatoes? Well, now you have our rapt attention.

Chicken Cordon Bleu Sides: Ideas to Whet the Appetite

So, with those mouthwatering ideas in mind, let’s delve into a few suggestions to make that chicken cordon bleu sing and dance on the plate.

1. Lemon Butter Roasted Asparagus

When it comes to this flavor combination, our motto is “come for the lemon, stay for the butter.”

Citrusy lemon and salty butter come together to flavor asparagus and make our taste buds rejoice in exuberant and rapturous joy.

Now picture those flavors in a stunner of an saucy asparagus dish sitting next to crunchy chicken cordon bleu.

The happy vibes they give each other are a delight to behold.

You want this.

We want this.

Everyone wants this.

Check out Sommer’s recipe at A Spicy Perspective.

2. Apple Endive Salad with Sugared Walnuts and Blue Cheese

We love a salad with a lot of texture and contrast in flavor. Tartness next to sweetness. Saltiness next to anise.

Which is why we love this salad. The combination of endive and apples, blue cheese and tarragon, and a little bite of heat from the shallot makes this a perfect dinner companion for chicken cordon bleu.

Oh, and there are nuts too. Yes, you read that right.

This salad also has lightly candied walnuts.

Oh, yeah.

Lori has the full recipe over at Recipe Girl.

3. Green Beans with Browned Butter Almonds

Browned butter is often described at “nutty.” (As in the food group, not like a zany next-door neighbor who pops in to wreak havoc with the protagonist’s day.)

But we describe browned butter as “astoundingly necessary to maintain joy.”

And the flavor of that butter definitely lends itself to crisp green beans and almonds.

Because, browned butter is delicious.

Heidi over at Foodie Crush gives us the 411 on how to make this side dish that longs to share a plate with chicken cordon bleu.

4. Creamy Dreamy Mashed Potatoes

Chicken cordon bleu is the star of the plate, but it can handle a little competition without breaking a sweat.

And we consider mashed potatoes to be an excellent contender for “Food Item You Want on Your Fork First.”

(The cordon bleu still wins by a nose!)

And we really, really, really love our potatoes to be loaded with butter and mild cheese to give the potatoes an extra level of silkiness.

So, pile on these buttery mashed potatoes from Nichole over at Cooking for Keeps, and watch them evaporate.

5. Buttery Rice

Speaking of butter, we love a good buttery rice. When the rice is made perfectly, each piece is enveloped in seasoned butter.

Each piece has its own comforting goodness.

Each piece has its own bit of joyful countenance.

And when that pile of steaming rice is nestled alongside a chicken cordon bleu, it’s elegant simplicity on the table.

You can grab a fabulous recipe over at Lauren’s Latest to round out your dinner plate.

6. Roasted Rainbow Carrots

We heartily maintain that rainbow carrots are one of the best foodstuffs we’ve seen come down the road in a long time. C’mon, they’re literally a rainbow! How amazing is that?

So, when we think of chicken cordon bleu sides, of course these flamboyant denizens of the produce aisle popped into our head.

And then we thought, what if they were tossed with herbs and pesto?

Hmmmm.

That would make them even more delectable.

When we stumbled on London’s recipe over at The Evolving Table, we nodded our collective heads and said, “That’s just what we were looking for.”

7. Parmesan Lemon Orzo with Peas

When thinking about what to serve with chicken cordon bleu, our mind’s eye often gets drawn to the thought of little baby peas.

So green.

So bright.

And, oh, so delectable.

And peas love pasta.

It’s a fact, Jack.

So, we thought maybe our favorite little diminutive legume might like to get tossed with some lemony orzo.

And wow, were we right.

We found the perfect recipe over at Oh, Sweet Basil from Carrian and Cade, and it’s tickling our fancy when we’re thinking about side dishes for chicken cordon bleu.

8. Steamed Broccolini with Goat Cheese

When it comes to hip veggies, we point to bright green broccolini dancing and twirling away on the lighted disco floor for proof of awesomeness.

(What? Disco isn’t hip? We beg to differ!)

To sum up: gently steamed broccolini is a joy to behold.

Seriously, behold it.

This isn’t a veggie that languidly lies on the plate.

This is a stunner that pops off the plate when we think about what goes with chicken cordon bleu.

And when it’s paired with mild and creamy goat cheese, it’s cache of hipness goes up just another notch.

We found this recipe from Elizabeth over at Eat Lift Be that’s laser focused on what we want from a veggie side dish.

9. Baby Lettuce Salad with Raspberries, Cranberries, and Feta

We love to pair salads with chicken cordon bleu, because an elegant main dish loves an equally elegant partner on the plate.

And a combination of both fresh and dried fruit, nuts, and tangy salty cheese is exactly the kind of elegance that will make chicken cordon bleu metaphorically raise its chin and make eye contact with the partner it’s been dreaming of.

“Oh, hello. There must be something wrong with my eyes, because I can’t take them off of you.”

(Give poor Cordon Bleu a break, it’s a delicious stuffed chicken breast, not a master at pick-up artist!)

Grab Marcie’s crunchy, sweet, tangy, and creamy salad over at Flavor the Moments.

10. Rice Pilaf

When we think of sides for chicken cordon bleu, we love to revisit the classics.

And is there anything that’s more classic than rice pilaf?

The onions, garlic, celery, and mushrooms are coated in salty and creamy butter and then sautéed to perfection before getting tossed with rice.

The rice picks up all those bright and earthy flavors, and then everything is simmered to perfection.

Seriously, it’s one of the perfect pairings for chicken cordon bleu.

Annalise gives us all the savory perfection at Completely Delicious.

11. Blistered Sugar Snap Peas with Crème Fraiche

When it comes to side dishes for chicken cordon bleu, we don’t just love classic pairing ingredients – we love to have them prepared in a new way that will intrigue the eyes and startle the palate.

Which is why we’re falling in love with charred veggies.

Blistered snap peas tossed with creamy crème fraiche is just what chicken cordon bleu ordered.

The peas are savory, and the crème fraiche is bright and tangy.

Get that cast-iron pan out. We’ve got a side dish to make.

Grab the recipe from Ashley at Not Without Salt.

12. Crusty Cruciferous Crumble

Science has proven that married couples start to look alike.

So, why wouldn’t chicken cordon bleu love to share a plate with a side dish that has the same type of crusty, golden brown coating?

The eyes know what the heart wants.

And in this case, just think of broccoli and cauliflower tossed with parmesan breadcrumbs to give it the perfect crunch.

Crunch goes the outside of the chicken.

Crunch goes the veggie crumble.

Soul mates 4-eva!

Rachel has the recipe for all the deliciousness over at Mash Up Mom.

13. Zucchini Fries

Zucchini is the name of the game when it comes to cordon bleu-friendly sides. You could pile it high on zucchini noodles, or serve it alongside sautéed zucchini.

Or you could really up your zucchini game, and serve that cordon bleu with crunchy and cheesy zucchini fries.

They’re wonderful little 2-to-3 bite wedges of flavor, texture, and delicious addictiveness.

This recipe is super fun because it’s gluten-free, low-carb, and keto.

So, let’s get our zucchini fries on, shall we?

Grab the recipe from Lisa and get ready to give cordon bleu something to write home about.

What to Serve with Chicken Cordon Bleu: Apps Lead to All Good Things

We’ve taken a close look at side dishes for this classic chicken dish, but it doesn’t need to stop there.

When pulling together a dinner of chicken cordon bleu, starting with some excellent appetizers is a great way to get the palate primed.

So, what would eat well for that opening salvo?

Briny flavors would bring out the flavors of the chicken, cheese, and ham. So, baby potatoes that are steamed and halved and then dolloped with green or black olive tapenade would fit the bill nicely.

And once those bad boys are assembled, they could be topped with sour cream and chives for the final touch of deliciousness.

Another perfect palate primer would be artichoke and parmesan crostini. Think of the simplicity and bright flavors of marinated artichoke hearts tossed with salty cheese and topped with fresh parsley on top of olive oil-brushed crusty crostini.

Endive is a great vehicle for flavor. And there’s something a little magical about those little lettuce cups filled with an herbed cream cheese spread. Simple. Elegant. Appetizing.

Don’t Forget the Basics!

Crackers and cheese are the perennial favorite for a reason. They’re delicious.

And making your own homemade crackers is a snap!

Also, they make people stop – co*ck their heads – reach for one, and ask, “Wait. Did you make these from scratch?” And then you can smile and say, “Yes. Yes, I did.”

Because Swiss cheese is a slightly nutty and fun cheese, you could balance that out with a domestic or Irish cheddar.

The tangier the better! We do want to get the flavor party started, after all.

What Wine Goes with Chicken Cordon Bleu?

Great question… Here are a few helpful tips to think about.

Oak, Oak, Oak!

A good wine pairs perfectly with chicken cordon bleu. A nice, oaky chardonnay is the perfect helpmate for the main dish.

Chardonnay’s flavors – lightly kissed with the scent vanilla, butter, and (occasionally) dill – creates a welcome addition to the meal.

Open up that wine and get it into a chilled wine glass, and you’ll have the perfect pour.

Dry is Good

And – of course – a bubbly dry prosecco is nearly always the perfect pairing for complex flavors. It’s crisp, clean, and refreshing with notes of apples and peaches.

And a good pinot noir is another perfectly amazing pairing.

It’s typically a little fruit-forward and dry, which means it’s not cloyingly sweet. It also has a clean finish that makes it a wonderful accompaniment to chicken cordon bleu.

Simple Desserts Are a Thing

When it comes to a dessert to pair with chicken cordon bleu, simple equals perfection.

Garden fresh berries topped with homemade whipped cream will be the perfect crescendo to your meal.

A quick orange sorbet would also round out the meal with a burst of additional flavor. The key is to keep it simple.

After those amazing sides and rich chicken cordon bleu smothered in sauce, your family and guests will just want to revel in the dinner itself, without dessert trying to steal the show.

As you can see, what to serve with chicken cordon bleu doesn’t need to be a conundrum – it can be a joy. What do you like to eat and drink with chicken cordon bleu?