Chicken with a Cheese and Ham Crust

I always think it's pretty amazing what you can do with just a few ingredients and a little bit of ingenuity.  Like this recipe here today.  I had a small bit of leftover ham that I wanted to use up and some chicken breasts and so after putting my thinking cap on I came up with a delicious and simple little entree that went down a real treat and went together lickety split!



I always have cheese in my refrigerator.  It's just one of those things we are never without.  One of our refrigerator basics as it were.  I also had a roll that was left from another meal and so I used that as well.

 

With a handful of stale bread crumbs, some cheese and a bit of chopped ham, together with some chopped parsley and some garlic . . .  a knob of butter . . .  all put together and sprinkled on top of two plain (seasoned) boneless, skinless chicken breasts . . .



 Half an hour in the oven and dinner was served . . .  and it was delicious.  We had some steamed new potatoes and broccoli on the side.  In the time it took to do them, the chicken was done and we sat down to a delicious meal which took next to no time to prepare and got rid of a few bits in my refrigerator and cupboard that needed getting rid of.  Thrifty and delicious.  You can't go wrong. The quantities are for two people, but this is one of those things that can easily be increased to feed more!  All the flavours of Chicken Cordon Bleu without any of the faffing about!  I like that!

*Ham and Cheese Crusted Chicken for Two*

Serves two

Printable Recipe 

Quick, easy and delicious.  I had a tiny bit of ham leftover that I wanted to use up.  Waste not want not.  It went perfectly.  Kind of like a deconstructed cordon bleu. 

2 single boneless, skinless chicken breast fillets

(about 4 ounces each)

salt and black pepper

60g of fresh  bread crumbs (about 1 cup)

(I used a stale ciabatta roll)

a small handful of chopped cooked ham (about 1/4 cup)

60g grated strong cheddar cheese (1/2 cup)

2 TBS chopped fresh parsley

1 small clove of garlic, peeled and  minced

1 TBS butter, melted 

 

Preheat the oven to 190*C/375*F/ gas mark 5.

Put the bread crumbs into a small bowl.  Toss together with the butter, parsley, cheese, ham and garlic.

Place the chicken breast fillets into a buttered baking dish.  Cover each one with an equal portion of the bread crumb mixture.

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until golden brown and the juices from the chicken run clear.  Serve hot.

Posted in: Mixed