How to make chicken cordon bleu braid

Cooktop Cove: How to make chicken cordon bleu braid

By Kate Elliott

Bread braids sound hard to make, but they're not. In fact, not only are they easy but when you choose to braid that bread over delicious fillings, such as those found in chicken cordon bleu braid, anyone can feel like a chef with very little effort. The recipe that follows provides just that. An easy and delicious snack (or full meal) that takes only a few minutes to pull together before everyone can dive into the cheesy, bread goodness.

In fact, a traditional loaf of bread isn't even required. Using one would actually make assembling this dish much more difficult. Instead, pizza dough is used so manipulating it and forming all those braid pieces is much, much easier. What could be better than a dish that looks gourmet but takes only minutes to prepare?

Chicken Cordon Bleu Braid

10 minutes

20 minutes

30 minutes

1 refrigerated pizza dough ball

1 cup Alfredo sauce

1/2 cup deli ham, roughly chopped

1 cup chicken breast, cooked and cut into 1/2" cubes

4 slices Swiss cheese

1 egg, beaten lightly

3 tablespoons water

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Roll the pizza dough into an 11" x 14" rectangle.

Spread the Alfredo sauce down the center of the dough.

Place the ham on top of the Alfredo sauce.

Add the chicken on top of the ham.

Sprinkle Swiss cheese evenly over the chicken.

Using a pizza cutter or sharp knife, make slits about an inch apart on both sides of the pizza dough.

To form braid, alternately cross the strips over the filling before crossing the end pieces up and over each other so the filling doesn't fall out.

Carefully transfer the braid to the prepared baking sheet.

Combine the egg and water together, beating lightly.

Brush the egg wash completely over the braid.

Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over the entire braid.

Place in the preheated oven and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until the entire crust is a deep golden brown and the filling is hot throughout.