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Two chicken cordon bleu panini sandwiches stacked on top of each other.

Chicken Cordon Bleu Panini Sandwich

Yield: 2 sandwiches
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

  • 4 ounces cream cheese, light or regular, softened
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon mayonnaise or sour cream
  • 4 slices French bread (see note)
  • 4 slices Swiss cheese
  • 1 cup shredded cooked chicken (see note)
  • 4-6 thinly sliced deli ham
  • Salt and pepper or garlic/herb seasoning - (see note)

Instructions 

  • In a small bowl, stir together the cream cheese, Dijon mustard and mayo (or sour cream) until smooth.
  • For each sandwich: spread sauce on both sides of the bread (I spread a light coating on the outside of the bread and a more generous dollop on the inside of both pieces). Sprinkle the outside of each piece of bread with a bit of salt and pepper or a garlic/herb seasoning blend and place the pieces of bread seasoning side down.
  • Continue layering one slice of bread with a slice of Swiss cheese, cooked chicken, a couple slices of deli ham, and a final slice of Swiss cheese. Top with the other slice of bread (seasonings on the outside).
  • Cook the sandwich on a preheated panini press or on a hot griddle or skillet on the stove until golden and the cheese is melted. If using a skillet or griddle, flip as needed to cook through - you can also weigh the sandwich down with a heavy pan or skillet for a panini-like effect. Serve warm.

Notes

Bread: the options for bread are endless here. You can use homemade or storebought French bread, a sourdough loaf, whole grain bread, etc. I like a moderately soft crust so we aren't tearing our mouths up eating the sandwich.
Chicken: a rotisserie chicken works great here; or this stovetop cooked chicken is a great, quick option. I think this would also be delicious with cooked, breaded chicken strips (maybe cut a little thinner).
Seasonings: the light sprinkle of seasonings on the outside of this sandwich is really tasty and sets this sandwich apart. Salt and pepper will work in a pinch but if you have a garlic/herb seasoning blend that you would use for, say, garlic bread, that would be amazing. We love the sandwich sprinkle seasoning from Penzeys. A homemade option could be a little bit of each of these crushed or stirred together: salt, pepper, garlic powder, oregano, basil.