There are few things in this world more satisfying than taking a buttoned-up French dinner-party classic and dragging it out to the smoker where it belongs. Chicken cordon bleu has always been about that magic trio of tender chicken, salty ham, and gooey Swiss cheese, but when you wrap the whole thing in a bacon weave and kiss it with hardwood smoke, you turn an elegant dish into something with real backyard swagger. This is comfort food with a campfire soul, and once you pull these golden, bacon-armored rolls off the grates, you'll never go back to the oven version again.
Smoked Bacon Wrapped Chicken Cordon Bleu
Tom Jackson
Rated 4.0 stars by 5 users
Category
Entree
Cuisine
American
Servings
4
Prep Time
30 minutes
Cook Time
3 hours
Calories
761
The secret to this build is patience and a little knife work. By butterflying and pounding the breasts thin, you create the perfect canvas to roll up that ham and Swiss into a tidy little package, and the bacon does double duty as both flavor and insurance. As the fat renders low and slow at 250°F, it bastes the lean chicken from the outside in, locking in moisture while the smoke works its way deep into every layer. A quick soak in the Smoke on Wheels BBQ Marinade up front seasons the meat all the way through, so every bite delivers from the first slice to the last.
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts
- 4 slices of ham (ask your deli to slice them on #4)
- 4 (1.5 oz, roughly) pieces of Swiss cheese
- 16 slices of bacon
-
Smoke on Wheels BBQ Marinade
Directions
Slice each chicken breast in half horizontally, the same way you'd split a burger bun. Working one at a time, drop a breast into a gallon zip-top bag and pound it out with the flat side of a mallet to an even 1/8"–1/4" thickness.
Place all the flattened breast halves into a zip-top bag and pour in the Smoke on Wheels BBQ Marinade until they're covered. Seal it up and let them soak in the refrigerator for one hour.
Pull the breasts from the marinade and preheat your smoker to 250°F.
Lay out a breast flat. Cover it with a slice of ham, then set a piece of Swiss cheese near the end closest to you. Roll the meats up and over the cheese, working away from you into a tight log.
Lay out three slices of bacon vertically, then one slice horizontally across the top near one end of the vertical strips. Set the rolled chicken on the horizontal strip, then roll it up in the vertical slices, tucking that horizontal slice of bacon around the chicken to seal the bundle.
Place each roll seam-side down directly on the grates. Smoke at 250°F until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (check with an instant-read thermometer), about one and a half to two hours.
Let the rolls rest a few minutes before slicing so the juices settle, then slice and serve.
Recipe Note
What You Will Love
You'll love how this recipe turns four simple ingredients into a showstopper that tastes like you fussed over it all day. The bacon weave keeps the chicken impossibly juicy while crisping up into a salty, smoky shell, and that river of melted Swiss running into the savory ham makes every slice look as good as it tastes. It's forgiving enough for a weekend cook yet impressive enough for company, and because everything happens on the smoker, your kitchen stays cool and clean. Best of all, it's a crowd-pleaser that bridges the gap between fancy and downright fun.
Frequently Asked Questions
What temperature should I smoke bacon-wrapped chicken cordon bleu?
Smoke the rolls at 250°F until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F, which usually takes about one and a half to two hours. Use an instant-read thermometer to confirm doneness.
How do I keep the bacon from unwrapping during the smoke?
Place each roll seam-side down directly on the grates so the weight holds the bacon in place. Rolling the chicken tightly and tucking the horizontal bacon slice firmly around the bundle also keeps everything sealed as the fat renders.
Can I prep the chicken cordon bleu ahead of time?
Yes. You can butterfly, pound, and marinate the breasts up to a day in advance, and even roll and wrap the bundles ahead of time. Keep them covered in the refrigerator until you are ready to fire up the smoker.
Why marinate the chicken before smoking?
A one-hour soak in the Smoke on Wheels BBQ Marinade seasons the lean chicken all the way through and helps it stay moist during the low-and-slow cook, so every bite is flavorful from the outside in.
Can I cook this in the indoors?
We rate this a 4 out of 5 for cooking indoors. Great in the kitchen, Better on the grill.
Nutrition
Nutrition
- Nutrition Serving Size
- 8.31 oz
- per serving
- Calories
- 761
- Carbs
- 5 grams
- Protein
- 65 grams
- Fat
- 51 grams
- Sodium
- 2350 milligrams
