What to Serve with Chicken Cordon Bleu [11 Best Side Dishes]

Easy chicken cordon bleu serving ideas, from homemade Dijon sauce to garlic butter rice, and parmesan cauliflower to baked zucchini fries. Discover what to serve with chicken cordon bleu today.

Chicken cordon bleu is classic comfort food that is sure to brighten up your family’s eyes when they see it on the table. Everyone loves the rich, creamy filling of melted cheese and ham that contrasts with the crunchy breaded exterior.

While chicken cordon bleu is delicious on its own, preparing the right side dishes helps take this meal to the next level. Here are some serving ideas to make your next family meal exceptional.

Dijon Sauce

Dijon sauce is one of the traditional serving suggestions for chicken cordon bleu. This dish originates in France, which is also the home of Dijon mustard. The intense savory, almost spicy flavors of Dijon mustard are common in French sauces such as this one.

Dijon sauce uses Dijon mustard as a base but adds butter, milk, and flour to mellow out the flavors. The result is a creamy, rich sauce that is perfect when served over chicken cordon bleu.

Garlic Butter Rice

The mild yet tasty flavor of garlic butter rice pairs perfectly with the comfort food classic chicken cordon bleu. The rice is mild enough that it doesn’t overwhelm the flavor of the main dish but flavorful enough to provide a break from plain white rice.

To make garlic butter rice, you only need butter, garlic, rice, broth, and seasonings. Stir-fry the garlic in the melted butter, add the rice, and stir until coated, then finish cooking with the broth and seasonings until fluffy and fragrant.

Garlic Asparagus

With such a rich dish, you want some vegetables so that you don’t feel overwhelmed. The slight bitterness of asparagus helps balance out the richness of the cordon bleu chicken. Even if you don’t like asparagus, cooking it according to this method will change your mind.

To make garlic asparagus, you need butter, garlic, and fresh asparagus. Sauté the asparagus with the garlic and butter, being careful not to let it overcook. This way the sprigs absorb the flavors of the garlic.

Asparagus in Lemon Butter Sauce

As mentioned above, asparagus makes a great companion to chicken cordon bleu thanks to its bitter, bright flavors. In-season asparagus is the best way to round out a comfort meal. If you don’t like garlic asparagus, you can always try making asparagus in lemon butter sauce.

To make this dish, you will need lemon juice, broth, heavy cream, butter, and asparagus. Boil the asparagus and prepare the sauce in a saucepan at the same time. You can even drizzle the sauce over the chicken once you’re done.

Roasted Rainbow Carrots

In-season vegetables help brighten up the sometimes-heavy flavors of chicken cordon bleu. Even in winter when you don’t have many seasonal vegetables available, you can still brighten up your plate with some rainbow carrots. 

Rainbow carrots add visual interest to your plate and have more complex flavors than regular carrots. All you need to do is season them, put them on a baking sheet, and roast them to let their natural sweetness shine through.

Zucchini Fries

Do you want to serve something along with chicken cordon bleu that feels indulgent, but is still healthy? Then try zucchini fries! Zucchini fries are almost as delicious as regular French fries (if not tastier) but are healthier and taste fresher.

To make zucchini fries, you need to cut zucchini into matchsticks and bread with Panko breadcrumbs (you can use the same dredging station that you use for cordon bleu). Then, bake until crispy.

Roasted Garlic Parmesan Cauliflower

Cauliflower often gets a bad reputation for being bland, but this recipe will change your mind. The bold flavors of the garlic and Parmesan are enhanced by roasting, which improves the overall taste of the cauliflower. This side dish is healthy and delicious but doesn’t overwhelm the main dish.

To make roasted garlic parmesan cauliflower, you need to make a dredging station consisting of melted garlic butter and combined Parmesan and breadcrumbs. Coat the cauliflower and then place it on a baking sheet to roast.

Green Beans with Brown Butter Almonds

Green beans are one of the most versatile vegetables out there. They have a natural fresh, bitter flavor that complements rich main dishes such as chicken cordon bleu, but they can also pick up a hint of sweetness depending on the sauce. This preparation method balances these contradicting flavors perfectly.

To make this dish, boil the green beans, watching not to overcook them. In a separate skillet, toast the almonds, then melt the butter. Add the almonds to the melted butter and cook until browned, then combine with the beans.

Steamed Broccolini with Goat Cheese

With a comfort dish such as chicken cordon bleu, you can be a bit more adventurous with your side dishes. Instead of sticking to traditional sides and more common vegetables, switch up your dinner rotation by trying out a new vegetable such as broccolini. 

For this recipe, you will need broccolini, goat cheese, lemon juice, and plenty of seasonings. Steam the broccolini and whip the goat cheese with lemon juice and other seasonings before serving.

Roasted Green Beans

If you want to stick to traditional side dishes that you can put together in minutes, then you can’t go wrong with roasted green beans. The slightly charred flavor of the roasted green beans pairs well with the rich chicken.

Roasted green beans are very easy to prepare. All you need to do is season the beans, put them on a baking sheet without overcrowding, and roast until slightly browned. 

Lemon Cilantro Rice

Rice is a great base for chicken cordon bleu because this simple starch is filling without overwhelming the chicken. However, if you are bored with regular white rice, lemon cilantro rice is the way to go. The bright, herby flavors of this rice freshen up your whole meal.

Besides lemon juice, zest, and cilantro, you will need garlic, oil, salt, and water. Brown the rice in the oil and garlic, add the water, and cook until done; then finish with the cilantro and lemon juice.