Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole

Love chicken cordon Bleu but it's a lot of work so this is a perfect substitution! It's easy and delicious. Instead of prosciutto I used plain old ham. Enjoy!

from Make a Whisk

• 2 tablespoons butter, divided
• 1 pound cooked chicken breast, shredded or cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1/2 cup shredded swiss cheese, divided
• freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup panko bread crumbs
• 1 teaspoon garlic salt
• 1 cup half and half (I used Fat-Free half and half, and it was delicious)
• 4 oz prosciutto, either diced or sliced into thin strips
• 8 wedges The Laughing Cow Light Creamy Swiss Original Flavor (this is one full wheel of Laughing Cow cheese; I used light because we get these at Costco in a multipack, but you could use the full fat version if you want. There’s very little difference between the two).
• 8 ounces (1/2 box) penne pasta (I used Barilla Plus Penne, but any small pasta should be fine: shells, rotini, elbows, etc.)

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Spray a 2 1/2 quart casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray and set aside. Boil pasta in salted water until tender. Drain and set aside.

2. In a large saucepan over medium heat, cook the prosciutto and 1 tablespoon of butter until the prosciutto is heated through and crispy at the edges. Add the Laughing Cow cheese, 1/4 cup of the shredded Swiss cheese, half and half, garlic salt and pepper. When cheese is melted and smooth, cooked chicken and pasta and stir to combine. Transfer to prepared baking dish. Sprinkle remaining 1/4 cup of shredded swiss cheese over the casserole evenly.

3. Melt the remaining tablespoon of butter in a small bowl the microwave. Add the panko bread crumbs and stir to combine. Sprinkle over the top of the casserole. Bake for 10-15 minutes, until the casserole is heated through, the cheese on top is melted, and the buttered bread crumbs have crisped. Serve immediately.