Ingredients
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts or 8 small chicken cutlets
- 8 slices of deli ham
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese or a mozzarella-cheddar blend
Optional: A little black pepper, garlic powder, or Italian seasoning can be added, but the basic recipe needs only three ingredients.
Instructions
1. Prepare the chicken
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). If the chicken breasts are thick, carefully slice them horizontally or pound them to an even thickness. This helps them cook evenly and keeps the dish from taking too long in the oven.
2. Wrap with ham
Lay the ham slices flat and place a piece of chicken in the center of each one. Wrap the ham around the chicken, overlapping the edges underneath. Arrange the wrapped pieces seam-side down in a lightly greased baking dish.
3. Add the cheese
Generously cover each piece with shredded cheese. Don’t be shy—the melted, browned cheese is what makes this dish so irresistible.
4. Bake
Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 25–35 minutes, depending on the thickness of the chicken. The chicken should reach 165°F (74°C) in the thickest part.
5. Make it golden
For that beautiful browned topping shown in the photo, switch the oven to broil/grill for the final 1–3 minutes. Watch it closely because the cheese can go from golden to burnt very quickly.
6. Rest and serve
Let the chicken rest for about 5 minutes before serving. This gives the juices time to settle while the cheese stays wonderfully gooey.
Serving Ideas
Serve these cheesy ham-wrapped chicken pieces with roasted potatoes, mashed potatoes, steamed broccoli, green beans, or a crisp green salad. Spoon some of the melted cheese and pan juices over the chicken just before serving.
Easy Tips
- Use thin chicken cutlets for faster, more even cooking.
- For extra flavor, use smoked ham or a stronger cheese such as sharp cheddar.
- Don’t overcrowd the baking dish; a little space helps the ham brown nicely.
- Always check the chicken with a thermometer rather than relying only on cooking time.
- If the cheese browns before the chicken is cooked through, loosely cover the dish with foil and continue baking.
The best part? You can assemble everything ahead of time, refrigerate it, and pop it into the oven when guests arrive. It’s the kind of simple dinner that looks like you spent much more effort than you actually did.