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Meat, South and mountains

Chicken breasts wrapped in Bayonne ham with sautéed potatoes

Chicken breasts wrapped in Bayonne ham is a dish for 4 people, ready in 45 minutes, rated easy, at about €3.30 per person. Each breast gets wrapped in two slices of ham with thyme, browned, then roasted, and served alongside garlic sautéed potatoes. The trick is securing the ham with a toothpick so it doesn't unravel in the oven.

Chicken breasts wrapped in Bayonne ham, roasted until crisp, served with sautéed potatoes.

Chicken breasts wrapped in Bayonne ham with sautéed potatoes
Total time
45 min
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€3.30
Calories per person
630 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Fall, Winter
The kids
They generally like it

Bayonne ham wraps the chicken breast like a second skin, turning crisp in the oven while the meat underneath stays juicy. The salt from the ham seasons the whole dish, so you don't need to add any to the chicken itself. A sprig of thyme tucked under the ham perfumes the meat quietly from the inside, without taking over.

This is a weeknight dish sturdy enough for a Sunday table, simple to put together but polished on the plate, with that golden ham crust doing all the visual work. Kids go for the crispy ham and the sautéed potatoes on the side. Adults appreciate that there's almost nothing to season, since the ham does that job for you.

The ingredients

4 people

Butcher

  • Chicken breasts 4
  • Bayonne ham 8 slices

Fruits and vegetables

  • Potatoes 900 g
  • Garlic 3 cloves
  • Parsley 5 sprigs
  • Thyme 3 sprigs

Pantry

  • Olive oiloften in the pantry 4 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

The step by step recipe

  1. Cut the potatoes into cubes and boil them in salted water for a few minutes. 5 min

    A quick pre-cook makes them tender inside and crisp outside later.

  2. Wrap each chicken breast with two slices of ham and a sprig of thyme.

    Add pepper but skip the salt, the ham is already salty.

  3. Brown the chicken breasts in an ovenproof skillet, then roast at 200°C. 20 min

    Baste them with the pan juices from time to time.

  4. Sauté the drained potatoes in oil with the garlic until golden. 15 min

    Don't stir too often, they need to form a crust.

  5. Sprinkle with parsley and serve with the sliced chicken.

    Let the chicken rest for five minutes before slicing it.

Our tips to get it right

  • Pick chicken breasts of similar size so they finish roasting at the same time.
  • Take the chicken out of the fridge fifteen minutes before cooking, it browns more evenly in the pan.
  • Save the chicken's cooking juices to drizzle over the sautéed potatoes, it adds flavor for free.

The variations

  • Swap the Bayonne ham for serrano ham or prosciutto, the result stays close to the original.
  • For a vegetarian version, use turkey cutlets instead of chicken, or wrap grilled eggplant slices in plant based ham instead.
  • To save time, slice the chicken breasts in half lengthwise before wrapping them, they'll cook ten minutes faster.

What to serve it with

  • A well dressed green salad
  • A glass of sparkling apple juice
  • Steamed green beans

Storage

Keep leftovers in the fridge in a sealed container for 2 to 3 days. The dish doesn't freeze well because the sautéed potatoes lose their crispness, so it's better to freeze only the chicken if needed. Reheat in the oven at 180°C so the ham crisps back up a bit.

Questions about this dish

How do I keep the ham from unraveling while it cooks?

Secure each wrapped chicken breast with a wooden toothpick before browning it. The ham stays in place through the whole roasting time.

Can I prepare this dish ahead of time?

You can wrap the chicken breasts in ham several hours ahead and keep them in the fridge. Cook them right before serving so the ham stays crisp.

What ham can I use if I don't have Bayonne ham?

Serrano ham or a similar dry cured ham works very well. Avoid cooked ham, since it won't crisp up in the oven.

Why don't my sautéed potatoes get crispy?

They release too much moisture if you stir them too often while sautéing. Let them sit and brown undisturbed for several minutes at a time.

How long does it take to make chicken breasts wrapped in Bayonne ham with sautéed potatoes?

Count 45 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “easy”.

How many calories are in chicken breasts wrapped in Bayonne ham with sautéed potatoes?

About 630 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does chicken breasts wrapped in Bayonne ham with sautéed potatoes cost?

About €3.30 per serving, or €13.20 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains none of the major allergens tracked by Mon Chou. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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