Crispy Swiss Malibu Chicken Recipe – Restaurant Style

Why You’ll Love This this Crispy Swiss Malibu Chicken

This crispy Swiss Malibu chicken delivers everything you want in comfort food – tender, juicy chicken wrapped in a golden, crunchy coating that actually stays put when you cut into it. The combination of smoky ham and melty Swiss cheese creates those irresistible flavors that somehow make everyone at the dinner table go quiet for the first few bites, which honestly is a small miracle in most households. Plus, that tangy mustard-mayo dipping sauce ties everything together with just enough zip to make you wonder why you don’t put this stuff on everything.

Ingredients List

Let’s gather everything you’ll need to create this crispy, cheesy masterpiece that’ll have your family fighting over the last piece.

• 6 boneless skinless chicken breasts (pound ’em thin)
• 6 slices cooked ham
• 6 slices swiss cheese
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 3/4 cup fine dry breadcrumb
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1 teaspoon mustard
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• While this recipe isn’t exactly health food, you can make some smart swaps without sacrificing too much flavor
• Consider using low-sodium ham to cut back on salt, especially since you’re already adding it to the flour mixture
• Swap regular mayo for a lighter version, or try Greek yogurt mixed with a touch of lemon juice for tang
• The cheese and ham pack plenty of protein, but they also bring saturated fat to the party, so maybe save this one for special occasions rather than Tuesday night dinner

Step by Step Directions

Follow these straightforward steps to create perfectly crispy Malibu chicken with melted Swiss cheese and ham.

• Beat egg and 1 tablespoon water together with a fork in a shallow dish.
• Mix flour, salt, and pepper in another shallow dish.
• Place breadcrumbs in a third shallow dish.
• Coat each pounded chicken breast in the flour mixture, shaking off excess.
• Dip floured chicken into the egg mixture, ensuring both sides are covered.
• Press chicken firmly into breadcrumbs, coating completely on both sides.
• Heat vegetable oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat until butter melts.
• Brown chicken breasts for 4-5 minutes on each side until golden.
• Transfer browned chicken to a cookie sheet or oven-proof platter.
• Top each chicken breast with one slice of ham and one slice of Swiss cheese.
• Bake at 350°F until cheese melts completely, about 5-8 minutes.
• Mix mustard and mayonnaise together for dipping sauce.
• Serve immediately while cheese is still bubbly.

For even better results, consider using an enameled cast iron Dutch oven for browning the chicken, as it provides superior heat retention and distribution.

Substitutions and Variations

• Double the cheese if you’re feeling particularly indulgent – I mean, who’s going to stop you, the cheese police.
• Make it herb-crusted by mixing dried Italian seasoning, garlic powder, or fresh chopped herbs into your breadcrumbs for that fancy restaurant atmosphere at home.
• Use chicken thighs instead if you want extra juicy meat that’s harder to overcook, though you might need to adjust the cooking time since thighs are a bit more forgiving than their finicky breast cousins.

Additional Things to Serve With This Dish

This dish is basically begging for some equally delicious sidekicks to complete the meal.

• Garlic mashed potatoes – because crispy chicken and creamy potatoes are basically a match made in comfort food heaven, and you’ll want something to soak up any extra sauce.
• Roasted asparagus or green beans – toss them with olive oil, salt, and pepper, then roast at the same temperature while your chicken finishes baking, which means less dishes and more time to admire your culinary skills.
• Simple mixed greens salad – something light and fresh to cut through all that cheesy, buttery goodness without making you feel like you’re eating rabbit food.
• Rice pilaf or wild rice – if you want to get a little fancy and add some texture variety to your plate, plus it’s great for catching any melted cheese that tries to escape.
• Steamed broccoli with lemon – because we all need our vegetables, and the bright lemon flavor plays really nicely with the rich chicken and ham combo.
• Dinner rolls or crusty bread – honestly, any excuse to have more carbs on the table is a good excuse in my book, and you might want something to mop up that mustard-mayo sauce.

Cooking Tips & Tricks (Chef’s Notes)

After making this recipe more times than I care to admit, I’ve picked up some tricks that’ll save you from the kitchen disasters I’ve witnessed.

• Pound that chicken properly – get it to about 1/4 inch thick so it cooks evenly, and use a meat mallet or rolling pin wrapped in plastic wrap if you don’t have the fancy tool, because nobody wants rubbery chicken on the outside and raw chicken on the inside.
• Press those breadcrumbs like you mean it – really get in there and make sure they stick, otherwise you’ll end up with sad, naked chicken pieces that look like they went through a breadcrumb blizzard and lost.
• Don’t skip the flour step – it might seem unnecessary, but that flour coating helps everything else stick better, kind of like primer before you paint a wall.
• Watch your oil temperature – if it’s too hot, your breadcrumbs will burn before the chicken cooks through, and if it’s too cool, you’ll get greasy, soggy coating instead of that golden crispy goodness we’re after.
• Use a meat thermometer – chicken should hit 165°F internal temperature, because food poisoning is definitely not the kind of surprise anyone wants with dinner.
• Let the cheese do its thing – don’t rush the melting process in the oven, Swiss cheese needs a minute to get all gooey and wonderful, so resist the urge to crank up the heat.

Nutritional Facts

These numbers are based on one serving (1 chicken breast with toppings) of the 6-serving recipe:

• Calories: 485 per serving
• Protein: 52g – excellent source for muscle maintenance and growth
• Total Fat: 22g (34% of daily value)
• Saturated Fat: 9g – mainly from the Swiss cheese and butter
• Cholesterol: 165mg – from chicken, ham, and cheese
• Sodium: 890mg (39% of daily value) – watch your salt intake for the day
• Total Carbohydrates: 18g – mostly from the flour and breadcrumb coating
• Dietary Fiber: 1g
• Sugars: 2g
• Calcium: 280mg (28% of daily value) – thanks to that melty Swiss cheese
• Iron: 2.1mg (12% of daily value)
• Vitamin A: 8% of daily value
• Vitamin C: 2% of daily value

Key Nutritional Highlights:

• High protein content makes this filling and satisfying
• Good source of calcium for bone health
• Contains all essential amino acids from the complete proteins
• Moderate calorie count for a breaded and cheese-topped dish
• Higher in sodium, so pair with low-salt sides

Fun “Did You Know?”

Beyond the impressive nutritional profile, this beloved dish carries some fascinating stories that might surprise you.

Did you know that Malibu Chicken wasn’t actually invented in Malibu, California? It originated in the 1980s at Sizzler restaurants across America. The name “Malibu” was chosen purely for its beachy, California appeal that matched the dish’s laid-back comfort food atmosphere.

I find it amusing that this “coastal” recipe contains zero seafood! The combination of ham, Swiss cheese, and chicken was inspired by the classic Chicken Cordon Bleu, but simplified for faster restaurant preparation and broader American tastes.