💡Why buy organic chicken? We recommend buying organic since it’s the high-quality meat that is raised sustainably without chemicals. Organic standards require that the chickens have access to the outdoors and cannot be given antibiotics or growth hormones (happy chickens!). Why we love this recipe: This sammie masterpiece combines our favorite juicy grilled chicken with grilled ciabatta bread, baby arugula, soft fresh mozzarella cheese, and juicy tomato slices. The best part, of course, is our herbaceous basil pesto. You know when you sink your teeth into a great sandwich and can’t help but exclaim “yum“? That’s this sandwich. Tip: Want to serve a vegetarian version of this sandwich at the same time? Replace the grilled chicken with grilled portobello mushrooms or grilled eggplant.
Boneless skinless chicken breasts: Look for organic chicken if possible, in cutlets or breasts (and you can butterfly them before cooking). Spices & olive oil: A blend of garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt and pepper is ideal for grilling for the chicken. Ciabatta bread: Ciabatta is a type of Italian bread that is soft and perfect for sandwiches! Avoid a French baguette, which can be tough to bite through. Any other type of artisan bread works: focaccia is especially good. Baby arugula: Arugula adds a crunch and peppery flavor. Look for baby arugula (sold in a box or bag): standard arugula sold in bunches is much too spicy. Tomato slices: Use only the best, juicy in season tomatoes. Basil pesto: Homemade pesto is key to the flavor. In our opinion, the best purchased option is refrigerated fresh pesto, found in the produce section.Â
Frequently asked questions
Butterfly the chicken first. Butterflying chicken is simply cutting it in half horizontally, which helps it to cook more evenly and results in a more juicy, well-seasoned breast. For best results, grill the chicken. Make our Grilled Chicken for the best flavor. This involves a 30 minute marinade time and 2 to 4 minutes per side on a grill preheated to high heat. Or, pan sear the chicken! You can do the same recipe in a skillet! Go to Pan Seared Chicken Breast.
Homemade pesto has the best flavor and color. Make a batch of basil pesto if you can. Other options are arugula pesto or kale pesto, which have a slightly spicier flavor, or even sun dried tomato pesto. Or try refrigerated fresh pesto, found in the produce section. In our taste tests, we’ve found this type of pesto tends has better flavor than pesto in jars. It’s often sold in tubes. Jarred pesto brands can taste bitter; consider adding lemon. Each brand has a different salt and acid level, and some taste very bitter and acidic. Adding a spritz of fresh lemon juice can help to improve the flavor.
The tomato and mozzarella can make the bread soggy. If you layer the arugula under the mozzarella, it helps so this ingredient doesn’t come in contact with the bread. If you can, add the sliced tomato just before serving, or place the tomato between the chicken and cheese. If serving within 2 hours, refrigeration is not needed. Cooked chicken can sit up to 2 hours at room temperature. Otherwise, wrap and refrigerate or keep in a cooler until serving. The bread can become tough when refrigerated, so allow the sandwich to come to room temperature before serving.
Try a Salmon Sandwich with Dill Sauce or a Smoked Salmon Sandwich. Opt for a Caprese Sandwich or Pesto Grilled Cheese. Go for Shrimp Rolls. Go for classic Fried Egg Sandwich, Tuna Salad Sandwich, Tuna Melt, or Egg Salad Sandwich.
For vegetarian, replace the grilled chicken with grilled portobello mushrooms or grilled eggplant. 5 from 1 review
