Chicken Pesto Sandwich (Printable)
Grilled chicken, fresh pesto, and melty mozzarella layered on warm ciabatta rolls in just 30 minutes.
# Ingredient List:
→ Meats
01 - 2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts
→ Marinade & Seasonings
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
04 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
→ Pesto
05 - 1/3 cup basil pesto
→ Sandwich Assembly
06 - 4 ciabatta rolls or sandwich buns
07 - 4 slices fresh mozzarella cheese
08 - 1 tomato, sliced
09 - 1/2 cup baby spinach or arugula
10 - 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
11 - 1 tablespoon butter, for toasting buns
# Steps:
01 - Slice each chicken breast horizontally to create 4 thinner cutlets of even thickness.
02 - Toss the chicken cutlets in a bowl with olive oil, salt, and black pepper until evenly coated.
03 - Heat a grill pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the cutlets for 3 to 4 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through to an internal temperature of 165°F.
04 - Place a slice of fresh mozzarella on each cutlet during the final minute of cooking and cover briefly to melt.
05 - Butter the cut sides of the ciabatta rolls and toast them in a pan until golden and crisp.
06 - Spread a thin layer of mayonnaise on the bottom half of each roll, then layer 1 tablespoon of basil pesto over the mayo.
07 - Layer baby spinach or arugula and sliced tomato on the bottom halves, then place the warm chicken with melted mozzarella on top.
08 - Cap each sandwich with the top half of the roll and serve immediately while warm.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- It comes together in the time it takes to toast bread but tastes like something from a proper Italian deli counter
- The combination of warm melty cheese and bright basil pesto hits every craving at once
02 -
- Overcooking the cutlets is the fastest way to ruin this sandwich so pull them the moment they are just done
- Letting the chicken rest for even 30 seconds before assembling gives the cheese time to set slightly so it does not slide everywhere
03 -
- If your chicken breasts are very thick, pound them gently between plastic wrap to an even half-inch thickness before slicing
- Wrapping the assembled sandwich loosely in foil for two minutes helps the cheese meld with the pesto into one cohesive layer