This recipe for Pesto Chicken Panini is a great way to make an AMAZING little sandwich. It has so much flavor and just oozes with cheese! It is exactly what you'd want and expect from a perfect little panini. YUM!!
This sandwich makes a great lunch, served next to a salad, but I also love making it as dinner in the summer. Plus, it stretches minimal ingredients into a meal, so it's super budget-friendly.
Ingredients
Cheese, Meat, Sauce, Bread. Oh, and a little butter. That is all you need to make a great panini. While you may think it is just a glorified grilled cheese, it's just THE BEST grilled cheese you could ever make.
While you could switch up the cheeses and other fillings, as long as you have some of these basics you can have a great sandwich. I really think loading it up with some protein makes a good panini a meal.
Use the JUMP TO RECIPE button at the top of the post, or scroll to the bottom of the post to see the full recipe card with ingredient measurements and instructions.
Method
Success in making a great panini is all in the layering. I start with the sauce on the bottom, then add some cheese, and fillings - in this case, tomatoes and chicken, and more cheese on top to sandwich all the ingredients between. Two layers of cheese that melt around everything help hold it all in. Then butter the bread and pop it on the grill.
I set my panini grill to high to heat it up, then lower it to medium when I put the sandwich in so all the fillings can warm all the way to the center. Grill it till browned and crispy and it is done!
I let the sandwiches cool for a minute or two, as long as you can bare to wait, then slice them in half and they are ready to serve.
Notes & Tips
I love this because I literally stretch one big chicken breast into 4 servings. Slice it nice and thin, 1 to make it easy to eat, and 2 so it sticks in sandwiched between the melted cheese. Of course, you can use more chicken in you like, I just usually use making these as an excuse to use up some leftover odds and ends hanging out in the fridge.
If you don't have a panini grill or maker, heat a skillet on the stove over medium heat, and use a second heavy skillet, or even a brick wrapped in tin foil, and place it on top of the sandwiches and press down on them to flatten them.
It's my method to butter the bottom, place it in the pan, then butter the top and close the panini grill. It makes for the least amount of mess, cause who wants to have to clean butter off their cutting board?
Substitutions
I love a ciabatta roll for these sandwiches. They make me feel like I am at Panera without the crazy cost of their sandwiches. But really any bread will work. Even good ol' classic white bread if you are in a pinch.
I like to use provolone for the sharpness it brings, gruyere would also be a great substitute here. But I think you really need the mozzarella for the melting quality. Though you could use shredded in place of the fresh if you like.
I literally make this as a leftover, clear-the-fridge meal. It is also a great way to use leftover turkey at thanksgiving in place of the chicken. You could even swap the chicken for roast beef or steak leftover and it would still be great.
And while I love little Campari tomatoes, you can use literally any tomato you like. Or leave them out if you are not a fan. But I like to add them for the freshness they offer to the sandwich as a whole.
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📖 Recipe
Pesto Chicken Panini
This recipe for Pesto Chicken Panini is a great way to make an AMAZING little sandwich. It has so much flavor and just oozes with cheese!
Ingredients
- 4 each Ciabatta Rolls
- ½ cup Pesto Sauce
- 4 slices Provolone Cheese
- 1-2 Chicken Breasts, sliced
- 6-10 slices of Fresh Mozzarella Cheese
- 4-6 Campari Tomatoes, sliced
- Unsalted Butter, for the bread
Instructions
- Split the rolls and heat the panini maker/grill or a large skillet.
- Layer on the bottom, pesto, provolone, chicken, mozzarella, and tomatoes.
- Add the top of the roll, flip and butter the bottom.
- Place the sandwiches in the panini maker and butter the tops.
- Press the sandwiches between the panini maker or with a second skillet or foil-wrapped brick if using a skillet.
- Cook until the cheese is melted and oozing.
- Slice in half and serve with chips or fries and enjoy!
Notes
Notes & Tips
I love this because I literally stretch one big chicken breast into 4 servings. Slice it nice and thin, 1 to make it easy to eat, and 2 so it sticks in sandwiched between the melted cheese. Of course, you can use more chicken in you like, I just usually use making these as an excuse to use up some leftover odds and ends hanging out in the fridge.
If you don't have a panini grill or maker, heat a skillet on the stove over medium heat, and use a second heavy skillet, or even a brick wrapped in tin foil, and place it on top of the sandwiches and press down on them to flatten them.
It's my method to butter the bottom, place it in the pan, then butter the top and close the panini grill. It makes for the least amount of mess, cause who wants to have to clean butter off their cutting board?
Substitutions
I love a ciabatta roll for these sandwiches. They make me feel like I am at Panera without the crazy cost of their sandwiches. But really any bread will work. Even good ol' classic white bread if you are in a pinch.
I like to use provolone for the sharpness it brings, gruyere would also be a great substitute here. But I think you really need the mozzarella for the melting quality. Though you could use shredded in place of the fresh if you like.
I literally make this as a leftover, clear-the-fridge meal. It is also a great way to use leftover turkey at thanksgiving in place of the chicken. You could even swap the chicken for roast beef or steak leftover and it would still be great.
And while I love little Campari tomatoes, you can use literally any tomato you like. Or leave them out if you are not a fan. But I like to add them for the freshness they offer to the sandwich as a whole.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 562Total Fat: 32gSaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 16gCholesterol: 94mgSodium: 888mgCarbohydrates: 34gFiber: 2gSugar: 5gProtein: 36g
This is an estimated caloric value, actual numbers may differ based on the ingredients used.
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