Chicken Pesto Sandwich (Printable Version)
Grilled chicken, vibrant pesto, mozzarella, tomatoes and arugula on toasted ciabatta—ready in 30 minutes.
# What You Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 2 medium boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
04 - 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
→ Pesto
05 - 1/3 cup basil pesto
→ Sandwich Components
06 - 4 ciabatta rolls or sturdy sandwich buns
07 - 8 slices fresh mozzarella cheese
08 - 1 large ripe tomato, sliced
09 - 1 cup baby arugula or spinach leaves
10 - 1 tablespoon butter (optional, for toasting bread)
# How To Make It:
01 - Preheat a grill pan or skillet over medium-high heat.
02 - Slice chicken breasts horizontally to create thinner cutlets. Drizzle evenly with olive oil and season with salt and black pepper.
03 - Grill chicken cutlets for 4 to 5 minutes per side until cooked through and golden brown. Remove from heat, allow to rest for 2 minutes, then slice if desired.
04 - If desired, lightly butter the inside of each roll. Toast cut sides on the grill pan or skillet until crisp and golden.
05 - Spread basil pesto generously onto the bottom half of each roll.
06 - Place grilled chicken, mozzarella slices, tomato slices, and arugula or spinach on the pesto-covered rolls. Cap with the remaining halves of the rolls.
07 - Serve sandwiches warm or at room temperature.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- The pesto sneaks into every bite, making even store-bought rolls taste homemade.
- It turns leftover chicken into a brilliant second act, perfect for busy afternoons or casual get-togethers.
02 -
- If you skip resting the chicken after grilling, all the juices run out and your sandwich gets dry and bland.
- Smearing pesto on the bread before assembly keeps everything from slipping apart—it’s the trick that finally stopped my fillings from escaping.
03 -
- Letting the grilled chicken rest before slicing locks in juiciness you can taste in every bite.
- Spreading pesto on both bread halves doubles the flavor—no one ever complained about too much pesto.