Description
A delicious and gourmet chicken pesto sandwich made with grilled chicken, fresh mozzarella, ripe tomato, and peppery arugula on toasted sourdough bread. This sandwich is enhanced with flavorful pesto and grilled to melty perfection, making it a perfect quick lunch or light dinner option.
Ingredients
Scale
Sandwich Ingredients
- 4 slices of sourdough bread
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, grilled and sliced
- 4 tablespoons pesto sauce (homemade or store-bought)
- 1 ripe tomato, thinly sliced
- 1 cup fresh arugula leaves
- 4 slices of mozzarella cheese
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the grill pan: Heat a grill pan or skillet over medium heat to prepare it for grilling the sandwich.
- Spread pesto on bread: Generously spread pesto sauce on one side of each of the four slices of sourdough bread.
- Arrange grilled chicken: Place the sliced grilled chicken evenly over the pesto on two slices of bread.
- Add cheese and seasoning: Top the chicken with mozzarella cheese slices and sprinkle with a pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper to enhance the flavors.
- Layer tomato and arugula: Add thin tomato slices on top of the cheese, followed by a handful of fresh arugula leaves to add freshness and texture.
- Assemble sandwich: Place the remaining two slices of bread on top, pesto side facing down, to complete the sandwich layers.
- Brush with olive oil: Brush the outside surfaces of each sandwich generously with olive oil to ensure a golden, crispy crust when grilled.
- Grill the sandwich: Place the sandwiches on the preheated grill pan, pressing down gently with a spatula. Grill for about 3 to 4 minutes on each side or until the bread is toasted to a golden brown and the cheese is melted inside.
- Serve: Remove the sandwiches from the pan, slice them in half, and serve while warm and melty for the best taste experience.
Notes
- You can prepare pesto at home using fresh basil, garlic, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, and olive oil for a fresher flavor.
- If you don’t have a grill pan, a regular skillet works well for grilling the sandwich.
- Pressing the sandwich while grilling helps ensure even browning and melting of the cheese.
- Use fresh mozzarella for the best melt and creamy texture.
- For a vegetarian version, substitute the grilled chicken with grilled portobello mushrooms or roasted vegetables.
