Grilled Chicken Pesto Sandwich (Print Version)
Grilled chicken, basil pesto and melted mozzarella on toasted ciabatta with tomato and arugula.
# What You'll Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
04 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
05 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
→ Pesto
06 - 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves
07 - 2 tablespoons pine nuts or walnuts
08 - 1 garlic clove
09 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
10 - 1/4 cup olive oil
11 - Salt and pepper, to taste
→ Sandwich Assembly
12 - 4 ciabatta or focaccia rolls, sliced
13 - 4 tablespoons prepared pesto
14 - 4 slices fresh mozzarella or provolone cheese
15 - 1 large tomato, sliced
16 - 1 cup arugula or baby spinach leaves
17 - Balsamic glaze, for drizzling (optional)
# How-To Steps:
01 - Preheat the grill or grill pan to medium-high heat.
02 - Butterfly and halve the chicken breasts lengthwise to create four thin cutlets.
03 - Drizzle chicken cutlets with olive oil and season evenly with salt, black pepper, and garlic powder.
04 - Grill each cutlet for 4 to 5 minutes per side, or until fully cooked and the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
05 - In a food processor, combine basil leaves, pine nuts (or walnuts), garlic, and Parmesan cheese. With the processor running, gradually pour in olive oil until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
06 - Lightly toast the ciabatta or focaccia rolls on the grill or in a toaster until golden.
07 - Spread 1 tablespoon of pesto on each bottom half of the rolls. Add a grilled chicken cutlet, a slice of cheese, tomato slices, and arugula or spinach. Drizzle with balsamic glaze if using. Top with the remaining roll halves.
08 - Serve sandwiches immediately while warm.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- You get that punchy homemade pesto flavor without a lot of fuss or cleanup.
- Every bite is melty, juicy, and bright—delicious enough that I never get tired of it.
02 -
- I once tried to grill chicken straight from the fridge and ended up with dry, unevenly cooked meat—let it come to room temp first.
- Learning to add the olive oil slowly to the pesto made the sauce incredibly silky and vibrant.
03 -
- Grilling the bread gives the sandwich extra crunch and flavor—use a pan if you need to.
- If you’re short on time, rotisserie chicken is a tasty shortcut that still feels special.