Ultimate Grilled Chicken Sandwich
To make the Ultimate Grilled Chicken Sandwich, layer tender, smoky grilled chicken on a toasted bun with lettuce, tomato, creamy pesto mayo, grilled red tomatoes, and a slice of melted cheese. This flavorful chicken sandwich will be the hit of your next backyard barbecue!
The Best Grilled Chicken Sandwich
When we were first married way back in 1989 (gasp, we’re old!), we made a lot of grilled chicken. Admittedly, it was pretty bland – no marinade and just a sprinkle of seasoned salt.
Now, we pretty much always use a marinade of some sort. Plus this sandwich recipe includes soft homemade rolls (store-bought is just fine though), melty cheese, the tastiest pesto mayo, grilled red onions, lettuce, and tomatoes.
While chicken breasts are a pretty simple protein, you can really make it extra with some creativity. We also love using a yogurt-based marinade in our Grilled Greek Chicken!
Why This Recipe Works:
- SIMPLE INGREDIENTS – You’ll need chicken breasts (we prefer using organic breasts), a marinade, sandwich rolls or buns, cheese (any kind works), fresh lettuce and tomatoes, and a delicious pesto mayo spread.
- TENDER CHICKEN – We use this marinade in several of our chicken recipes because it results in tender chicken every single time. Be aware that the chicken will cook quicker if you butterfly the breasts first.
- MESSY BUT DELISH – Any time you’re piling all of those ingredients on a sandwich roll, it’s gonna get a little messy. But that’s the way I like it. Messy sandwich means that every bite is DELISH!
What You’ll Need:
- Chicken Breasts – You’ll need four medium chicken breasts, or about two pounds.
- Marinade – a combo of olive oil, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, ground ginger, salt, and pepper.
- Sandwich Rolls – We love using our Homemade Hoagie Rolls for these sandwiches. However, if you make them, you’ll want to allow space between the dough to allow the rolls to flatten for this recipe. That being said, store-bought rolls is just fine too.
- Lettuce and Tomato
- Red Onion – Slice the onion into thick rounds. This will make it easier to flip them while grilling.
- Pesto Mayo – Our homemade pesto mayo is the perfect sandwich spread. We keep small containers of our basil pesto sauce in the freezer.
- Cheddar Jack Cheese – or use other types of cheese like provolone, havarti, sharp cheddar, or pepper jack).
How to make the Ultimate Grilled Chicken Sandwich:
Step 1
Prep chicken. We recommend buying medium chicken breasts and then butterflying them before grilling. You may need to trim the grilled breasts and stack them depending on how large they are.
Step 2
Marinate chicken. Place chicken in a large ziplock bag. To a mixing bowl, combine marinade ingredients – olive oil, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, and seasonings. Whisk well and then pour into the bag, massaging the ingredients into the chicken.
Step 3
Refrigerate. Place chicken in your refrigerator for 30 minutes to an hour (or even longer).
Step 4
Make pesto mayo. Combine mayonnaise, pesto sauce, and lemon juice in a small bowl. Stir to combine. Refrigerate until ready to serve sandwiches.
Step 5
Prep grill. Preheat an outdoor grill to 375 degrees. Set chicken out of refrigerator to take some of the chill off the meat before placing on grill grates.
Step 6
Grill chicken. Place the butterflied chicken on the prepared grill. Add grilling spices to taste. Cook chicken on one side for 6-7 minutes and then flip to cook the other side. Add cheese slices to the chicken during the last minute or so. Set the chicken on a clean plate and let rest for 7-8 minutes.
Cooking time will depend on the thickness of the chicken and the heat of the grill. Be careful to avoid over-cooking.
Chicken is considered done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. (Use a digital thermometer.) We take the chicken off the grill at around 160 degrees F to allow for carry-over cooking.
Step 7
Grill buns and onions. Reduce heat and then place buns (cut side down) and the onions on the grill grates. Cook until the onions are softened and the buns are toasty.
Step 8
Assemble sandwiches. Assemble sandwiches by layering the lettuce, tomato, pesto mayo, chicken (topped with cheese), and grilled onions
Step 9
Serve. Serve chicken with your choice of sides.
What to serve with the best chicken sandwiches:
- SALAD – Try our Arugula Quinoa Salad, Burrata Caprese Salad, or Spinach and Goat Cheese Salad.
- FRIES – You’ll love these Baked Garlic Home Fries or Spicy Baked Sweet Potato Fries.
- VEGGIES – How about some Small Potatoes on the Grill, Teriyaki Brussels Sprouts, or Wasabi Aioli and Asparagus?
Recipe FAQs:
Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are ideal—they cook evenly and fit well on a bun. Butterfly them for best results.
A simple marinade is the best way to season the chicken. I also recommend adding some grilling seasoning like garlic salt.
Toasted brioche or hoagie buns work well for these sandwiches.
You can substitute other toppings like Spicy Pickled Onions, dill pickles, avocado, or other spreads like Chipotle Ranch Dressing.
You can grill the chicken in advance and reheat it, but assemble the sandwich just before eating to maintain freshness and texture. The pesto mayo can also be prepped ahead of time.
Other Delicious Chicken Recipes:
Kitchen Tools Used: (affiliate links)
xoxo ~Sue
Ultimate Grilled Chicken Sandwich
Ingredients
For the chicken:
- 4 medium boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 6 Tablespoons olive oil
- 6 Tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
- 3 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper – to taste
- grilling seasonings of choice
For the pesto mayo:
- 3/4 cup mayonnaise with olive oil – or other
- 3 Tablespoons basil pesto sauce – try our homemade version!
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
For the sandwiches:
- 4 rounds red onions – grilled
- 4 slices cheddar cheese
- 4 hamburger buns
- lettuce and tomato slices
Instructions
- Prep chicken. We recommend buying medium chicken breasts and then butterflying them before grilling. You may need to trim the grilled breasts and stack them depending on how large they are.
- Marinate chicken. Place chicken in a large ziplock bag. To a mixing bowl, combine marinade ingredients – olive oil, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, and seasonings. Whisk well and then pour into the bag, massaging the ingredients into the chicken.4 medium boneless, skinless chicken breasts, 6 Tablespoons olive oil, 6 Tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce, 3 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 2 teaspoons garlic powder, 1 teaspoon ground ginger, kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Refrigerate. Place chicken in your refrigerator for 30 minutes to an hour (or even longer).
- Make pesto mayo. Combine mayonnaise, pesto sauce, and lemon juice in a small bowl. Stir to combine. Refrigerate until ready to serve sandwiches.3/4 cup mayonnaise with olive oil, 3 Tablespoons basil pesto sauce, 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- Prep grill. Preheat an outdoor grill to 375 degrees. Set chicken out of refrigerator to take some of the chill off the meat before placing on grill grates.
- Grill chicken. Place the butterflied chicken on the prepared grill. Add grilling spices to taste. Cook chicken on one side for 6-7 minutes and then flip to cook the other side. Add cheese slices to the chicken during the last minute or so. Set the chicken on a clean plate and let rest for 7-8 minutes.Cooking time will depend on the thickness of the chicken and the heat of the grill. Be careful to avoid over-cooking.grilling seasonings of choice, 4 slices cheddar cheese
- NOTE: Chicken is considered done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. (Use a digital thermometer.) We take the chicken off the grill at around 160 degrees F to allow for carry-over cooking.
- Grill buns and onions. Reduce heat and then place buns (cut side down) and the onions on the grill grates. Cook until the onions are softened and the buns are toasty.4 rounds red onions, 4 hamburger buns
- Assemble sandwiches. Assemble sandwiches by layering the lettuce, tomato, pesto mayo, chicken (topped with cheese), and grilled onionslettuce and tomato slices
- Serve. Serve chicken with your choice of sides.
Notes
- You can grill the chicken in advance and reheat it, but assemble the sandwich just before eating to maintain freshness and texture. The pesto mayo can also be prepped ahead of time.
- You can substitute other toppings like Spicy Pickled Onions, dill pickles, avocado, or other spreads like Chipotle Ranch Dressing.
This sandwich is messy – a true signal of a good sandwich TBH!
That’s the truth!
We have made this twice now, and it will be on repeat through the summer. Easy and flavorful.
This makes me so happy to hear! Thanks Robbie!