Ultimate Grilled Chicken Sandwich

A plate with a halved grilled chicken sandwich.

5 from 2 votes

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!

Course Main Dish, Sandwich

Cuisine American

Keyword ultimate grilled chicken sandwich

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 20

Total Time 40

Servings servings

Calories 671kcal

Author Sue Ringsdorf

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 onions
lettuce 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.

Nutrition