Pesto Chicken Melt Sandwich (Printable view)

Grilled chicken breast topped with basil pesto and melted mozzarella, served on crispy toasted ciabatta rolls.

# What You Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.1 lbs)
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
04 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
05 - 1/2 teaspoon dried Italian herbs

→ Pesto & Cheese

06 - 4 tablespoons basil pesto
07 - 4 slices mozzarella cheese (about 3.5 oz total)

→ Bread

08 - 4 ciabatta rolls, halved

→ Garnishes

09 - Fresh basil leaves
10 - Sliced tomatoes

# How To Make:

01 - Preheat a grill pan or outdoor grill to medium-high heat.
02 - Slice chicken breasts in half horizontally to create 4 thin cutlets. Brush both sides with olive oil and season with salt, pepper, and Italian herbs.
03 - Grill chicken cutlets for 3 to 4 minutes per side until golden and cooked through with an internal temperature of 165°F.
04 - Place a slice of mozzarella cheese on each chicken cutlet during the last minute of grilling. Cover briefly to help melt the cheese.
05 - While the chicken is grilling, toast the ciabatta roll halves cut-side down on the grill until lightly golden.
06 - Spread 1 tablespoon of pesto on the bottom half of each toasted ciabatta roll. Top each with a cheesy chicken cutlet, fresh basil leaves, and sliced tomatoes if desired. Cover with the top half of the roll.
07 - Serve immediately while warm and melty.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It delivers restaurant-quality flavor in just 30 minutes, perfect for busy weeknights when you crave something special.
  • The combination of charred chicken, herby pesto, and gooey cheese creates layers of texture and taste that keep every bite interesting.
  • It's endlessly adaptable, you can swap proteins, cheeses, or breads and still end up with something crave-worthy.
02 -
  • Don't skip slicing the chicken breasts thin, thick cutlets take forever to cook and often dry out before the cheese has a chance to melt properly.
  • Let the grill preheat fully before adding the chicken, a properly hot surface gives you those caramelized grill marks and locks in moisture.
  • Cover the grill briefly when melting the cheese, it traps heat and ensures even melting without overcooking the chicken.
03 -
  • Pound thicker parts of the chicken breast gently with a mallet before slicing to ensure completely even cutlets that cook at the same rate.
  • Warm the pesto slightly before spreading, it makes it easier to work with and infuses the bread more deeply.
  • If you don't have a grill, a hot cast-iron skillet works beautifully and gives you similar char and flavor.
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