Grilled Chicken Sandwich

Post/photos updated on June 18, 2023.

Change up your grilling game and make a Grilled Chicken Sandwich with pepper jack cheese, bacon and stacked with delicious fresh toppings.

Juicy grilled chicken topped with pepper jack cheese, crispy bacon, crisp romaine lettuce, red onion, fresh sliced tomatoes, tangy dill pickles and a bbq/garlic aioli sauce make these chicken sandwiches a hit!

Grilled Chicken Sandwich on a bun with bacon, cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion and bbq sauce.

The Chicken

I use one full chicken breast (2 halves). This gives me four good sized chicken pieces. You may be able to get more out of one full chicken breast depending on the size of you chicken pieces .

2 chicken breasts on a cutting board.

I cut them each in half, giving me four perfect-sized pieces!

Usually chicken breasts have one end that is thicker. If one end is thicker it will not cook evenly. Pound them out to make sure they are an even thickness.

I place plastic wrap over my chicken and then use a meat mallet (a rolling pin or anything heavy will work) to pound them to an even thickness.

2 chicken breasts with plastic wrap over them and a meat mallet next to them to pound them out to a thinner piece of chicken.
Chicken breast pieces that have been pounded out to be evenly thick.

Pound the chicken breasts out so they are close to the same thickness so they will cook evenly.

A hand holding up the side of a piece of raw chicken to show how thin the chicken is.

Seasoning the Chicken

The seasoning for the chicken is simple and I bet you have the seasonings in your kitchen. You will need kosher/coarse salt, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, and black pepper.

Seasonings for chicken sandwich

Just measure the seasonings and mix them together.

Seasonings mixed together to season chicken.

You will need some olive oil or canola oil to add to the seasonings. Add the oil to the dry seasonings and mix it up.

Oil added to the chicken seasonings to pour over the chicken.

You need the oil so the chicken won’t stick to the grill and the oil helps the seasonings cover the chicken evenly.

The easiest way to get the chicken covered in the oil and seasonings I have found is to use a zip top bag.

Put the chicken pieces in a zip top bag.

Chicken pieces in a zip top bag to add oil and sesonings to it.

Then, add the seasonings mixed with the oil.

Oil and seasonings being poured over chicken in a zip top bag.

Shake/squish the chicken in the zip top bag until the chicken is evenly covered in the oil and seasonings.

Chicken with seasonings in a zip top bag.

The chicken is seasoned and ready for the grill!

Grilling the Chicken

Heat your grill on medium heat. Grill your chicken for 15-20 minutes (about 8 minutes on each side, give or take a minute or two).

Seasoned chicken on the grill to make Chicken Sandwiches

Flip the chicken half way through grilling.

Chicken on the grill that is done cooking.

You will know the chicken is done when the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. in the thickest part of the chicken.

A meat thermometer reading 165 degrees F, showing the chicken is done.

Cheese on the Chicken

Every chicken sandwich needs some cheese.

I prefer Pepper Jack Cheese, but any kind of cheese works. You can use American, Provolone, Monterey Jack, Colby Jack or Cheddar cheese.

Slices of pepper jack cheese with sliced tomatoes in the background.

Once the chicken is done on the grill, add your sliced cheese to the chicken.

Slices of Pepper Jack Cheese placed on chicken on the grill to melt.

Let it melt on the chicken (keep it on the grill so the heat will help melt it).

Pepper jack cheese melted on chicken on the grill.

Once the cheese is melted, take the chicken with melted cheese off the grill.

A metal spatula/turner taking the chicken with cheese off of the grill.

The Buns

While the cheese is melting on the chicken, I put my buns on the grill for a few minutes to toast my them with butter (for those that like them toasty).

After they have warmed up for a few minutes I brush some butter on top. Then let them finish toasting to the perfect toasty crunch.

Butter being brushed on hamburger buns on the grill
Buns on the grill with butter on top.

Sauce for the Chicken Sandwich

For the sauce I like to mix up some garlic aioli with BBQ sauce. The BBQ sauce is sweet and tangy and the garlic aioli gives it a bit of a smooth garlic zing. It is a creamy elevated BBQ sauce that is perfect for the Chicken Sandwich.

You can also use straight BBQ sauce.

A bottle of garlic aioli and bottle of BBQ sauce to combine together to make the sauce for the BBQ Chicken Sandiches.
BBQ sauce and garlic aioli in a small dish that will be mixed together to make a chicken sandwich sauce.

Just mix the aioli and BBQ sauce together. The amounts on the recipe below is just a starting point. You can adjust the amounts to your liking.

BBQ! Sauce and garlic aioli mixed together for a sauce for chicken sandwiches.

Other Toppings for your Grilled Chicken Sandwich

These Grilled Chicken Sandwiches are loaded with toppings.

Fresh tomato slices, sliced red onions, romaine lettuce, crispy bacon, sliced dill pickles are all stacked high on the chicken sandwich.

Tomato, red onion, lettuce, pickles and crispy bacon for chicken sandwich toppings.

To make the sandwich, slather the BBQ Aioli sauce on both the top and bottom bun! Then load it up with the bacon, tomato, red onion, pickles and crispy romaine lettuce. Stack it high on the juicy cheesy grilled chicken!

We eat ours with fresh fruit, a side salad or some chips and dip!

Grilled chicken sandwich with bbq sauce, tomato, lettuce, onion, pickles and bacon.
A hand holding a grilled chicken sandwich that is half eaten so yo can see the toppings on the sandwich

If you liked this recipe please take the time to leave a comment and a star rating below! Also, don’t forget to follow me on Pinterest, Facebook and Instagram!


For some other delicious recipes try my Southwest Chicken Sandwich Wraps, or my Oriental Chicken Wraps.

Try my Beef Roast French Dip Sandwiches in the oven or my Super Easy Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches.

Also try my Super Easy Homemade Sloppy Joes from Scratch!


Check out the latest posts from the Butcher’s Wife!



Grilled Chicken Sandwich.

Grilled Chicken Sandwich

This Grilled Chicken Sandwich with pepper jack cheese is stacked high with crispy bacon, red onion, fresh sliced tomato, crisp romaine lettuce, crunchy dill pickles, and a BBQ/Garlic Aioli Sauce. 
No ratings yet
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 4 sandwiches

Ingredients

  • 1 large whole chicken breast – cut into 4 pieces *pound out the breasts for thinner, even pieces

Chicken Seasoning – see notes

  • 1/2 tbsp kosher salt
  • 1 1/2 tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/4 cup canola oil or olive oil *see notes

Toppings for Sandwich – these are just suggestions

  • 1 red onion, sliced
  • 1 head romaine lettuce, rinsed and leaves pulled apart
  • 8-10 slices bacon, cooked and cut in half (so it fits a burger/sandwich) *see notes
  • 1 Fresh tomato, sliced
  • Dill pickles, sliced
  • 4 slices pepper jack cheese, or cheese of your choice *see notes
  • 4 hamburger buns
  • 1 tbsp butter, to brush on the buns as they toast on the grill *optional

BBQ/Garlic Aioli Sauce

  • 1/2 cup BBQ Sauce (of your choice)
  • 1/4 cup Garlic Aioli see notes

Instructions

Chicken

  • Cut your chicken breasts into 4 equal pieces so they are about the same size.  Pound them out if needed so they are close to the same thickness so they will cook evenly.
    See blog post above for details on pounding them out if needed.
  • Measure and mix your chicken seasonings together. Add the oil to the seasonings and mix it together. Set aside.
  • Place your chicken pieces in a zip top bag. Pour the oil/seasoning mixture on the chicken in the zip top bag. Seal the bag and shake/squish the chicken in the bag to get the chicken evenly covered in the seasoning.
  • Heat your grill to medium heat.  Place the chicken on the grill and grill for about 15 to 20 minutes. Flip the chicken half way through grilling. The chicken usually needs to cook about 8 minutes on each side. Start checking the temperature after you have flipped the chicken and it has cooked for 5 minutes.  The chicken is done when the internal temperature reaches 165℉ in the thickest piece of chicken.
  • Once the chicken has reached the proper temperature, add the slices of pepper jack cheese to the chicken on the grill.  Keep the chicken on the grill to let the cheese melt.
  • If you are toasting your buns add them to the grill when you put the cheese on the chicken. The buns only need a minute or two on the grill. Brush some butter on the tops and let the buns toast to your preferred toastiness! Remove them when they are done to your liking.
  • While the chicken is grilling, make your BBQ/Garlic Aioli sauce, cook your bacon and prepare/slice the toppings.
  • To make your sandwich, spread the BBQ/Garlic Aioli sauce on the bun (top and bottom).  Add the rest of the toppings.
  • Enjoy! 

Notes

 
  1. You can use canola oil, olive oil or vegetable oil to mix with the seasonings.  If you are completely against using oil (this helps the chicken not stick to the grill and helps the seasonings cover the chicken evenly), you can just sprinkle the seasoning dry on the chicken.  If you are not using oil with the seasonings make sure to grease/oil your grill so the chicken won’t stick to the grill.
  2. You can use any BBQ sauce you prefer.  You don’t have to mix it with the garlic aioli.  You can use just BBQ sauce or just Garlic Aioli, or any sauce you prefer.
  3. I cook 8 -10 pieces of bacon and cut them in half giving you 16-20 pieces which is 4-5 pieces of  bacon for each sandwich.  (More is always good in my book so cook more if you want more!) 
  4. You do not have to toast your bun.  Toppings for this sandwich can be changed to your liking!
  5. Use any kind of cheese you like- cheddar, provolone, Monterey Jack or Colby jack.

Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should only be used as an approximation.

Serving: 1Chicken sandwich | Calories: 706kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 39g | Fat: 48g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 20g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 125mg | Sodium: 2056mg | Potassium: 607mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 582IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 231mg | Iron: 2mg

Grilled Chicken Sandwich with Bacon | The Butcher's Wife
Grilled Chicken Sandwich with Bacon | The Butcher's Wife

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




*

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.