Spicy Italian Grilled Chicken Sandwich
Move over boring chicken sandwiches, this grilled chicken sandwich recipe is layered with a variety of flavors and textures – a spicy Calabrian chili mayo, creamy fresh mozzarella cheese, smoky grilled juicy chicken, and bright and peppery arugula. We put them all together for an Italian-inspired sandwich that’s also easy to make. I know I may be biased, but I think the delicious combination of flavors makes this the best grilled chicken sandwich recipe! The entire family will love this easy recipe.
Estimated reading time: 9 minutes
What You’ll Love About this Grilled Chicken Sandwich
- Delicious variety of flavors
- Spicy, bitter, creamy, and crunchy
- Made with simple ingredients
- Just 15 minutes prep time
- Just 10 minutes cook time
Sandwich Ingredients
- Chicken – Use high-quality raw chicken breast tenders (not breaded chicken tenders!) for best flavor and super-quick cooking. You can also use boneless skinless chicken breasts or chicken cutlets, but the cooking time will be a bit longer.
- Olive oil – Use quality olive oil for best flavor.
- Mayonnaise – Use your favorite mayonnaise. We’re mixing it with chilis to flavor the mayo, so be sure to use a plain mayonnaise. You can also use homemade mayo if you prefer.
- Calabrian chilis – These Italian chilis add a great flavor and heat to the sandwich. You can find them in many grocery stores (Trader Joe’s included) in with the olives. You can also order them here. I do feel it is a key ingredient, but you could also make your own spicy mayo with red pepper flakes or even switch up the flavors and mix in some dijon mustard or bbq sauce.
- Mozzarella cheese – We’re using fresh mozzarella cheese for best flavor. You could use regular mozzarella, but fresh is best! You could also use burrata if you want to take it to the next level. You can either buy the ball of fresh mozzarella or you can find it pre-sliced – either will work. Melty provolone cheese or a smoked gouda would also be delicious.
- Arugula – Look for fresh arugula that is dark green, without any yellowing.
- Lemon – We’re using lemon juice as part of the dressing to the greens, I recommend fresh, but if you prefer bottled lemon juice, use it!
- Ciabatta bread – You can use a loaf of ciabatta or a soft ciabatta bun, whichever you prefer. You could also use a variety of buns or bread like brioche buns, French bread slices, or even high-quality hamburger buns.
- Flaky sea salt, black pepper, sea salt
How to Make a Spicy Chicken Sandwich
This is an overview on how to make a spicy chicken sandwich, the detailed instructions can be found below in the recipe card.
FAQs
Is a grilled chicken sandwich healthy?
Well I say everything is healthy. 🙂 Some foods are more nutritious than others, but all food serves a purpose. This chicken sandwich recipe provides protein, carbs, produce, and fats. OH, and FLAVOR. So I would say, yes, it’s incredibly delicious AND nutritious.
Can you eat a grilled chicken sandwich cold?
It will of course depend on the specific chicken sandwich, but this particular spicy grilled chicken sandwich is delicious cold and you can definitely grill the chicken ahead of time and serve the sandwich cold.
Can I use a chicken marinade?
Of course! I kept the seasoning really simple for this recipe, but you can use your favorite chicken marinade. Something with Italian seasoning would be delicious – marinade in a ziploc bag or bowl in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or up to overnight.
What to eat with grilled chicken sandwiches?
There are a lot of different directions you can go in with sides for grilled chicken sandwiches, I’m sharing a few ideas below, but I love to serve this sandwich with a salad or some raw veggies, some sort of potato (salad, fry, or chip), and some fruit – especially if I’m serving it to the kids!
Storage Instructions
Store leftover sandwich components in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
How to reheat
You can reheat the chicken or serve it cold, either way is delicious.
How to prep ahead
You can prep the following components ahead:
- Mix Calabrian chili mayonnaise
- Grill chicken
What to Serve with Grilled Chicken Sandwich Recipe
All this grilled chicken breast sandwich needs is a simple side or two:
- Lemon Kale Salad
- Summer Tomato Salad
- Air Fryer Broccoli
- French fries or sweet potato fries
- Raw veggies with veggie dip
- Potato chips
How to Feed a Spicy Chicken Sandwich to the Whole Family
I get it, feeding kids can be tough! But following the Division of Responsibility and knowing your job and your child’s job makes it SO much more enjoyable. You’ll be able to feed your kids any meal, which will help ensure that they are eating a variety of nutritious foods – with plenty of play food sprinkled in.
I would recommend serving the sandwiches deconstructed and let them make their own sandwich (even if that turns out to not be a sandwich at all!). Sandwiches can be tough for kids, both in terms of being hard to eat and also having foods mixed together (and potentially not liking some of the components). Serve the meal with a few items you know your kids will eat on the side, like fruit, veggies, milk, and some butter for the bread.
More Sandwich Recipes
If you like this spicy chicken sandwich recipe, you might also like some of these other sandwich recipes:
- Mediterranean Pita Sandwiches
- Buffalo Chicken Cheesesteaks
- Buffalo Chicken Sliders
- Best-Ever Tomato Toast
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Spicy Grilled Chicken Sandwich
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Sandwich
- Method: Grill
- Cuisine: Italian
Description
This spicy grilled chicken sandwich has layers of flavor – Calabrian chili mayo, creamy mozzarella cheese, grilled chicken, and peppery arugula.
Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp. olive oil
- sea salt and pepper
- 1 lb. chicken tenders
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 2 Tbsp. chopped Calabrian chilis (adjust according to spice preference)
- 4 oz. fresh mozzarella, sliced
- 4 cups arugula
- 2 Tbsp. lemon juice
- 1 tsp. olive oil
- flaky sea salt
- black pepper
- 16 oz. Ciabatta bread or rolls, sliced
Instructions
- Preheat grill to medium-high. Drizzle chicken with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill over direct heat for about 4-5 minutes per side, or until cooked through and and reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. Let rest and then slice thinly against the grain.
- While chicken is cooking, in a small bowl, stir together mayonnaise and chopped Calabrian chilis. Set aside.
- While the chicken is resting, toss together arugula, lemon juice, and olive oil. Season with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt and black pepper.
- Spread Calabrian chili mayo over the bottom piece of bread. Top with sliced mozzarella cheese, the sliced chicken, and top with arugula. Wrap with parchment paper if desired.
Equipment
Buy Now → Notes
- You can also use chicken breasts if you prefer, they will need to be grilled for about 4-6 minutes per side.
Food styling and photography by Loren Runion.
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