Pesto Shredded Chicken Melt Sandwich
A warm pesto shredded chicken sandwich made with tender shredded meat, basil pesto spread on the bread, melted cheese, lettuce, tomato, and a toasted ciabatta-style bun. It has that cozy café sandwich feel, but it’s easy enough for a quick lunch or casual dinner.
Ingredients
- 2 ciabatta rolls or Italian sandwich buns
- 2 cups shredded chicken turkey, or pulled pork (cooked)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or butter
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 3 to 4 tablespoons basil pesto for spreading on the bread
- 4 slices provolone mozzarella, havarti, or Swiss cheese
- Lettuce leaves
- tomato Sliced
- Optional fresh basil leaves
Instructions
Warm the shredded meat.
- Add the shredded chicken, turkey, or pork to a skillet with olive oil or butter. Season with garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Warm over medium-low heat for 3 to 4 minutes, just until heated through. Keep it simple — the pesto is going on the bread, not into the meat.
Toast the bread.
- Slice the buns open and lightly toast them in a skillet, oven, or toaster oven. This helps the bread hold up once the pesto and warm filling go in.
Spread the pesto on the base.
- Spread a generous layer of basil pesto over the bottom half of each bun. This gives the sandwich that rich herby flavour right away when you bite into it.
Add the shredded meat.
- Spoon the warm shredded meat over the pesto layer.
Melt the cheese.
- Add the cheese slices on top of the meat. Place the open sandwich under the broiler or in a toaster oven for 1 to 2 minutes, just until the cheese melts and gets a few golden spots. Watch it closely. It melts fast.
Finish the sandwich.
- Add lettuce, tomato, and fresh basil if using. Place the top bun on, press gently, and serve warm.
Best Cheese to Use
- Provolone is probably the best choice for this sandwich because it melts smoothly and has a mild, creamy flavour. Mozzarella gives a softer, stretchy melt, while havarti makes it extra creamy. Swiss would work too, but it gives the sandwich a slightly stronger flavour.
For the best pesto shredded chicken melt sandwich, spread the basil pesto directly on the toasted ciabatta before adding the warm chicken. It gives every bite fresh Italian-style flavour and helps keep the sandwich from tasting heavy.
Notes
- Use basil pesto as the sandwich spread, not mixed into the shredded chicken. Spreading pesto on the base of the bread gives this pesto shredded chicken melt sandwich a fresh, herby flavour without making the meat too oily.
- Ciabatta works really well because it has enough structure to hold the shredded chicken, pesto, melted cheese, lettuce, and tomato. A soft bun can work too, but toast it first.
- Rotisserie chicken is a great shortcut for this easy chicken sandwich recipe. It saves time and still gives you tender shredded chicken with good flavour.
- Provolone, mozzarella, or havarti are the best cheeses for a warm chicken melt sandwich. They melt nicely over the shredded chicken and help hold the filling together.
- Warm the chicken before adding the cheese. This helps the cheese melt faster and keeps the sandwich from tasting cold in the middle.
- Add lettuce and tomato after broiling so the lettuce stays crisp and the tomato stays fresh. It gives the sandwich a nice contrast against the warm chicken and melted cheese.
- Don’t use too much pesto. A thin, generous layer is perfect. Too much can make the bread slippery or oily, especially if the pesto has lots of olive oil.
- Serve this sandwich right away while the cheese is melted and the bread still has a little crunch. It’s best fresh, warm, and slightly messy in a good way.
- This recipe is great for leftovers. Use leftover shredded chicken, turkey, or even pulled pork for a quick lunch sandwich or easy weeknight dinner.
- For the best café-style sandwich, broil the open-faced sandwich just until the cheese bubbles, then finish with the fresh toppings and top bun.
Nutrition
Serving: 1servingCalories: 648kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 51gFat: 35gSaturated Fat: 12gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 133mgSodium: 867mgPotassium: 388mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 854IUVitamin C: 0.02mgCalcium: 349mgIron: 2mg
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