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Home Ā» Recipes Ā» Sandwiches

June 2, 2019 · 7 Comments

Grilled Chicken Panini with Classic Pesto

30 Minutes or Less· Chicken Recipes· Game Day· Italian· Sandwiches

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Grilled Chicken Panini with pesto, Mozzarella cheese and fresh tomato on Italian Panella bread.
This Grilled Chicken & Pesto Panini made with panella Italian bread on my indoor griddle is one of my family's favorite weeknight meals.Ā 

Grilled Chicken Panini with pesto, Mozzarella cheese and fresh tomato on Italian Panella bread.

 

A close up of Grilled chicken pesto panini

I love my Cuisinart Griddler/Panini maker. Not only does it make a great sandwich like this Grilled Chicken Panini with Classic Pesto, I also use it to grill meats and vegetables during the colder months. Especially when I have a foot of snow on my deck!

The other night was one of those nights where I had about 30 minutes to cook dinner after I got home from carting the kids where they needed to be. I prepared these sandwiches ahead of time so that all I had to do was grill them.

These Grilled Chicken Panini's were DELICIOUS! There is nothing like fresh pesto on a sandwich and it's so easy to make too.
 
A bowl of classic pesto
 

How Do I Make Grilled Chicken & Pesto Panini?

First, you'll need to make Pesto by adding fresh basil, EVOO, garlic, salt, Pecorino Romano cheese and pine nuts (optional) in a food processor or blender and pulse until smooth.

Next, grill your chicken on your indoor griddle for 2-3 minutes depending on thickness. Remove and let cool; then assemble your sandwiches. I used the thin sliced boneless chicken breasts.

Grilled Chicken & Pesto Panini

How Do I Assemble the Panini?

Step 1. Spreading some pesto on each side of the bread.

Step 2. Add grilled chicken, tomato slices and fresh mozzarella to one half of the bread then the top piece of bread. Repeat for remaining three sandwiches.

Step 3. Spray each side of the sandwich with cooking spray, close your grill/panini cover and squeeze down to form marks on the bread. The sandwich is done when it's golden brown and the cheese is melted.

Pretty simple right? I haven't made these panini's in a long time and was so happy to have found these buried here on the blog. Guess what we're having for dinner this week? ????

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Grilled Chicken Panini with pesto, Mozzarella cheese and fresh tomato on Italian Panella bread.

 

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Visit the recipe index to search for more recipes by category.

Grilled Chicken & Pesto Panini

Grilled Chicken & Pesto Panini

Carrie's Experimental Kitchen
Grilled Chicken Panini with pesto, Mozzarella cheese and fresh tomato on Italian Panella bread.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 10 mins
Total Time 25 mins
Course Sandwiches
Cuisine American
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

For the Panini

  • 8 thin sliced chicken breasts
  • 1 medium italian panella bread, sliced (or any other loaf of round bread)
  • 8 slices fresh mozzarella cheese
  • 2 plum tomatoes, sliced
  • prepared pesto
  • cooking spray

For the Pesto

  • 2 cups fresh basil, firmly packed
  • ¼ cup grated pecorino romano cheese
  • ¼ cup pine nuts (optional)
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions
 

For the Panini

  • Lightly spray cooking spray on your grill pan and cook chicken until it is cooked through, approximately 2-3 minutes per side(depending on thickness). Remove and cool.
  • Assemble your sandwiches by spreading some prepared pesto on each side of the bread.
  • Next, add your grilled chicken, tomato and mozzarella to one half of the bread then the top piece of bread. Repeat for remaining three sandwiches.
  • Spray each side of the sandwich with cooking spray, close your grill/panini cover and squeeze down to form marks on the bread. The sandwich is done when it's golden brown and the cheese is melted.

For the Pesto

  • Add all ingredients to a food processor and blend until well mixed and the basil is a paste-like consistency. Makes ā…“ cup.
Keyword panini
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

 

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*Originally shared January 2012/Updated June 2019

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. SkinnyMommy says

    January 19, 2012 at 6:56 pm

    I love my panini maker too! This one looks fantastic!

    Reply
    • Carrie's Experimental Kitchen says

      August 02, 2012 at 10:17 am

      Thank you!

      Reply
  2. the wicked noodle says

    January 19, 2012 at 11:03 pm

    Carrie, this looks super yummy! I want it with a hot bowl of homemade tomato soup šŸ™‚

    Reply
    • Carrie's Experimental Kitchen says

      August 02, 2012 at 10:18 am

      Sounds great to me! Thanks for stopping by!

      Reply
  3. Robert La Ferla says

    July 06, 2019 at 8:00 am

    Add some chopped pine nuts to add a crunchy layer to your chicken pesto panini.

    Reply
    • Carrie's Experimental Kitchen says

      July 06, 2019 at 9:52 am

      Great tip!

      Reply
  4. Marian Hopson says

    February 15, 2022 at 11:55 am

    Thank you for sharing your expertise. I look forward to making the panini recipe

    Reply

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