Everyone loves my Ultimate Grilled Chicken Sandwich, and it proves it doesn’t have to be fried chicken! Tender marinated chicken breast grilled to perfection, topped with garden-fresh tomato slices, crispy bacon, and aged cheddar cheese. It’s the Best Chicken Sandwich Recipe you’ll ever try.
It’s perfect for your next get-together or family barbecue. I promise you’re going to love this chicken sandwich!
When it comes to grilling chicken don’t be that guy that just throws the pieces on the grill and slathers on barbecue sauce. Aim higher and wow your guests.
There is so much more you can do to enhance the flavor of the foods you grill and chicken is actually the easiest and most flavor-friendly food you’ll be grilling for your friends and family.
What ingredients do I need to make the Best Grilled Chicken Sandwich?
The first step in creating this delicious sandwich is marinating the chicken breasts for the sandwich. And I always start by gathering the ingredients together before I start.
In chef speak this is called the Mise en Place and it not only makes the cooking process easier it also ensures you have everything you need before you start cooking.
The marinating ingredients are pretty simple and I give you ideas further down the post on how to change up to suit your tastes.
How do I marinate the chicken breasts?
Once the sauce is complete we can add it along with the other ingredients and the chicken breasts into a zippered storage bag and refrigerate for 1-2 hours.
How long do I really have to marinate the chicken breasts?
In truth, 30 minutes is enough to get some of the flavors into the chicken. Ideally, I would give it 4 hours if I had the time, but I usually end up with 90 minutes at best.
There is some flexibility with the marinade (with chicken) and you can leave it for up to 8 hours. I would not advise any longer, because the acidity of this marinade can actually make the chicken tougher if it goes too long.
Does this Marinade work on other chicken parts?
Yes, it does. You can use thighs for your sandwiches, and also do some separate pieces of chicken (legs, wings, quarters) for your picky eaters. It’s a great sauce anytime you grill chicken.
How do I make a honey balsamic sauce?
Start by making the Honey Balsamic Sauce. This is the first step in creating the marinade for the chicken.
You’ll love the flavor of the sauce, made with olive oil, tomato paste, honey and other delicious ingredients.
Can I change up the ingredients in the Honey Balsamic Sauce?
Yes, you can. The whole idea of cooking is to use ingredients to create flavor profiles that you and your family will enjoy eating. Some of the changes you can make are:
- Use ketchup or your favorite barbecue sauce instead of tomato paste
- Add bourbon for a boost of flavor
- Use brown sugar or agave instead of honey
- Use soy sauce instead of balsamic vinegar
- Use ginger and scallions instead of onions
- Use your favorite seasonings. Add Chili powder or Siracha if you like heat
Use the recipe as a guideline and create the deliciousness you’ll love with your changes.
How do I put together the Best Grilled Chicken Sandwich?
These are the ingredients to make the Best Grilled Chicken Sandwich Recipe. Once the chicken is ready it’s time to fire up the grill and precook the bacon.
How do I grill the chicken?
The key to good grill marks is getting the grill good and hot. I like to let the grill get up to 350 – 450 degree F.
Brush the chicken breast on both sides with the honey balsamic sauce. Repeat as you turn the breasts until you’ve used up all the sauce.
Once the chicken is done you can let it rest for a few minutes while you get the sandwiches ready.
Place the chicken breasts on a tray and top with tomato slices, bacon and cheddar cheese. Place the tray back on the grill and close the lid.
**You can use indirect heat to melt the cheddar, it doesn’t have to be placed right on the grill.
The only thing left to do is put the finished product on a bun and enjoy your chicken sandwich! And If you want to make the sandwich extra special use a brioche bun and a few slices of red onion.
If you’ve got someone watching their carbs, serve up this deliciousness on a bed of spinach, romaine or lettuce leaves.
Recipe FAQ’s
Yes, you can. You can roast the chicken breast on a baking sheet in a 375 degree oven for 15-20 minutes, or until an internal temperature of 165 degrees is reached.
You can also use a grill pan or saute pan on the stove. Or use an airfryer.
That’s easy. Use your favorite cheese or a combination of your favorite cheese. It’s your sandwich so make it as you like it. Other great choices are provolone, mozzarella, Swiss cheese or plain old American cheese.
In truth, 30 minutes is enough to get some of the flavors into the chicken. Ideally, I would give it 4 hours if I had the time, but I usually end up with 90 minutes at best.
More Sandwich Recipes You’ll Love!
The Best Grilled Chicken Sandwich
Ingredients
- 16 ounces boneless skinless chicken breasts 4 ounce each
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika **regular paprika can be substituted
Honey Balsamic Sauce:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons sweet onion finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon garlic finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons honey **brown sugar can be substituted
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste ** ketchup can be substituted
- 2 tablespoons bourbon **optional – I did not use this in my recipe, but it could add another dimension to the flavor
Sandwich
- 4 ounces Sharp Cheddar shredded
- 8 slices bacon cooked and drained
- 4 slices tomato or 8 smaller slices
- 4 seeded hamburger buns or your favorite hamburger bun
Instructions
- Add one tablespoon of olive oil to a hot pan along with the chopped sweet onion and chopped garlic. Saute for 1-2 minutes over medium heat, do not burn the garlic and onions.
- Add the balsamic, tomato paste and honey to the pan. Bring to a light boil and remove from the heat. At this point add 1-2 tablespoons of water to thin out the mixture.
- In a ziplock bag, add chicken, olive oil, salt, pepper, paprika and half of the honey balsamic sauce (reserve the rest for the grilling process). Make sure the chicken is completely coated in the seasonings. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours to allow the flavors to develop in the raw chicken.
- cook bacon in 350 degree oven for 20 minutes. Set aside till needed.
- shred cheddar cheese. Set aside till needed.
- slice tomatoes and set aside till needed.
- Heat the grill to 350-450 degrees so you get good scoring marks.
- Brush the chicken breasts with the remainder of the honey balsamic sauce and grill each side about 3-4 minutes(or it has reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees F).
Building the Sandwich
- Place the grilled chicken breast on a sheet pan and top each breast with a large slice of tomato (or two small slices), 2 slices of bacon and one ounce of shredded cheddar.
- Place the pan on the grill and close the lid to allow the cheddar to melt. **You can also melt the cheddar in your oven under the broiler.
- Place the finished topped chicken breasts on your choice of buns and enjoy!
Ckramer
I made this yummy sandwich for my family and they loved it! that was the best grilled chicken sandwich I ever made!
Thank you for sharing Chef Dennis!
Chuck
I’ve been cooking for some friends once a week for the last year. Everyone in the group thought is was great and two people in the group said it was the best meal I ever made for them. I was really surprised since I’ve made some very good meals as well as complex meals.
As I always do with chicken breasts, I brined the chicken breasts and hammered them to a consistent thickness. I’m not sure if these steps were necessary, but the end result was very well received.
This recipe is definitely a keeper!
Chef Dennis Littley
brining and pounding the chicken is a great way to improve chicken! Thanks for the comment and great review!
Tamara Valdiserri
So I actually MADE this recipe. It was delicious for those of you, like myself, that are looking for an actual review on how the food tasted. Thank you for a recipe the whole family will enjoy.