Caprese Chicken Sandwich

Caprese chicken sandwiches are nothing short of summertime delight! You’ll love the fresh combo of buttery cheese, fresh basil, and tomatoes while grilled chicken takes the classic caprese flavors to a whole new level.

Why I Love This Recipe

I’m someone who looks forward to fresh summer flavors all year long. And believe me when I tell you that this caprese chicken sandwich embodies everything I love about the season! 

The freshness of the ingredients, from the vibrant tomatoes to the fragrant basil, combined with marinated grilled chicken and buttery cheese is almost TOO good. Almost.

And to top it off, this sandwich is downright gorgeous. The vibrant colors of the tomatoes, the creamy white of the mozzarella, and the deep green of the basil are just beautiful. No judgment if this ends up being one of those “phone eats first” situations.

You’re going to love how this simple dish takes the iconic flavors of a classic caprese and elevates them to a whole new level. Once you learn how to make a chicken caprese sandwich, don’t be surprised if it becomes your new go-to summer dish!

What is a Chicken Caprese Sandwich

Your classic caprese is an Italian salad that includes fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, basil, and a little salt and olive oil. Naturally, the sandwich version means serving the same combo wedged between your bread of choice!

For this recipe, I like using both fresh mozzarella and pesto for an extra punch of flavor. The bright flavor of the pesto with the creamy mayo is SERIOUSLY good.

I’m also the type of person who will open a jar of pesto for a recipe and then accidentally forget the rest in the back of the fridge. But between the pesto-mayo and the chicken marinade, this recipe is an easy way to use the whole jar all at once. No more wasted pesto!

I also want to point out that you should NEVER skip seasoning your tomatoes with salt and pepper! It’s so simple, but it absolutely makes their flavors sing. Which is exactly what you want in a caprese of any kind!

Variations for this Chicken Caprese Sandwich Recipe

There are so many little ways you can put a spin on this sandwich. Don’t be afraid to experiment or play around with ingredients!

Try swapping out the ciabatta rolls for your favorite bread. Sourdough or a crusty baguette would add a unique flavor twist. 

Don’t have a grill? You can use a stovetop grill pan or even a regular skillet to cook the chicken to perfection. You could also omit the chicken to make this sandwich vegetarian, although I think it adds a heartiness that makes this sandwich truly amazing.

Personally, I like the temperature contrast of serving the tomatoes and mozzarella cold on top of the warm chicken. But if you want a hot and melty sandwich, just pop yours back on the grill with the lid closed for a few minutes until the cheese is melty.

Finally, if you’re not a mayo person, it’s okay to leave it out. Or you can always mix the pesto with tahini instead for a zippy combo!

What to Serve with a Grilled Chicken Caprese Sandwich

• Chicken Cobb Salad — Feel free to leave off the chicken to make this a side salad for your caprese sandwich.
• Lemon Parmesan Grilled Asparagus — You’ve already got the grill out. Why not whip up some fresh and easy greens to go with your meal?
• Mango Mojito Mocktail — I don’t know if anything screams summer quite like this mocktail and sandwich pairing!
• Smokey Roasted Carrots with Tahini Ranch — These will be especially good if you mix the pesto with tahini instead of mayo for your sandwiches!

What to Do With Leftover Grilled Chicken Caprese

I recommend only assembling as many sandwiches as you plan to eat. Tomatoes are always best freshly-sliced, and over time, their juices along with the cheese and pesto will make the bread soggy.

Thankfully, it’s very easy to halve or even quarter this recipe depending on how many you’re cooking for! You could also make all four chicken breasts at once and store the extra chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator until you’re ready to enjoy.

I will say that these sandwiches travel very well if you’re prepping them ahead of time for a summer picnic or backyard get-together. Don’t be afraid to make them a few hours in advance!

Other Delicious Chicken Sandwich Recipes

Chicken Egg Roll Burgers

Copycat Panera Chicken Frontega Panini

Loaded Garlic-Lemon Chicken Pitas

Maple Dijon Grilled Chicken Sandwich

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