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Italian Chicken Panini Recipe

4 from 57 reviews

This Italian Chicken Panini is a delicious and easy-to-make grilled sandwich featuring Italian bread, pesto, cooked chicken breast, roasted red peppers, red onion, and mozzarella cheese. Perfect for a quick lunch or light dinner, it’s pressed to golden perfection with melted cheese and vibrant flavors.

Ingredients

Scale

Sandwich Ingredients

  • 4 slices Italian bread, thickly sliced
  • 2 tablespoons pesto
  • 1 chicken breast, cooked and sliced in half lengthwise
  • 2 tablespoons red onion, slivered
  • 1/4 cup roasted red peppers, thinly sliced
  • 4 ounces low moisture, part skim mozzarella, shredded or thinly sliced

Cooking

  • Cooking spray

Instructions

  1. Prepare the bread: Slather two slices of the Italian bread evenly with the pesto to infuse rich herbaceous flavor.
  2. Assemble the sandwich: Top each pesto-slathered slice with one half of the cooked chicken breast. Then evenly add the slivered red onion, thinly sliced roasted red peppers, and shredded mozzarella on top. Cover each with the remaining slices of bread.
  3. Preheat panini press: Heat the panini press and lightly coat it with cooking spray to prevent sticking and help crisp the bread.
  4. Grill the sandwich: Place the sandwiches inside the press and grill for 3-4 minutes on each side. Cooking time may vary depending on the bread thickness and the heat of your press. Grill until the cheese melts and the bread is golden brown.
  5. Serve hot: Remove the paninis from the press and slice each in half with a sharp knife. Serve immediately while the cheese is still melty and the sandwich is warm.
  6. Enjoy and share feedback: If you’ve tried this recipe, leave a comment or star rating to let others know how it turned out.

Notes

  • Use thick slices of Italian bread for best results in holding the fillings and getting a crispy crust.
  • Cook chicken breast thoroughly before assembling the panini; grilling or baking works well.
  • If you don’t have a panini press, a grill pan or skillet with a heavy lid and weights can be used to press the sandwich.
  • Adjust grilling time slightly based on bread thickness and your press’s heat settings.
  • Serve immediately for the freshest taste and optimal cheese melt.

Keywords: Italian chicken panini, grilled panini, chicken sandwich, pesto panini, mozzarella panini, quick lunch recipe