Chicken Grilled Cheese: Grilled cheese sandwiches are a classic, but adding chicken takes it to a whole new level! Keep this simple recipe on hand for those busy weeknights when you don’t know what to make for dinner.
Did you know that April 12 is National Grilled Cheese Day? Not like you need an excuse to eat a yummy grilled chicken and cheese sandwich, but make sure you mark that date in your calendar and try out this recipe (or our caprese grilled cheese, which is also fantabulous)!
Why you’ll love this recipe
I think most of us love a good grilled cheese sandwich, but a grilled cheese chicken sandwich (or a chicken and cheese toastie, for the British blog readers out there)? Yes please!
I’m a big fan of simple meals that still have some protein in them, (like this tuna salad sandwich recipe) and this one fits the ticket. You all know I think great food doesn’t have to be complicated!
I also love that it’s flexible- you could use leftover chicken from that rotisserie chicken you had for dinner last night, or you could cook up some chicken breasts in the slow cooker and use that instead.
Honestly, this whole sandwich is super customizable…hence the HUGE list of variations we shared a bit farther down.
Jump to:
Ingredients
Rustic bread, chicken, and a mixture of different cheeses…I mean, need I say more? These chicken grilled cheese sandwiches use simple ingredients to make a sandwich that’s unreal tasty!
- 2 tablespoons butter softened
- 8 slices white bread rustic-style
- 1 cup chicken cooked and shredded
- 4 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese sliced
- 1 cup Monterey Jack cheese sliced
- 2 teaspoons parsley fresh, diced
You can jump to the recipe card to see the full recipe now or keep reading to see how easy it is to make these chicken grilled cheese sandwiches!
How to make a chicken grilled cheese
- Heat a large skillet on stovetop over medium heat.
- Spread butter on one side of each of the slices of bread you have cut in half, then place them butter-side down and spread cream cheese on the other side of each slice of bread.
- Top 4 slices of the cream cheese covered bread with 1/4 cup shredded chicken.
- Then, top the chicken with parsley and slices of mozzarella cheese in a single layer.
- Top the mozzarella cheese with a single layer of sliced Monterey Jack cheese.
- Top that slice of cheese with the remaining bread slices (cream cheese side in, butter side out).
- Place the sandwiches, one at a time, into the heated pan.
- Cook sandwiches for about 4 minutes on each side or until the outside of the bread is golden brown. During the last 60 seconds, cover the pan to help the cheese melt.
- Transfer sandwich to a plate with your choice of side (potato chips or steak fries would be delicious) and enjoy!
Are you a dipper?
First thing is first- we need to discuss dipping sauce. Do you dip your grilled cheese sandwich in sauce or do you eat it plain?
It might not come as a shock to you, but I’m a dipper (I love a good dip for just about anything…sandwiches, fries, red peppers…).
If you have kids, I bet that the go-to grilled cheese dip in your house is ketchup. The kiddos can have their ketchup, but I think there’s a better way for this chicken grilled cheese sandwich.
Here are a few I would suggest trying:
- Barbecue sauce (pick your favorite bbq sauce)
- Spicy buffalo sauce- you can even make your own buffalo sauce! It’s basically just melted butter, hot sauce and garlic powder. If you prefer to use a recipe, you could try this buffalo sauce recipe. Side note: if you enjoy buffalo sauce with this chicken grilled cheese sandwich, you really need to try this buffalo chicken lasagna!
- Ranch dressing (for those who prefer a milder flavor)
- Blue cheese dressing, for those who like to live on the wild side
I’m a fan of spice so I like my chicken grilled cheese with a side of extra buffalo sauce, but there’s no wrong answer here!
Variations
There is no limit to the different ways you can change up a grilled cheese sandwich. This recipe uses chicken, mozzarella cheese, and Monterey Jack cheese to create a tasty sandwich, but there are so many other combinations you could try!
Experimenting with different cheese and add-ins is also a great way to use up whatever’s left in your fridge (reducing food waste, saving yourself from a shopping trip, it’s a win-win).
- Bbq Chicken Grilled Cheese- use bbq chicken, slices of cheese that are spicy (think pepper jack cheese), and some sliced red onion. Serve with barbecue sauce for dipping (or sour cream, if you need to tone down the spice).
- Grilled Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches – use spicy buffalo chicken and a cheese mixture like mozzarella and colby jack. You could serve this with a side of bleu cheese dressing and some carrot sticks.
- Gourmet Grilled Cheese- try marinating a skinless chicken breast in a balsamic vinegar marinade, and then grilling or baking your chicken. Use a hearty bread (the best bread for this one would be a rye or crusty artisanal bread). Butter your bread, spread some cream cheese (maybe Boursin) and add your shredded grilled chicken. Add some mozzarella cheese, fresh basil, fresh spinach and a slice of tomato on top of the chicken and top with another slice of bread. Cook and enjoy!
- Kid Friendly Chicken Grilled Cheese- use American cheese (like Kraft slices), white bread, and however much chicken your little one will eat. Serve it with a side of potato chips and some ketchup.
The basic formula for a great grilled cheese sandwich is to have nice thick slices of bread, lots of melted cheese and to make sure you cook it until both the top of the sandwich and the bottoms of the sandwiches are a nice golden brown color. The rest is totally up to you!
Storage
Grilled cheese sandwiches don’t typically keep well (they have a tendency to get soggy). Your best bet is to enjoy these sandwiches right after you’ve made them, but if you have leftovers try wrapping them in a paper towel and then in tin foil and storing them in the fridge. When you’re ready to eat them, heat them up in a skillet over medium heat again until they are toasty and melty.
Expert tips and FAQs
This is really a matter of personal preference, although it does depend a bit on what type of chicken you are using.
If you are using bbq chicken, you could use a more mild cheese like cheddar cheese or mozzarella.
If you are using a chicken breast without strong seasonings, try spicing up your sandwich by using more adventurous cheeses (think spicy habanero or bleu cheese)!
The combinations are endless and there really isn’t a wrong kind of cheese to choose. Have fun with it!
We think that the addition of cheese to a grilled cheese already makes it better, but if you want to take it a step farther you could try experimenting with the fat on the outside. This recipe calls for buttering the outside of your bread, but you could try using mayonnaise instead of a twist on this old classic!
How can you add flavor, let me count the ways..
In all seriousness, you can add flavor to a grilled cheese in three basic ways:
– changing up the cheeses
– dipping it in a sauce
– adding in another ingredient
We have a bunch of dipping sauce recommendations in this blog post as well as cheese and add-in suggestions in the variations section, above, in this post. Check it out!
Ooh, good question. There isn’t really a “best way”, but there are a lot of different ways!
Air Fryer- If you have one, try it out! Preheat your air fryer to 400F, place your assembled sandwich, buttered side down, into your air fryer basket. Cook it for 4-6 mins, flipping half way through (it’s not required, but it will make sure that your sandwich is golden brown on both sides).
Panini Press- This should create a flatter sandwich with a crunchy, golden exterior with those tell-tale panini lines. I haven’t tried this one personally, so let me know in the comments section if you do!
Baked- Preheat oven to 450F. Assemble your sandwich following the recipe, then place on a greased or foil lined baking sheet. Bake for 5 mins, flip sandwiches over and bake another 5 mins or until the sandwich is golden brown and the cheese is melted. Watch your sandwich cook when you get near the end of the time so you don’t burn it.
Related Recipes
If you enjoyed this chicken grilled cheese sandwich, you might like some of our other sandwich recipes like this hot ham and cheese, this Hawaiian breakfast sandwich or this bacon brioche sandwich.
Chicken Grilled Cheese
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter softened
- 4 slices white bread rustic-style, cut in half
- 1 cup chicken cooked and shredded
- 4 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese sliced
- 1 cup Monterey Jack cheese sliced
- 2 teaspoons parsley fresh, diced
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet on stovetop over medium heat.
- Spread butter on one side of each of the slices of bread you have cut in half, then place them butter-side down and spread cream cheese on the other side of each slice of bread.
- Top 4 slices of the cream cheese covered bread with 1/4 cup shredded chicken.
- Top the chicken with parsley and slices of mozzarella cheese in a single layer.
- Top the mozzarella cheese with a single layer of sliced Monterey Jack cheese.
- Top that slice of cheese with the remaining bread slices (cream cheese side in, butter side out).
- Place the sandwiches, one at a time, into the heated pan.
- Cook sandwiches for about 4 minutes on each side or until the outside of the bread is golden brown. During the last 60 seconds, cover the pan to help the cheese melt.
- Transfer sandwich to a plate with your choice of side (potato chips or steak fries would be delicious) and enjoy!
Notes
- Barbecue sauce (pick your favorite bbq sauce)
- Spicy buffalo sauce- you can even make your own buffalo sauce! It’s basically just melted butter, hot sauce and garlic powder. If you prefer to use a recipe, you could try this one. Side note: if you enjoy buffalo sauce with this chicken grilled cheese sandwich, you really need to try this buffalo chicken lasagna!
- Ranch dressing (for those who prefer a milder flavor)
- Blue cheese dressing, for those who like to live on the wild side
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.
Andrea Thueson says
Oh my word, where has this sandwich been my entire life! So dang tasty!
Jessica says
Right? The creamy chicken and cheese on delicious bread… so hard to beat!
Kristyn says
Won’t be making a regular grilled cheese again!! Love the chicken added! It’s super cheesy & hearty!
Jessica says
Haha, oh good! I’m so glad to hear that you liked this chicken grilled cheese! Thank you so much for letting me know.
Natasha says
We absolutely loved this sandwich! Thank you for the tips, it was a no-fuss and easy make recipe!
Jessica says
Excellent! I’m so glad you liked these chicken and cheese sandwiches too! Thank you for sharing!