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    Home » Recipes » Sandwich

    Chicken Grilled Cheese

    By: Jessica · Posted: Jan 10, 2022 · Updated: Jan 15, 2025 · This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

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    Jump to Recipe 6 comments
    5 from 6 votes
    Chicken Grilled Cheese Sandwich

    Chicken Grilled Cheese: Grilled cheese sandwiches are a classic, but adding chicken takes it to a new level! Keep this simple recipe on hand for those busy weeknights when you don’t know what to make for dinner.

    Chicken Grilled Cheese Sandwich

     

    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 chicken sandwich, 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)?

    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 (then don’t forget to save the rotisserie carcass to make chicken stock!) or you could cook up some chicken breasts in the slow cooker and use that instead. You may also want to make this chicken club sandwich with any other chicken breasts you may have too!

    Honestly, this whole sandwich is super customizable…hence the HUGE list of variations we shared a bit farther down.

    Jump to:
    • Why You’ll Love This Recipe
    • Ingredients
    • Variations
    • How to Make a Chicken Grilled Cheese
    • Sauces to Serve with Grilled Cheese
    • Storage
    • Expert Tips and FAQs
    • Related Recipes
    • Recipe
    • Comments

    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 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

    Make sure you scroll to the recipe card below, to see the full recipe now, or keep reading to see how easy it is to make these chicken grilled cheese sandwiches!

    Ingredients for Chicken Grilled Cheese Sandwich
    Ingredients

    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.

    How to Make a Chicken Grilled Cheese

    1. Heat a large skillet on the stovetop over medium heat. 
    2. 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.
    Slices of bread being covered with butter.
    Butter one side of each slice of bread.
    Bread being covered with cream cheese for a chicken grilled cheese.
    Cover the opposite side of each slice with cream cheese.
    1. Top 4 slices of the cream cheese covered bread with ¼ cup shredded chicken. 
    2. Then, top the chicken with parsley and slices of mozzarella cheese in a single layer. 
    3. Top the mozzarella cheese with a single layer of sliced Monterey Jack cheese. 
    Chicken added to bread for a chicken grilled cheese.
    Add chicken.
    Cheese added to chicken grilled cheese sandwich.
    And finally the cheeses.
    1. Top that slice of cheese with the remaining bread slices (cream cheese side in, butter side out). 
    Top with another piece of toast (butter side out).
    1. Place the sandwiches, one at a time, into the heated pan. 
    2. 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. 
    Chicken grilled cheese in a skillet.
    Cook 4 mins per side.
    1. Transfer sandwich to a plate with your choice of side (potato chips or steak fries would be delicious) and enjoy!
    Chicken Grilled Cheese Sandwich on round plate.

    Sauces to Serve with Grilled Cheese

    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!

    Chicken Grilled Cheese Sandwich

    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.

    Chicken Grilled Cheese Sandwich
    The BEST grilled cheese!

    Expert Tips and FAQs

    What cheese goes best with chicken?

    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!

    What can I add to grilled cheese to make it better?

    We think that the addition of cheese to a grilled cheese already makes it better, but if you want to take it a step further 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 I add flavor to my grilled cheese?

    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!

    What’s the best way to cook a grilled cheese sandwich?

    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 halfway 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.

    Recipe

    Chicken Grilled Cheese Sandwich

    Chicken Grilled Cheese

    Jessica Burgess
    Chicken Grilled Cheese: Grilled cheese sandwiches are a classic, but adding chicken takes it to a whole new level!
    5 from 6 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 4 minutes mins
    Cook Time 8 minutes mins
    Total Time 12 minutes mins
    Course Main Course, Snack
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4 sandwiches
    Calories 498 kcal

    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 stove top 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 ¼ 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

    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.
     
    VARIATIONS: There are so many ways you could change up this chicken grilled cheese recipe. Check out the variations section of this post for some ideas!

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1sandwich | Calories: 498kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 34g | Saturated Fat: 19g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 104mg | Sodium: 723mg | Potassium: 168mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 986IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 513mg | Iron: 2mg

    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.

    Keywords grilled cheese, leftover chicken, sandwiches
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    Comments

      5 from 6 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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    1. Natasha says

      January 12, 2022 at 12:08 am

      5 stars
      We absolutely loved this sandwich! Thank you for the tips, it was a no-fuss and easy make recipe!

      Reply
      • Jessica says

        January 12, 2022 at 8:03 pm

        Excellent! I’m so glad you liked these chicken and cheese sandwiches too! Thank you for sharing!

        Reply
    2. Kristyn says

      January 11, 2022 at 11:35 am

      5 stars
      Won’t be making a regular grilled cheese again!! Love the chicken added! It’s super cheesy & hearty!

      Reply
      • Jessica says

        January 11, 2022 at 2:13 pm

        Haha, oh good! I’m so glad to hear that you liked this chicken grilled cheese! Thank you so much for letting me know.

        Reply
    3. Andrea Thueson says

      January 11, 2022 at 11:27 am

      5 stars
      Oh my word, where has this sandwich been my entire life! So dang tasty!

      Reply
      • Jessica says

        January 11, 2022 at 2:13 pm

        Right? The creamy chicken and cheese on delicious bread… so hard to beat!

        Reply

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    Jessica Burgess of Fantabulosity, slicing an avocado.

    Hi, I'm Jessica! - Owner and Creator of the blog and brand, Fantabulosity.

    I’m here to teach you how to make quick and easy recipes, using simple ingredients, that your family will love.

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