Pesto Chicken Sandwich

Fresh Italian sandwich with pesto, tomatoes, and basil on crusty bread. Perfect for Italian cooking ideas and recipes.

Make the ultimate pesto chicken sandwich with grilled chicken, fresh basil pesto, mozzarella, and ciabatta bread. This easy chicken pesto recipe is a quick Italian sandwich perfect for lunch or dinner.

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 10

Cook Time 15

Total Time 25

Course Lunch

Cuisine Italian

Servings

Calories 510 kcal

Equipment

Cutting Board
Chef’s knife for slicing chicken and tomato
Serrated knife for ciabatta rolls
Meat mallet to pound chicken evenly
Grill pan or sauté pan to cook chicken and toast bread
Tongs for flipping chicken
Meat thermometer to check doneness
Pastry Brush to brush olive oil on bread
Small bowl for pesto serving
Spatula for pressing/assembling sandwiches

Ingredients

For the Chicken:

2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
¼ teaspoon sea salt
⅛ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
⅛ teaspoon garlic powder

For the Sandwich:

2 ciabatta rolls or 1 small baguette
1 tablespoon olive oil
4 slices fresh mozzarella
½ cup fresh basil pesto homemade or high-quality store-bought
1 ripe tomato thinly sliced
2 cups arugula

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Instructions

Prepare the Chicken

Place chicken breasts on a cutting board.
Slice each breast horizontally with a chef’s knife to create thin cutlets.
Use a meat mallet to pound lightly, ensuring even thickness.
Season both sides with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.

Cook the Chicken

Heat a grill pan or sauté pan over medium-high heat.
Add olive oil, using a pastry brush to coat the pan.
Cook chicken cutlets 3–4 minutes per side with tongs until golden brown and cooked through (165°F checked with a meat thermometer).
Transfer to a plate, top with mozzarella slices, and cover loosely with foil so cheese melts gently.

Toast the Bread

Slice ciabatta rolls open with a serrated knife.
Brush cut sides with olive oil using a pastry brush.
Toast face-down in the same grill pan until golden and crisp.

Assemble the Sandwich

Spread pesto from a small bowl onto the top half of each roll.
Layer with cheesy chicken, sliced tomato (cut with a chef’s knife), and arugula.
Close gently and press lightly with a spatula. Serve immediately.

Nutrition

Serving: 2gCalories: 510kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 38gFat: 26gSodium: 720mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3g

Keyword easy Italian recipes, Italian Sandwich Recipe, Pesto Recipe

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