Simple, timeless, and downright delicious Grilled Chicken Sandwiches are the BEST! If you own a grill, you should be able to master the perfect chicken sandwich. This easy recipe calls for marinated chicken, a hot grill, and some of the best sandwich fixings!
Marinated Grilled Chicken Sandwich
This grilled chicken sandwich is juicy, flavorful, and so easy to make. So skip the drove-thru and make this at home!
The magic of this recipe lies in the marinade–it’s made with herbs, garlic, and lemon juice. All of the simple yet flavorful ingredients work together to make the chicken tasty as can be while keeping it traditional.
So you can add whatever toppings you want without worrying about clashing flavors! Cheddar cheese, bacon, tomatoes, and more get piled high atop the grilled chicken and make each bite of this sandwich better than the last.
Why You’ll Love this Grilled Chicken Breast Sandwich Recipe:
- Grilled: When you cook this chicken just right, it should leave the grill with a slightly smokey flavor that you can really only accomplish through grilling.
- Marinated: Don’t skip the marinating step, as it’s kind of the most important one! Marinating the chicken breast infuses it with flavor and keeps it tender and juicy.
- Customizable: The best part about serving any kind of sandwich is that everyone can top it off exactly how they want to!
Make Grilled Chicken Sandwiches for a party or just for an unforgettable dinner with the family. No matter when or where you choose to enjoy them, everyone will rave about these! I always recommend setting up a topping bar, so that everyone can enjoy their sandwich exactly how they want it.
How to Make A Grilled Chicken Sandwich
Be sure to see the recipe card below for full ingredients & instructions!
- Slice and pound the chicken breasts into thinner pieces.
- Marinate the chicken for at least 3 hours.
- Grill the chicken for about 2-3 minutes per side.
- Assemble the sandwiches, and enjoy immediately.
You sure can! Use boneless, skinless thighs, and be sure to monitor them and cook to 165°F internally.
30 minutes is adequate, but ideally at least 3 or up to 24 hours. The longer you marinate chicken, the better and more flavorful it becomes!
Yes, you can. Place the breasts on a baking sheet and bake in a 375°F oven for 15-20 minutes, or until 165°F internally. Truthfully, you can also cook these chicken breasts on the stovetop in a grill pan or cast iron pan as well.
Use your favorite cheese! I like cheddar or muenster for a classic chicken sandwich, but fresh mozzarella would be great for a Caprese-style sandwich!
The flavorful, yet classic taste of the marinade makes these grilled chicken breasts neutral enough to be topped with whatever you’d like. While cheddar cheese is the most popular topping, you can make your chicken sandwiches with something like pepper jack and it’ll still be delicious!
Make Ahead Instructions
Prepare and marinate the chicken up to 24 hours in advance for the best flavor. Store the marinating chicken in an airtight container or Ziplock bag in the refrigerator until ready to grill.
Storage Instructions
Store leftover grilled chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in the microwave or in a 350°F oven until 165°F internally, then assemble the sandwiches. I do not recommend storing fully-assembled sandwiches, as the toppings and bun can become mushy.
Freezing Instructions
Freeze grilled chicken breasts in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating and assembling sandwiches.
Substitutions
- Chicken: Feel free to use boneless, skinless thighs in place of the breasts.
- Buns: Use your family’s favorite buns or sandwich rolls. These would be great on brioche or ciabatta buns.
- Condiments: While I recommend serving these sandwiches with the classics, like mayo and mustard, you can kick them up a notch by using homemade mayo or adding sriracha, hot sauce, or barbecue sauce!
- Toppings: Classic toppings are great, but you could also change it up and add avocado, guacamole, pico de gallo, onion rings, pesto sauce, or really any other toppings you can think of!
Tips for the Best Grilled Chicken Sandwiches
- Marinate the chicken for 3-24 hours for the best results. If you’re short on time, even just 30 minutes will do wonders, though!
- Don’t be afraid to pound the chicken pieces to ½-inch thickness. This will allow the chicken to cook more evenly.
- Watch the chicken carefully and take it off the heat at 165°F. Overcooked chicken can become rubbery and unpleasant.
- To get picture-perfect grill marks, make sure your grill is preheated to 350-450°F before adding the chicken.
- Let the grilled chicken rest for 10 minutes before serving and/or cutting. This will help keep the juices in!
I’m always looking for a reason to fire up my grill, and these Grilled Chicken Sandwiches have become the new reason I’m always in my backyard these days! Whether you top them off with cheddar cheese, bacon, tomatoes, lettuce, or whatever else, you’re going to love every last bite of these easy-to-make sandwiches.
If you’ve made this recipe, please be sure to let us know by leaving a star rating or a comment below. Enjoy!
Grilled Chicken Sandwiches Recipe
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- ¼ cup olive oil extra virgin preferred
- 1 lemon juiced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1¼ teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
For the Sandwiches
- 4 sandwich rolls
- 4 slices cheddar cheese
- 8 slices cooked bacon
- 1 tomato sliced
- 4 pieces leafy lettuce
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup mustard
Instructions
- With a knife parallel to the work surface, cut the chicken breasts in half horizontally, creating 4 thin breasts. If necessary, place the breasts between two pieces of plastic wrap and pound each to about ½-inch thickness using a meat mallet or a rolling pin.2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Combine the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, thyme, oregano, salt, and pepper in a large Ziplock bag. Add the chicken, seal the bag, and gently massage the marinade into the meat. Place the bag in the refrigerator and marinate for 3-24 hours.¼ cup olive oil, 1 lemon, 2 cloves garlic, 1¼ teaspoons kosher salt, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, ½ teaspoon dried oregano, ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- When ready to cook, oil the grates of a grill and preheat it to high. Grill the chicken breasts for 2-3 minutes per side, until the internal temperature reached 165°F.
- Transfer the chicken to a plate to rest for 10 minutes, then build sandwiches on rolls with your favorite toppings and serve.4 slices cheddar cheese, 8 slices cooked bacon, 1 tomato, 4 pieces leafy lettuce, ¼ cup mayonnaise, ¼ cup mustard, 4 sandwich rolls
Notes
- Feel free to use boneless, skinless thighs in place of the breasts.
- Marinate the chicken for 3-24 hours for the best results. If you’re short on time, even just 30 minutes will do wonders, though!
- Don’t be afraid to pound the chicken pieces to ½-inch thickness. This will allow the chicken to cook more evenly.
- Watch the chicken carefully and take it off the heat at 165°F. Overcooked chicken can become rubbery and unpleasant.
- To get picture-perfect grill marks, make sure your grill is preheated to 350-450°F before adding the chicken.
- Let the grilled chicken rest for 10 minutes before serving and/or cutting. This will help keep the juices in!
- Use your family’s favorite buns or sandwich rolls. These would be great on brioche or ciabatta buns.
- While I recommend serving these sandwiches with the classics, like mayo and mustard, you can kick them up a notch by using homemade mayo or adding sriracha, hot sauce, or barbecue sauce!
- Classic toppings are great, but you could also change it up and add avocado, guacamole, pico de gallo, onion rings, pesto sauce, or really any other toppings you can think of!
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