You’re only six simple ingredients and 15 minutes away from a drool-worthy, deli-style meal. This Pesto Chicken Panini is a healthier classic you can make at home with chicken, pesto, spinach, Swiss, and tomatoes.
Deli-Style Pesto Chicken Panini
If you’re in the habit of craving a warm, crispy sandwich with comforting, bursting flavors, welcome to the club! After sampling dozens of combinations on my panini grill over the years, I’ve found an irresistible recipe that satisfies. My Pesto Chicken Panini marries salty, savory, and fresh flavors with juicy and crispy textures. No wonder it’s a family favorite! The reasons it’s a family staple, however, are the simple ingredients list and impressive total cooking time. Making a deli-style meal worth drooling over at home is easier than you’d think! You’re only six simple ingredients and 15 minutes away from your new favorite sandwich.
The 6-Ingredient List for this 15-Minute Meal:
- 1 focaccia loaf
- 1-2 grilled chicken breasts (sliced)
- 1/4 cup pesto
- 5 slices Swiss cheese
- 1 small bunch of spinach
- 1 large or 2 small tomatoes
Your 15-Minute Meal Instructions:
Preheat your panini grill to medium-high heat. Don’t worry, if you don’t have a panini grill, the stove top and a pan will substitute nicely.
Cut the focaccia loaf in half lengthwise. Spread a generous amount of pesto across one side of the loaf. Evenly place Swiss cheese across the pesto. Then layer sliced grilled chicken, tomatoes, and spinach on top in desired amounts. Top with the remaining half of the focaccia loaf.
Grill your sandwich until the cheese is completely melted and the crust has been toasted to your preferred crispness. The sandwich will be hot, so remove it from the panini grill or pan using a spatula. Cool the sandwich until warm. Slice, serve, and savor.
I hope this cheesy, warm sandwich is as common of a recipe in your kitchen as it is mine! Looking for more tasty bites made with simple ingredients? Be sure to check out my Authentic Italian Margherita Pizza, Rainbow Dessert Trifle, and Korean Kimchi Sushi Roll recipes!
Ingredients
- 1 focaccia loaf
- 1-2 grilled chicken breasts (sliced)
- 1/4 cup pesto
- 5 slices Swiss cheese
- 1 small bunch of spinach
- 1 large or 2 small tomatoes
Instructions
- Preheat panini grill to medium-high heat. If you don't have a panini grill, the stove top and a pan will substitute nicely.
- Cut focaccia loaf in half lengthwise. Spread a generous amount of pesto across one side. Evenly place Swiss cheese across the pesto. Layer tomatoes, spinach, and sliced grilled chicken on top in desired amounts. Top with remaining focaccia.
- Grill sandwich until cheese is completely melted and crust has been toasted to preferred crispness.
- Remove panini using a spatula. Cool until warm.
- Slice, serve, and savor.
Notes
Home Chef Tip: When slicing a loaf lengthwise, cut about an inch into the bread all around the circumference of the loaf before slicing all the way through. Your pre-cut sides will help act as a guide for the knife, resulting in more even loaf halves.
Love this Pesto Chicken Panini recipe? Pin it for later!
We hope you enjoy this Deli-Style Pesto Chicken Panini recipe from SoFabFood Home Chef, Aubri from The DIY Lighthouse, as much as we do. If you love this 15-minute meal, be sure to stop by our Deli Section for more like it. For daily recipe inspiration, subscribe to our newsletter, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Pinterest. Enjoy!
Leave a Reply