This Chicken Grilled Cheese Sandwich takes a classic comfort food favorite and turns it into a hearty meal. Loaded with tender chicken, crispy bacon, melty Colby Jack cheese, and a flavorful garlic-Dijon butter spread, every bite is packed with incredible flavor.
Recipe Essentials
- 🍽️ Course: Lunch, Dinner, Main Course
- ⏱️ Cooking Time: 10 minutes
- 🍴 Servings: 1 sandwich
- 🧄 Flavor Profile: Cheesy, savory, smoky, buttery, and garlicky
- 🍚 Best Served With: Tomato soup, salad, fries, chips, or pickles
- 🧊 Make Ahead?: Yes, cook the chicken and bacon ahead of time
Summarize and Save This Content On
If you're looking for a quick lunch or easy dinner that feels a little extra special, this sandwich delivers. It's a great way to use leftover chicken and comes together in minutes with simple ingredients you probably already have on hand.
This recipe was inspired by my oven baked grilled cheese and pairs perfectly with my grandma's tomato soup or a side of crispy oven baked sweet potato fries.
Jump to:
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Quick and easy: Ready in about 10 minutes with simple ingredients and minimal prep.
- Loaded with flavor: Tender chicken, crispy bacon, melty cheese, and garlic-Dijon butter create an irresistible sandwich.
- Perfect comfort food: A hearty, satisfying meal that's great for lunch, dinner, or using up leftover chicken.
- Easy to customize: Swap the cheese, bread, sauces, or add-ins to make it your own.
- Family-friendly favorite: Crispy, cheesy, and packed with familiar flavors everyone will love.
Ingredients
You only need a handful of simple ingredients to make this chicken grilled cheese. With tender chicken, crispy bacon, melty Colby Jack cheese, and buttery sourdough bread, this easy sandwich delivers big flavor with very little effort.
- Butter: Creates a golden, crispy exterior and adds rich flavor.
- Dijon Mustard: Adds a subtle tang that complements the chicken and cheese.
- Garlic Powder: Provides savory flavor throughout the sandwich.
- Sourdough Bread: Holds up well to the fillings and becomes beautifully crisp when toasted.
- Colby Jack Cheese: Melts smoothly and adds creamy, cheesy goodness.
- Cooked Shredded Chicken: Makes the sandwich hearty, filling, and a great way to use leftovers.
- Crispy Bacon: Adds smoky flavor and a satisfying crunch.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Switch up the basics: Try different cheeses like cheddar, Swiss, mozzarella, gouda, provolone, Monterey Jack or pepper jack, and use your favorite bread such as rye, ciabatta, multigrain, or Texas toast.
- Add extra flavor: Spread pesto, barbecue sauce, ranch, honey mustard, buffalo sauce, or hot honey inside the sandwich before grilling.
- Make it heartier: Add rotisserie chicken, turkey, ham, a fried egg, tomatoes, caramelized onions, sautéed mushrooms, avocado, spinach, or roasted peppers.
- Turn up the heat: Add jalapeños, pepper jack cheese, buffalo sauce, hot sauce, crushed red pepper flakes, or make a buffalo chicken version with ranch or blue cheese dressing.
- Create your own signature sandwich: Mix and match cheeses, breads, proteins, sauces, and toppings to make it exactly the way you like it.
- Grilled Cheese for a Crowd: Skip standing at the stove and make up to 8 perfectly crispy, cheesy sandwiches at once with this easy grilled cheese in the oven method.
Instructions
These chicken grilled cheese sandwiches come together in just 4 simple steps and are perfect for a quick lunch or easy dinner. The combination of melty cheese, tender chicken, crispy bacon, and garlic-Dijon butter creates a restaurant-quality sandwich with minimal effort. Heat a small nonstick skillet over medium heat before getting started.
Step 1: Make the butter spread. In a small bowl, stir together the butter, Dijon mustard, and garlic powder until combined. Spread the mixture evenly over one side of each slice of bread.
Step 2: Start the sandwich. Place one slice of bread, butter-side down, in the skillet. Top with most of the Colby Jack cheese and the shredded chicken.
Step 3: Finish assembling. Add the bacon and the remaining cheese. Place the second slice of bread on top, butter-side up, and cook for about 2 minutes, or until the bottom is golden brown.
Step 4: Flip and cook. Carefully flip the sandwich and gently press it with a spatula. Cook for another 2 minutes, or until the second side is golden brown and the cheese is fully melted. Remove from the skillet, slice in half, and serve immediately.
Expert Tips
- Start with quality ingredients: Freshly shredded cheese, crispy bacon, and leftover rotisserie or cooked chicken provide the best flavor and texture.
- Cook low and slow: Use medium heat and butter the bread evenly so the sandwich becomes golden brown while the cheese melts completely.
- Build it carefully: Don't overfill the sandwich, and use a little extra cheese to help hold everything together.
- Finish like a pro: Gently press the sandwich while cooking, let it rest for a minute before slicing, and serve immediately for the best results.
If you love recipes like this chicken grilled cheese, you may also enjoy our Cajun chicken sandwich.
Storage Directions
Refrigerator: Store leftover sandwiches in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Freezer: Wrap tightly and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Reheat: Warm in a skillet over medium-low heat or bake at 350°F for 8 to 10 minutes until heated through and crispy.
Make Ahead: Cook the chicken and bacon up to 3 days ahead and store in the refrigerator until ready to assemble.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve with soup: Tomato soup, chicken noodle soup, cream of mushroom soup, or vegetable soup make classic comfort food pairings.
- Add a fresh side: Garden salad, Caesar salad, coleslaw, pasta salad, fresh fruit, or roasted vegetables help balance the rich sandwich.
- Include something crunchy: Potato chips, kettle chips, pickles, crackers, French fries, sweet potato fries, or onion rings add the perfect texture contrast.
- Don't forget the dips: Ranch dressing, honey mustard, barbecue sauce, or buffalo sauce make delicious dipping options.
Chicken Grilled Cheese Recipe FAQs
This recipe makes one large sandwich, which can be served as one hearty meal or two smaller servings.
Cook over medium or medium-low heat so the cheese has time to melt before the bread browns too much.
Yes. Air fry at 370°F for 6-8 minutes, flipping halfway through.
More Chicken Sandwich Recipes
If you enjoy hearty chicken sandwiches and easy comfort food meals, here are some other chicken recipes you may want to add to your menu.
If you try this recipe and love it please leave a star rating in the recipe card below or even better, drop a review in the comment section. I always appreciate your feedback. Be sure to follow along with me on Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube for more easy recipes!
Chicken Grilled Cheese
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ¼ teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 slices sourdough bread
- ½ cup Colby Jack cheese shredded, divided, reserve a pinch or two to sprinkle over the bacon
- ½ cup cooked shredded chicken rotisserie chicken, canned chicken or leftover
- 3 slices cooked crispy bacon
Instructions
- Heat a small nonstick skillet over medium heat before getting started.
- In a small bowl, stir together the butter, Dijon mustard, and garlic powder until combined. Spread the mixture evenly over one side of each slice of bread.
- Place one slice of bread, butter-side down, in the skillet. Top with most of the Colby Jack cheese and the shredded chicken.
- Add the bacon and remaining pinch or two of cheese to help hold sandwich together. Place the second slice of bread on top, butter-side up, and cook for about 2 minutes, or until the bottom is golden brown.
- Carefully flip the sandwich and gently press it with a spatula. Cook for another 2 minutes, or until the second side is golden brown and the cheese is fully melted. Remove from the skillet, slice in half, and serve immediately.
Notes
- Start with quality ingredients: Freshly shredded cheese, crispy bacon, and leftover rotisserie or cooked chicken provide the best flavor and texture.
- Cook low and slow: Use medium heat and butter the bread evenly so the sandwich becomes golden brown while the cheese melts completely.
- Build it carefully: Don't overfill the sandwich, and use a little extra cheese to help hold everything together.
- Finish like a pro: Gently press the sandwich while cooking, let it rest for a minute before slicing, and serve immediately for the best results.
Leave a Reply