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Savory grilled chicken on warm, toasty ciabatta bread topped with creamy whipped herby goat cheese, crisp buttered lettuce, and tart pickled onions, Herby Goat Cheese Chicken Sandwich with Homemade Pickled Onions is the flavorful and easy dish that you need in your dinner rotation.
I LOVE chicken sandwiches! Grilled or fried, on delicious bread, and whatever toppings you want! Really, the chicken sandwich possibilities are endless.
My ideal chicken sandwich has to have 5 things: flavorful chicken, bread that will stand up to all of the toppings and juices, something fresh, something creamy, and something tart to cut through all of the richness. Herby Goat Cheese Chicken Sandwich with Homemade Pickled Onions checks all of these boxes.
Herby Goat Cheese Chicken Sandwich with Homemade Pickled Onions may be the chicken sandwich of my dreams!
QUICK HOMEMADE PICKLED ONIONS
Slice half of a large onion to the thickness of your liking. The thicker the slice of the onion, the crunchier the onions will be. Peel one clove of garlic and smash it with the flat part of your knife blade and the heel of your palm.
To a small saucepan, add 3 tablespoons of white sugar, 1 ½ tablespoons of salt, ½ teaspoon of black peppercorns, and 1 cup of white vinegar. Heat the mixture over medium heat and stir until sugar and salt is dissolved. Once the sugar and salt is dissolved, bring to a boil.
Next add sliced onions and crushed garlic to a mason jar or glass storage container. Then pour the hot liquid over the onions, including the peppercorns.
Let the onions and liquid cool to room temperature. Once cooled, eat or refrigerate!
I prefer my pickle onions chilled on my Grilled Chicken Sandwich with Herbed Cheese and Pickled Onions because they add a crunchy and cool contrast to the creamy goat cheese and hot grilled chicken.
HOW TO GRILL OR BAKE YOUR CHICKEN
Grilled
I love using the grill for any kind of meat! The grill adds an extra depth of flavor that just elevates the flavors of the entire dish.
Start by preheating your grill or grill pan to medium high heat or if your grill has a temperature gage, try to get the grill to about 425°.
Slice your chicken breast in half and pound thin to make chicken cutlets. You can also buy chicken already sliced thin at the grocery store.
Season your chicken cutlets with a generous amount of garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Make sure to season your chicken cutlets on both sides!
Place your chicken cutlets on the grill, cooking for about 3-5 minutes on each side, depending on the heat of your grill. Grill until your chicken is cooked through. Do NOT move around your chicken until you are ready to flip because we want those beautiful charred grill marks!
Baked
Don’t have a grill or a grill pan? No problem! Baking your chicken for Grilled Chicken Sandwiches with Herbed Goat Cheese and Pickled Onions is just as delicious.
To bake your chicken, start by preheating your oven to 425°.
While the oven is preheating, line a rimmed baking sheet with foil for easy cleanup. You can also use a glass baking dish.
Slice your chicken breast in half and pound thin to make chicken cutlets. You can also buy chicken already sliced thin at the grocery store.
Season your chicken cutlets with a generous amount of garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Make sure to season your chicken cutlets on both sides!
Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes, or until cooked through. Cooking times will vary depending on the size and thickness of the chicken.
WHIPPED HERBY GOAT CHEESE
I’ve tried this recipe both by trying to spread just straight herb goat cheese, and whipping the herb goat cheese in a food processor. Let me tell you, whipping the goat cheese is the move.
By whipping the herb goat cheese, it adds a smooth and extra creamy component to your grilled chicken sandwich. It’s also way easier to spread on your ciabatta bread, trust me!
To whip the herb goat cheese, simply just add your goat cheese to a food processor and whip on low until smooth and creamy. You can add a touch of cream if you want your goat cheese to be more sauce-like.
If you are not a goat cheese fan, I encourage you to try it on this sandwich before you automatically count it out. The pickled onions cut through some of the funkiness that often comes with goat cheese.
Some great alternative cheeses you could use if you are not a huge goat cheese fan are garlic and herb boursin cheese or melted sharp white cheddar. Both would go great with the flavors of the garlicky grilled chicken, crispy ciabatta, buttery lettuce, and tart pickled onions and still add the level of creaminess that you need to elevate your sandwich.
HERBY GOAT CHEESE CHICKEN SANDWICH WITH PICKLED ONIONS
Ingredients
- 4 Large Chicken Breasts or 8 Thin Sliced Chicken Breast
- Garlic Powder
- Onion Powder
- Salt
- Black Pepper
- 1 Loaf Ciabatta Bread or 4 Ciabatta Buns
- 4 oz Herbed Goat Cheese
- Butter Lettuce
Pickled Onions
- ½ Large Onion Sliced
- 1 Clove of Garlic Peeled and Crushed
- 3 Tbsp Sugar
- 1 ½ Tbsp Salt
- ½ Tsp Peppercorns
- 1 Cup White Vinegar
Instructions
PICKLED ONIONS
- Slice ½ large onion to the thickness of your liking. Peel and smash 1 clove of garlic.
- To a small saucepan, add 3 Tbsp of white sugar, 1 ½ Tbsp of salt, ½ Tsp of black peppercorns, and 1 cup of white vinegar. Heat the mixture over medium heat and stir until sugar and salt is dissolved. Once the sugar and salt is dissolved, bring to a boil.
- Add sliced onions and crushed to a mason jar or glass storage container and pour the hot liquid over the onions, including the peppercorns.
- Let the onions and liquid cool to room temperature. Once cooled, refrigerate.
WHIPPED HERBY GOAT CHEESE
- Add your goat cheese to a food processor.
- Whip on low until smooth and creamy.
- *You can add a touch of cream if you want your goat cheese to be more sauce-like.*
CHICKEN
- Preheat your grill or grill pan to medium high heat or if your grill has a temperature gage, try to get the grill to about 425°.
- Slice your chicken breast in half and pound thin to make chicken cutlets. If you bought thin chicken cutlets at the grocery store, skip this step.
- Season both sides of your chicken cutlets with a generous amount of garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
- Place your chicken cutlets on the grill for about 3-5 minutes on each side, depending on the heat of your grill. Grill until your chicken is cooked through.
- While your chicken is cooking, toast your bread on the grill until warm.
ASSEMBLE SANDWICH
- To the bottom piece of ciabatta bread, add 2 grilled chicken cutlets, butter lettuce, and as many pickled onions as your heart desires.
- On the top piece of ciabatta bread, generously smear the whipped herb goat cheese.
- Put the top and bottom components together to complete your sandwich and enjoy!
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