Chicken Caprese Sandwich

Name: Chicken Caprese Sandwich
Prep time: 35 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 50 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar; 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil; 1 teaspoon honey; 1 garlic clove- minced; 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt; 1/2 teaspoon onion powder; 2, 4 ounce boneless chicken breasts; 2 rolls or 1 large one (a demi baguette, Italian, ciabatta , Kaiser rolls all work); 4 tablespoons pesto- divided; 4 ounces mozzarella cheese; 2 thick slices of tomato; Drizzle of balsamic glaze

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This Chicken Caprese Sandwich is the BEST! It's healthy, filling, and bursting with flavor. A chewy demi baguette is loaded with homemade pesto, balsamic glazed chicken, juicy tomatoes, and mozzarella for a perfect meal for two!

chicken caprese sandwich cut in half being held by a hand.

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The Best Chicken Caprese Sandwich
Why This Recipe Works
Key Ingredients In A Chicken Caprese Sandwich
How To Make A Chicken Caprese Sandwich
What Kind Of Cheese Do You Use In Caprese?
Recipe Variations
Expert Tips
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Recipes
Did you make this recipe?
Chicken Caprese Sandwich

The Best Chicken Caprese Sandwich

This is the BEST chicken caprese sandwich recipe out there! It's easy, simple, made with just 6 main ingredients, but is absolutely packed with flavor.

You'll need time to marinate the chicken breast, but if done ahead of time, this sandwich takes 15 minutes to cook and assemble. It's great to serve at a lunch party or for a light dinner.

You can make it on a gluten free roll if needed or even skip the chicken and make a vegetarian sandwich.

Pair with a caprese salad appetizer to really drive home the flavor profile, or sweet potato fries and fruit salad for a perfect small dinner party meal. This recipe is easy, healthy, and always a hit with guests!

Why This Recipe Works

It's easy: Cut your bread, layer it up, and toast until golden. That's it!
5 main ingredients: You only need 5 simple ingredients to assemble it!
Healthy and filling: Not only is it delicious, but with over __ grams of protein per serving you'll be full and satisfied
Loaded with flavor: This sandwich has homemade pesto, tomatoes, and balsamic!
Vegetarian option too: Skip the chicken and add an extra slice of mozzarella cheese

Key Ingredients In A Chicken Caprese Sandwich

*full ingredients list and measurements can be found in recipe card below*

ingredients for a caprese chicken sandwich labeled with black and white text boxes.

Bread: I used a demi baguette, but you could also use sourdough bread, ciabatta bread, or even your favorite sandwich bread
Chicken: For this, I prefer to use seared, marinated chicken breast. You could also use store-bought chicken to save time
Pesto: Homemade pesto is preferable, but store bought is a great time saver!
Tomatoes: For this sandwich, I think that beefsteak tomatoes are the best. However, plum, roma, or even sun-dried tomatoes will work!
Mozzarella: I prefer to buy the log style mozzarella and slice it into thick rings. You could also use deli-slices if you prefer.

How To Make A Chicken Caprese Sandwich

1. Marinate the chicken

In a small bowl, whisk up the ingredients for the marinade
Place 2, 4 ounce chicken breasts into a Ziploc bag and pour the marinade over
Let the chicken marinate for at least 30 minutes or up to overnight in the fridge

balsamic marinade for chicken in a white bowl.

chicken breasts marinating in a plastic bag.

2. Cook the chicken

Heat a non-stick skillet over medium/low heat
Once hot, place the marinated chicken into the pan and cook for 3-4 minutes a side, or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F
When the chicken is cooked through, take it out of the pan and set aside on a plate

marinated chicken breasts cooked in a cast iron pan.

pesto and mozzarella slices on a toasted demi baguette.

open faced chicken caprese sandwich on a wooden cutting board.

3. Assemble the sandwich

Toast your roll if desired
Once toasted, smear 1 tablespoon of pesto on the inside of each half of the roll
Layer on the sliced mozzarella, chicken, tomato, and a drizzle of balsamic glaze
Place the other half of the roll on top and serve

What Kind Of Cheese Do You Use In Caprese?

Traditionally, caprese salad is made with mozzarella cheese. For this sandwich I like to use thick mozzarella slices, but you can use the deli sliced mozzarella.

If you don't like mozzarella, you can use provolone, swiss, or cheddar if you prefer.

Recipe Variations

I prefer to keep this chicken caprese sandwich classic, but if you want to switch it up here's some ideas:

Vegetarian: Skip the chicken and just add more cheese!
Sun dried tomatoes: Instead of fresh tomatoes, try it with sun-dried
Gluten free: Make this sandwich on your favorite gluten free roll
Melted cheese: Place the mozzarella on the bread and broil for 2-3 minutes to melt the cheese before adding chicken and tomatoes
Additions: Add some crispy bacon or avocado on it

Expert Tips

Marinate the chicken breast: In order to impart the most flavor I like to marinate the chicken at least 30 minutes before I cook it
Save time: Make this with store-bought chicken and pre-made pesto to save some time!
Fresh or toasted: You can enjoy this chicken caprese sandwich fresh or toast it to melt the cheese
Enjoy immediately: This sandwich isn't a good one to make ahead of time, it's best if you enjoy right after making it

chicken caprese sandwich cut in half on a wooden board facing the camera.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a caprese chicken sandwich healthy?

Yes, I think it's a healthy and well balanced meal. You've got carbs from the bread, protein from the chicken, and healthy fats from the cheese.
Add some berries on the side for fiber and you have a healthy, hunger crushing meal.

What goes good with a caprese sandwich?

I recommend serving your sandwich with fresh cut veggies, fruit salad, or sweet potato fries!

How should I store leftovers?

This caprese chicken sandwich is best enjoyed fresh, but you can keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 2 days.

Can I double the recipe?

Sure! The recipe below is sized to serve two people, but feel free to double or triple as needed if you're serving more guests.

three halves of a turkey pesto sandwich stacked on top of each other on parchment paper. — Turkey Pesto Sandwich

burrata caprese salad on a wooden platter with fresh basil and a drizzle of balsamic. — Burrata Caprese Salad

Did you make this recipe?

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