Description
Savory Italian chicken panini delivers a symphony of Mediterranean flavors between crispy, golden bread slices. Melted cheese, herb-marinated chicken, and zesty condiments create a perfect lunch that transports you to a charming Italian bistro.
Ingredients
Scale
Base Ingredients:
- 4 slices Italian bread
- 1 chicken breast, cooked and sliced lengthwise in half
Cheese & Filling Ingredients:
- 4 ounces (113 grams) low moisture, part skim mozzarella
- 2 tablespoons pesto
- 2 tablespoons red onion, slivered
- 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) roasted red peppers, thinly sliced
Cooking Ingredient:
- Cooking spray
Instructions
- Lavishly coat each bread slice with a vibrant layer of pesto, ensuring complete coverage for maximum flavor infusion.
- Meticulously arrange sliced chicken over the pesto-spread bread, creating an even foundation for the subsequent layers.
- Distribute crisp red onion slivers and roasted red pepper strips across the chicken, providing a colorful and tangy dimension.
- Sprinkle generous portions of creamy mozzarella cheese over the vegetables, allowing for optimal melting potential.
- Carefully place the remaining pesto-coated bread slice on top, creating a complete sandwich structure.
- Preheat the panini press to 375°F and lightly mist with cooking spray to prevent sticking and promote golden browning.
- Gently position the assembled sandwich into the heated press, ensuring balanced pressure for uniform toasting.
- Grill for approximately 4 minutes, rotating halfway through to achieve a perfectly crisp exterior and thoroughly melted interior.
- Remove when the bread turns golden brown and cheese becomes delightfully molten.
- Slice diagonally and serve immediately while maintaining maximum temperature and crispness.
Notes
- Choose a high-quality, flavorful pesto for an authentic Italian taste that elevates the entire sandwich.
- Slice chicken thinly and evenly to ensure quick, uniform heating and perfect texture in every bite.
- Grill the panini at medium-high heat to achieve a crispy golden-brown exterior without burning the bread.
- Swap mozzarella with provolone or fontina for different flavor profiles and potential lactose-free options.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 70mg