Pimento Cheese Grilled Chicken Sandwiches.
These pimento cheese chicken sandwiches are such a delicious treat! Tender, juicy chicken, a buttery brioche bun and melty pimento cheese. Major flavor!!
It’s May!!
That means this week it’s time to enjoy all the Kentucky Derby recipes. Give me all the pimento cheese!
This pimento cheese grilled chicken sandwich is so juicy, tender and absolutely PACKED with flavor. The chicken is charred and smoky, topped with pimento cheese that melts right off the toasty brioche bun.
Talk about delicious.
!!!!!!
I love my classic pimento cheese recipe so much! It’s so incredibly simple and I love that it makes a big batch. And that it can easily be made ahead of time.
Pimento cheese is such a versatile spread. We love it as a dip with pretzels or crudite. I like to put it on burgers, tacos and more. Plus, you can use as little or as much as you’d like!
To make this recipe, I marinate the chicken first. I use my classic olive oil, balsamic and garlic marinade. You can even do this part overnight so the chicken is extra flavorful!
That is the greatest part of this whole thing. While the sandwich is so incredibly good, both of the main components can be made ahead of time and combined when you’re ready to eat. Which means it comes together super fast.
I make a few other sandwiches like this that we really enjoy. My grilled buffalo chicken and grilled chicken caesar are two of them, and they are one of the only ways I like to eat grilled chicken sandwiches. They taste like restaurant quality!
The key is flavorful marinade, a toasty buttery bun and some sort of topping. Like slaw or cheese or sauce.
Anyway!
Once the chicken is finished, I throw a dollop of pimento cheese on top and close the lid. Just for a minute or two, because you don’t want it sliding off and melting all over the grates.
The pimento cheese gets super melty in the best way possible. The chicken gets placed on a toasty golden bun and it’s ready!
I like a few pieces of lettuce on this sandwich for a refreshing crunch. You can also add some sliced tomatoes or even red onion. Whatever you like!
Um, yes please! Making this constantly.
Pimento Cheese Grilled Chicken Sandwiches
Pimento Cheese Grilled Chicken Sandwiches
Ingredients
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried italian seasoning
- kosher salt and pepper
- 4 brioche buns, for serving
- butter lettuce leaves, for serving
pimento cheese
- 12 ounces sharp white cheddar cheese, freshly grated
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 4 ounces pimentos, drained
- ⅓ cup mayonnaise
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- kosher salt and pepper
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives, for topping
Instructions
- As a note, I like to use thin-sliced chicken breasts for this, because it’s what I prefer to bite into. You can use 4 large chicken breasts or 4 thin chicken breasts - use what you like! If you only have 2 large chicken breasts, you can also slice them lengthwise to make 4 pieces.
- Place the chicken in a dish or resealable bag to marinate. Whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, dijon, garlic, italian seasoning and a big pinch of salt and pepper. Pour the marinade over the chicken and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or even overnight.
- Remove the chicken from the fridge about 30 minutes before grilling. At this time, I like to prep the pimento cheese. You can make it ahead of time and store it in the fridge too.
- Preheat the grill to high and let it heat for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Remove the chicken from the marinade, letting the excess drip back into the dish. Place the chicken on the grill and grill for about 3 to 5 minutes per side (depending on thickness), until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. Right before it’s finished, top it with a spoonful or two of pimento cheese. Close the grill for another 1 to 2 minutes, so it gets soft and starts to melt. Keep an eye on it because you don’t want the pimento cheese falling into the grill.
- Remove the chicken and let it rest for a few minutes. I also like to grill the brioche buns too!
pimento cheese
- Freshly grate the cheddar cheese and set about 4 ounces of it aside.
- Combine the cream cheese, drained pimentos, remaining white cheddar, mayo, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika and a pinch of salt and pepper in a food processor. Pulse and blend until combined and somewhat whipped - you don’t want to overwhip it. I pulse for about a minute off and on until it appears blended but not 100% smooth.
- Remove the pimento cheese from the processor and place it in a bowl. Stir in the remaining white cheddar. At this point you can store it in the fridge for a few days.
Did you make this recipe?
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I appreciate you so much!
How is this so GOOD?!
2 Comments on “Pimento Cheese Grilled Chicken Sandwiches.”
Made these for extended family tonight and everyone loved it! Will definitely be making again.
Jess!! We LOVED this recipe! Even my kids who are picky eaters devoured it. I’ll be keeping this recipe around for sure and can’t wait to make it again! Thanks so much for yet another delicious recipe. You’re the best <3