Description
This Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt is a flavorful Panera Bread copycat sandwich featuring shredded rotisserie chicken, creamy avocado, smoky chipotle mayo, Gouda cheese, and a hint of fresh cilantro and Peppadew peppers, all toasted between soft garlic herb focaccia bread. Ready in just 16 minutes, it’s a spicy, creamy, and satisfying meal perfect for lunch or a quick dinner.
Ingredients
Bread
- 2 flat loaves of focaccia bread (garlic herb recommended)
Protein and Cheese
- 6 oz shredded rotisserie chicken
- 4 oz sliced Gouda cheese
Produce
- 1 avocado, sliced
- 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
- 1/4 cup Peppadew peppers, chopped (or sweet & hot cherry peppers)
Condiments & Others
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 6 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
- 2 tbsp water
Instructions
- Make the chipotle mayo: In a small bowl, combine the chopped chipotle peppers in adobo sauce with the mayonnaise. Stir thoroughly until well mixed, then set the spicy chipotle mayo aside.
- Prepare the bread: Slice each flat focaccia loaf into 4 equal pieces, yielding a total of 8 square slices. These will be the sandwich bases and tops.
- Spread sauce on bread: Generously spread the prepared chipotle mayo over each of the 8 slices, ensuring every piece is coated for maximum flavor.
- Assemble the sandwiches: On half of the slices (4 pieces), layer the Gouda cheese slices evenly. Then add avocado slices, shredded rotisserie chicken, chopped cilantro, and Peppadew peppers for a fresh, smoky, and slightly spicy filling.
- Top the sandwiches: Cover the filled slices with the remaining 4 mayo-spread bread slices to create the sandwich halves.
- Toast the sandwiches: Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Carefully place the sandwiches onto the hot skillet to begin toasting.
- Cook first side: Cook the sandwiches for 2 to 3 minutes until the bottom is golden and slightly crisp. Use a spatula to carefully flip each sandwich.
- Cook second side: Toast the second side for another 2 minutes until the bread is golden and cheese begins to melt.
- Steam sandwiches: Tilt the pan to pour in 2 tablespoons of water around (not on) the sandwiches, then immediately cover the skillet with a lid. Let the sandwiches steam for 1 minute to finish melting the cheese and keep them moist.
- Serve: Remove the lid and take the sandwiches out of the skillet. Serve warm and enjoy your Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt!
Notes
- You can substitute Peppadew peppers with sweet or hot cherry peppers based on your spice preference.
- Using rotisserie chicken saves time and adds great flavor, but cooked shredded chicken breast works as well.
- To add extra crunch, consider adding sliced red onions or pickles inside the sandwich.
- For a dairy-free version, swap the Gouda with a vegan cheese alternative.
- Adjust the number of chipotle peppers to control the heat level of the mayo.
- Prep Time: 8 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Category: Sandwich
- Method: Pan Toasting and Steaming
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 sandwich
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
