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Sometimes a simple grilled cheese just won’t do! When that’s the case, pull out the panini press and whip up this bruschetta chicken panini! Packed with all of the flavors of the classic italian appetizer, this crispy sandwich is full of fresh tomatoes and basil, with a hidden surprise of pesto. And plus, it still gives you that great cheese pull we all look forward to.
Bruschetta
In case you’ve never experienced the deliciousness that is bruschetta, (you are really missing out by the way!), it is a classic Italian appetizer. In its simplest form, bruschetta can be made by grilling bread, rubbing it with a fresh clove of garlic, and topping it with a drizzle of olive oil. The most common way you may see it served, though, included a delicious tomato relish, consisting of diced tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, fresh basil, and maybe even some parmesan cheese.
It is really a perfect appetizer! But when I’m hungry for lunch, I want something a little bit heartier. Why not take the flavors of this simple antipasto a turn it into a sandwich! Dice up some tomatoes, basil, red onion, and garlic. Drizzle it with a little olive oil and balsamic vinegar and you’ve got a simple topping for your sandwich.
Panini Time!
What I love about paninis is that they are like a grilled cheese without boundaries. You still get the gooey cheese, but it’s also not against the rules to put in anything else you want! In this case, we are taking a trip to Italy, and it only takes a few ingredients.
- Sliced chicken breasts
- Homemade bruschetta
- Fresh basil leaves
- Sundried tomato pesto (or regular pesto)
- Mayo
- CHEESE! I used provolone because it’s a great melting cheese
Layer all of that up on a long bread roll and pop it on a panini press for just a few minutes, and voila! Now as much as I love a good panini, a panini press is a bit of a clunky piece of kitchen equipment. A good alternative is to heat up two skillets. Place the panini in one skillet and place the second skillet on top (weighing it down with a large can or jar is needed). You get the same effect of a pressed sandwich, with th crispy bread and melted cheese.
Lunch doesn’t have to be boring! just a few ingredients and you can elevate even the simplest sandwich into something flavorful and delicious.
Want some more quick lunch recipes?
Try whipping some of these up to liven up lunch!
- 30 Minute Miso Ramen Soup
- Greek Turkey Burger
- Chicken Caprese Salad With Avocado
- Roast Beef Sandwich With Herb Horseradish Sauce
- Asian Chicken Salad
Bruschetta Chicken Panini
Ingredients
Bruschetta
- 1 cup vine ripened tomatoes diced
- ¼ cup red onion diced
- ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
- 2 tbsp minced fresh basil
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 cloved garlic minced
- salt and pepper
Paninis
- 4 kaiser or focaccia rolls
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- salt and pepper
- 4 tbsp sundried tomato pesto or regular pesto
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup fresh basil leaves
- 8 slices provolone cheese
Instructions
Bruschetta
- In a small bowl, mix together all of the bruschetta ingredients and season to taste with salt and pepper. Set aside.
Panini
- Season chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Grill or saute in a pan over medium heat until cooked through, about 4 minutes per side
- Let chicken rest 5-10 minutes then thinly slice.
- Set a panini press to medium heat.
- Split each roll in half. Spread 1 tbsp of pesto on the top half of each roll.
- On the bottom half of each roll, spread on 1 tbsp of mayo and ¼ of the basil leaves. Place ¼ of the sliced chicken on the basil, and top with 3-4 tbsp of bruschetta.
- Top the chicken/bruschetta with 2 sliced of provolone cheese, and place the top half of the roll on top. Repeat for the other 3 sandwiches.
- Place each sandwich on the panini press and grill for 4 minutes, or until the roll is toasted and the cheese is melted.
- Alternatively, heat up to heavy bottomed skillet over medium-high heat. Place the sandwiches in one skillet, and place the other skillet on top (feel free to weigh it down with a heavy can). Cook for 3-4 minutes.
- Slice in half and serve immediately.
