BBQ Chicken Grilled Cheese

Golden and crispy, my BBQ chicken grilled cheese is a fun twist on a traditional grilled cheese sandwich, loaded up with a medley of mouthwatering morsels. Made with grilled chicken breast slathered in BBQ sauce, smoked mozzarella cheese, sweet red onion and fresh cilantro, all nestled between slices of rustic bread, this BBQ chicken grilled cheese recipe is all about the smoky-sweet flavor!

A grilled cheese sandwich with a deliciously smokey twist

I'm a total sucker for a good grilled cheese sandwich, friends.

Sure, I love a classic grilled cheese with American cheese on white bread, perhaps with tomato soup (ah...childhood...). But typically, I'll opt for something a little more gourmet, like my decadent spinach and artichoke grilled cheese, my gourmet grilled cheese, or my steak and mushroom grilled cheese.

And when I'm craving something like a BBQ chicken pizza (probably my second favorite pizza to enjoy after a more spicy, classic cast iron pizza), this BBQ chicken grilled cheese sandwich is the way I like to roll.

I just love the flavor of sweet-smoky BBQ sauce, chunks of juicy grilled chicken, not to mention that spicy-sweet bite from sliced red onions and a bright sprinkle of fresh cilantro—it's just flavor heaven for me!

This tasty sammy takes mere minutes to make and is packed with flavorful ingredients and smoky, cheesy goodness. All these delectable components are nestled between two slices of rustic bread that get golden and crispy on the outside, just like a classic grilled cheese.

So if a little twist on your usual grilled cheese sandwich sounds like fun, then my BBQ chicken grilled cheese is one for your recipe tin, just the thing to enjoy when something smoky, zesty and slightly indulgent is what you crave!

My recipe for BBQ chicken grilled cheese

To keep things simple, this recipe yields two full sandwiches, but you can easily double the recipe to make four sandwiches if feeding more people. Or, if you're anything like my husband and I, we'll enjoy the leftover ingredients the next day when we make two more grilled cheese sandwiches!

All you'll need for this tasty sandwich is a skinless and boneless chicken breast (you can use pre-made chicken breast for convenience, and I give steps for cooking below), some good-quality store-bought BBQ sauce, some rustic sliced bread like sour dough, smoked mozzarella (or you can use regular), plus red onion and cilantro.

Those ingredients together make for a really mouthwatering grilled cheese sandwich, loaded up with lots of zesty, smokey, sweet and savory flavor for something a little different!

Here's a sneak peek at my BBQ chicken grilled cheese sandwich recipe: (or just jump to the full recipe...)

1. To get started, I grill my chicken breast. Then, when cool enough to handle, I dice or cube it.
2. Next, I combine the chicken with the BBQ sauce to coat.
3. I then assemble the sandwiches by layering in some cheese, BBQ chicken, sliced red onion and cilantro, then add a touch more cheese. (My full process for assembling the sandwiches is described below, in the "Preparation" section)
4. Next, I heat up my cast iron (or other pan or skillet), add my sandwiches (or one sandwich, depending on space), and grill for a few moments on each side until crispy and golden-brown.
5. To serve, I cut the BBQ chicken grilled cheese sandwich in half and enjoy!

Recipe

BBQ Chicken Grilled Cheese

by Ingrid Beer

Print Recipe

This BBQ chicken grilled cheese sandwich is loaded with smoked mozzarella, grilled chicken, BBQ sauce, red onion and fresh cilantro!

Category: Sandwiches
Cuisine: American

Yield: 2 BBQ chicken grilled cheese sandwiches

Nutrition Info: 825 calories (per sandwich)

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 12 minutes (if also cooking chicken breast yourself)
Total time: 27 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 skinless, boneless chicken breast (or, you can use a pre-cooked chicken breast)
• Salt
• Black pepper
• Olive oil or avocado oil
• ¼ cup BBQ sauce
• 4 slices rustic-style bread such as sourdough
• 2 to 3 tablespoons softened butter
• 1 cup (heaping) shredded smoked mozzarella cheese
• ¼ small red onion, sliced thinly
• 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro leaves

Preparation:

1. Begin by gathering and prepping all of your ingredients according to the ingredient list above to have ready and organized for use.
2. If grilling your chicken breast yourself, sprinkle with some salt and pepper to season. Place a grill pan or skillet over medium heat, and drizzle in some oil. Once hot, grill or sear the chicken for a few minutes per side, until golden and cooked through. (If using a pre-cooked breast, skip this step.) Allow to cool a bit, then dice up.
3. Toss the diced chicken with the BBQ sauce, and set aside for a moment.
4. Place the 4 slices of bread in front of you, and butter one side of each piece. Flip two slices over so that the un-buttered sides are facing up.
5. Add about ¼ cup of grated smoked mozzarella cheese to each of the two pieces of bread. Then, add half of the chicken to each piece, then next some of the red onion and a sprinkle of cilantro. Add another ¼ cup of the cheese over top of each, then top each sandwich with a remaining slice of bread, buttered side up.
6. Heat a cast iron skillet or large non-stick pan over medium-low heat. Once nice and hot, add in one of the assembled sandwiches (or both, if they can fit), and allow to cook on that side for about 4 minutes (reduce the heat a little, if necessary), or until golden.
7. Flip the sandwich (or sandwiches), and cook for about 3 minutes or so on the second side.
8. Repeat with second sandwich, if needed. Then, cut the BBQ chicken grilled cheese sandwiches in half, and enjoy with favorite sides like chips, sweet potatoes wedges, or salad.

Tips & Tidbits for my BBQ chicken grilled cheese recipe:

• Pre-cooked chicken breast, or grill it yourself: To keep this recipe extra quick and easy, if you can find pre-cooked or pre-made grilled chicken breasts at your market, you can opt for that. Otherwise, simply season a chicken breast with salt and pepper, and use a grill pan or skillet to sear it for just a few moments, or until cooked through.
• Smoked mozzarella for added smoky flavor: I absolutely love smoked mozzarella here, as it adds even more smoky flavor. I typically get a ball of it, then shred/grate it myself. But if you can't find it in your market, you can sub regular whole milk mozzarella cheese, or even jack or white cheddar here—any cheese you like that's highly meltable.
• Fresh red onion and cilantro: Red onion and cilantro are classic BBQ chicken pizza parings, so I love to add those to this grilled cheese sandwich for zesty flavor. If you don't like red onion or cilantro, feel free to leave it off, or sub green onion for milder flavor.

Craving more cozy, decadent sandwich recipes to enjoy? Check out my recipe for Spinach and Artichoke Grilled Cheese, Steak and Mushroom Grilled Cheese, Gourmet Grilled Cheese, Southwest Sloppy Joes, or even my recipe for a Patty Melt, or my Roast Beef Sandwich with Cheddar Sauce recipe!

Cook's Note: This recipe was originally published in 2014, and has been updated with even more love!