When thinking about picnic sandwich ideas, you really can’t go past a good chicken sandwich. Chicken is such a versatile ingredient there is no end of sandwich ideas you can come up with.
Whether it’s a healthy chicken wrap you lean towards or the indulgence of flavourful bbq chicken sandwich you favour, we’ve rounded up 20 unique and varied chicken sandwich ideas for your next picnic.
You Might Also Like: If you want a low carb bread alternative for your chicken sandwich ideas, try our light & fluffy Keto Cloud Bread recipe.
Chicken Sandwich Recipes
Take your pick from healthy grilled chicken breast sandwiches to the robust flavours of buffalo or barbecue chicken sandwiches.
There's an array of chicken salad recipes for sandwiches to choose from, and we've even got your favourite chicken salads made into wraps and sandwiches for complete picnic portability- think chicken Caesar sandwich. There's a chicken sandwich recipe here to suit all tastes.
Fig and Chicken Baguette Sandwich
Rarely will you come across a more elegant chicken sandwich than this fig and chicken baguette.
Take slices of lightly smoked chicken breast (we give you the know-how for that in the recipe - it's easier than you think), or even grilled or roasted chicken slices. Layer with sweet fresh figs, salty manchego cheese and crisp baby spinach on a crusty baguette for a simple yet sophisticated picnic sandwich.
Pair with a chilled bottle of Prosecco for a romantic picnic or slice it up for a classy sharing baguette.
Garlic Yogurt Chicken Salad Sandwich
For an incredibly flavourful take on an old chicken salad sandwich, this garlic yoghurt chicken salad recipe on picnic worthy ciabatta bread (perfect for combating soggy sandwich issues) takes it up a notch.
Sundried tomatoes give a robust flavour profile, and pepperoncini peppers add just a little extra punch. Team with crispy arugula for an excellent chicken picnic sandwich any time of year.
Chicken Caprese Panini
People often dismiss hot sandwiches for a picnic, but I think they are great, especially for a winter picnic. We give you all the tips for keeping food warm for a picnic here.
The beauty of this chicken Caprese panini is you can have it toasted or fresh - the choice is yours. Grilled chicken, fresh tomatoes and mozzarella, crusty bread with basil oil, and a balsamic drizzle - this is a delicious chicken sandwich either way.
Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches
The beauty of this chicken sandwich lies wholly in the chicken filling. The deliciously tender shredded buffalo chicken is ready in around 10 minutes with an instant pot and can be loaded onto any sandwich of your choice.
Pop it between bread, load it into wraps or tortillas, or onto crusty baguettes or buns. Shredded buffalo chicken is a fabulous sandwich filling for DIY picnic sandwich platters which means less work for you at home.
Grilled Chicken Sandwiches with Fresh Mozzarella and Tomatoes
For another version of the Caprese salad sandwich, this chicken breast sandwich has the usual suspects – grilled chicken, beefsteak tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, fragrant fresh basil and a drizzle of balsamic and extra virgin olive oil on toasted rolls.
For a little extra flavour, this sandwich includes smoky roasted red peppers for a simple, healthy and delicious picnic sandwich.
Avocado Chicken Wraps
These delightfully light and breezy chicken wraps are perfect for a light picnic sandwich or cut into portions for a shared sandwich platter.
With flavours fit for a summer picnic menu – avocado, shredded chicken, cherry tomatoes, cilantro, a spritz of lime, and a blend of Mexican spices – whip these picnic wraps up in around 10 minutes for an easy and delicious chicken sandwich option.
Curried Chicken Salad Sandwiches
Chicken salad is a fantastic sandwich filling in that it has so many possible variations you can do almost anything with it.
This curried chicken salad sandwich is an incredibly flavorful take on the classic. It's also a healthier version as it is heavy on the yoghurt with only a hint of mayo.
Paired with avocado, tomato, and red onion, this sandwich can be made in advance and bundled up for a picnic or bring the chicken salad and ingredients for a DIY sandwich spread.
Chicken Cutlet Sandwich with Crispy Bacon, Avocado and Pesto
There is no greater sandwich match than chicken and bacon. Make it crumbed chicken and you're really onto a winner.
This Chicken Cutlet Sandwich has crispy bacon, ripe avocados and pesto on Ciabatta bread for a hearty chicken sandwich you can serve hot or cold.
Chicken Pesto Panini Recipe
Chicken with pesto, sun-dried tomatoes and fresh mozzarella, a classic that is hard to beat.
Another versatile sandwich that can be served toasted or fresh and you can even play around with your flavours. Sub traditional basil pesto for a red pepper pesto or even an olive tapenade. Sun-dried tomatoes for slow-roasted tomatoes for a sweeter more subtle flavour.
The basis of the sandwich is the same but with countless variations.
Chicken Caesar Salad Wraps
There is nothing better than taking a favourite salad and making it more portable - turn it into a wrap or sandwich. Think chicken Caesar Sandwich. Yep, it's a thing, and it's even better in a wrap.
Chicken Caesar salad in a wrap is what picnic portability is all about. So easy to make, this recipe calls for chicken cooked in an instant pot, but you can also sub with grilled chicken breast or leftover roasted chicken.
Chicken Birria Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Taking its cue from traditional Mexican street food, this chicken sandwich is a whole new spin on picnic worthy sandwiches.
Birria is a traditional Mexican dish often served as street food. Typically it is made with goat, slowly cooked in a rich consommé, and shredded. Birria can also be made with beef and, as is the case with this delicious sandwich, chicken works perfectly well using the same method for tender shredded meat.
Similar to a traditional "torta" style Mexican sandwich which uses a style of bread called Bolillos, you can make this sandwich with any robust roll that will hold up to the consommé.
Thai Chicken Wraps with Peanut Sauce
Add an Asian twist to your chicken sandwich repertoire. Grilled chicken, cucumber, bean sprout and carrot salad, dressed with a spicy peanut sauce wrapped up in a flour tortilla. A fantastic chicken sandwich for an Asian themed picnic.
Team it with an Asian style coleslaw and some rice paper rolls for a light and easy Asian picnic feast.
Cobb Salad Sandwich
Another example of taking a favourite salad and making it portable. This time we take the classic and tasty Cobb Salad and turn it into a convenient sandwich.
Everything you love about a Cobb Salad wrapped up into a tidy picnic-ready roll.
Instant Pot Pulled Chicken Sandwiches
BBQ Pulled Chicken is amazingly juicy and full of great flavour so it's no wonder it makes a great sandwich filling.
This barbecue chicken sandwich recipe gives you quick and easy tips for preparing the pulled chicken in under 15 minutes using an instant pot. Team with coleslaw for a classic sandwich or mix it up with different salad fillings.
Another sandwich filling that makes a great addition to a DIY sandwich platter.
Chicken Salad with Grapes, Strawberries, and Apples
If you prefer a sweeter chicken salad for sandwiches with some extra crunch, this recipe has it all.
We love a sandwich that is really simple as there is no real hard and fast rules with the ingredients. Use any chicken you like - shredded instant pot chicken, leftover rotisserie chicken or cooked breast.
This recipe has grapes, cranberries and strawberries with apples and almonds for crunch, but feel free to swap the fruits based on the season.
Want a healthier version, use yoghurt instead of mayo.
Italian Inspired Chicken Bacon Sandwich
We did say chicken and bacon was a sandwich match made in heaven. This chicken and bacon sandwich is perhaps a little more decadent than most. Loaded with chicken and lots of bacon, it also has big helpings of Italian style cheese - freshly grated parmesan and provolone cheese with Italian seasoning.
You can eat this sandwich cold but it is best toasted in the oven to heat the fillings and melt the cheese. Simply wrap in foil straight from the oven to transport to your picnic.
Chicken Salad with Grapes and Pecans
Sweet, crunchy and aromatic, this chicken salad is possibly more finessed than some of its counterparts.
While not essential, this recipe calls for chicken poached in an aromatic broth of vegetables and herbs. Of course, plain grilled or rotisserie chicken is fine. Mixed into a creamy dressing with grapes and pecans, you have a chicken salad that works with any type of bread you choose. A great choice for a romantic picnic menu.
BBQ Mustard Chicken Tenders Sandwiches
I like to think of this sandwich as a kind of chicken burger without the fuss. Chicken tenders tossed in a mustard dressing and grilled on the BBQ make the basis for this sandwich. Simply add your favourite salad additions such as lettuce, onion and tomatoes.
Interestingly, this recipe uses a toasted English muffin but any sturdy or crusty roll will do.
Bacon and Bleu Grilled Chicken Sandwich
Again, chicken and bacon take the stage but this time with the addition of blue cheese for a seriously good chicken sandwich.
This recipe gives you tips for brining chicken before cooking to help you achieve the most tender, juicy chicken every time - it's so simple and takes minutes of your time.
Pesto Chicken Wrap
In the realm of wraps, this is about as hearty as it gets. Filled to the brim with ingredients, this pesto chicken wrap has loads of veggies for crunch and flavour, feta, olives and pine nuts.
This recipe also incorporates rice into the wrap to make it a very substantial chicken sandwich.