It’s hard to resist a classic sandwich that elegantly combines grilled chicken and crispy bacon.
This Grilled Chicken Club Sandwich Recipe is a mouthwatering contrast of flavors and textures and a versatile sandwich for all occasions.
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Chicken sandwiches are always a winner, especially for picnics. This classic is a hero of the sandwich world.
Serve it in halves with a side of chips. Add potato salad or coleslaw for a hearty meal, or cut it into triangles for easy-to-eat yet satisfying finger food.
I’ll guide you through the easy steps to create this mouthwatering Chicken Club that will become your favorite go-to sandwich.
What Makes This Recipe Great
- Classic Appeal: The combination of ingredients in a club sandwich is timeless and universally appealing.
- Easy to Make: It’s relatively easy to prepare and assemble, so you can whip it up at the last minute.
- Perfect for Leftovers: This is a great sandwich to make if you have leftover grilled chicken or cooked bacon.
- Customization: You can easily adjust the ingredients to suit your preferences or dietary restrictions.
- Versatile: This sandwich can be adapted for various occasions – Serve it as a whole sandwich or cut into triangles for finger food.
Ingredient Notes
- Boneless, skinless chicken breast or chicken tenders – you can use leftover rotisserie chicken.
- Bacon
- Your favorite bread (toasted) – you can use white, wholemeal, rye, or sourdough, but bear in mind the height and layers of the sandwich. You need bread that will hold up to the fillings but not be so dense or crusty it makes the sandwich difficult to eat.
- Lettuce leaves
- Large ripe tomato
- Sharp cheddar or Swiss cheese
- Mayonnaise
- Dijon mustard
- Salt and black pepper
- Oil for cooking
See my recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements and notes.
Recipe Variations and Substitutions
- Chicken: You can use leftover roast or rotisserie chicken for a faster sandwich.
- Avocado: Add avocado for extra creaminess and flavor.
- Club Sauce: I add Dijon mustard to the mayonnaise for extra flavor and tang. You can add any flavor profile, from chili to herbs or lemon zest.
- Different Cheese: Experiment with different types of cheese, such as pepper jack, gouda, or mozzarella, to change the flavor profile and texture.
Step by Step Instructions
Step 1: Season the chicken with salt and pepper.
Step 2: Heat the olive oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Add the chicken breast and cook for about 6-7 minutes on each side until cooked through and the chicken has a golden color.
Remove the chicken from the pan and let it rest for a few minutes before slicing it into thin strips.
Step 3: In the same pan, cook the bacon until it’s crispy. Remove the cooked bacon and place on paper towels to remove excess grease.
Step 4: Make the Club Sauce: In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise and Dijon mustard. Stir well to combine. Adjust the mustard to your taste preference.
Assemble the Club Sandwich
Step 5: Toast the bread slices until golden brown. You can toast both sides on a griddle pan to add toasted stripes to the outside of the bread. Doing it this way also keeps the bread a little more pliable, which makes it easier to eat.
Step 6: Take one slice of toast and spread it generously with the club sauce.
Step 7: Place two lettuce leaves, chicken slices, bacon, cheese, and tomato slices on the sauced bread.
Step 8: Place another slice of toast on top and repeat the process: sauce, lettuce, chicken and bacon slices, tomato and cheese slices.
Finish with the last slice of toast.
Step 9: Slice the sandwich diagonally into four triangles, securing the layers of each triangle with toothpicks or skewers. Or, cut in half and wrap the entire sandwich with greaseproof paper and string for easy transport.
Tips for Club Sandwich Success
- Choose Bread Wisely: When picking your bread for the sandwich, choose a sturdy, slightly pliable option like white, wholemeal, rye, or light sourdough. Avoid overly crusty bread, which can make eating the sandwich more challenging.
- Toast the Bread Right: Toast the bread to your preferred level of crispiness, but if using dense artisanal bread, only lightly toast it to enhance its structural integrity without making it too hard to bite into. Using a griddle pan to toast the bread makes it visually appealing and keeps it more pliable, which makes it easier to eat. If you want extra crispy, brush a little butter or olive oil on the outside before toasting on a pan (don’t do this if using the toaster).
- Layering Matters: When assembling the sandwich, how you layer the ingredients balances flavors and textures. Place the lettuce at the bottom to prevent the bread from becoming soggy from the tomatoes and sauces – this is one of my essential tips for avoiding soggy sandwiches.
- Cut with Care: When cutting the sandwich into triangles or rectangles, use a sharp knife to ensure the layers stay intact. You can also use toothpicks or skewers to hold the sandwich together if it’s tall.
- Sides: Serve your chicken club sandwich with potato chips or french fries and a pickle. Coleslaw or potato salad also make great accompaniments to a club sandwich.
Related Recipes
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Handy Sandwich Essentials
Classic Grilled Chicken Club Sandwich
Ingredients
- 1 chicken breast or chicken tenders - skinless
- 4 slices bacon
- 3 slices bread - toasted (white, wholemeal, rye or sourdough)
- 4 lettuce leaves
- 1 large ripe tomato - sliced
- 2 slices sharp cheddar or Swiss cheese
- 2 tbsp mayonnaise
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- Salt and black pepper - to taste
- 1 tsp Oil for cooking
Instructions
Cook the Chicken
- Season the chicken with salt and pepper.
- Heat the olive oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Add the chicken breast and cook for about 6-7 minutes on each side until cooked through and the chicken has a golden color.
- Remove the chicken from the pan and let it rest for a few minutes before slicing it into thin strips.
Cook the Bacon
- In the same pan, cook the bacon until it’s crispy. Remove the cooked bacon and place on paper towels to remove excess grease.
Prepare the Club Sauce
- In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise and Dijon mustard. Stir well to combine. Adjust the mustard to your taste preference.
Assemble the Club Sandwich
- Toast the bread slices until golden brown. You can toast both sides on a griddle pan to add toasted stripes to the outside of the bread. Doing it this way also keeps the bread a little more pliable, which makes it easier to eat.
- Take one slice of toast and spread it generously with the club sauce.
- Place two lettuce leaves, chicken slices, bacon, cheese, and tomato slices on the sauced bread.
- Place another slice of toast on top and repeat the process: sauce, lettuce, chicken and bacon slices, tomato and cheese slices.
- Finish with the last slice of toast.
- Slice the sandwich diagonally into four triangles, securing the layers of each triangle with toothpicks or skewers. Or, cut in half and wrap the entire sandwich with greaseproof paper and string for easy transport.
Notes
- Chicken: You can use leftover roast or rotisserie chicken for a faster sandwich.
- Avocado: Add avocado for extra creaminess and flavor.
- Club Sauce: I add Dijon mustard to the mayonnaise for extra flavor and tang. You can add any flavor profile, from chili to herbs or lemon zest. Or you can use straight mayonnaise.
- Different Cheese: Experiment with different types of cheese, such as pepper jack, gouda, or mozzarella, to change the flavor profile and texture.
- Choose Bread Wisely: When picking your bread for the sandwich, choose a sturdy, slightly pliable option like white, wholemeal, rye, or light sourdough. Avoid overly crusty bread, which can make eating the sandwich more challenging.
- Toast the Bread Right: Toast the bread to your preferred level of crispiness, but if using dense artisanal bread, only lightly toast it to enhance the structural integrity without making it too hard to bite into. Using a griddle pan to toast the bread makes it visually appealing and keeps it more pliable, which makes it easier to eat. If you want extra crispy, brush a little butter or olive oil on the outside before toasting on a pan (don’t do this if using the toaster).
- Layering Matters: When assembling the sandwich, how you layer the ingredients balances flavors and textures. Place the lettuce at the bottom to prevent the bread from becoming soggy from the tomatoes and sauces – this is one of my essential tips for avoiding soggy sandwiches.
- Cut with Care: When cutting the sandwich into triangles or rectangles, use a sharp knife to ensure the layers stay intact. You can also use toothpicks or skewers to hold the sandwich together if it’s tall.
- Sides: Serve your chicken club sandwich with potato chips or french fries and a pickle. Coleslaw or potato salad also make great accompaniments to a club sandwich.
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