Description
This Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt is a flavorful Panera Bread copycat recipe featuring shredded rotisserie chicken, creamy avocado, smoky chipotle mayo, and melted gouda cheese served on garlic herb focaccia bread. Ready in just 16 minutes, it combines spicy, creamy, and savory elements for a satisfying grilled sandwich perfect for a quick lunch or dinner.
Ingredients
Sandwich Ingredients
- 2 flat loaves of focaccia bread (garlic herb recommended)
- 6 oz shredded rotisserie chicken
- 1 avocado, sliced
- 4 oz sliced gouda cheese
- 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
- 1/4 cup chopped Peppadew peppers (or sweet & hot cherry peppers)
Chipotle Mayo
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 6 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
- 2 tbsp water
Instructions
- Prepare chipotle mayo: In a small bowl, combine the chopped chipotle peppers in adobo sauce with mayonnaise. Stir thoroughly to blend the flavors and set aside.
- Slice bread: Cut each flat loaf of focaccia into 4 square pieces, yielding 8 total sandwich bases.
- Spread chipotle mayo: Evenly spread the prepared chipotle mayo over each slice of bread to add a creamy and spicy base layer.
- Assemble sandwiches: On half of the bread slices, layer sliced gouda cheese, avocado slices, shredded chicken, chopped cilantro, and Peppadew peppers.
- Top sandwiches: Cover each prepared half with the remaining slices of focaccia bread spread with chipotle mayo.
- Grill sandwiches: Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and carefully place the sandwiches in the pan.
- Cook first side: Grill for 2-3 minutes until the bread is golden and the cheese starts to melt, then carefully flip with a spatula.
- Cook second side: Grill the other side for an additional 2 minutes to toast evenly.
- Steam sandwiches: Tilt the skillet to the side and pour in 2 tablespoons of water. Cover the pan to let the sandwiches steam for 1 minute, ensuring the cheese melts completely and the filling is warmed through.
- Serve: Remove the cover and serve the warm, melty Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melts immediately.
Notes
- Use garlic herb focaccia for extra flavor; plain focaccia works as well.
- Adjust the number of chipotle peppers according to your preferred spice level.
- Steaming the sandwiches helps melt the cheese fully without burning the bread.
- Peppadew peppers provide a sweet and slightly spicy contrast, but you can substitute with other sweet-hot peppers.
- Leftover sandwiches can be reheated gently in a skillet with a lid to maintain moisture.
- Prep Time: 8 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Category: Sandwich
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
