Description
These BBQ Chicken Grilled Cheese Sandwiches are a delicious and satisfying meal. Shredded roasted chicken is tossed in a smoky BBQ sauce and layered with Havarti cheese between slices of buttery, garlic-parsley bread, then grilled until golden brown and melty.
Ingredients
Scale
For the BBQ Chicken:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 1/2 cups shredded, cooked chicken (rotisserie chicken works well)
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 cup BBQ sauce (your favorite brand)
For the Garlic Butter Bread:
- 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons fresh parsley, minced
- 12 slices sourdough bread (or other sturdy white bread)
For the Sandwiches:
- 12 slices Havarti cheese
Instructions
-
Prepare BBQ Chicken:
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add the thinly sliced red onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 2 minutes.
- Add the minced garlic and cook, stirring constantly, for about 30 seconds, until fragrant.
- Add the shredded cooked chicken, smoked paprika, Worcestershire sauce, and BBQ sauce to the skillet.
- Stir well to combine. Cook, stirring occasionally, until everything is heated through, about 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
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Make Garlic Butter:
- In a medium bowl, combine the melted butter, minced garlic, and minced fresh parsley. Stir well to combine.
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Assemble Sandwiches:
- Lay out the 12 slices of bread on a clean work surface.
- Brush one side of each slice of bread with the garlic butter mixture.
- Flip the bread slices over so the buttered sides are facing down.
- On six of the bread slices, place one slice of Havarti cheese.
- Divide the BBQ chicken mixture evenly among the six cheese-topped bread slices.
- Top the chicken with the remaining six slices of Havarti cheese (one slice per sandwich).
- Place the remaining six slices of bread on top of the cheese, buttered-side up, to complete the sandwiches.
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Grill Sandwiches:
- Heat a large non-stick skillet (or griddle) over medium heat.
- Place the assembled sandwiches in the skillet (you may need to work in batches).
- Cook for 3-5 minutes per side, or until the bread is golden brown and toasted, and the cheese is melted and gooey. Reduce the heat to medium-low after flipping to ensure the cheese melts completely without burning the bread. Press down gently on the sandwiches with a spatula while they cook.
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Serve
Notes
- Chicken: You can use leftover roasted chicken, rotisserie chicken, or quickly cook chicken breasts or thighs for this recipe.
- BBQ Sauce: Use your favorite brand of BBQ sauce.
- Cheese: Havarti cheese is recommended for its creamy texture and mild flavor, but you can substitute other cheeses, such as cheddar, Monterey Jack, or provolone.
- Bread: Sourdough bread is recommended for its tangy flavor and sturdy texture, but you can use other sturdy white breads.
- Serving Suggestions: Serve these BBQ chicken grilled cheese sandwiches with a side of coleslaw, potato salad, or your favorite chips.