🥑 Not Your Average Sandwich: A Gourmet Grilled Favorite
Elevate your lunchtime or weeknight dinner with this Ultimate Crispy Chicken, Avocado, and Cheese Melt. This is far beyond the classic grilled cheese; it’s a perfectly balanced, multi-layered masterpiece. It features thick, buttery toasted bread encasing tender shredded chicken, creamy melted cheese, cool slices of avocado, and fresh spinach and tomato. The secret is grilling the sandwich slowly in butter to achieve that deep golden-brown crust and ensuring the cheese is perfectly melted, creating that desirable, mouth-watering drip you see in the photo.
📝 Ingredients You’ll Need
For the Sandwich:
- 4 slices Thick-Cut Sourdough or Brioche Bread.
- 2 tablespoons Unsalted Butter, softened (for grilling).
- 1 1/2 cups Cooked Chicken Breast, shredded or thinly sliced.
- 4-6 slices Provolone, Gruyère, or White Cheddar Cheese.
- 1 ripe Avocado, sliced.
- 1/2 cup Fresh Spinach leaves.
- 4 Cherry Tomatoes, sliced (or two slices of a large tomato).
- Mayonnaise or Pesto (optional, for spreading).
- Salt and Black Pepper, to taste.
Optional Extras for Flavor:
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder (to mix with the softened butter).
🔪 Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow these steps for the perfect golden crust and gooey, melted filling.
1. Prepare the Ingredients
- If using shredded chicken, ensure it is warmed slightly. Season the chicken lightly with salt and pepper.
- If using a spread like pesto or mayonnaise, lightly coat one side of each bread slice.
2. Assemble the Sandwiches
- Take two slices of bread. On one slice, place two cheese slices, then the shredded chicken, followed by the fresh spinach, sliced avocado, and tomato slices.
- Place the remaining cheese slices on top of the vegetables.
- Top with the second slice of bread.
- Assembly Tip: Layering the cheese slices both on the bottom and top of the filling helps ‘glue’ the sandwich together when it melts.
3. Grill the Sandwiches
- Place the softened butter in a small bowl. If desired, mix in the garlic powder.
- Generously butter the outsides of both slices of each assembled sandwich.
- Heat a large skillet or griddle pan over medium-low heat. Do not go higher than medium-low; this is essential for melting the cheese without burning the bread.
- Carefully place the sandwich in the hot pan. Grill for 3 to 5 minutes on the first side until deep golden brown.
4. Melt and Finish
- Carefully flip the sandwich and grill the second side for another 3 to 5 minutes, pressing lightly with a spatula to encourage melting.
- The sandwich is ready when both sides are golden brown and crispy, and the cheese has completely melted and is oozing out the sides.
- Remove the sandwich from the pan and let it rest on a cutting board for 1 minute.
5. Slice and Serve
- Using a sharp knife, slice the sandwich diagonally for the best presentation (as shown in the image).
- Serve immediately while the cheese is still hot and gooey. Garnish the plate or cutting board with a sprinkle of fresh chopped herbs like chives or parsley if desired.
⭐ Pro Tips and Flavor Variations
- The Butter Trick: Mixing a small amount of garlic powder and dried herbs into the softened butter before grilling adds incredible flavor to the crust.
- Add a Crunch: For a unique texture, add a slice of crispy bacon or a few pickle slices to the filling.
- Best Cheese: Provolone and Swiss/Gruyère offer excellent melting qualities and rich flavor that pairs well with chicken and avocado.
- Preventing Soggy Bread: Ensure all ingredients, especially the chicken, are not overly wet. If you use a very ripe tomato, you might want to remove some of the seeds.