Pesto Chicken Sandwich with Caramelized Onions and Havarti
It has been scorching here for the last few days and I have been trying to do easy meals that don’t require too much cooking inside the house. I just made homemade pesto sauce and couldn’t wait to use it so I made these pesto chicken sandwiches with caramelized onions and Havarti. I served these tasty sandwiches with a caprese salad, baked fries, and a cold beer–a perfect meal for a hot summer night. My husband did an amazing job grilling the chicken breasts, they were moist, tender, and delicious. We had friends over for dinner; they loved it, and so did all the kids.
Pesto Chicken Sandwich with Caramelized Onions and Havarti:
Ingredients:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, trimmed of fat
- 3/4 cup of pesto, divided
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, sliced
- Sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste
- 8 slices of Havarti cheese
For Serving:
- 8 hamburger buns
- Mayonnaise
- Lettuce leaves
- Tomato slices
How to Make Pesto Chicken Sandwich with Caramelized Onions and Havarti
Cut each chicken breast into two pieces. Place chicken between two pieces of plastic wrap and pound each piece until thin. Place chicken in a large zip lock bag with 1/2 cup of pesto and marinate for at least 2 hours.
Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add onion slices and saute for 15-20 minutes, stirring often, until caramelized. Season with sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste.
While the onions are cooking place chicken breasts on a hot grill or grill pan and grill for 5-6 minutes then flip over.
Cook an additional 2-3 minutes then add cheese and continue to grill for 2-3 minutes or until cheese is melted and juices run clear.
Toast the buns, spread mayonnaise and pesto on each side then layer with chicken and Havarti, caramelized onions, lettuce, and tomato. Enjoy!
Equipment
- Grill or Grill Pan
Ingredients
Ingredients:
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, trimmed of fat
- ¾ cup of pesto divided
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 yellow onion sliced
- Sea salt and freshly cracked pepper to taste
- 8 slices of Havarti cheese
For Serving:
- 8 hamburger buns
- Mayonnaise
- Lettuce leaves
- Tomato slices
Instructions
- Cut each chicken breast into two pieces. Place chicken between two pieces of plastic wrap and pound each piece until thin. Place chicken in a large zip lock bag with 1/2 cup of pesto and marinate for at least 2 hours.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add onion slices and saute for 15-20 minutes, stirring often, until caramelized. Season with sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste.
- While the onions are cooking place chicken breasts on a hot grill or grill pan and grill for 5-6 minutes then flip over.
- Cook an additional 2-3 minutes then add cheese and continue to grill for 2-3 minutes or until cheese is melted and juices run clear.
- Toast the buns, spread mayonnaise and pesto on each side then layer with chicken and Havarti, caramelized onions, lettuce, and tomato. Enjoy!
Those look so good! I love pesto on chicken, yummy!!
That looks great – I forget about havarti cheese – Thanks for the reminder- What a great combo of pesto and chicken as well!! YUM
That looks great – I forget about havarti cheese – Thanks for the reminder- What a great combo of pesto and chicken as well!! YUM
These look delicious – aahh! Lucky you grilling outdoors, I think winter has arrived in Paris, its wet & awful right now!!
Great way to flavor up the chicken! And your sandwiches are so pretty with the vivid red tomato. Dangit! I knew I shouldn’t let my family discourage me from having “green paste” in my house! Fussbudgets!
That looks amazing Pam!
Pam, thank you so much for visiting my site. I do hope you try the piloncillo. Gives your baked stuff more of a molasses flavor. I love caramelizing onion for sandwiches. They are so good. Thank you for this post, my husband Bob is going to want some tonight. Talk to you again soon.
Ha, I knew it 🙂 Chicken and pesto sandwich was a match in heaven. Seriously, I’ve seen angels sing over this.
That is indeed a great summer dinner. Ah, the lazy days…
These sandwiches look awesome and just perfect for a hot summer night. I love your fries too! How did you make those? Mine never look that good!
green chicken…all right, all right, all riiiiight. 🙂
i just tried havarti for the first time recently, and i’m smitten. this must be a fabulous sandwich. 🙂
Mmmm! Mmmmm! They look so good, Pam. I love your pesto sauce too, we have a ton of basil around here at the mo.
That sounds like a fantastic meal! Love the caramelized onions – I’ve been putting those on so many sandwiches these days, I love the sweetness. Good to know the kids like the Havarti!
Oh, goodness… The burger + fries (+ sweet onions) just scream “droolworthy!” I hope you don’t mind if I add ketchup to my fries 😉
Have mercy, Pam! Your already great recipes just keep getting better and better! I don’t even know what to say about this sandwich … it is utterly outstanding. You are the master!
My mout is watering. These sound delish
What a lovely, simple and delicious looking recipe for hot summer days!
I don’t even know if I can comment properly right now, because I’m just so excited about the sound of this recipe! I don’t usually make snazzy sandwhiches, but this one just blows my mind. Thanks!
Those look very good. Just my kind of sandwich. That’s a great idea, by the way, to have a basic blog for printable recipes! I’ve been wondering how to do that.
Pam I am literally drooling over this gorgeous sandwich! I soooo wish I had one for dinner tonight! Great blog, I look forward to visiting often
Hi Pam, I just wanted to let you know that I really enjoy your blog. So this week I will be making one of your meals every night. I’m so looking forward to some new things. I will try you pot roast tomorrow.:)Thanks!
I love what you wrote on your profile, that is how I like to cook too. Make it gourmet, but make sure there is some nutrition in there too please!
This looks great, I love pesto!
Great sandwich! Love onions like that, too.
an excellent combo! never thought of grilling chicken with pesto…great idea!
Pam, I was wondering if it is ok to post on my blog the recipes I will be making from your blog this week?
http://www.testkitchenrecipes.blogspot.com
Great way to use the pesto!
This is one recipe I’m definitely going to try! I’m a huge fan of chicken so yeah I’m loving this recipe and I haven’t even eaten it yet!