BBQ Chicken Grilled Cheese Sandwich

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Crispy, cheesy, and loaded with smoky BBQ chicken — this open-faced grilled cheese sandwich is an easy lunch you can throw together in minutes. Simple ingredients, big flavor.

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A Classic Grilled Cheese with Some Jazz!

Ever since I began working from home, I’ve had the opportunity to get really creative with my lunches, and let me tell you that I’ve been loving it! Of course, I don’t want to put too much effort into making lunch, though, but having a tasty lunch is still mandatory for me! What’s delicious and easy to make? A grilled cheese sandwich of course!

I always love and appreciate a classic grilled cheese sandwich. Cheese and bread, the two just go so well together. But sometimes I like to take that classic sandwich up a notch! Here I have a super fun take on a grilled cheese sandwich! We’re going to add some BBQ shredded chicken on sourdough bread, top it with old cheddar and toss it in the oven until molten and grilled! We’re going to leave the sandwich open-faced because why not! The sandwiches look so lovely with the molten cheese and tender BBQ chicken, I didn’t find a need to close them. Plus, I find open-faced sandwiches lots of fun to eat!

BBQ chicken has been a major staple for my lunches in addition to grilled cheese sandwiches. Having some shredded chicken on hand is just so convenient for lunchtime. It’s extremely versatile and you can use it in so many combinations for sandwiches, wraps or even rice! Shredded chicken is a must-have for me for lunch. Of course you could batch cook a ton of shredded chicken and just take it out of the fridge when you’re ready, but because I have the convenience of making fresh shredded chicken every day, I just do that! Another easy option for lunch is to get some fresh rotisserie chicken from your local grocery store, and then shred it. So I would definitely recommend giving that a try!

If you have the shredded chicken already on hand then this open-face chicken sandwich can be prepared in about 10 minutes! If you’re poaching your chicken before preparing the sandwich, that will add about an extra 15 minutes, but those 15 minutes are effortless. Poaching chicken is so easy, and I’ll briefly go over what to do in this open-face chicken recipe!

I’m sure you’re going to love this BBQ open-face chicken sandwich and it’ll become a lunchtime essential in your household!

What Cheese Goes Best For Open Face Chicken Sandwich?▼

You could use any cheese you like for this open face chicken sandwich! We tend to associate grilled cheese sandwiches with cheddar cheese. As you can see in the photo, I used some old cheddar. But changing up the cheese can really make a difference in this simple sandwich. Below is a list of my favourite cheeses to use in a grilled cheese. You can get creative and try them all out, or even add two or more cheeses to make a really cheesy open face chicken sandwich!

Old cheddar: You could use any cheddar you like, but I like the strong taste of old cheddar.
Applewood smoked cheddar: This is my new obsession. It’s so creamy and the taste is incredible. Not to mention it melts extremely well. This now hits the top of the list of my favourite cheeses!
Monterey Jack: I love the heat that comes from it! It also gets so nice and stringy when molten, perfect for a grilled cheese.
Provolone: A mild taste but the cheese pulls that are produced are crazy!
Havarti: One of my favourites! It’s so creamy and works wonders in sandwiches.

Easy Shredded BBQ Chicken Ingredients

To make this open-face chicken sandwich, here’s what you’ll need:

Sliced bread of choice (I recommend sourdough here!)
Chicken breast to make Simple Poached Chicken, or pre-cooked chicken, shredded
Cheddar cheese
Butter
Barbecue sauce
Green onions

Making the BBQ Open Face Chicken Sandwich

You’ll love how simple this BBQ Chicken Grilled Cheese Sandwich is! It’s a perfect sandwich to make when you need a fast lunch, and it’s beginner-friendly too! Here are the steps you’ll follow:

1. Shred the chicken with the help of two forks and add to a large bowl. Add barbecue sauce, green onions and salt to taste and mix well. Set aside for later.

Shredded BBQ chicken mixed with sauce and green onions in a bowl, ready to be assembled into sandwiches.

Shredded BBQ chicken mixed with green onions in a glass bowl with a fork.

2. Heat a non-stick pan or grill pan on medium heat. Spread butter across the pan and mop up a portion of the melted butter with each slice of bread.

Slicing toasted bread with a serrated knife, showing golden crust and soft interior crumb structure.

Hand pressing buttered bread slice onto grill pan with ridged surface for toasting.

3. Equally distribute spoonfuls of the prepared BBQ chicken and then top with your favourite cheese.

Shredded BBQ chicken being spooned onto buttered toasted bread slices on a grill pan.

Open-faced sandwiches topped with shredded BBQ chicken, melted cheese, and green onions on a grill pan.

4. Once the bread is toasted at the and has grill lines, place the pan in the oven and set the oven to broil mode. Broil until the cheese is molten, about 5 minutes.

Open-faced BBQ chicken grilled cheese sandwiches on a grill pan with melted cheese and green onion garnish.

5. Carefully take the grill pan out of the oven. Garnish with chopped green onions. Serve hot and enjoy!

Open-faced BBQ chicken grilled cheese sandwiches topped with melted cheese and green onions on a white plate.

What to Do With Extra BBQ Chicken▼

If you’ve got some extra BBQ chicken that couldn’t fit your bread, don’t worry! That’s happened to me too! There are plenty of ways you can use the leftovers:

Add it in tacos with some shredded lettuce, sour cream, and your favourite toppings
Add it to a salad with some cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, onions, and corn, lettuce, cheese, and a ranch dressing
Throw it in a one-pot creamy pasta with bacon
Use it for a quesadilla with chopped red peppers and onions
Eat it as a snack by itself!

Let me know what you think of this recipe in the comments! If you’ve tried this recipe, be sure to post it on social media and tag it with #cookingwithanadi and mention me @cooking.with.anadi. Thank you!

Recipe by Anadi Misra

Open-Faced BBQ Chicken Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Crispy, cheesy, and loaded with smoky BBQ chicken — this open-faced grilled cheese sandwich is an easy lunch you can throw together in minutes. Simple ingredients, big flavor.

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5 min

Prep

25 min

Cook

30 min

Total

sandwiches

medium

Level

Ingredients

Tap any quantity to scale

bread(sourdough recommended)
(170 g) raw chicken breast
(60 ml) BBQ sauce(plus more to taste)Shop →
cheddar (or up to 2 slices)
(7 g) butter
salt(to taste)Shop →
pepper(to taste)Shop →
(16 g) green onion(finely chopped, plus more for garnish)

Instructions

If using raw chicken (simple poached chicken recipe)

1
To prepare poached chicken , add chicken in a cold pot and fill the pot with water. Add enough water to cover the chicken by at least 1 inch. Season with salt, turn heat to medium and cover with a lid
To prepare poached chicken , add chicken in a cold pot and fill the pot with water. Add enough water to cover the chicken by at least 1 inch. Season with salt, turn heat to medium and cover with a lid
2
Once the water starts boiling, turn the heat down to medium-low and cook for 15 - 20 minutes. Remove chicken from the pot and set aside to cool slightly.
Once the water starts boiling, turn the heat down to medium-low and cook for 15 - 20 minutes. Remove chicken from the pot and set aside to cool slightly.
3
Cut or shred as required in your recipe.
Cut or shred as required in your recipe.

To prepare the BBQ chicken

1
Shred the chicken with the help of two forks and add to a large bowl. Add barbecue sauce, green onions and salt to taste and mix well. Set aside for later.
Shred the chicken with the help of two forks and add to a large bowl. Add barbecue sauce, green onions and salt to taste and mix well. Set aside for later.

To assemble the sandwich

1
Heat a non-stick pan or grill pan on medium heat. Spread butter across the pan and mop up a portion of the molten butter with each slice of bread.
Heat a non-stick pan or grill pan on medium heat. Spread butter across the pan and mop up a portion of the molten butter with each slice of bread.
2
Equally distribute spoonfuls of the prepared BBQ chicken and then top with your favourite cheese.
Equally distribute spoonfuls of the prepared BBQ chicken and then top with your favourite cheese.
3
Once the bread is toasted at the butter and has grill lines, place the pan in the oven and set the oven to broil mode. Broil until the cheese is molten, about 5 minutes.
Once the bread is toasted at the butter and has grill lines, place the pan in the oven and set the oven to broil mode. Broil until the cheese is molten, about 5 minutes.
4
Carefully take the grill pan out of the oven. Garnish with chopped green onions. Serve hot and enjoy!
Carefully take the grill pan out of the oven. Garnish with chopped green onions. Serve hot and enjoy!

Notes

•If your pan is not safe to be placed in the oven, you may lower the heat on the stove and cover the pan with a lid to allow the steam to melt the cheese and warm up the chicken.Alternatively, you may transfer the sandwiches to a baking sheet lined with aluminium foil and bake until the bread is toasted and the chicken is warmed through and the cheese is molten

Nutrition per serving

246

Calories

18g

Protein

24g

Carbs

Fat

Fiber

Sugar

1193mg

Sodium

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Tested & written in Anadi’s kitchen

A Classic Grilled Cheese with Some Jazz!

Easy Shredded BBQ Chicken Ingredients

Making the BBQ Open Face Chicken Sandwich