One meal that will always be in style is a grilled chicken sandwich. The smoky, juicy chicken breast goes well with the fresh, crunchy toppings that are set between two toasty slices of bread. Grilled chicken sandwiches are tasty on their own, but adding the right toppings can make them even better.
It’s important to find a balance of tastes and textures when putting together your grilled chicken sandwich. Some toppings that are creamy, sour, crunchy, and maybe even sweet will work well. Here are 14 tasty ideas for toppings that will make your grilled chicken sandwich taste even better.
1. Cheese
Cheese is a no-brainer topping for grilled chicken sandwiches. Melty cheese adds creaminess and gives the sandwich more substance. Cheddar, Swiss pepper jack and provolone are all classic choices. You could try mozzarella, bleu cheese, or shredded Mexican-style cheeses instead. Make sure to add the cheese to the sandwich while the chicken is still hot and let it melt a bit before you eat it.
2. Lettuce
To make a chicken sandwich taste fresh and crunchy, you need crisp lettuce. Opt for varieties like iceberg, romaine or butter lettuce. Bibb and red leaf lettuce also work well. Shredded lettuce can make it easier for the vegetables to blend into each bite.
3. Tomato
A slice of juicy tomato is another must for grilled chicken sandwiches. The sweetness and acidity of fresh tomato perfectly balances the smoky chicken. Beefsteak, heirloom and cherry tomatoes all make good options. Just be sure your tomato slices aren’t too thick, or they may slip out of the sandwich.
4. Avocado
Creamy avocado slices or mashed avocado makes a delicious topping for chicken sandwiches. The richness pairs wonderfully with the lean grilled meat. For best results, choose avocados that yield slightly to gentle pressure – they should be ripe but not overripe and mushy.
5. Onion
Onions add lots of flavor for very few calories. Red onion and sweet Vidalia onions are particularly tasty choices. For maximum flavor and crunch, slice the onions thinly. Quickly rinsing the slices under water can help tame their sharp bite. Grilled onions are also a tasty option.
6. Pickles
Briny pickles are a classic sandwich topping that cut through the richness of the chicken. Dill pickle chips are a popular choice, but bread and butter pickles, pickled red onions and other pickled veggies also work well. Opt for cold, crisp pickles rather than limp, soggy ones.
7. Sauces and Spreads
Condiments like mustard, mayonnaise, hummus, pesto or tapenade all make excellent additions to grilled chicken sandwiches. They add moisture and bring creamy richness to balance the chicken. Flavored mayos like sriracha, chipotle or roasted garlic are especially delicious.
8. Bacon
It’s hard to beat smoky, salty bacon on a sandwich. Crisp cooked bacon adds fantastic texture and flavor contrast to grilled chicken sandwiches. Opt for high-quality, thick-cut bacon whenever possible. Overcooking makes bacon tough, so stop cooking just before it reaches your desired crispness.
9. Guacamole
Cool, creamy guacamole makes an amazing topping for grilled chicken. Spicy and flavorful, it provides the perfect richness to complement the chicken. Whip up a quick guac with avocado, lime juice, diced tomatoes, onions, cilantro and jalapeño. Or use a quality store-bought option.
10. Pineapple
For a fun, summery twist, add pineapple to your grilled chicken sandwich. Grilled pineapple slices are especially tasty. The sweet, tangy fruit balances the savory chicken beautifully. If using fresh pineapple, be sure it’s perfectly ripe for maximum flavor and juiciness.
11. Peppers and Chiles
Add a flavor punch with sliced bell peppers pickled jalapeños, banana peppers or your other favorite peppers. Spicy chiles bring heat while sweet bell peppers add a refreshing crunch. Roasted red peppers are also delicious. Use as many types of peppers as you like!
12. Pesto
Nutty, herby pesto makes an incredible condiment for grilled chicken sandwiches. It adds tons of fresh flavor and a creamy texture. While traditional basil pesto is best, sun-dried tomato or other pesto varieties also pair well with chicken. Slather it on thickly and be prepared for amazingness.
13. Caramelized Onions
For next-level flavor, top your sandwich with sweet, rich caramelized onions. Slowly cook sliced onions with a bit of oil until deeply golden brown and jammy. The process intensifies their natural sweetness. Caramelized onions take time but are well worth the effort.
14. BBQ Sauce
What’s better than BBQ sauce on grilled meat? The sweet, tangy, smoky flavor complements chicken wonderfully. Choose your favorite regional style like Kansas City, Memphis, Carolina or Texas barbecue sauce. Brush both the chicken and the bread with sauce for maximum finger-licking impact.
With so many topping options, it’s easy to customize your perfect grilled chicken sandwich. Stick with classics like cheese, bacon and lettuce. Or get adventurous with more unique ingredients like guacamole, caramelized onions or pineapple. You really can’t go wrong piling delicious toppings onto tender grilled chicken!
No matter what, use high-quality ingredients like freshly baked bread, thick-cut bacon and the ripest produce you can find. Take your time assembling each component. Then dig in and enjoy every incredible bite of your crave-worthy grilled chicken sandwich creation!
Tactic 2: Condiments, Toppings, and Thoughtful Assembly
After cooking the bacon and chicken, all that’s left to do is toast the buns and put the sandwiches together.
How you assemble this sandwich is critical because you want to make sure its saucy and juicy enough. A good beef burger, in my book, has to have enough fat flowing from the patty that it runs down my hands, over my wrists, and at least attempts a journey along my forearms. I expect no less with this sandwich. But chicken breast, even when perfectly cooked, isnt the kind of meat thats prone to dripping juices, so it needs some help from lots and lots of mayo and sauce. To achieve that, you need ample slatherings of at least one condiment—and more than one isnt the worst idea! Here, I added the mayo in two layers, one on the top bun and one on the bottom, plus an extra dose of the green sauce. Thats going to give us plenty of delicious, messy drips.
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The other critical element is anything that adds texture. Here, theres we go all in, with crunchy crumbled potato chips. I chose ruffled chips because they are thicker and stronger than regular chips. This means that they will have a lot of crunch even when broken up and covered in sauce. And its the crunch that we want—its all about adding texture to an otherwise very soft, wet sandwich.
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Crushed ruffled potato chips add lots of salty crunch. Not only that, though—not in this sandwich or any other grilled chicken sandwich—is the meat. Look to fresh, crisp toppings like pickles, lettuce, and onions to compensate for chicken breasts uni-textural experience.
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The shredded iceberg lettuce here is cool and fresh.
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The grilled chicken breast, glistening with the green sauce, is next.
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Bacon is bacon, nuff said.
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Tomato adds another fresh flavor and lots of its own juice; another spoonful of spicy green sauce amps up the drip factor and adds even more bold flavor.
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The top bun gets even more mayo. Slather it on!
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One more sprinkling of potato chips and you can close the sandwich. Again, its all about layers of flavor and texture.
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Just try not to make a mess…
The Building Blocks
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This sandwich, for all its power and glory, is very, very simple, and very easy to make. The building blocks include chicken, bacon, iceberg lettuce, crushed ruffled potato chips, mayo, tomato, a green sauce, and a bun. Each fulfills a role—some optional, some essential—required for grilled chicken sandwich greatness.
You MUST Try This Grilled Chicken Sandwich!
FAQ
What toppings go on chicken sandwiches?
A chicken sandwich can be elevated with a variety of toppings, ranging from classic staples to more adventurous options. Common choices include lettuce, tomato, and pickles, often paired with mayonnaise or mustard. For a more robust flavor, consider adding cheese (cheddar, Swiss, provolone, or pepper jack), bacon, avocado, or caramelized onions.
What goes well with grilled chicken sandwiches?
32 Side Dishes To Serve With Grilled Chicken01 of 32. Heirloom Tomato Salad. 02 of 32. Watermelon Feta Salad. 03 of 32. Grilled Corn Ribs. 04 of 32. Tomato-And-Watermelon Salad. 05 of 32. Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad. 06 of 32. Cucumber-Tomato-Avocado Salad. 07 of 32. Three Pickle Potato Salad. 08 of 32. Spicy Pineapple Slaw.
What tastes good on a grilled chicken sandwich?
The building blocks include chicken, bacon, iceberg lettuce, crushed ruffled potato chips, mayo, tomato, a green sauce, and a bun. Each fulfills a role—some optional, some essential—required for grilled chicken sandwich greatness.
What is a good topping for grilled chicken?
Grilled Chicken Recipe with ToppingsSautéed Mushrooms with garlic and parsley makes for a fantastic topping for grilled chicken. Cherry tomatoes tossed in fresh basil make for a fantastic easy topping for warmer weather. A marinade of Dijon mustard, white wine, and herbs makes this grilled chicken so tender and juicy!.