This Chicken Avocado Melt Sandwich is packed with savory flavors, creamy textures, and a kick of smoky heat. It combines tender rotisserie chicken with melted gouda, fresh avocado, and a zesty chipotle mayo, all pressed between crispy garlic herb focaccia.
It is the perfect lunch or dinner option that tastes like it came from a gourmet deli, featuring a special cooking technique that ensures perfectly melted cheese every time.
Recipe Details
- Flavor: This sandwich creates a mouthwatering balance of spicy chipotle, sweet peppadew peppers, savory garlic herb bread, and rich, creamy cheese.
- Texture: Expect a satisfying crunch from the toasted focaccia exterior that gives way to soft avocado, juicy chicken, and gooey melted gouda.
- Time: Quick and easy, taking only about 20 minutes from prep to plate.
- Difficulty: Easy. The assembly is straightforward, and the skillet method is simple to master.
What You’ll Need
To assemble these melts, you will need a sturdy bread base, a protein-packed filling, and a few specific condiments to bring the heat and flavor. The star components include fresh avocado, pre-cooked chicken for convenience, and a homemade chipotle mayo that ties everything together.
Ingredient Notes
- Foccacia Bread – Use flat loaves of focaccia for the best surface area and texture. Garlic herb flavor adds a wonderful aromatic layer to the sandwich.
- Rotisserie Chicken – Shredded rotisserie chicken is perfect here because it is already seasoned, tender, and saves you cooking time.
- Avocado – Sliced avocado adds a buttery richness that cools down the heat from the peppers.
- Chipotle Peppers in Adobo – These provide the smoky heat for the mayo. You will use the peppers coated in the sauce.
- Peppadew Peppers – These small peppers are sweet and piquante, offering a bright contrast to the savory chicken and cheese. Sweet & hot cherry peppers are a great alternative.
- Gouda – Sliced gouda melts beautifully and has a mild, slightly nutty flavor that complements the spicy ingredients without overpowering them.
- Water – A small amount of water is essential for the final steaming step, which melts the cheese perfectly without burning the bread.
Add-ins and Substitutions
- Different Cheese – If you don’t have gouda, Havarti, Monterey Jack, or Provolone are all excellent melting cheeses that work well in this sandwich.
- Bacon – For an extra savory crunch, add a layer of crispy cooked bacon strips alongside the chicken.
- Greens – You can add a handful of spinach or arugula inside the sandwich for some fresh color and nutrition, though it may soften slightly during cooking.
How to Make Chicken Avocado Melt Sandwich
- Make the chipotle mayo. In a small bowl combine the chopped chipotle peppers in adobo with mayo. Stir well & set aside.
- Prep the bread. Slice the flat loaves of focaccia into 4 pieces each. You will have 8 square pieces in total.
- Assemble the layers. Spread the chipotle mayo on each slice of bread. On 1/2 of the slices (the bottom halves), layer the sliced gouda, avocado slices, shredded chicken, chopped cilantro, and chopped Peppadew peppers.
- Close the sandwiches. Top the filled halves with the remaining slices of bread.
- Pan-fry. Over medium high heat in a skillet, carefully place the sandwiches in the skillet. Cook for 2-3 minutes to crisp up the bottom.
- Flip. Carefully flip them with a spatula and cook for 2 more minutes on the other side.
- Pro Tip: Watch the heat! Focaccia can toast quickly, so ensure your pan isn’t smoking hot before adding the bread.
- Steam the cheese. Gently tilt the pan to the side and pour in the water. Immediately cover the pan and let them steam for 1 minute until the water has evaporated. This steam helps the cheese melt completely before the bread burns.
- Serve. Remove the cover and enjoy immediately while warm and crispy.
Recipe Tips
- Don’t skip the steam. The water step is the secret to this recipe. It creates steam that penetrates the sandwich to melt the gouda and warm the chicken without requiring you to over-toast the bread.
- Slice avocado last. To prevent the avocado from browning, slice it right before you are ready to assemble the sandwiches.
- Press gently. When you flip the sandwich, you can press down very lightly with the spatula to ensure the fillings adhere to the melted cheese and bread, but don’t smash it too hard or the avocado might squish out.
- Manage the skillet size. If your skillet isn’t large enough to hold all the sandwiches comfortably, cook them in batches so you have room to flip them easily.
FAQs
- Is this sandwich very spicy? It has a kick due to the chipotle peppers and adobo sauce. If you prefer less heat, reduce the amount of chipotle peppers mixed into the mayo.
- Can I use a different bread? Yes, if you cannot find flat focaccia, Ciabatta rolls or thick slices of sourdough bread are sturdy enough to hold these fillings and grill up nicely.
- Can I use chicken breast instead of rotisserie? Absolutely. Any cooked, shredded, or sliced chicken works well. Leftover grilled chicken is a great substitute.
Serving Suggestions
This melt is hearty enough to be a meal on its own, but it pairs beautifully with:
- A bowl of creamy tomato basil soup.
- Sweet potato fries or potato chips.
- A fresh green salad with a light vinaigrette to cut through the richness.
Make This Recipe in Advance
- Prep components: You can mix the chipotle mayo, shred the chicken, and chop the cilantro and peppers a day or two in advance. Store them in separate airtight containers in the fridge.
- Assembly: It is best to assemble and cook the sandwich right before serving to keep the bread crispy and the avocado fresh. If you must assemble ahead, do not add the avocado until just before cooking.
Chicken Avocado Melt Sandwich
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
This gourmet Chicken Avocado Melt Sandwich features savory, shredded rotisserie chicken, creamy avocado, and mild Gouda cheese, all layered on crispy garlic herb focaccia. The sandwich is elevated by a smoky, zesty homemade chipotle mayonnaise and sweet Peppadew peppers. Utilizing a clever pan-steaming technique, this sandwich guarantees perfectly melted cheese and a hot, gooey center in just 20 minutes.
Ingredients
Chipotle Mayo
- 1/4 cup mayo
- 6 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, chopped
Sandwich
- 2 flat loaves of focaccia bread (garlic herb flavor recommended)
- 6 oz shredded rotisserie chicken
- 1 avocado, sliced
- 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
- 1/4 cup Peppadew peppers, chopped (or sweet & hot cherry peppers)
- 4 oz sliced gouda
- 2 tablespoon water
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Chipotle Mayo
In a small bowl, combine the chopped chipotle peppers in adobo with the mayonnaise. Stir thoroughly until the sauce is uniform. Set the chipotle mayo aside.
Step 2: Prep and Assemble the Sandwiches
Slice the flat loaves of focaccia to create eight square pieces (four tops and four bottoms). Spread the prepared chipotle mayo evenly across the inside of each slice of bread.
Step 3: Layer the Fillings
On half of the slices (the bottom halves), layer the fillings in the following order: sliced Gouda, avocado slices, shredded rotisserie chicken, chopped cilantro, and chopped Peppadew peppers. Top with the remaining slices of focaccia bread.
Step 4: Pan-Fry the Sandwiches
Place a large skillet over medium-high heat. Carefully place the assembled sandwiches in the hot skillet. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the bottom of the bread is golden brown and crispy.
Step 5: Flip and Toast
Use a spatula to carefully flip the sandwiches and cook for another 2 minutes on the second side. The bread should be nicely toasted.
Step 6: Steam the Cheese
Gently tilt the pan to the side and pour the 2 tablespoons of water into the skillet. Immediately cover the pan with a lid and let the sandwiches steam for 1 minute, or until the water has completely evaporated. The steam ensures the cheese melts perfectly without burning the bread.
Step 7: Serve
Remove the cover, transfer the hot sandwiches to a cutting board, slice them in half, and enjoy immediately while the cheese is gooey and the bread is crisp.
Notes
Tip for Extra Flavor: For an even more savory crust, spread a thin layer of butter or a garlic-herb mixture (like olive oil mixed with Italian seasoning) on the outside of the focaccia before pan-frying.
Cheese Substitution: If Gouda is unavailable, Havarti, Provolone, or Monterey Jack are excellent substitutes that melt well and complement the spicy, savory flavors of the sandwich.
Make it a ‘Club’ Style: Add two slices of crispy, pre-cooked bacon to the sandwich layers for an extra smoky flavor and satisfying crunch.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch
- Method: Stovetop / Pan-Fried
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 sandwich
- Calories: 680
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 1120mg
- Fat: 39g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Unsaturated Fat: 22g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 54g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 105mg
Keywords: chicken avocado melt, chipotle sandwich, gourmet deli sandwich, focaccia chicken sandwich, melted gouda, easy lunch recipe
