This got me inspired. I am a huge fan of the classic Caprese Salad and Caprese recipes like Caprese Pesto Pasta Salad, Burrata Caprese, and Pizza Caprese.
Why I love this recipe:
Packed with summer flavors: It’s the perfect trifecta of textures and flavors. Summer fresh tomatoes delicately seasoned in a quick balsamic drizzle, vibrant fresh basil, soft and creamy mozzarella. Great way to use leftover chicken: If you have leftover chicken (like my bone-in chicken breasts)in the fridge and you can just purchase a loaf of fresh bread and create this tomato mozzarella chicken sandwich at home. Easily customizable: The beauty of a homemade chicken Caprese sandwich is the endless number of customizations. With a simple swap of ingredients or cooking techniques, you can have an easy chicken sandwich that suits your needs. Quick & Easy to make: No matter which direction you choose, this summer-inspired sandwich is ready in under 30 minutes! Fresh and homemade at its finest.
Ingredients
This open-faced chicken Caprese sandwich recipe is made with just a few simple ingredients including tomatoes, kosher salt, black pepper, lemon juice, balsamic vinegar, bread, mayo, chicken breasts (leftover or grilled), fresh basil leaves, and fresh mozzarella.
Tomatoes: Fresh juicy tomatoes are in their peak season during the summer months (late July – August). If I am making this sandwich over the summer, I like to seek out juicy red tomatoes at the farmers market.However, with modern food sourcing, tomatoes are easily available at the supermarket all year long. That’s when I go for Campari tomatoes. These are about medium-size, always pleasantly plump and available throughout the year. The number of tomatoes you’ll need depends on the size of the slices of bread so adjust it accordingly. Bread: This is more about personal preference more than anything else. I loved serving it on sliced whole wheat bread, but it is particularly enjoyable on ciabatta rolls (sliced in half), sourdough or even rosemary focaccia. Mayo: Although the mayo is optional, I highly recommend it. The mayo adds an extra dose of tangy flavor and truly rounds out the fresh mozzarella chicken sandwich. Vegan, Avocado Oil or Regular Mayo all work wonderfully. Chicken Breasts: You will need two breasts for four sandwiches. Since I am a lover of easy chicken recipes, I always have some sort of leftover chicken in the fridge. I used the bone-in chicken breasts I baked the day before and simply sliced them into 1-inch strips. We will discuss grilled chicken in a bit. You can use chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts as well. Fresh Basil: Basil is another ingredient at its peak during the summer. My husband and I grow basil in the backyard as soon as the warm weather begins, but during the cold winter months, I purchase fresh basil from the grocery store. If you’re lucky, purchase the potted basil plants, place them in a container and keep it on your windowsill or kitchen counter, then water them every few days to keep them growing. Fresh Mozzarella: Delicious, creamy, soft fresh mozzarella is the good stuff and beats any pre-shredded or block variety. The fresh cheese comes in ball form or sliced. Look for it in the cheese section of your grocery store.
Do I have to grill the chicken?
If you prefer grilled chicken, you can certainly grill the chicken on an outdoor or indoor grill, depending on the time of year. I love serving this sandwich as soon as the weather warms up. It is a great recipe for your Memorial Day cookout menu. During the summer months, I love using the grilled chicken method because the grill does all the work for me. I can grill the chicken, leave it to rest while I prep the remaining ingredients, then assemble and pop it on the grill for just a few minutes until the cheese is melted. Grilling the bread on the grill or grill pan gives these open-faced sandwiches a great contrast with a crunchy texture. Plus, it gives me a reason to not turn on my oven.
How to make:
This balsamic chicken mozzarella sandwich can be made in one of two ways – with leftover chicken or grilled chicken.
With Leftover Chicken
With Grilled Chicken
To make Grilled Chicken Caprese Sandwich:
Can I make it ahead?
If you want to prep ahead, feel free to grill (or bake) the chicken ahead of time – just as I did with my leftover chicken. Then all that’s left to do on the day you are going to serve is assemble the sandwiches and pop it in the oven to melt the cheese. For that very reason, this Caprese sandwich with chicken is one of my favorite 15-minute weeknight dinners that I make during the warmer months.
Variations:
Part of the reason I love this sandwich so much is because of the endless number of variations. Simply swap out one or two ingredients and you have a completely new meal. Some of my favorites include:
Swap mayo with pesto: I was inspired by Carrabba’s caprese sandwich with chicken and substituted the mayo for the same amount of pesto vinaigrette. It really highlights the basil flavor. Mix pesto & mayo: Two of my favorite condiments in one. Simply combine 2 Tablespoons each pesto and mayo, then spread as directed. Use marinated chicken: If you have time to plan a little bit in advance, you can use my Greek Yogurt Chicken Marinade to make even more flavorful chicken. I usually use this recipe during the summer months when we have the grill on. Use ciabatta instead of whole wheat: The Starbucks chicken caprese is made with ciabatta bread, so I like to change up the bread whenever I get a chance. You will need one large loaf (cut in half, then sliced down the middle lengthwise) or 2 rolls (sliced in half lengthwise) to make 4 open-faced sandwiches.Alternatively, if you are using ciabatta bread, you can press it in a panini press and turn it into a warm Caprese chicken panini. Use sourdough bread: Use 4 thick slices (about ½-1 inch) of sourdough bread to make the sandwiches With Rosemary Focaccia: The subtle hint of rosemary drives home that herby flavor. You will only need half of a whole focaccia loaf. Simply cut the whole loaf into quarters, then cut two squares in half lengthwise to get 4 pieces. Reserve the remaining bread for your favorite sandwich recipes. Make it with buffalo mozzarella: Buffalo mozzarella is made from buffalo milk rather than cow’s milk. If you are feeling extra fancy, buffalo mozzarella provides another layer of flavor and creamier texture. Look for it in specialty Italian markets.
What To Serve it With / What Goes with Caprese?
This easy Italian-inspired chicken tomato basil sandwich goes well with a simple green salad like Boston Lettuce Salad or Cold Asparagus Salad or any of your favorite salad recipes. Carrabba’s serves it with cucumber tomato mozzarella salad which is a nice highlight to summer fresh tomatoes. But a simple healthy cucumber salad or a simple side salad recipe are great options. On those warm summer nights when the weather is just right, I love to enjoy it with a crisp glass of white wine. This post was originally published in March 2016. It has been updated with new photos and information with a few minor changes to the recipe in June 2021.
