Southwest Grilled Chicken Sandwich

This Southwest Grilled Chicken Sandwich is juicy and flavorful! It's marinated and topped with Pepper Jack cheese and chipotle mayo sauce.

One of the best things about the summer months is being able to get outside and grill up something delicious. I'm kicking off grilling season this year with this Chipotle Chicken Sandwich!

After a long winter, we here in Minnesota spent the spring months itching to get outside and partake in our favorite warm-weather activities. Finally, we're spending our free time outdoors planting gardens, exercising, and firing up the grill.

I love a burger as much as the next person, but sometimes it's fun to switch it up and throw something different on the grill. One of my favorite things when I'm not in the mood for burgers is a grilled chicken sandwich.

This version is made with chicken breasts that are marinated in a variety of Southwest spices like chili powder, smoked paprika, cumin, and oregano along with lots of garlic. The marinade allows the chicken to become tender and juicy after cooked on the grill.

The chicken breasts are then topped with Pepper Jack cheese and served on buns slathered with chipotle mayo. These sandwiches are smoky, tangy, and a little spicy. This dish is a great way to switch up your grilling routine.

Jump to:

• How To Make Chicken Really Tender
• Ingredients For Southwest Grilled Chicken Sandwich
• How To Marinate Chicken Breasts
• How To Grill Chicken Breasts
• How To Cook The Chicken Indoors
• What Are Chipotle Peppers In Adobo Sauce?
• How To Make Chipotle Mayo
• What To Serve With Grilled Southwest Chicken Sandwiches
• How Long Do The Leftovers Last In The Fridge?
• Southwest Grilled Chicken Sandwich

How To Make Chicken Really Tender

This recipe is made using boneless, skinless chicken breasts that are marinated in a combination of olive oil, vinegar, and spices and then cooked on a grill until tender and juicy. The chicken breasts are then topped with Pepper Jack cheese and served on toasted buns.

There are a few tips I recommend that help to ensure tender, juicy chicken breasts every time.

• It's helpful to marinate the chicken breasts for at least 2 hours before grilling. The marinade tenderizes the chicken and infuses it with flavor. I recommend marinating the chicken for at least 2 hours, but no more than 6 hours, as the acid in the marinade can cause the chicken to become tough.
• Cook the chicken breasts just until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Chicken that is overcooked tends to become dry. The best way to ensure that the chicken is cooked properly is to measure the thickest part using a food thermometer.
• Make sure that the chicken breasts are relatively the same thickness. If the chicken breasts are super thick, it's best to butterfly them so that they are the same size, which will help them to cook evenly.
• Allow the meat to rest after removing from the grill. This allows the meat to retain its juices and keeps it moist. Cutting into the chicken too quickly will cause all the juices to run, causing the meat to dry out.

Ingredients For Southwest Grilled Chicken Sandwich

Here's what you'll need to make it.

• 2 lbs. Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts
• 3 Tbsp. Olive Oil
• 2 Tbsp. White Wine Vinegar
• 4 cloves Garlic
• 2 tsp. Chili Powder
• 1 tsp. Smoked Paprika
• 1 tsp. Cumin
• 1 tsp. Dried Oregano (can sub Italian seasoning)
• ¾ tsp. Kosher Salt (split)
• ¼ tsp. Pepper
• ½ cup Mayo
• 1 Tbsp. Lime Juice
• 2-3 Tbsp. Chipotle Peppers In Adobo Sauce
• ¼ tsp. Sugar
• ¼ tsp. Garlic Powder
• 1 package Sliced Pepper Jack Cheese (or cheese of choice)
• 1 package Gluten Free Burger Buns (or regular buns if not gluten free)

How To Marinate Chicken Breasts

The process of marinating the chicken breasts is easy to do and makes a world of difference in terms of texture and flavor. Make sure to plan accordingly when making this Southwest Grilled Chicken Sandwich and allow at least 2 hours for the chicken to marinate in the refrigerator.

This recipe is full of Southwest flavors and the marinade is prepared with spices that give it a Southwestern kick. It's got chili powder, smoked paprika, cumin, and oregano as well as minced garlic, olive oil, and white wine vinegar.

The acid in the vinegar helps to break down the chicken and tenderizes it (unless it's marinated too long, in which case it may cause the chicken to become tough). The olive oil provides moisture and helps to infuse the meat with the flavor of the spices. This marinade is smoky, tangy, and a little spicy.

This recipe calls for 2 lbs. of boneless, skinless chicken breasts. If your chicken breasts are super thick I recommend butterflying them to make them thinner. This will help them to cook faster and they won't require spend so much time on the grill drying out.

To butterfly a chicken breast simply means to halve them with a knife so that they are a uniform thickness. It is a simple process but it's important to watch your knife carefully so that you don't cut yourself.

Check out this tutorial to properly butterfly a chicken breast. You only need to do this if your chicken is really thick!

1. To make the marinade, start by mincing 4 cloves of garlic.
2. In a small bowl, combine 3 Tbsp. olive oil, 2 Tbsp. white wine vinegar, 2 tsp. chili powder, 1 tsp. smoked paprika, 1 tsp. cumin, 1 tsp. oregano (can sub Italian seasoning), ½ tsp. of kosher salt, ¼ tsp. of black pepper, and the minced garlic. Whisk all of these ingredients together until completely combined using a fork or a small whisk.
3. Place 2 lbs. of boneless, skinless chicken breasts in a large bowl (butterfly the chicken breasts only if they are super thick) and pour the marinade over the top. Toss the chicken breasts in the marinade until completely coated.
4. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, but no longer than 6 hours.

How To Grill Chicken Breasts

After the chicken breasts have marinated, it's time to grill them up. This can be done outdoors on a charcoal or gas grill or indoors using a grill pan if needed.

It's important to keep in mind that cooking times vary depending on the thickness of the meat and the type of grill used.

Internal temperature is a far more accurate gauge than cooking time when it comes to grilling. It's best to grill chicken only until it reaches a safe internal temp of 165 degrees Fahrenheit (it can even be pulled from the grill at 160 degrees Fahrenheit, as it will continue to cook).

The internal temperature can be checked by inserting a food thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken.

1. To grill the chicken breasts, heat a charcoal grill or a gas grill to 400-450 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Place the marinated chicken breasts directly over coals (or the hottest part of the grill), cover, and cook for 3-5 minutes on the first side.
3. Flip the chicken breasts over and repeat. Cook over direct heat for 3-5 minutes on the second side.
4. Move the chicken breasts to indirect heat and cook covered for another 8-10 minutes, or until the internal temperature has reached 160-165 degrees Fahrenheit. This can be tested using a food thermometer.
5. Place 1-2 slices of Pepper Jack cheese (or cheese of choice) onto each chicken breasts, cover, and allow to melt for 1-2 minutes.
6. Allow the chicken to rest for 3-4 minutes before slicing it.

How To Cook The Chicken Indoors

A cast iron grill pan is a great way to cook these chicken breasts indoors if grilling them outdoors is not an option.

The chicken breasts may need to be cooked in batches, depending on the size of your grill pan. It's important not to crowd the grill pan, so the chicken cooks evenly.

1. Place a cast iron grill pan on the stove top and heat to medium-high. It's important that the grill pan is hot; the meat should sizzle as it hits the pan.
2. Place the chicken breasts on the grill pan, cover, and cook for 5-6 minutes on the first side, without moving them.
3. Once the meat has cooked a little more than halfway through, flip them over and repeat, cooking for another 5-6 minutes on the second side.
4. Continue to cook until the internal temperature reaches 160-165 degrees Fahrenheit. Place 1-2 slices of Pepper Jack cheese (or cheese of choice) onto each chicken breast, cover, and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes, or until the cheese melts.
5. Remove the chicken breasts and allow to rest for 5 minutes before slicing.

What Are Chipotle Peppers In Adobo Sauce?

Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce are smoked and dried jalapeno peppers that are rehydrated and canned in a puree made with tomato sauce, vinegar, and spices.

They are smoky, spicy, and tangy and add great flavor to just about anything. I love to use them to make chipotle chicken tacos, chipotle potato salad, and barbacoa tacos.

This recipe uses both the chipotle peppers and the adobo sauce to make the chipotle mayo. It's one of those simple ingredients that packs a lot of punch.

You can find chipotle peppers in adobo sauce in the Mexican aisle of your local grocery store. Make sure that the brand used is gluten free if gluten is an issue for you.

How To Make Chipotle Mayo

To make this Grilled Southwest Chicken Sandwich even better, we're going to top it with a chipotle mayo sauce.

This is an easy sauce made with mayo, lime juice, chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, sugar, garlic powder, and salt. The chipotle peppers in adobo sauce give it a spicy kick that makes these sandwiches irresistible.

1. To make the chipotle mayo, start by mincing 1-2 of the adobo peppers from a can of chipotles in adobo sauce (depending on how spicy you prefer your sauce).
2. Add ½ cup mayo, 1 Tbsp. lime juice (equals the juice of 1-2 limes), 1-2 minced chipotle peppers in adobo sauce plus 1 Tbsp. of the adobo sauce, ¼ tsp. sugar, ¼ tsp. garlic powder, and ¼ tsp. of kosher salt to a small bowl.
3. Stir the sauce until completely combined using a fork or a small whisk.
4. Adjust the sauce to taste. If it's too spicy, add a little bit of sugar. Add more adobo sauce if you prefer it even spicier.

The chipotle mayo may be prepared the day ahead and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

What To Serve With Grilled Southwest Chicken Sandwiches

Once the chicken is grilled and the chipotle mayo prepared, it's time to assemble and serve the sandwiches.

This recipe is gluten free and calls for gluten free burger buns, but you can use regular burger buns if gluten is not an issue for you.

Choose a brand of gluten free burger buns that you like. I enjoy the burger buns from Canyon Bakehouse, Udi's, and O'Dough's.

Whichever bun you choose, it's best to toast the buns before assembling.

1. To make the sandwiches, slice each chicken breast in half.
2. Toast the buns on the grill or on a skillet on the stove top.
3. Place some lettuce or greens of choice on the bottom portion of the bun along with some sliced tomatoes.
4. Place the grilled chicken on top of the tomatoes and drizzle a generous amount of the chipotle mayo over the top.
5. Add any additional toppings and place the top portion of the bun on top.

You can customize the topping for these sandwiches any way you like. Here are some additional topping ideas:

• Pickled Jalapenos
• Red Onions or Pickled Red Onions
• Arugula
• Hot Sauce
• Avocado, Guacamole, or Poblano Avocado Sauce
• Cilantro Lime Sauce
• Pico de Gallo
• Sauteed Peppers or Mushrooms
• Cabbage or Coleslaw

These chicken sandwiches are perfect served with a summer side dish like this Southwest Pasta Salad, Southwest Black Bean Corn Salad, Kohlrabi Slaw, or Grilled Corn Avocado Salad.

How Long Do The Leftovers Last In The Fridge?

Chicken or any grilled dishes are always best fresh off the grill, but sometimes leftovers are unavoidable.

• Any leftover chicken may be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.
• It may be reheated on low in the microwave just until heated through.
• The chicken breasts may be wrapped in foil and warmed in an oven heated to 250 degrees Fahrenheit just until heated through. It's best not to reheat too long at too high a heat, or it will become tough.
• Any leftover chipotle mayo can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.

Love grilled recipes? Don't miss these!

• Italian Grilled Chicken Sandwich
• Grilled Bruschetta Chicken
• Grilled Southwest Poblano Burgers
• Chicken Kofta Kebabs
• Thai Chicken Rice Bowls
• Grilled Eggplant Sandwiches
• Grilled Juicy Lucy Burger

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