Grilled Chicken Carbonara Sandwich – delicious layers of flavors with homemade garlic aioli, pancetta, grilled chicken, and parmesan-crusted bread!
One of my favorite things to do in the kitchen is to take some of our favorite dishes and make them into something else. A pie into a cookie, a cookie into a crème brûlée, or a pasta into a sandwich. My husband, Jake, has been asking me to make Chicken Carbonara. While I like this dish, there are other pasta dishes I prefer. So I decided to please us both and turn it into a sandwich.
The result: my favorite sandwich ever. Literally, I was so in love with this that I called my husband, dad, and sister to see if I could bring them lunch. While my dad was the only one who could come over and try it, I also made one for my husband that evening. I was so excited, it was a perfect melody of flavors.
A traditional Carbonara is made with an egg-based sauce with garlic, pancetta, and parmesan cheese. Using the egg and garlic I made a homemade aioli to spread on inside of the sandwich. I then used the parmesan element of the dish by using it to crust the outside of the sandwich, this turned out beautiful. I layered the pancetta with a chicken breast, making the duo the “meat” of the sandwich. Layering the parmesan-crusted Italian bread, aioli, chicken breast, pancetta, cheese and a touch of lemon zest brought this sandwich to a whole new level of A-MAZING!
I literally can’t wait to make this again. It was easy to prepare, has a stunning presentation and eating it was more than incredible.
Enjoy! XOXO San
How do you make this Grilled Chicken Carbonara Sandwich?
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Cut the chicken breast in half horizontally, so that you have 4 pieces of chicken. Place them in a Ziplock bag and proceed to pound the chicken breast so that you have 4 thin pieces of chicken. Season with salt and pepper and grill on both sides until completely cooked through. My grill took about 7 minutes.
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While chicken is grilling make the aioli. Place the egg, crushed garlic cloves, and parsley into a blender. Blend until mixed and there are no garlic chunks, add the olive oil and salt and pepper to taste, a sprinkle of lemon juice may also be added. Blend until thickened. Set aside.
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Heat medium skillet over medium-high heat. Melt 2 teaspoons of butter.
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Generously butter 8 slices of bread on only one side. Sprinkle 1-1/2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon of parmesan on buttered side of bread. Push down to stick the cheese to the butter.
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Reduce heat to medium-low. Place 2 slices of bread in skillet, cheese side down. Spread aioli on bread, then top with chicken, pancetta, 1/4 cup of mozzarella, and a pinch of parmesan and lemon zest. Place other slice of bread on top, butter side up.
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Once it is golden brown, after a few minutes, flip over sandwich and bake until cheese in the sandwich is melted and the bread is a golden brown. Remove from heat and repeat process with remaining sandwiches.
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Cut sandwiches in half and serve with a green salad. If you have extra aioli, have it on the side for those who want more.
For more tasty sandwich ideas, try these Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Sliders, French Onion Meatball Sandwiches, and Grilled “Ranch” Style Chicken Sandwiches
Don’t forget to pin this to your favorite Pinterest board to save for later!
Grilled Chicken Carbonara Sandwich
Ingredients
- 8 slices Italian bread
- 1/4 cup butter
- 4 slices pancetta
- 2 large chicken breasts
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese shredded
- 8 teaspoons grated parmesan cheese
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese grated
Garlic Basil Aioli
- 3 garlic cloves crushed
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1 egg
- salt and pepper
- 1/4 cup fresh flat leaf parsley chopped
- 1 small lemon zested
Instructions
- Cut the chicken breast in half horizontally, so that you have 4 pieces of chicken. Place them in a Ziplock bag and proceed to pound the chicken breast so that you have 4 thin pieces of chicken. Season with salt and pepper and grill on both sides until completely cooked through. My grill took about 7 minutes.
- While chicken is grilling make the aioli. Place the egg, crushed garlic cloves, and parsley into a blender. Blend until mixed and there are no garlic chunks, add the olive oil and salt and pepper to taste, a sprinkle of lemon juice may also be added. Blend until thickened. Set aside.
- Heat medium skillet over medium-high heat. Melt 2 teaspoons of butter.
- Generously butter 8 slices of bread on only one side. Sprinkle 1-1/2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon of parmesan on buttered side of bread. Push down to stick the cheese to the butter.
- Reduce heat to medium-low. Place 2 slices of bread in skillet, cheese side down. Spread aioli on bread, then top with chicken, pancetta, 1/4 cup of mozzarella, and a pinch of parmesan and lemon zest. Place other slice of bread on top, butter side up.
- Once it is golden brown, after a few minutes, flip over sandwich and bake until cheese in the sandwich is melted and the bread is a golden brown. Remove from heat and repeat process with remaining sandwiches.
- Cut sandwiches in half and serve with a green salad. If you have extra aioli, have it on the side for those who want more.
Dads Review: When I called my dad about the sandwich he headed right over there was no hesitation. When he walked in he remarked how amazing the plate looked. He loved this sandwich and thought a tomato would pair well with it. The next time I have my parents over for lunch, this will be on the menu.
I love your food creativity and your clearly great with a camera. Now I need to try this with Gluten Free bread!
That’s a perfect weekend sandwich for me. It looks amazing!
Hope you can try it Liz!
xo San
This grilled chicken carbonara looks so delicious! I love how you made it into a sandwich!
Thanks Courtney! xo San
You are so incredibly creative! This looks amazing. I am definitely going to try this out 😉
Thank Danielle that was super sweet! xo San
That sandwich looks amazing!
That looks great, those ingredients together sounds fresh and healhty!
Oh man that is making my stomach growl. It looks amazing
Ohhh, I like the touch of lemon zest in there. I bet it does add just the right kick!
The lemon brings all the flavors together! xo San
Looks good. My hubby would love it. Thanks for the recipe.
Mistee – I hope you can enjoy it soon. PS: love your blog! xo San
That is a serious gourmet sandwich – I’m not kidding! I would expect to find something like this at a top rated Italian restaurant for lunch.
Thanks Sherrie – xo San
That sandwich looks so delicious. At the same time it looks clean and fresh. It just makes people want to take a bite.
This looks terrific! I hope you will join us at the Bacon Time linky tomorrow. A cheesy chicken sandwich always makes me smile.
OMGosh I can taste that through my screen right now, it looks so good! Even the bread alone looks tasty!
Yummy! This sandwich would be the perfect bite for me! Love it 🙂 Found it on family fun friday link party!
Cathy
This looks delicious! Thanks for bringing it by and linking up at the Weekend Social on http://www.KitchenDreaming.com! We hope to see you again next week.
Oh my gosh, this is a mighty fine looking sandwich! Thanks so much for hosting as Simple Supper Tuesday.
Wow! Now, that is a sandwich. I’m hopping over to visit from Let’s Get Real today. My husband is a big fan of sandwiches. We have been talking about different combinations we could try for gourmet sandwiches. This combination will certainly be a new favorite for the two of us.
Thanks Christina for stopping by see you next week. xo San
I love the creativity of turning a meal into something else! Thanks for linking up with Let’s Get Real!
Well that looks delicious! I heart sandwiches. I might have to make this one of these nights.
I love sandwiches too, especially ones like this! xo San
Love this idea for an Easter Brunch! Featuring at Family Fun Friday! http://www.happyandblessedhome.com/2014/04/family-fun-friday-week-63-100-easter-party-ideas.html
Monica
Stopping by from Foodies & Crafties Blog Hop. This looks amazing and I want it right now! Yummy!!
Carrie, A Mother’s Shadow
Thanks Carries – I love that you came by, will head over to your blog now. xo San