Garlic Chicken Panini

Get Dinner on the TableHere it is – my final post in the Get Dinner on the Table series. Hopefully you’ve gleaned some helpful new ideas, tips and recipes to make weeknight meals a little easier. Let me add one last dinner idea to the mix: Garlic Chicken Panini.

Garlic Chicken is more like a nickname for this sandwich. It’s full name should really be Garlic & Herb-Brined Chicken Breast Panini with Roasted Red Peppers, Marinated Artichokes, Swiss Cheese and Basil Garlic Mayonnaise on a Baguette. Truly a mouthful! It’s inspired by a sandwich they serve at a local chain I like called Champagne French Bakery Café.

As you might imagine from that ingredient list, it’s an incredibly savory, flavorful combination. Don’t worry – the garlic in these panini isn’t at all overwhelming (you can still plan to kiss your loved ones). If you have leftover chicken on hand you can always incorporate that and forego the brining (although the brined chicken breast is pretty amazing). Add a green salad and dinner is served.

Garlic Chicken Panini

 

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Garlic Chicken Panini
Brine adapted from Chowhound; Basil Garlic Mayonnaise from Epicurious

Makes 4 panini

INGREDIENTS:

1 quart water
1/4 cup kosher salt
2 tablespoons honey
1 bay leaf
1 crushed garlic clove
6 whole black peppercorns
A dash of dried thyme
A dash of dried parsley
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast cutlets (thin-sliced)
1 baguette, cut into 4 pieces, halved lengthwise
Basil Garlic Mayonnaise (see recipe below)
1 small jar of marinated artichoke hearts, sliced about 1/4″ thick
1 small jar of roasted red peppers
4 slices Swiss cheese

DIRECTIONS:

In a large bowl, combine water, salt, honey, bay leaf, garlic, peppercorns, thyme, parsley and lemon juice. Add chicken. Cover and refrigerate for 30-40 minutes.

Preheat the panini grill to medium-high heat.

Grill the chicken breasts for 3-4 minutes until cooked through. Set chicken aside. Turn off the grill, wipe it clean and preheat it again to medium-high heat.

For each sandwich: Spread Basil Garlic Mayonnaise inside two baguette halves. Place a chicken breast cutlet on the bottom bread half. Arrange layers of artichoke hearts and roasted red peppers on top of the chicken. Add a slice of cheese and close the sandwich with the top bread half.

Grill the sandwich for 4-5 minutes until the cheese is melted and the bread is toasted. Slice in half, serve immediately and enjoy!

Basil Garlic Mayonnaise

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup coarsely chopped fresh basil
1 garlic clove, smashed
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon cayenne
3/4 cup mayonnaise

DIRECTIONS:

Pulse basil, garlic, salt, and cayenne in a food processor until finely chopped. Add mayonnaise and blend until smooth. Chill, covered, 1 hour (for flavors to develop).

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KathyPanini Happy, online since 2008, is more than just a sandwich blog. Here, you'll find hundreds of my original panini recipes, my guide to choosing a panini press and a whole lot of other creative uses for the panini press.
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7 Comments

  1. Doreen wrote:

    Yumm… this looks sooooo good … I’m going to have to try this soon!

    Posted 9.29.10 Reply
  2. Simple but delicious! I love it! Great photos, makes my mouth water just looking at them :)!

    Posted 9.29.10 Reply
  3. Nifty1 wrote:

    This is definitely going to be on my list for next week! Every week I roast red and yellow peppers, and make homemade mayonnaise, so I can see this panini recipe being a favourite go-to for busy weeknights!

    Posted 9.29.10 Reply
  4. stephchows wrote:

    Hmmmmmm now I want paninis for dinner!

    Posted 10.4.10 Reply
  5. Cindy wrote:

    This is so delicious…I think it’s going to become a regular panini around our house! Thanks for the recipe.

    Cindy

    Posted 10.7.10 Reply
  6. celeste wrote:

    Hi!
    YUM! I made this a couple weeks ago and included it in my blog’s “Menu Monday”. It was so tasty! I linked over to your post, too!
    http://mygreenbraecottage.blogspot.com/2010/09/menu-monday_29.html

    Posted 10.20.10 Reply