A grilled chicken sandwich is a classic meal that never goes out of style. The juicy, smoky chicken breast pairs perfectly with crunchy, fresh toppings tucked between two slices of toasted bread. While grilled chicken sandwiches are delicious on their own, the right toppings can take them to the next level
When building your grilled chicken sandwich, it’s important to find a balance of flavors and textures. You’ll want some toppings that add creaminess, acidity, crunch and even a little sweetness. The possibilities are endless! Here are 14 delicious ideas for toppings to elevate your grilled chicken sandwich.
1. Cheese
Cheese is a no-brainer topping for grilled chicken sandwiches. Melty cheese adds creaminess and gives the sandwich more substance. Cheddar, Swiss pepper jack and provolone are all classic choices. But you could also switch it up with mozzarella bleu cheese or shredded Mexican-style cheeses. Just be sure to put the cheese on the sandwich while the chicken is still hot and let it melt slightly before chowing down.
2. Lettuce
Crisp lettuce is essential for adding freshness and crunch to a chicken sandwich. Opt for varieties like iceberg, romaine or butter lettuce. Bibb and red leaf lettuce also work well. Shredded lettuce can help the veggies incorporate more easily into each bite.
3. Tomato
The grilled chicken sandwich must also have a juicy tomato slice. The smoky chicken goes well with the fresh tomato’s sweet and sour taste. Beefsteak, heirloom and cherry tomatoes all make good options. Make sure the tomato slices aren’t too thick, or they might fall off the sandwich.
4. Avocado
Chicken sandwiches taste great with avocado slices or mashed avocado on top. The richness pairs wonderfully with the lean grilled meat. Pick avocados that give a little when you press on them gently. They should be ripe but not too ripe and mushy for the best results.
5. Onion
Onions add lots of flavor for very few calories. Red onion and sweet Vidalia onions are particularly tasty choices. For maximum flavor and crunch, slice the onions thinly. The slices can be less sharp if you quickly rinse them under water. Grilled onions are also a tasty option.
6. Pickles
Pickles that are crisp and salty are a classic addition to sandwiches. They pair well with chicken that is too rich. A lot of people like dill pickle chips, but bread and butter pickles, pickled red onions, and other pickled vegetables also work well. Opt for cold, crisp pickles rather than limp, soggy ones.
7. Sauces and Spreads
Condiments like mustard, mayonnaise, hummus, pesto or tapenade all make excellent additions to grilled chicken sandwiches. They add moisture and bring creamy richness to balance the chicken. Flavored mayos like sriracha, chipotle or roasted garlic are especially delicious.
8. Bacon
It’s hard to beat smoky, salty bacon on a sandwich. Crisp cooked bacon adds fantastic texture and flavor contrast to grilled chicken sandwiches. Opt for high-quality, thick-cut bacon whenever possible. Overcooking makes bacon tough, so stop cooking just before it reaches your desired crispness.
9. Guacamole
Cool, creamy guacamole makes an amazing topping for grilled chicken. Spicy and flavorful, it provides the perfect richness to complement the chicken. Whip up a quick guac with avocado, lime juice, diced tomatoes, onions, cilantro and jalapeño. Or use a quality store-bought option.
10. Pineapple
For a fun, summery twist, add pineapple to your grilled chicken sandwich. Grilled pineapple slices are especially tasty. The sweet, tangy fruit balances the savory chicken beautifully. If using fresh pineapple, be sure it’s perfectly ripe for maximum flavor and juiciness.
11. Peppers and Chiles
Add a flavor punch with sliced bell peppers pickled jalapeños, banana peppers or your other favorite peppers. Spicy chiles bring heat while sweet bell peppers add a refreshing crunch. Roasted red peppers are also delicious. Use as many types of peppers as you like!
12. Pesto
Nutty, herby pesto makes an incredible condiment for grilled chicken sandwiches. It adds tons of fresh flavor and a creamy texture. While traditional basil pesto is best, sun-dried tomato or other pesto varieties also pair well with chicken. Slather it on thickly and be prepared for amazingness.
13. Caramelized Onions
For next-level flavor, top your sandwich with sweet, rich caramelized onions. Slowly cook sliced onions with a bit of oil until deeply golden brown and jammy. The process intensifies their natural sweetness. Caramelized onions take time but are well worth the effort.
14. BBQ Sauce
What’s better than BBQ sauce on grilled meat? The sweet, tangy, smoky flavor complements chicken wonderfully. Choose your favorite regional style like Kansas City, Memphis, Carolina or Texas barbecue sauce. Brush both the chicken and the bread with sauce for maximum finger-licking impact.
With so many topping options, it’s easy to customize your perfect grilled chicken sandwich. Stick with classics like cheese, bacon and lettuce. Or get adventurous with more unique ingredients like guacamole, caramelized onions or pineapple. You really can’t go wrong piling delicious toppings onto tender grilled chicken!
No matter what, use high-quality ingredients like freshly baked bread, thick-cut bacon and the ripest produce you can find. Take your time assembling each component. Then dig in and enjoy every incredible bite of your crave-worthy grilled chicken sandwich creation!
Tactic 2: Condiments, Toppings, and Thoughtful Assembly
Once the chicken and bacon are cooked, all thats left is to toast the buns and assemble the sandwiches.
How you assemble this sandwich is critical because you want to make sure its saucy and juicy enough. For me, a good beef burger needs to have enough fat running off the patty to go down my hands, over my wrists, and at least try to make its way along my forearms. I expect no less with this sandwich. But chicken breast, even when perfectly cooked, isnt the kind of meat thats prone to dripping juices, so it needs some help from lots and lots of mayo and sauce. To achieve that, you need ample slatherings of at least one condiment—and more than one isnt the worst idea! Here, I added the mayo in two layers, one on the top bun and one on the bottom, plus an extra dose of the green sauce. Thats going to give us plenty of delicious, messy drips.
The other critical element is anything that adds texture. Here, theres we go all in, with crunchy crumbled potato chips. I chose ruffled chips because they are thicker and stronger than regular chips. This means that they will have a lot of crunch even when broken up and covered in sauce. And its the crunch that we want—its all about adding texture to an otherwise very soft, wet sandwich.
Crushed ruffled potato chips add lots of salty crunch. But thats not the only thing to deliver here—not in this sandwich, nor in any other grilled chicken sandwich. Look to fresh, crisp toppings like pickles, lettuce, and onions to compensate for chicken breasts uni-textural experience.
The shredded iceberg lettuce here is cool and fresh.
The grilled chicken breast, glistening with the green sauce, is next.
Bacon is bacon, nuff said.
Tomato adds another fresh flavor and lots of its own juice; another spoonful of spicy green sauce amps up the drip factor and adds even more bold flavor.
The top bun gets even more mayo. Slather it on!
One more sprinkling of potato chips and you can close the sandwich. Again, its all about layers of flavor and texture.
Just try not to make a mess…
The Building Blocks
This sandwich, for all its power and glory, is very, very simple, and very easy to make. The building blocks include chicken, bacon, iceberg lettuce, crushed ruffled potato chips, mayo, tomato, a green sauce, and a bun. Each fulfills a role—some optional, some essential—required for grilled chicken sandwich greatness.
You MUST Try This Grilled Chicken Sandwich!
FAQ
What toppings go on chicken sandwiches?
A chicken sandwich can be elevated with a variety of toppings, ranging from classic staples to more adventurous options. Common choices include lettuce, tomato, and pickles, often paired with mayonnaise or mustard. You could add bacon, avocado, cheddar, Swiss, provolone, or pepper jack cheese, or caramelized onions for a stronger flavor.
What goes well with grilled chicken sandwiches?
32 Side Dishes To Serve With Grilled Chicken01 of 32. Heirloom Tomato Salad. 02 of 32. Watermelon Feta Salad. 03 of 32. Grilled Corn Ribs. 04 of 32. Tomato-And-Watermelon Salad. 05 of 32. Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad. 06 of 32. Cucumber-Tomato-Avocado Salad. 07 of 32. Three Pickle Potato Salad. 08 of 32. Spicy Pineapple Slaw.
What tastes good on a grilled chicken sandwich?
The building blocks include chicken, bacon, iceberg lettuce, crushed ruffled potato chips, mayo, tomato, a green sauce, and a bun. Each fulfills a role—some optional, some essential—required for grilled chicken sandwich greatness.
What is a good topping for grilled chicken?
Grilled Chicken Recipe with ToppingsSautéed Mushrooms with garlic and parsley makes for a fantastic topping for grilled chicken. Cherry tomatoes tossed in fresh basil make for a fantastic easy topping for warmer weather. A marinade of Dijon mustard, white wine, and herbs makes this grilled chicken so tender and juicy!.