This Grilled Chicken Sandwich is nothing like the afterthought grilled chicken sandwiches you’ve seen on fast food menus. With a scrumptious honey Dijon marinade, the chicken is juicy, flavorful, and ready to be assembled into your ideal sandwich!
Why You’ll Love This Juicy Sandwich
- Perfectly Cooked Chicken. Grilled chicken can often be bland, dry, and rubbery. This grilled chicken sandwich (and my Grilled Chicken Tenders) is the redemption. It’s marinated in a blend of honey, garlic, lemon juice, and a touch of Dijon. The chicken is moist, juicy, and tastes yummy enough to enjoy on its own.
- Great for a Crowd. Need to serve a large group of people? This grilled chicken sandwich has you covered! For a group, you can marinate as many chicken breasts as you need well in advance, fire them off just before serving, then let your guests assemble their own. Prepare to be praised!
- Fast and Healthy. While making this grilled chicken sandwich may not be faster than a drive-through, it isn’t too far off. This sandwich is ready in under an hour (with 30 minutes of marinating time). Plus, these grilled chicken sandwiches are healthier than anything you’d get from a fast food joint!
How to Make the Best Grilled Chicken Sandwich
The Ingredients
- Chicken Breast. Boneless, skinless chicken breasts create a healthy, protein-packed, crowd-pleasing sandwich. (Want to know how to grill chicken like a pro? Check out my Grilled Chicken Breast.)
- Honey. Adds delicious sweetness to the chicken marinade and helps it caramelize as it cooks.
- Dijon. The tangy mustard flavor of Dijon gives depth to the marinade.
- Lemon Juice. Helps tenderize the chicken breasts.
- Spices. Smoked paprika and garlic powder add smoky, garlicky flavor to the marinade.
- Buns. We like to serve our grilled chicken sandwiches on seeded whole wheat hamburger buns or brioche buns. You could use any type of bun you prefer (just make sure it’s good quality!). For fewer grilled chicken sandwich calories, wrap your chicken sandwich in a lettuce leaf or low-carb tortilla.
- Lettuce + Tomato. Cheese, lettuce, and tomatoes are classic grilled chicken sandwich toppings, but you can decide what toppings (like Refrigerator Pickles) go on a chicken sandwich in your home . See below for more grilled chicken sandwich ideas.
The Directions
- Marinate the Chicken. At least 30 minutes at room temperature or up to 6 hours in the refrigerator.
- Grill the Chicken. Grill chicken breast at 375 degrees F for 8 to 12 minutes.
- Let the Chicken Rest. Now is a great time to toast the buns.
- Assemble. Add toppings and sauces as you please. ENJOY!
Recipe Variations
- Gourmet Chicken Sandwich. Add “fancy” toppings like caramelized onions and Sauteed Mushrooms, plus an elevated cheese like Brie, gouda, or fontina.
- Oniony Chicken Sandwich. For a delicious topping upgrade, try my Quick Pickled Onions. Or, add caramelized onions.
- Spicy. Looking for a chicken sandwich reminiscent of your favorite from Chick-fil-A? Don’t miss my Spicy Chicken Sandwich.
- Honey Mustard. Slather your bun with honey mustard before assembling the sandwich.
- Buffalo Grilled Chicken Sandwich. For a little kick, add Buffalo sauce to your chicken sandwich bun.
- BBQ Grilled Chicken Sandwich. BBQ sauce goes well on a chicken sandwich (I recommend my homemade Barbecue Sauce).
- Pesto. Use Mozzarella cheese for your sandwich and spread Basil Pesto onto your bottom bun. YUM!
- Club. Add slices of Baked Bacon or Air Fryer Bacon. Instead of a bun, use sourdough slices and toast your sandwich on a panini press.
- Tex-Mex. Adding avocado slices and jalapeno to your chicken sandwich. You could add the Best Guacamole and salsa too.
- Ranch. Spread your bun with Greek Yogurt Ranch Dip.
Storage Tips
- To Store. Refrigerate the grilled chicken in an airtight storage container for up to 4 days. Store the buns at room temperature.
- To Reheat. Gently rewarm chicken on a baking sheet in the oven at 350 degrees F or in the microwave. Toast buns in the oven as well if desired.
- To Freeze. Freeze the grilled chicken in an airtight, freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. Freeze buns in an airtight freezer-safe ziptop bag. Thaw at room temperature or toast from frozen.
Meal Prep Tip
For easy, grab-and-go sandwiches all week long, grill the chicken breasts as directed and refrigerate them in an airtight storage container. Prep any toppings you’d like to use and slice the buns (if needed).
Leftover Ideas
Leftover chicken can be used to add protein to Green Goddess Salad or for a Grilled Chicken Salad.
What to Serve with a Grilled Chicken Sandwich
- Salads. There are a myriad of salads that would be tasty with this sandwich. Try Healthy Coleslaw, Ramen Salad, or Spinach Strawberry Salad.
- Grilled Veggies. While you’ve got the grill on, whip up some Grilled Corn or Grilled Asparagus.
- Beans. Easy Baked Beans would be delicious with this sandwich.
- Fries or Chips. Air Fryer Chips, Sweet Potato Wedges, Air Fryer French Fries, or Sweet Potato Fries would be tasty with this grilled chicken sandwich recipe.
Recommended Tools to Make this Recipe
- Tongs. Perfect for flipping the chicken breasts.
- Instant Read Thermometer. My #1 tip for knowing when chicken is done.
- Grill Pan. No outdoor grill? No problem! This grill pan will do the trick.
Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Treat Your Chicken Right. Don’t overcook your chicken! This is juicy chicken sandwich rule #1. Also, marinating is not optional. The marinade (especially the salt in the marinade) both flavors the chicken and makes it more moist (see this Chicken Marinade for more information).
- Use Top-Notch Toppings. Don’t let a bland, out-of-season tomato or lackluster cheese bring your chicken sandwich down. Grab good-quality cheese, crisp lettuce, and the best tomatoes. Not tomato season? Swap in sun-dried tomatoes, which will make your sandwich delicious.
- Be Picky About Your Bun. I have had many a restaurant sandwich (or Turkey Burger) not live up to its potential, because the bun was lackluster (little flavor, too thick or too thin, flimsy, dry, etc.). Brioche is always a good choice.
Grilled Chicken Sandwich
Easy and delicious, this is the best EVER grilled chicken sandwich. The honey Dijon marinade makes chicken perfectly moist and flavorful!
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 8 minutes
Total: 48 minutes
Servings: 4 sandwiches
Ingredients
FOR THE CHICKEN & MARINADE:
- 4 small boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 1/2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice or apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
FOR ASSEMBLY:
- 4 seeded whole wheat hamburger buns
- non-fat plain Greek yogurt or mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, or a mix
- sliced cheddar cheese or Swiss or aged cheddar cheese
- sliced RIPE tomatoes or swap sun-dried tomatoes
- lettuce, spinach, or arugula
- thinly sliced red onions or Pickled Onions or dill pickles, optional
Instructions
- Marinate the chicken: Lightly pound the chicken into an even, 1/2-inch thickness (I place a sheet of plastic over the top first for easy cleanup). Place in a large ziptop bag or a shallow dish for marinating.
- Add the oil, lemon juice, honey, Dijon, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Toss to evenly coat the chicken. Let marinate at room temperature for 30 minutes, or place in the refrigerator for up to 6 hours. (If marinating for more than 30 minutes, rotate the chicken once or twice throughout.)
- When ready to cook, heat an outdoor gas or charcoal grill (or an indoor grill pan) to medium-high, about 375°F. Grill the chicken for 8 to 12 minutes, flipping halfway through. When the chicken is nearing the end of its cooking time, place a slice of cheese on top to melt it. The chicken is done when it reaches 155 to 160°F on an instant read thermometer (chicken is considered safe to eat at 165°F, but its temperature will rise as it rests. DO NOT overcook or the chicken will be dry).
- Let rest for 5 minutes.
- If desired, place the buns cut-sides down on the grill to toast (or toast them briefly under the oven’s broiler, cut-sides up).
- Assemble the sandwiches: spread the cut side of the bottom bun with Greek yogurt and/or Dijon mustard and/or mayo. Top with lettuce and tomato. Sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper, then add the chicken and onion (or place the chicken on first; just know the bottom bun will get a little soggy). Add the top bun and onions if desired. Enjoy immediately.
Video
Notes
- TO STORE: Refrigerate the grilled chicken in an airtight storage container for up to 4 days. Store the buns at room temperature.
- TO REHEAT: Gently rewarm chicken on a baking sheet in the oven at 350°F or in the microwave. Toast buns in the oven as well if desired.
- TO FREEZE: Freeze the grilled chicken in an airtight, freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. Freeze buns in an airtight freezer-safe ziptop bag. Thaw at room temperature or toast from frozen.
Nutrition
Serving: 1sandwich, with bunCalories: 342kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 29gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 72mgPotassium: 539mgFiber: 2gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 531IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 56mgIron: 3mg
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Sign Me UpFrequently Asked Questions
Can I Bake My Chicken Breasts Instead?
If you’re unable to grill your chicken (or prefer it baked), you can use the marinade from this recipe and follow the times and temperature listed in my Baked Chicken Breast post.
How Do You Keep Chicken from Drying Out on the Grill?
Marinating and lightly pounding is keeps chicken from drying out on the grill. The pounding ensures the chicken cooks evenly and the outsides don’t dry out before the center is finished. The marinade keeps this chicken juicy and moist while it cooks.
Can I Use Chicken Thighs?
While I haven’t made this sandwich with boneless, skinless chicken thighs, you could certainly try it with these Grilled Chicken Thighs. The thighs usually cook for about 4-6 minutes on each side (depending on the type of grill and its temperature), but be sure to use an instant-read meat thermometer to check them for doneness. (For a sandwich that uses chicken thighs, don’t miss my Pulled Chicken Sandwich.)
Is a Grilled Chicken Sandwich Healthy?
This is a healthy grilled chicken sandwich. It uses simple, nutritious ingredients to build bold flavor, and the chicken breasts are lean and packed with protein. Of course, choosing healthy toppings (like omitting bacon) and buns can make a big difference in the nutritional value of your sandwich too.
How Do I Keep My Grilled Chicken Sandwich Bun From Getting Soggy?
It’s all in the preparation! You can assemble a chicken sandwich in any order, but personally, I prefer to start with a crisp lettuce leaf to make sure the bottom bun doesn’t become soggy while I am eating the sandwich.
These sound delicious! AND I only need to run to the store for Gruyere. Making these tonight at home and they are definitely on the list the next camping trip !
Holy yummy goodness on a bun! Love these (and love that you’re on the good ol’ Tablespoon! ;)).
Oh yum! I looove french onion soup so I know I’ll love this. Pinned!
I love anything cheesy and French onion so I’m sure I will love this! It looks so delicious!
LOOK at all those onions. Swoon! Perfection on a bun.
This sounds amazing, Erin! A sandwich doesn’t get much better than melted cheese and caramelized onions! I bet that even the French would love this :)
Very impressed with this ‘recipe makeover’, Erin. Nothing wrong with a bit of ‘framerican’ fusion food! :-)
I am a BIG fan onions–especially caramelized onions. I will find an excuse to eat them…on their own or as part of a meal! So, this is definitely my kind of sandwich :)
This looks great but the link is broken!
Hi Chris! I sincerely apologize. I went ahead and updated the post with the recipe, so you can see it easily right here now. Thanks for your patience!
Can we air fry the chicken? If yes what would be the temperature and the cooking time?
Hi Diane! Yes, you can air fry chicken breast! Here you go: https://www.wellplated.com/air-fryer-chicken-breast/
I just found this site and love it so far! Made these delicious grilled chicken sandwiches tonight and my picky 7 year olds (and hubby and I) gave it 2 thumbs up–a first! I used chicken tenders which I discovered I had instead of breasts but they still came out great and did not have to pound them. Because of the small size I put the kids’ chicken on Hawaiian rolls as sliders.
Hi Janet! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Hi Erin, These look and sound so good 😋 would you be able to use the marinade for skewers as well? I want to try them in my air fryer but haven’t found a marinade up until now that’s tempted me.
Thanks
It should work Carole! If you decide to experiment, I’d love to know how it goes!