• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Hungry Healthy Happy
  • Pasta recipes
  • About
  • Recipe Index
  • FREE eBook
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Pasta recipes
  • About
  • Recipe Index
  • FREE eBook
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • Let's get social!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • Twitter
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Pasta recipes
    • About
    • Recipe Index
    • FREE eBook
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
  • Let's get social!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Hungry Healthy Happy » Recipes » Sandwiches

    Pesto Chicken Sandwich

    Published: May 28, 2015 · Modified: Mar 8, 2023 by Dannii · This post may contain affiliate links · 122 Comments

    548 shares
    • 337
    Jump to Recipe
    Pesto chicekn sandwich on a slate surface with a text title overaly.

    This easy Pesto Chicken Sandwich is going to be a lunchtime favourite. Ciabatta topped with rocket lettuce, a creamy pesto sauce, mozzarella and grilled chicken breast. Bursting with flavour, lunch never has to be boring again. A chicken pesto sandwich is also great for packing up and taking to work.

    Two ciabatta rolls filled with chicken, pesto and lettuce.

    We sometimes find ourselves in a bit of a sandwich rut. But move over ham and cheese sandwich, as this pesto chicken sandwich is the new favourite, and so easy to adapt too. You are going to want to put the creamy pesto sauce on everything too.

    If you are looking for more ways to use pesto, why not try our Chicken Pesto Burgers, our easy Pesto Salmon or our delicious Pesto Chicken Pasta?

    Jump to:
    • Why you will love it
    • Ingredients needed
    • How to make Pesto Chicken Sandwich - Step by step
    • Creamy pesto sauce
    • Variations
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Extra tips
    • More sandwiches
    • Recipe
    • Feedback

    Why you will love it

    • Make lunch time more exciting - In a lunch time rut? This pesto sandwich is going to bring you right out of it.
    • A great way to use up leftover chicken - You can grill up a chicken breast for this, or you can use up leftovers from a roast chicken.
    • An incredible creamy pesto sauce - You are going to want to put this sauce on everything.
    • Easy to adapt - Like any sandwich, this is easy to adapt with your favourite sandwich fillings.

    Ingredients needed

    • Bread - When it comes to sandwiches, there are so many bread choices. We used ciabatta rolls, but bagels also work well. You could use a couple of slices of your favourite loaf, like a sour dough or seeded bread. You could even mix thing up and stuff everything into a pita or wrap.
    • Chicken - We used a grilled chicken breast for this, however it is also a great way to use up leftover chicken from our Best Roast Chicken or Slow Cooker Whole Chicken. Hve an air fryer? Use our Air Fryer Chicken Breast.
    • Pesto - Homemade pesto is always best and we have given the recipe for one below. However, you can use a good quality store bought one if you want to save some time.
    • Yogurt and mayonnaise - This is what the pesto is mixed into to make a creamy sauce. We used a 0% fat Greek yoghurt and reduced fat mayo.
    • Lettuce - Sandwiches need some greens and we used rocket lettuce (arugula) because it adds a lovely peppery flavour. You could use romaine instead, which would add a nice crunch.
    • Cheese - We used slices of mozzarella, but you could use a smoked cheddar or even goats cheese.
    • Sun-dried tomatoes - These add a lovely burst of flavour to the sandwiches. You could swap them for fresh beef tomato slices instead.

    A full ingredients list with measurements is in the recipe card below.

    How to make Pesto Chicken Sandwich - Step by step

    One: Mix the pesto with the Greek yogurt and mayo.

    A small bowl of pesto, yogurt and mayonnaise mixed together.

    Two: Spread it on the halved ciabattas.

    Ciabatta bun in two halves, the bottom has a pesto sauce spread on it.

    Three: Top with rocket (arugula) lettuce.

    Rocket lettuce added to the bottom bun.

    Four: Add the mozzarella and sun-dried tomatoes.

    Mozzarella and sun dried tomatoes added to the bun.

    Five: Top with grilled chicken.

    Cooked chicken slices added to the bun.

    Creamy pesto sauce

    You are going to want to put this sauce on everything. It's so simple to make, you will wonder why you haven't been making it forever. Just your favourite pesto, stirred into some yogurt and mayonnaise for a creamy and herb packed sauce that pairs beautifully with chicken.

    You can use any pesto, even a red pesto if you like, but why not try making our Mixed Herb Pesto. It's a great way to use up a few different leftovers herbs you might have hanging around your fridge.

    A ciabatta bun with chicken, lettuce, tomatoes and pesto sliced in half next to a jar of pesto.

    Variations

    There are so many options when it comes to stacking this sandwich. We used sun-dried tomatoes, but you could swap them for olives. We used rocket lettuce for some greens and that delicious peppery taste, however you could use any salad greens.

    Add some fresh tomato and cucumber or even some grilled peppers.

    We used mozzarella in these sandwiches, however you can swap it out for your favourite cheese. A really strong cheddar works well, or some Swiss cheese. Basically, anything that melts well.

    Two ciabattas filled with chicken, lettuce and pesto. One is cut in half.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How to store pesto chicken sandwiches?

    These sandwiches are best made from fresh and eaten straight away. Any leftovers of the chicken and pesto sauce can be stored in an air tight container in the fridge for 2 days.

    What goes well with pesto chicken sandwiches?

    These are pretty filling by themselves, but if you wanted to have some sides then we recommend our Greek Potatoes, Oven Baked Onion Rings, or No Mayo Coleslaw.

    heart icon

    Extra tips

    • You can use a couple of slices of your favourite bread, a roll or a bagel, pita or wrap.
    • If you don't have any leftover grilled chicken, you can grill some fresh or shred up some leftover roast chicken.
    • You can use any pesto in the creamy sauce.
    • Swap the rocket for spinach or your favourite salad greens.
    • You can add fresh tomato and cucumber or some grilled peppers.
    • We used mozzarella, but you could use a strong cheddar or Swiss cheese instead.
    • You could put the sandwich in a panini press after you have made it.

    More sandwiches

    • Healthy Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich surrounded by blueberries and a spoonful of peanut butter.
      Healthy Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich
    • The Ultimate Hummus Sandwich on a wooden surface.
      The Ultimate Hummus Sandwich
    • Loaded Tuna Sandwich stacked next to each other.
      Loaded Tuna Sandwich
    • Leftover Roast Beef Sandwich

    If you’ve tried this pesto chicken sandwich recipe, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
    Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.

    Recipe

    Pesto Chicken Sandwich next to a bowl of potato chips.

    Pesto Chicken Sandwich

    By: Dannii
    This easy Pesto Chicken Sandwich will be a lunchtime favourite. Ciabatta topped with lettuce, creamy pesto sauce, mozzarella and grilled chicken breast.
    5 from 2 votes
    Pin Print Save recipe Recipe saved!
    Course: Lunch
    Cuisine: British, Italian
    Prep: 5 minutes mins
    Total: 5 minutes mins
    Servings: 2 servings
    Calories: 538kcal
    Allergens:
    An illustration of a carton of milk.
    Dairy
    An illustration of two ears of wheat.
    Gluten
    An illustration of a cow's head.
    Meat
    An illustration of a mustard bottle.
    Mustard
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • 2 Ciabattas
    • 200 g (7 oz) Chicken breast - grilled and sliced
    • 2 tablespoon Pesto
    • 2 tablespoon 0% Greek yogurt
    • 2 tablespoon Mayonnaise
    • 30 g (1.5 cups) Rocket (arugula)
    • 0.5 ball Mozzarella - thinly sliced
    • 4 Sun-dried tomatoes

    Instructions

    • Mix 2 tablespoon Pesto with 2 tablespoon 0% Greek yogurt and 2 tablespoon Mayonnaise.
    • Spread it on two halves of 2 Ciabattas.
    • Top with 30 g Rocket (arugula).
    • Add 0.5 ball Mozzarella (sliced) and 4 Sun-dried tomatoes.
    • Top with 200 g Chicken breast.

    Notes

    • You can use a couple of slices of your favourite bread, a roll or a bagel, pita or wrap.
    • If you don't have any leftover grilled chicken, you can grill some fresh or shred up some leftover roast chicken.
    • You can use any pesto in the creamy sauce.
    • Swap the rocket for spinach or your favourite salad greens.
    • You can add fresh tomato and cucumber or some grilled peppers.
    • We used mozzarella, but you could use a strong cheddar or Swiss cheese instead.
    • You could put the sandwich in a panini press after you have made it.

    Nutritional Information

    Serving: 1sandwich | Calories: 538kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 42g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 116mg | Sodium: 993mg | Potassium: 626mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1105IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 350mg | Iron: 1mg
    DisclaimerThe nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.

    You'll love these too...

    • A mushroom sandwich on a wooden board with some crisps.
      Mushroom Sandwich
    • Four leftover turkey sandwiches on a wooden board.
      Leftover Turkey Sandwich
    • Two chicken mayo sandwiches stacked on a wooden board.
      Chicken Mayo Sandwich
    • Homemade meatball sub on a plate with pickles and potato crisps.
      Homemade Meatball Sub

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Marisa Franca @ All Our Way

      September 01, 2015 at 12:48 pm

      Great looking sandwich. I'll have to try your combination. Thank you for sharing.

      Reply
      • Dannii

        September 03, 2015 at 9:48 pm

        No problem - hope you enjoy

        Reply
    « Older Comments

    Made this recipe? Let me know! Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Dannii in hat and glasses stood on a beach.

    Welcome!

    My name is Dannii. Here you will find easy family recipes with a healthy twist.
    Established in 2011, Hungry Healthy Happy has become one of the UK's most popular food blogs, with two successful recipe books published.

    About HHH»

    Pasta Recipes

    • A large bowl of Greek spaghetti with a pair of tongs in it.
      Greek Spaghetti with Tomato and Feta
    • A white plate with mushroom bolognese and spaghetti.
      Mushroom Bolognese
    • Quick Broccoli Pasta on a large plate next to a purple towel.
      Quick Broccoli Pasta
    • Healthy mac and cheese in a round dish with a portion scooped out.
      Healthy Mac and Cheese
    • Sardine pasta in a bowl with a fork.
      Sardine Pasta
    • Easy Marmite Pasta in a bowl topped with cheese and chopped herbs.
      Easy Marmite Pasta

    Featured in

    Collage of media outlet logos.

    Popular Recipes

    • A pile of air fryer chips.
      The Best Air Fryer Chips
    • 10 Minute Chickpea and Spinach Curry on a blue and white plate.
      10 Minute Chickpea and Spinach Curry
    • Easy tomato pasta sauce coating tagliatelle on a white plate.
      Easy Tomato Pasta Sauce
    • Slow cooker beef brisket sliced up on a serving board.
      Slow Cooker Beef Brisket

    Footer

    Help & Information

    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Policy
    • Advertising
    • Blog

    About us

    • About us
    • Newsletter Sign Up!
    • Press enquiries
    • Web Stories
    • FAQ

    Follow us

    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok

    ^ back to top

    Featured in

    A selection of publications that Hungry Healthy Happy has been featured in

    As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2011-2023 Hungry Healthy Happy • All Rights Reserved • Site Design by D Martin

    • 337
    548 shares