Yields: 4 servings
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15-20 minutes
Ingredients:
Chicken:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (approximately 1.5 lbs)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
Bacon:
- 6-8 slices of bacon
Other:
- 8 slices of your favorite bread
- 8 slices Provolone or mozzarella cheese
- 1 ripe avocado, sliced
- Optional: Sun-dried tomato basil mayo (recipe below)
Sun-Dried Tomato Basil Mayo
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes, packed in oil, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
Prepare the chicken:
- Pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness.
- In a small bowl, combine olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Rub the mixture over the chicken breasts.
Cook the bacon:
- Cook the bacon in a skillet or the oven until crispy. Drain on paper towels, then roughly chop.
Grill the chicken:
- Preheat your grill to medium-high heat.
- Grill the chicken for 4-5 minutes per side, or until cooked through (internal temperature reaches 165°F/74°C).
- In the last minute or two of cooking, place a slice of cheese on each chicken breast to melt.
- Remove the chicken from the grill and let rest for a few minutes.
Prepare the avocado:
- Slice the avocado into even pieces.
Assemble the Melts:
- Lightly toast or grill your bread slices.
- If making the sun-dried tomato basil mayo, mix all ingredients in a small bowl.
- Spread desired amount of mayo (or plain mayo, if preferred) on one side of each bread slice.
- Layer the chicken, bacon, and avocado slices on top of 4 slices of bread.
- Place the remaining 4 bread slices on top to complete the sandwiches.
Final Grill/Melt:
- Return the melts to the grill for 1-2 minutes per side or until the cheese is fully melted and the bread is nicely toasted.
- Alternatively, for oven method: Place melts on a baking sheet and bake (or broil) in a preheated oven at 400°F (200°C) for a few minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Tips:
- Customize it: Add other toppings like sliced tomatoes, lettuce, or red onion.
- Spice it up: Add a pinch of chili flakes to the chicken seasoning for a little kick.
- No grill? No problem: Cook the chicken breasts in a skillet over medium heat instead of grilling.
