This Copycat Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt is just like the sandwich at Panera but in the comfort of your own home! Shredded chicken, spicy peppers, cilantro and avocado are all tucked in with a thick slice of melty chedda’ in this gourmet sandwich!
This past weekend, my college roommate and I drove TWENTY SIX HOURS (13 each way) to the middle of nowhere, Alabama to see one of my best friends from college graduate as a helicopter pilot.
Let me tell ya, you have to really like someone to be in a car that long with them.
We ate lots of snacks, sang, slept while the other person drove (ok that was just me) and got the giggles when we had been in the car WAY too many hours. It was a blast.
I have to give a shoutout to Andrew because I’ve been on so many weekend trips this year while he stays at home with Sadie. I come home to clean dishes, a clean house, and a husband and dog who missed me very much. I’m a pretty lucky girl!
(Sappy Rant Ahead)
Andrew has always been my #1 fan and believes in me even on days when I don’t believe in myself. He has picked me up when I sat on the floor and cried in frustration when I couldn’t find a job. He has lifted me up and twirled me around when a month later, an opportunity better than I ever could have dreamed of came my way.
Most notably, the man tries anything I cook for this little blog (as long as it doesn’t involve cauliflower rice- this is the only way he’ll eat it).
He tackles the mountains of dishes when my feet hurt from standing in the kitchen recipe testing for hours.
He stops at the store and picks up odds & ends when I need them for a shoot.
He’s pretty much the best. And he doesn’t ask for much.
This Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt is by far his favorite from Panera, and I made it for him a few weekends ago as a tiny little gesture of thanks (also, thanks husband for waiting patiently while I shot this for the blog).
Copycat Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt
What You’ll Need:
- Shredded chicken
- Chipotle mayo (make your own with this easy recipe)
- Cilantro
- Peppadew or piquillo peppers*
- Avocado
- Cheddar cheese
* I made this the first time without peppers, and my husband said it needed a lil’ something. Panera makes the sandwich with peppadew peppers, but all I could find was roasted red bell peppers and piquillo peppers. If you don’t want spice, roasted bell peppers is the way to go. Otherwise, use any peppers of choice! A hot pepper mix would be yummy, too.
You can find your pepper of choice near the pickles and olives at the grocery store.
Other faves my husband loves:
- He’s the cutest when I make my Best Ever Queso for a party because he goes around telling everyone they HAVE to try it
- He asks for this Lightened Up King Ranch Casserole on the reg!
- I make this Bacon, Egg and Biscuit Breakfast Bake for him about once a month for quick weekday breakfasts
P.S., if you have more questions about how we handle one of us being a health nut and the other..not (ha) you can read this post about how we balance it all!
| Prep Time | 5 minutes |
| Cook Time | 5 minutes |
| Servings |
sandwich
|
- 2 slices bread of choice
- 1/2 cup shredded chicken more if desired
- 1 slice cheddar cheese
- 1/4 avocado sliced
- 1/4 cup peppadew or piquillo peppers
- 2 tbsp chipotle mayo
- cilantro
Ingredients
|
|
- Preheat oven to 350 while you assemble your sandwich.
- Take the bottom piece of bread and layer in this order (bottom to top): shredded chicken, peppers, avocado, and cheddar cheese. Leave sandwich open faced and pop it in the oven until the cheese melts, about 5 minutes.
- Once you pull it out, add cilantro onto the melted cheese and top with your chipotle mayo slathered piece of bread. Slice in half and serve!
Enjoy!
What kind of shredded chicken did you use?
Any kind will work- from a chicken breast or rotisserie chicken!
They make theirs with smoked Gouda. That really adds so much to the sandwhich. I’d recommend going with that instead of the cheddar. Smoked Gouda is available everywhere.
That sounds so delicious! I’m a big fan of Gouda!
Excited to try this! Thank you!
What type of bread did you use?