Grilled Chicken Pesto Panini

Kittencalskitchen's Note:

If you have an electric panini maker then use it for this, if not you need two skillets, one heavy cast iron skillet or similar for the top to weigh down the panini. This makes a perfect lunch or light dinner. Plan ahead the chicken needs to marinade for 1 hour before cooking....this works with a George Foreman grill, just make certain to hold down on the top lid firmly while cooking to ensure toasting the bread, or maybe you are lucky enough to own a panini maker, then you will not need the heavy skillet for the top. Double the recipe if desired. You will love this!

• Total Time: 1 hrs 30 mins
• Prep Time: 1 hrs 30 mins
• Cook Time: 0 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 4

• 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, and pounded thin
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon fresh minced garlic
• 1 tablespoon dried Italian seasoning
• salt and pepper
• 1 1/2 cups roasted red peppers (bottled or canned)
• 4 slices provolone cheese (sliced thick)
• 1/2-3/4 cup pesto sauce (bottled or homemade)
• 8 slices Italian bread (sliced 1/2-inch thick, can use about 4 x 4-inch ciabatta rolls in place of the Italian bread)
• olive oil, for brushing on bread

Directions:

1. Pound the chicken fillets until thin between two pieces of waxed paper, then marinate in oil, garlic, pepper and Italian seasoning for about 1-1/2 hours.
2. Heat a grill pan or sauté pan (the breasts can also be grilled on the BBQ).
3. Season the breasts with salt and pepper.
4. Cook the chicken on medium heat for about 5 minutes per side, or until golden and cooked through.
5. Remove from pan and place on a plate or board.
6. Top each fillet with some of the roasted peppers and a slice of cheese.
7. Spread BOTH sides of the bread with pesto sauce.
8. Place chicken inside the bread and form to a sandwich.
9. Brush both sides of the outside of bread with olive oil.
10. Heat a grill pan or a 10-inch skillet on medium high heat. Place the panini in the pan (only 2 at a time).
11. Weigh the panini down with another heavy skillet and then top with a heavy can (a very large can of tomato juice works great for this!) cook for about 3 minutes, or until bread is toasted.
12. Turn the panini, and weigh it down again with a heavy skillet and a can on top, and toast for another 3 minutes.
13. Remove from pan and cut in half.

Reviews

[Sage]

I made this for supper on my Cuisinart griddler. Reallly good;I will be making this again.thanks for posting.I cooked the chicken on the griddler;it came out so good,then cooked the sandwiches on the Griddler;I love that machine,love that panini. Rita

[KelBel]

Wonderful sandwich. I used my Cuisinart Griddler to cook both the chicken breast and sandwich. This nice, simple combination of flavors is a winner. Thanks Kitz!

[rosslare]

Out of this world delicious!