Chicken Bacon Ranch Panini

For all its simplicity, this panini is really something yummy... and a little spicy! And if you don’t have a panini maker, don’t fret! Just grill the sandwich in the skillet with a second (heavy) skillet on top of it to press it together. It’ll make you feel inventive and nifty.

• Ready In: 20 mins
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• Panini

• 8  slices  crusty  French bread
• 4  tablespoons  softened butter
• 2  whole chicken breasts, Cut In Half From Top To Bottom
•  garlic powder
•  salt
•  pepper
•  chili powder
•  blackening seasoning
•  red pepper
•  spicy mustard
•  peppercorn ranch dressing
• 4  slices  thick monterey jack cheese
• 8  slices  pepper bacon, Cooked Until Chewy And Cut In Half
•  diced tomato
•  diced onion
•  diced green pepper

• Blackening Seasoning

• 1  teaspoon  ground basil
• 1  teaspoon  ground thyme
• 1  teaspoon garlic
• 1  teaspoon white pepper
• 1  teaspoon black pepper
• 1  teaspoon salt (sea salt is better)
• 1  teaspoon onion powder
• 1  teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1  teaspoon paprika
• 1  teaspoon cumin

Directions

1. Season the chicken breasts with salt, pepper, garlic powder, chili powder, red pepper, and the blackening seasoning.
2. Add 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil to a pan and cook the chicken breasts until cooked through, about 10-12 minutes. Slice into strips or shred, and set aside.
3. Cook the bacon.
4. To assemble the sandwiches, spread a generous amount of mustard on one half of the bread. Spread a generous amount of ranch dressing on the other half. (Definitely be generous; when the sandwich cooks, these will turn into more of a "sauce.").
5. Arrange chicken, bacon slices, and cheese slices on the bottom half. Top with the top slice. Butter both sides of the bread generously, then grill in the panini maker. (If you do not have a panini maker, you can grill the sandwiches in a skillet, laying a heavy skillet on top of the sandwich to press it together. Turn to grill the other side in the same way.).
6. Slice in half and gobble it down immediately.