Lunch / Dinner
Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Chicken Melt
Whether you find yourself staring into the fridge late at night with a growling in your stomach when the world’s closed down, or you just want a taste of that satisfying diner fare, look no further than this open-faced sandwich. For a change of pace with this creative use of leftover chicken, opt for a zingy sun-dried tomato pesto instead of the usual basil pesto. Made with cooked chicken, it’s a great way to get rid of leftovers, plus purchased pesto makes it easy. And best of all — it’s done in 20 minutes.
Sun-dried tomato pesto typically contains all or most of the ingredients included in classic basil pesto, plus — of course — intensely flavored sun-dried tomatoes. Use it to coat the chicken, then layer fresh tomato slices on the sandwich for deeper flavor.
Ingredients
COOK:
COMBINE:
TO ASSEMBLE:
TOP:
Test Kitchen Tip
Italian for “pounded,” pesto is most classically an uncooked sauce made with fresh basil, garlic, pine nuts, cheese, and olive oil. These days, many types exist, made from myriad ingredients.
Instructions
Preheat broiler with rack 6 inches from element.
Cook bacon in a skillet until crisp; transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate.
Combine chicken, pesto, and onion in a bowl while bacon cooks.
To assemble sandwiches, spread cut sides of rolls with 1 Tbsp. mayonnaise. Top each with 2 tomato slices and season with pepper. Place 2 strips of bacon over tomatoes. Arrange ½ cup chicken mixture on each serving. Place sandwiches on a broiler pan or baking sheet; broil 3–5 minutes.
Top each sandwich with ¼ cup cheese. Return pan to oven and broil until cheese begins to brown, 3–5 minutes.
Flavor strength varies across pesto brands. Be prepared to add more or less than the recipe calls for.
Broil the sandwiches first to heat the chicken mixture, then top with cheese and broil again to melt it.
Nutritional Facts
Nutritional Facts
Per serving
Calories: 658
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 46g 70%
Saturated Fat 15g 75%
Cholesterol 127mg 42%
Sodium 930mg 38%
Carbs 20g 6%
Fiber 2g 8%
Protein 39g
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.