Chicken Bacon Panini

I've surprised myself by making this recipe. This sandwich was delicious and real easy to make. Plus you can change it up in so many ways. Next time I'd like to add roasted red peppers to the sandwich! Mmmmm! But this one is a Chicken, Bacon, Swiss, with Pesto Panini. What a name! ;)

Chicken Bacon Panini

Here's what you need:

2 boneless chicken breasts

8 pieces of bacon

2 slices of Swiss cheese

4 slices of sourdough bread

pesto sauce

1 tbs butter

drizzle of canola oil

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Bake the bacon on a rack on a cookie sheet. Bake for 15-18 minutes.

2. While the bacon is cooking, slice the [thawed] chicken breasts in half. 

3. In a sauce pan on Medium, drizzle canola oil in the pan and add the butter. Let it melt and warm. Then fry the chicken, until the juices run clear and the chicken is fully cooked. [Take it out of the pan and slice it to check to see if it is cooked thoroughly]. This will take about 12-15 minutes. Once it's done, let it cool then slice into pieces.

4. Slice the bread and butter each slice.



5. After the bacon and chicken are cooked, start preparing the sandwich.

Spread the pesto sauce on both sides of the bread. Place one slice in the pan, butter side down like you're cooking grilled cheese. 

Then assemble the sandwich: bread, chicken, Swiss, bacon, bread. 

[You can use a panini maker, but if you don't have one, use a grill pan and place a heavy pot on top].

6. Place the heavy pan on top of the sandwiches as they cook. After 2-3 minutes carefully remove the heavy pot and flip the sandwiches, then placing the pot on top of the sandwiches again. 

7. Once the cheese is melted and it's cooked to your liking, slice in half and enjoy! I served this with a side Caesar salad. Sooo yummy!!!! 

Taylor & I are off to Orlando, Florida to visit Jon & Julie! I hope you have a wonderfully blessed weekend!