Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt (Panera)

If you're a fan of Panera's Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt, you're going to love this copycat recipe. It's made with all the same delicious ingredients, but it's even better because you get to make it at home.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

Make your own copycat Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt using a panini press in your kitchen! This sandwich is the perfect combination of creamy avocado, smoky chicken, and tangy chipotle mayo. It's also a healthy and satisfying meal.

• Easy to make. Just a few simple ingredients and a panini press are all you need.
• Affordable. In just a few minutes, you'll have a delicious sandwich that tastes just like the one from Panera, at a fraction of the cost.
• Delicious. The smoky chipotle flavor goes so well with the chicken and avocado! You can customize also by adding or removing ingredients also!

Jump to:

• Why You Will Love This Recipe
• Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt Ingredients
• How to Make This Chipotle Chicken Sandwich
• Serving Suggestions
• Related Recipes
• Substitutions and Variations
• Equipment
• Storage and Reheating
• Tips for Success
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Some Other Recipes We Are Sure You Will Love
• 📖 Recipe
• Food Safety

Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt Ingredients

Use a clear shot of the ingredients for this recipe, prepped, and labeled if necessary. Insert the ingredients into the list below, omitting quantities.

• Sourdough bread slices - Or, slice a thick ciabatta roll in half.
• Chipotle mayonnaise - Store bought, or mix ¼ cup of mayonnaise with ¼ teaspoon ground chipotle, or 1 teaspoon of chipotle adobo sauce. If you're not a fan of chipotle, use Dijon mustard instead.
• Chicken Breast - Sliced. Use smoked, roasted, of even rotisserie chicken.
• Avocado - Peeled and sliced thin.
• Tomato - Sliced thin.
• Roasted sweet pepper - Any kind of sweet roasted jarred peppers.
• Greens - Use fresh cilantro, basil, or spinach. Even baby kale is fine.
• Smoked Gouda cheese - Shredded.
• Olive oil - For the Panini press.

Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

How to Make This Chipotle Chicken Sandwich

• If you don't have a panini press, you can use a grill pan or a skillet. Just be sure to press down on the sandwich while it's cooking to help it get crispy.
• You can use any type of bread you like for this chipotle chicken panini. I like to use sourdough bread, but ciabatta bread or focaccia bread would also be good.
• If you don't have chipotle mayo, you can make your own by mixing mayonnaise with chipotle peppers in adobo sauce.

Start With Sliced Chicken and Avocado

1. Turn the panini press on to get hot while preparing these chicken avocado sandwiches.
   
   
2. Spread the chipotle mayonnaise (o Dijon if you prefer no heat) onto each slice of bread.
   
   
3. Top two of the slices with slices of the chicken breast and sliced avocado.

Layer Sweet Peppers & Tomato Slices

4. Next, layer on some of the roasted red pepper strips, and top with sliced tomatoes.

Top with Greens and Smoked Gouda

5. Layer on the greens of your choice: cilantro, spinach, or basil leaves are great options.
   
   
6. Add the shredded smoked Gouda cheese and top the open face side of the sandwich with the chipotle mayonnaise coated second slice of bread to form a sandwich.

Grill In The Panini (or Skillet)

7. Brush the chicken avocado sandwiches lightly on both sides with olive oil, and grill in the preheated panini press until both sides are golden brown and the cheese melted, about 6-8 minutes.
   
   
8. Remove sandwiches from the panini press and cut in half diagonally. Serve with fries, cole slaw, or other side dishes. Enjoy!

Serving Suggestions

Serve these copycat Panera's Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt paninis with french fries, our copycat Panera's Tomato Soup recipe, a side salad or coleslaw, or our Easy Instant Pot Mac & Cheese for a complete meal.

Some great side dish recipes include:

• Red Hot and Blue Potato Salad
• Kapusniak (Polish Cabbage Soup)
• Air Fried Bacon (great layered with the chicken in this sandwich!)
• Cilantro Lime Coleslaw
• Panera's Strawberry Poppyseed Salad

Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Related Recipes

• Easy 4-Ingredient Guacamole Recipe
• Chipotle Traeger Chicken Kabobs
• 4th of July Rice Krispy Treats
• Panera's Autumn Squash Soup
• Grinder Sandwich

Substitutions and Variations

Here are a few substitutions and variations using this chipotle chicken sandwich recipe as a base:

• You can add bacon or roasted vegetables to this chicken avocado sandwich to jazz it up even more.
• You can use a skillet and grill this chipotle chicken panini recipe if you don't have a panini press.
• Rotisserie chicken is a great alternative to smoked turkey breast.

Equipment

Equipment can have a big impact on how a recipe turns out. Below are some of my favorite pieces of equipment that I use when making this Panera copycat Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt.

• Cuisinart Panini Press and Griddle
• Cast Iron Skillet
• Griddle Press

Storage and Reheating

• This sandwich can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• To reheat, simply wrap the sandwich in foil and heat it in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 10-15 minutes, or until heated through.

Tips for Success

• You can make this chicken avocado sandwich in a skillet or Blackstone griddle instead of using a panini press.
• If you don't have smoked turkey available, or time to make it, an ordinary rotisserie chicken is a great short cut.
• You can find chipotle mayonnaise already prepared in the grocery store.

Frequently Asked Questions

Some Other Recipes We Are Sure You Will Love

📖 Recipe

Food Safety

• Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat.
• Wash hands after touching raw meat.
• Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods.
• Never leave cooking food unattended.
• Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds.
• Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove.

See more guidelines at USDA.gov.