I’ve been on a huge kick lately coming up with delicious recipes for sandwiches.

At Mortadella Head we’re known for our large sandwiches made with the best ingredients. I actually take a lot of pride in that.

Based on what I see people ordering at the restaurant I know that chicken pesto sandwiches are on fire!

It’s the combination of fresh pesto, fresh bread and juicy tomatoes that goes great with a perfectly cooked piece of chicken.

So I’ve been like a mad scientist in the kitchen trying to come up with the perfect chicken pesto sandwich recipe.

After all of my testing and tasting, my conclusion is that the best way to make it is with chicken cutlets. Let’s face it. A chicken cutlet always makes the perfect sandwich.

It’s that hot juicy chicken surrounded by that crunchy fried breadcrumb shell. It’s the best!

The best thing about this recipe is that it can be as easy as you want it to be.

If you want to make homemade basil pesto, you can. If you want to buy a good quality pesto at the supermarket, you can.

You can even cook your chicken ahead of time if you want.

I think you’re going to love this pesto chicken sandwich recipe.

I have a recipe card with the ingredients and a guide that I made below.

Here’s What to Need to Make the Chicken Pesto Sandwich

Chicken Cutlets

I’m telling you. You need to use chicken cutlets for this recipe. Really thin and crispy chicken cutlets.

Pesto

If you want to make homemade pesto, it’s really not hard.

You just need fresh basil leaves, olive oil, fresh garlic, pine nuts and parmesan cheese. If you have leftover pesto you can store it in an airtight container and freeze it for later.

I love making fresh basil pesto in the summer. I have a really good pesto recipe if you need one.

If you don’t feel like making your own pesto, most grocery stores will sell it by the jar. I’ve actually tried some pretty good store bought pesto.

Cheese

I suggest either provolone cheese or fresh mozzarella. Both will make a great sandwich.

Greens

I always like some greens on my sandwiches. For a chicken pesto sandwich I suggest fresh arugula or finely chopped romaine lettuce. It’s up to you.

Bread

I like using a really good sub roll. You can use ciabatta rolls or french bread if you want.

Make sure whatever you choose is crusty on the outside and soft on the inside.

Mayo

Ok. Trust me on this one. Take some mayo and add a little pesto to it. The pesto mayo will take this sandwich to another level.

How to Make the Ultimate Chicken Pesto Sandwich.

Start off by making some thin and crispy chicken cutlets. Make them the same way you would if you were making chicken parmesan.

Get a good sub roll and cut it open with a sharp knife.

Take 2 tablespoons of mayonnaise and mix in a tablespoon of pesto.

Spread the pesto mayo on both sides of the roll.

Place your chicken cutlets on the bottom half of the roll. Spread some fresh pesto on the chicken cutlets.

Put your cheese on top of the cutlets. I’m using provolone.

Evenly distribute the fresh greens on top of the cheese.

Add some slices of fresh tomato.

Season it with salt and pepper.

Finish it off with a drizzle of balsamic glaze.

Close it up by putting on the top half of the sub roll.

Boom! The perfect chicken pesto sandwich.

What Else Can I Add to My Chicken Pesto Sandwich?

Roasted Peppers

Buy a good quality jar of roasted red bell peppers or make your own. I suggest red peppers because they have a sweeter flavor than the green peppers.

Sun Dried Tomatoes

There are some really good quality sun dried tomatoes out there. You can usually find them at an Italian specialty store.

Prosciutto

A few slices of prosciutto on the sandwich would be really nice. The saltiness would really compliment the fresh pesto favors.

Other Ways to Make a Chicken Pesto Sandwich

If you like a hot sandwich with melted cheese you can heat your sandwich on a panini press, grill pan or put it in the oven on a baking sheet. You can also just grill it in a frying pan over medium-high heat.

It’s great when the gooey mozzarella oozes out of the sides of the sandwich.

If you don’t want to use chicken cutlets you can use grilled chicken or rotisserie chicken.

If you use a rotisserie chicken, peel the meat off of the bones and toss the shredded chicken with the pesto sauce.

Serve up your chicken pesto sandwich with a side salad and you have the perfect meal.