Chicken Pesto Panini Recipes

Steps:

• Pound the chicken fillets until thin between two pieces of waxed paper, then marinate in oil, garlic, pepper and Italian seasoning for about 1-1/2 hours.
• Heat a grill pan or sauté pan (the breasts can also be grilled on the BBQ).
• Season the breasts with salt and pepper.
• Cook the chicken on medium heat for about 5 minutes per side, or until golden and cooked through.
• Remove from pan and place on a plate or board.
• Top each fillet with some of the roasted peppers and a slice of cheese.
• Spread BOTH sides of the bread with pesto sauce.
• Place chicken inside the bread and form to a sandwich.
• Brush both sides of the outside of bread with olive oil.
• Heat a grill pan or a 10-inch skillet on medium high heat. Place the panini in the pan (only 2 at a time).
• Weigh the panini down with another heavy skillet and then top with a heavy can (a very large can of tomato juice works great for this!) cook for about 3 minutes, or until bread is toasted.
• Turn the panini, and weigh it down again with a heavy skillet and a can on top, and toast for another 3 minutes.
• Remove from pan and cut in half.

Steps:

• Preheat a panini grill.
• Slice each quarter of focaccia bread in half horizontally. Spread each half with pesto. Layer bottom halves with equal amounts chicken, bell pepper, onion, and cheese. Top with remaining focaccia halves, forming 4 sandwiches.
• Grill paninis 5 minutes in the preheated grill, or until focaccia bread is golden brown and cheese is melted.

Steps:

• For the pesto: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spread the walnuts on a baking sheet and toast, tossing once, until fragrant, 6 to 8 minutes.
• Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil over medium-high heat. Add the broccoli and cook until tender, about 4 minutes. Transfer the cooked broccoli to an ice bath and let cool, about 3 minutes. Remove from the ice bath and drain well. Transfer the broccoli to a food processor. Add the garlic, walnuts, honey, lemon zest, lemon juice and 1/2 teaspoon salt and process until finely chopped. With the machine running, gradually pour in the olive oil. Transfer the pesto to a small bowl and stir in the Parmigiano-Reggiano. Cover and set aside.
• For the sandwich: Preheat a grill pan over medium-high heat.
• Grill the bread until toasted and golden brown, about 2 minutes per side. Season the chicken cutlets with the pepper flakes and 1/2 teaspoon salt and drizzle with the olive oil. Place the cutlets on the grill pan and cook until golden brown and cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Squeeze the lemon juice over the cooked chicken while it is still on the grill pan. Remove the chicken to a plate.
• To assemble the sandwiches, spread about 1 tablespoon of the pesto on each slice of bread. Place 2 pieces of tomato on 4 of the slices. Top the tomatoes with the chicken cutlets and the remaining slices of bread. Cut each sandwich in half to serve.
• Cook's Note: The pesto makes more than enough for the sandwiches. It can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

Steps:

• Heat panini grill.
• Combine chicken and pesto; spread onto 1 bread slice.
• Top with cheese and remaining bread slice.
• Grill 3 to 5 min. or until cheese is melted and sandwich is golden brown on both sides.

Steps:

• Spread pesto and mayonnaise on one slice of bread. Layer meats, cheese, and peppers to make a sandwich. Top with second slice of bread.
• Spread top bread slice with half of butter.
• Heat a grill pan over medium heat and spray with cooking spray. When pan is hot, place sandwich butter-side down. Top with a brick covered in foil or another pan and press down. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes until golden brown. Butter top bread slice with remaining butter before turning over panini.
• Grill and press for another minute or two until panini is toasted and cheese is melted.

Steps:

• Heat closed contact grill 3 to 5 minutes.
• Cut each piece focaccia in half horizontally. Spread 1 tablespoon pesto on cut sides of each half. Layer bottom halves with one-fourth of the chicken, bell pepper, onion and cheese. Cover with remaining focaccia halves.
• When grill is heated, place sandwiches on grill. Close grill; grill 3to 5 minutes or until focaccia is golden brown and cheese is melted.

Steps:

• In a plastic bag, combine chicken tenders and 1/4 cup of pesto, set aside and let sit for 15 minutes.
• In a small bowl, stir together 1/4 cup pesto and mayonnaise. Spread mixture on both sides of ciabatta; set aside.
• Preheat an oiled grill pan over medium-high heat. Grill chicken tenders 5 minutes per side. Remove and let rest for 5 minutes. Turn the heat down to medium and re-oil the grill pan.
• Place cheese on both halves of bread. Add arugula, then tomato, then basil leaves, then pesto chicken to bottom piece. Top with top half of bread. Place onto the grill pan and place a heavy pan on top of the sandwich. Grill for 3 minutes per side or until cheese starts to melt.
• Cut into 4 portions and serve.

Steps:

• Heat grill to medium heat.
• Grill chicken 6 to 8 min. on each side or until done (165°F). Remove from grill.
• Heat panini grill. Mix mayonnaise and 2 Tbsp. pesto sauce until blended; spread onto bottom halves of rolls. Top with tomatoes.
• Cut chicken diagonally into thin slices; place in medium bowl. Add remaining pesto sauce; mix lightly. Place over tomatoes. Cover with cheese and tops of rolls.
• Grill sandwiches, in batches if necessary, 5 to 6 min. or until cheese is melted and outsides of sandwiches are golden brown.

Steps:

• On bottom of both bread pieces brush on olive oil.
• Spread one tablespoon of pesto (or more if you like) on each piece of bread on the top side. So the bottom will have olive oil and the top will have pesto.
• On the the pesto side on ONE HALF of bread place spinach leaves. Repeat with other bread.
• On top of spinach place 1/4 of mozzarella. Repeat with other bread.
• Layer on chicken, olives, tomatoes and 1/4 of mozzarella. Repeat on other bread to make two complete sandwiches. Fold in half with the olive oil side on the outside.
• Grill on panini press or Foreman Grill.
• If you don't have these (as I don't) heat grill pan to medium heat. Wash two bricks and cover with foil. Place sandwiches side by side on grill pan. Place foil covered bricks on top. Cook on medium for 4-6 minutes. Turn over and replace bricks. Cook an additional 4-6 minutes until cheese is melted and bread is toasted brown.

Steps:

• Preheat an electric grill (such as George Foreman®) for medium heat. Spread olive oil on one side of each bread slice.
• Place one slice of bread, oil-side down, on the preheated grill. Spread 1/2 of the pesto on the bread and put a slice of mozzarella cheese over top. Arrange chicken over the cheese and top with remaining mozzarella. Spread remaining pesto on the other slice of bread and place on top of the sandwich.
• Close the grill and cook until cheese is melted and bread is golden brown and crispy, about 4 minutes.