Ultimate BBQ Chicken Grilled Cheese with Garlic Butter Bread

Introduction & Inspiration

Prepare to experience grilled cheese like never before! This BBQ Chicken Grilled Cheese is an absolute masterpiece of comfort food, taking the humble grilled cheese sandwich to epic new heights. Imagine tender, savory shredded chicken simmered in your favorite BBQ sauce with onions and garlic, piled high with creamy, melty Havarti cheese, all nestled between two slices of sturdy bread that have been generously brushed with homemade garlic-parsley butter and grilled until perfectly golden brown and crispy. It’s a flavor explosion!

My inspiration for this recipe comes from wanting to create the ultimate, indulgent grilled cheese – something that’s a full, satisfying meal in itself. Combining the beloved flavors of BBQ chicken with the irresistible melt of Havarti and the aromatic punch of garlic butter bread seemed like a match made in culinary heaven.

This sandwich is perfect for a hearty lunch, a fun weeknight dinner, or anytime you’re craving a truly special and satisfying comfort food experience. It’s rich, cheesy, savory, and just a little bit smoky – pure deliciousness! It is a perfect recipe for grilled cheese lovers.

Nostalgic Appeal / Comfort Factor

Grilled cheese sandwiches are the quintessential comfort food, evoking childhood memories, simple lunches, and cozy, satisfying meals. BBQ chicken is another American comfort food icon, beloved for its smoky, sweet, and tangy flavors, often associated with summer cookouts and casual gatherings.

This recipe brilliantly fuses these two comfort food powerhouses into one ultimate sandwich. You get the familiar, comforting gooeyness of a perfect grilled cheese, elevated by the hearty, savory addition of BBQ chicken and the aromatic delight of garlic butter on the bread. It’s an incredibly satisfying and indulgent experience.

It’s a grown-up version of a childhood favorite, packed with robust flavors and comforting textures. A perfect comfort food sandwich.

Homemade Focus

This recipe celebrates the delicious results of building a gourmet sandwich from scratch using simple, flavorful components. While you might use pre-cooked shredded chicken or your favorite bottled BBQ sauce as convenient starting points, the key elements – the savory BBQ chicken filling and the amazing garlic-parsley butter for the bread – are assembled with homemade care.

You’re sautéing fresh onions and garlic, simmering the chicken in a perfectly seasoned BBQ mixture, and whipping up a quick garlic butter that transforms plain bread into something extraordinary. The careful assembly and grilling process are also crucial homemade steps that ensure a perfectly crispy exterior and a beautifully melted interior.

It’s about layering homemade flavors and textures to create a sandwich experience that far surpasses a simple melt. The homemade garlic butter bread is incredible.

Flavor Goal

The primary flavor goal is a harmonious explosion of savory, smoky, sweet, tangy, cheesy, and garlicky notes, with delightful textural contrasts. The BBQ chicken filling should be moist, tender, and packed with the flavor of BBQ sauce, onions, garlic, paprika, and Worcestershire.

The Havarti cheese should be perfectly melted, creamy, and mild, complementing the bold BBQ chicken. The bread, brushed with garlic-parsley butter, needs to be golden brown and crispy on the outside, yet still soft inside.

The overall experience should be a rich, satisfying sandwich where the savory BBQ chicken, gooey Havarti, and aromatic garlic butter bread come together in perfect harmony. A perfect balance between flavour and texture.

Ingredient Insights

For the BBQ Chicken:

• Olive Oil: For sautéing aromatics.
• Red Onion (Thinly Sliced): Adds a sweet, slightly sharp aromatic base that softens beautifully.
• Garlic (Minced): Essential savory flavor. Fresh minced is key.
• Shredded Roasted Chicken: The protein base. Using pre-cooked chicken (like rotisserie or leftover roasted chicken) makes this quick and easy.
• Paprika: Adds color and a mild, smoky sweetness.
• Worcestershire Sauce: Provides umami depth and complexity.
• BBQ Sauce: The main flavor driver for the chicken. Use your favorite brand and style (smoky, sweet, spicy).

For the Garlic Butter Bread:

• Butter: The base for the garlic butter spread. Salted or unsalted works (adjust seasoning if using unsalted).
• Garlic (Minced): Fresh minced garlic infuses the butter with flavor.
• Parsley (Minced): Fresh parsley adds color and a light, herbaceous note to the butter.
• Sourdough Bread or Sturdy White Bread: Important to use a bread that can hold up to the hearty filling and grilling. Sourdough adds a nice tang. Thick-sliced artisan bread is also great. 12 slices for 6 sandwiches.

Cheese:

• Havarti Cheese (Slices): A mild, creamy, and excellent melting cheese that complements the BBQ chicken beautifully. 12 slices for double cheese in 6 sandwiches. Provolone or Monterey Jack could substitute.

Essential Equipment

• Large Skillet: For preparing the BBQ chicken filling.
• Medium Bowl (Microwave-Safe): For making the garlic butter.
• Pastry Brush: For spreading the garlic butter on the bread.
• Large Non-Stick Skillet or Griddle: For grilling the sandwiches. You might need to cook them in batches.
• Spatula: Wide and sturdy, for carefully flipping the large sandwiches.
• Knife & Cutting Board: For slicing onion, mincing garlic, mincing parsley, slicing chicken (if needed).
• Measuring Cups & Spoons:

Ingredients

(Based on 1x column, makes 6 sandwiches)

BBQ Chicken Filling:

• ▢ 2 tablespoons olive oil
• ▢ 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
• ▢ 3 cloves garlic, minced
• ▢ 2 ½ cups shredded roasted chicken
• ▢ ½ teaspoon paprika
• ▢ 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• ▢ 1 cup BBQ sauce

Garlic Butter Bread & Cheese:

• ▢ ¼ cup (1/2 stick) butter (salted or unsalted)
• ▢ 2 cloves garlic, minced
• ▢ 2 teaspoons fresh parsley, minced
• ▢ 12 slices sourdough bread or sturdy white bread
• ▢ 12 slices Havarti cheese

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Prepare the BBQ Chicken Filling:

• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
• Add the thinly sliced red onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 2-3 minutes.
• Add the 3 minced garlic cloves and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds more, stirring constantly.
• Add the shredded roasted chicken, smoked paprika, Worcestershire sauce, and BBQ sauce to the skillet.
• Stir everything together well to combine. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is heated through and the sauce has melded with the chicken, about 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.

2. Make the Garlic Butter and Prepare Bread:

• In a medium microwave-safe bowl, combine the ¼ cup of butter, 2 minced garlic cloves, and 2 teaspoons of minced fresh parsley.
• Microwave in 20-30 second intervals, stirring in between, until the butter is completely melted and the garlic is fragrant.
• Lay out the 12 slices of bread on your work surface.
• Using a pastry brush, spread the melted garlic butter mixture evenly over one side of each slice of bread.

3. Assemble the Sandwiches:

• Flip 6 of the bread slices over so the unbuttered side is facing up.
• On each of these 6 unbuttered sides, place one slice of Havarti cheese.
• Divide the prepared BBQ chicken mixture evenly among these 6 bread slices, spooning it on top of the cheese.
• Place another slice of Havarti cheese over the top of the BBQ chicken mixture on each sandwich.
• Top each sandwich with one of the remaining 6 slices of bread, ensuring the garlic-buttered side is facing outwards (both the top and bottom exterior of the sandwich should be buttered).

4. Grill the Sandwiches:

• Heat a large non-stick skillet or griddle over medium heat. (You can use the same skillet used for the chicken if wiped clean, or a separate one).
• Carefully place 2-3 assembled sandwiches (or as many as fit comfortably without overcrowding) buttered-side down into the hot skillet.
• Cook until the bottoms of the sandwiches are nicely golden brown and crispy, about 3 to 5 minutes. Press down gently with a spatula occasionally for even browning.
• Carefully flip the sandwiches over using a wide spatula. Reduce the heat slightly to medium-low.
• Continue cooking on the second side until it is also golden brown and crispy, and the cheese inside is fully melted and gooey, about 3 to 5 minutes longer. Adjust heat as needed to prevent burning while ensuring cheese melts.
• Repeat with any remaining sandwiches.

5. Serve:

• Remove the golden, crispy BBQ Chicken Grilled Cheese sandwiches from the skillet.
• Let them rest for a minute or two before slicing (they will be very hot!).
• Slice in half diagonally, if desired, and serve immediately. Enjoy the cheesy, BBQ goodness!

Troubleshooting

• Bread Burning Before Cheese Melts: Skillet heat too high. Cook over medium to medium-low heat, especially after flipping, to allow the cheese to melt thoroughly without burning the bread.
• Sandwich Soggy: Bread not sturdy enough, or BBQ chicken mixture too wet. Use sturdy bread. Ensure BBQ chicken filling isn’t excessively saucy (it should be well-coated but not swimming).
• Cheese Not Fully Melted: Didn’t cook long enough, or heat too low. Ensure adequate cooking time on each side after assembling. Covering the skillet briefly with a lid after flipping can help trap heat and melt cheese (be careful not to steam the bread too much).
• Garlic Butter Burning: Bits of minced garlic in the butter can burn if heat is too high. Ensure butter doesn’t get too brown. Medium heat is best for grilling.

Tips and Variations

• Sturdy Bread is Key: Use a good quality sourdough, artisan white, Texas toast, or other sturdy bread that can handle the hearty filling and grilling.
• Pre-Cooked Chicken: Rotisserie chicken or leftover grilled/baked chicken makes this recipe super quick!
• Cheese Choices: Provolone, Monterey Jack, Gouda, or a sharp cheddar would also be delicious instead of or in addition to Havarti.
• BBQ Sauce: The flavor of your BBQ sauce significantly impacts the sandwich. Use your favorite!
• Add a Kick: Mix a little hot sauce or red pepper flakes into the BBQ chicken mixture.
• Extra Veggies: Add a thin layer of sautéed bell peppers or caramelized onions (like in the previous Pub Burger!) to the sandwich along with the chicken.
• Bacon: Crumbled cooked bacon would be a decadent addition to the chicken filling.
• Pickles: A few dill pickle slices inside add a nice tangy crunch.

Serving and Pairing Suggestions

• Serve Hot & Fresh: Grilled cheese is always best immediately!
• Classic Pairings: Serve with a side of tomato soup for dipping, coleslaw, potato chips, or French fries.
• Light Lunch or Hearty Dinner: Perfect for either.
• Cut into Halves or Quarters: Makes for easier handling or for serving as a hearty appetizer.

Nutritional Information

(Note: Estimated, per sandwich. Very indulgent, variable based on bread type/thickness, cheese/chicken/sauce amounts.)

• Calories: 600-800+
• Fat: 30-50g+
• Saturated Fat: 15-25g+
• Cholesterol: 100-150mg+
• Sodium: 1200-1800mg+ (BBQ sauce, cheese, bread, chicken seasonings contribute)
• Total Carbohydrates: 40-60g+
• Dietary Fiber: 2-4g+
• Sugars: 10-20g+ (from BBQ sauce, bread)
• Protein: 30-40g+

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Recipe Summary and Q&A

Summary: This BBQ Chicken Grilled Cheese Sandwich features shredded roasted chicken simmered with sautéed onions, garlic, paprika, Worcestershire sauce, and BBQ sauce. This filling is layered with slices of Havarti cheese between slices of sourdough or sturdy white bread that have been brushed on the outside with a homemade garlic-parsley butter. The assembled sandwiches are then grilled in a non-stick skillet over medium heat until golden brown, crispy, and the cheese is fully melted.

Q&A:

• Q: What kind of shredded chicken is best?
  • A: Rotisserie chicken is a fantastic shortcut and very flavorful. Leftover roasted or grilled chicken also works perfectly. If cooking chicken specifically for this, poaching or baking simple chicken breasts and then shredding is easy.
• Q: Can I use a different type of cheese besides Havarti?
  • A: Yes! Havarti is great for its creaminess and melt. Other good melting cheeses like Provolone, Monterey Jack, Gouda, Fontina, or even a sharp white cheddar would be delicious.
• Q: How do I prevent the bread from getting soggy?
  • A: Use sturdy bread that can hold up to the filling. Don’t let the BBQ chicken mixture be overly wet or saucy (it should coat the chicken nicely but not be swimming). Grilling the buttered bread creates a barrier.
• Q: Can I assemble these sandwiches ahead of time?
  • A: They are best grilled fresh for optimal crispiness and melt. You can prepare the BBQ chicken filling ahead and store it refrigerated. Assemble and grill the sandwiches just before serving.