Crispy Shallot Chicken Cheese (Printable)

Tender chicken, crispy shallots, and melted cheese combine in a hearty grilled sandwich.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded (rotisserie or poached)
02 - 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
03 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
04 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
05 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Shallots

06 - 1/2 cup crispy fried shallots (store-bought or homemade)

→ Cheese

07 - 8 slices sharp cheddar cheese
08 - 4 slices mozzarella cheese

→ Bread & Assembly

09 - 8 slices sourdough or country bread
10 - 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

# Step-by-Step Guide:

01 - In a medium bowl, combine shredded chicken, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper. Mix until evenly coated.
02 - Lay out bread slices and spread softened butter on one side of each slice.
03 - Place 4 slices of bread, butter side down, on a clean surface. Top each with 1 slice cheddar, a generous scoop of chicken mixture, 2 tablespoons crispy fried shallots, 1 slice mozzarella, and another slice of cheddar.
04 - Close each sandwich with remaining bread slices, butter side up.
05 - Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium heat. Cook sandwiches for 3 to 4 minutes per side, pressing gently, until golden brown and cheese is melted.
06 - Remove sandwiches from pan and let rest for 1 to 2 minutes. Slice and serve hot.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It transforms humble ingredients into something that tastes far more involved than the 30 minutes it takes to make.
  • The shallots add this crackle and subtle sweetness that makes people ask what that flavor is, and you get to keep that secret.
  • It's the kind of sandwich that turns a regular Tuesday lunch into something memorable without requiring any fancy technique.
02 -
  • Don't skip the resting step—I learned this the hard way when I cut into a sandwich too fast and lost half the filling onto the plate.
  • The chicken mixture needs to be seasoned properly before it goes on the bread; the bread and cheese won't do that work for you, and you'll taste the difference.
03 -
  • Press the sandwich gently as it cooks—enough to help the cheese meld with the bread, not so hard that you squeeze out all your filling.
  • Cook over medium heat, not high; this gives the bread time to brown without burning while the cheese actually has time to melt inside.
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