Grilled Chicken and Mozzarella Panini

By
Derrick Riches
Derrick Riches
Derrick Riches
Derrick Riches is a grilling and barbecue expert. He has written two cookbooks.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 01/29/23
Grilled Chicken and Mozzarella Panini Recipe

 The Spruce
Prep: 13 mins
Cook: 22 mins
Total: 35 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Yield: 4 sandwiches
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
631 Calories
32g Fat
30g Carbs
55g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 631
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 32g 41%
Saturated Fat 11g 53%
Cholesterol 147mg 49%
Sodium 1083mg 47%
Total Carbohydrate 30g 11%
Dietary Fiber 3g 12%
Total Sugars 7g
Protein 55g
Vitamin C 21mg 106%
Calcium 356mg 27%
Iron 3mg 18%
Potassium 781mg 17%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

This is a delicious grilled chicken panini recipe that is fast and easy to make. Use boneless, skinless chicken breasts for lean protein that is well-seasoned and scented with rosemary and garlic. The chicken breasts can be grilled ahead of time and then used to make slices for sandwiches for the next couple of days. As well, the grilled chicken can also be added to salads for another quick and healthy dinner or lunch.

As for the sandwich itself, you may have a panini maker or George Foreman grill that you like to use. But you can also use the old-school method and press it right there on your gas or charcoal grill. While you could simply grill it without pressing it, for a real panini feel you need a weight. There are cast iron tools such as a grill press or bacon press that work well for this, sitting on top of the sandwich. But an equally effective tool is a clean brick wrapped in a couple of layers of aluminum foil. You will need oven mitts to manipulate the hot weight or brick.

Ingredients

  • 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for the pan

  • 2 teaspoons fresh rosemary, chopped

  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 4 tablespoons Italian dressing

  • 8 slices Italian bread

  • 1 tomato, sliced

  • 8 ounces mozzarella cheese, sliced

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Grilled Chicken and Mozzarella Panini Recipe ingredients
     The Spruce

  2. Preheat grill for medium-high heat.

    Grilled Chicken and Mozzarella Panini Recipe
    The Spruce 

  3. Brush the chicken with olive oil and season with chopped rosemary, garlic powder, salt, and pepper

    Grilled Chicken and Mozzarella Panini Recipe
     The Spruce

  4. Lightly oil the grill grates.

    Grilled Chicken and Mozzarella Panini Recipe
     The Spruce

  5. Place the chicken on the grill and cook for 7 minutes per side or until juices run clear and chicken is no longer pink.

    Grilled Chicken and Mozzarella Panini Recipe
    The Spruce 

  6. Remove the chicken from the grill. Allow it to cool for 5 to 10 minutes.

    Grilled Chicken and Mozzarella Panini Recipe
     The Spruce

  7. Cut it into 1/2-inch slices.

    Grilled Chicken and Mozzarella Panini Recipe
     The Spruce

  8. Drizzle Italian dressing on 4 slices of bread and on chicken pieces.

    Grilled Chicken and Mozzarella Panini Recipe
     The Spruce

  9. Add tomato and cheese and sliced chicken breasts to the bread.

    Grilled Chicken and Mozzarella Panini Recipe
    The Spruce 

  10. Cover with the remaining 4 slices of bread and brush with olive oil

    Grilled Chicken and Mozzarella Panini Recipe
     The Spruce

  11. Over medium heat, place the sandwiches on the grill. Place the weight on top of the sandwich and cook the panini for 4 minutes.

    Grilled Chicken and Mozzarella Panini Recipe
     The Spruce

  12. Remove the weight, turn the sandwiches over, and replace the weight. Cook for 4 minutes on this side, or until the cheese melts.

    Grilled Chicken and Mozzarella Panini Recipe
     The Spruce

  13. Remove from heat and serve with your favorite side of antipasto salad, potato salad, macaroni salad, chips, or pickle.

    Grilled Chicken and Mozzarella Panini Recipe
     The Spruce

Tips

  • With this basic recipe, you can add or substitute any of the ingredients to suit your needs.. Mozzarella is a good choice for cheese as it generally stays inside the sandwich rather than dripping down into your grill.
  • Swiss cheese is another choice that will be less gooey.
  • But you could choose a more flavorful cheese if you prefer.
  • Try substituting pesto for the Italian dressing.