This Grilled Chicken Sandwich recipe is an easy family favorite you’ll want to make on repeat. Tender marinated chicken breasts are grilled to perfection, topped with a quick homemade honey mustard sauce, and finished with fresh toppings (don’t forget the pickles!).
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Holly’s Recipe Highlights: Grilled Chicken Sandwich
- Flavor: This sandwich delivers a savory, smoky flavor with tender marinated chicken, tangy-sweet honey mustard, and crisp fresh toppings.
- Tools: A meat mallet helps create evenly sized chicken breasts for consistent cooking, while an instant-read thermometer ensures the chicken reaches a safe temperature without overcooking.
- Serving Suggestions: Set out a variety of toppings and sauces so everyone can build their own. Pair these sandwiches with my favorite dill pickle pasta salad or a classic potato salad for the ultimate backyard meal!
Total Time: 1 hour (including marinating time) Servings: 4 Cooking Method: Grilled
Ingredient Notes
- Chicken Breasts: Pound chicken breasts to an even ½-inch thickness so they cook quickly and evenly on the grill. Thin chicken cutlets are a convenient option when you want to save time on prep. Boneless, skinless chicken thighs are a flavorful and forgiving alternative to chicken breasts.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: Adds a subtle tang while helping tenderize the chicken for a juicier, more flavorful result. White wine vinegar can be used as a mild substitute.
- Brown Sugar: Balances the vinegar and encourages browning. Honey can be substituted, although the chicken may brown a little faster.
- Hamburger Buns or Brioche Rolls: Brioche adds a soft texture and subtle sweetness, while a sturdy hamburger bun offers a more classic sandwich base. Toasting either option enhances the flavor and helps keep the sandwich from becoming soggy.
- Honey Mustard Sauce: Adds a creamy, sweet, and tangy flavor that complements the grilled chicken. A homemade ranch dressing, barbecue sauce, or garlic aioli can be used as a flavorful alternative.
How to Make Grilled Chicken Breasts
- Pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness.
- Combine the marinade and coat the chicken, then refrigerate (full recipe below).
- Grill the chicken until browned and cooked. Toast the buns on the grill.
- Add honey mustard, chicken, and desired toppings.
Save Every Juicy Bite
- Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days and in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Keep the buns, sauce, and fresh toppings in separate containers (do not freeze the toppings!).
Backyard Cookout Favorites
Did you enjoy the following Grilled Chicken Sandwich Recipe? Leave a comment and rating below.
Ingredients
- 1½ pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts about 4 small breasts
- 4 hamburger buns or brioche rolls
- ¼ cup honey mustard sauce *or mayonnaise
- toppings as desired see notes
Marinade
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Place the chicken breast on a cutting board and lightly cover with plastic wrap. Use the flat side of a meat mallet to pound chicken breasts to ½-inch thickness.
- Combine all marinade ingredients in a bowl or freezer bag. Add chicken and toss well to combine. Marinate for at least 30 minutes or up to 4 hours.
- Preheat the grill to medium-high heat (375°F).
- Remove the chicken from the marinade allowing excess to drip off and discard the marinade.
- Add the chicken to the grill and cook for 5 to 6 minutes per side or until no pink remains and the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- While chicken is cooking, brush the cut side of the buns with olive oil and place face down on the grill. Cook until lightly toasted.
- Spread each bun with honey mustard and add lettuce, tomatoes and onions if desired. Top with chicken and serve.
Notes
*Homemade Honey Mustard: Combine ⅓ cup mayonnaise, 1 ½ tablespoons yellow mustard, 1 ½ tablespoons honey & ½ teaspoon garlic powder.
- If your chicken breasts are larger, they can be cut to make 4 portions.
- Do not overcook the chicken; it is pounded to cook evenly and only needs about 10-12 minutes.
- Chicken breasts can be replaced with boneless skinless chicken thighs.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 452 | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 41g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 109mg | Sodium: 823mg | Potassium: 692mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 51IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 82mg | Iron: 2mg
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Chicken, Dinner, Entree, Main Course
Cuisine American© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.
My family and I were all so impressed how good the chicken was. The marinade sounds so simple but came out so good! The honey mustard was amazing. Perfect sandwich. Thanks for the recipe!
This is absolutely delicious! I cooked in my ninga grill at 450, 6 minutes on each side it was just amazing. Always use a thermometer! Thank you for the recipe.
can you do this on the a ninja grill? been craving a juicy grilled chicken sandwich
I haven’t tried it but that should work just fine! If you try it I would love to hear how it turns out!
Hi! I don’t comment on recipes I try that often (even from Spend w/ Pennies :) ), but this marinade is great! The apple cider vinegar intrigued me, I love that ingredient, I would use it for chicken anytime, not just a chicken sandwich. It was moist, good flavour and easy. I used maple syrup instead of brown sugar just because it’s spring when I tried it here and tis the season. Wonderful. Well done and thank you!
Cindy
Thank you so much for the kind words Cindy! I am so glad you enjoyed this recipe.
These are fantastic. kids prefer this to burgers now. I double the recipe and use the leftover chicken in lunch salads all week. Thanks
This was a delicious quick and easy recipe. I like to follow recipes as written the first time before manipulating flavors, however, I was out of cider vinegar and used a dry white wine. I served this with asparagus fries, broccoli slaw and grilled peppers. OMG! All loved the sandwiches from the 8 year old to the 80 year old. BRAVO!
Sounds like a delicious meal Trice! I am so glad you enjoyed it
I was looking for an easy and quick chicken sandwich that didn’t skimp on the delish factor and this did NOT disappoint!! Seriously so, so good!! I marinated the chicken for about 2.5-3 — it was so juicy and flavorful. Oh, and I also added cheese. Now my husband is saying we can have this at least 2 times a month.
So glad you loved it Shelby!
Could I use an air fryer instead of grilling?
Hi Darla, we have never tried this recipe in the air fryer but we have a delicious air fryer chicken breast recipe that you could follow and use in the sandwich! You will have to let us know how it turns out.
Hi can I marinade it in the freezer and cook it within 1 month?
Hi Noems, I haven’t personally tried that but it should turn out well! Let us know how it goes!
SO GOOD. Honey mustard was perfect and chicken amazing.
Hi! Wanting to use this recipe – is there a swap I could use for brown sugar? Thank you!
Hi Julie, you could try replacing the brown sugar with coconut sugar. Or you could try using maple syrup or even honey – if using these you will want to use about ⅔ tablespoon instead of a full tablespoon. We would love to hear how it turns out for you!
Hi Holly – I’m making your Chicken Piccata tonight and I came across your grilled chicken sandwich recipe. Looks delicious! How do you think it would turn out using an indoor grill pan? We really don’t grill outside but I’m dying to try the grilled chicken sandwich! Love all your recipes!!
Thank you!
Barb Cattie
Hi Barb, I have never tried this recipe on an indoor grill pan but I think it should work well. We would love to hear how it turns out for you!
Restaurant quality, do yourself a favor and stop here and make this recipe. As the king of chicken sandwiches I can not recommend this enough. Grill to perfection and this is my new favorite.
Thank you Jake!!
Girl! You ALWAYS have the most delicious recipes, i have made countless of them. The marinade makes adds the perfect touch of flavor. <3
I would love a recipe book If you have one?
Hi Jessica, thanks for the love ❤️ We have these EBook recipe books but no physical recipe book.
Incredible. Fast, easy, standard stuff. I used Costco breasts which included one from a robin and one from a turkey in the same pack so cooking was a bit of an issue. Marinated about an hour. I use a thousand plus degree IR burner on my bbq so I zapped ’em about 80 seconds on a side and put them on the top rack away from lower heat, used instant thermometer to find about 155. That is so helpful when one is dealing with different thicknesses and weights. All came out perfectly, some thick, some thin, all super tender and juicy. Mustard sauce was super, wife demands it for a stock item. Just toasted the kirkland sandwich rolls on the bb1, added tomato and lettuce and total mouth watering perfection. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Thanks Holly
So happy you loved this recipe!
I tried out this recipe last night – Great unique marinade. I didn’t think too highly of the ingredients but I’m glad i opened up to a new recipe. Expanded more flavors i don’t originally use. I did double up the recipe (for 8 Boneless skinless fillets) and added a half a tablespoon more of Brown Sugar, Salt, Pepper and Garlic Salt. Made teriyaki chicken sandwiches with these and added my Teriyaki mix + grilled. YUM. Thank you for this new recipe for me and my family.
You’re welcome! I just love hearing that you tried something new, and LOVE it Naye!
These were SO GOOD! The honey mustard sauce was an awesome addition. We also added pepper Jack cheese and avocado. A great change for when you’re looking for something different from burgers. Will definitely be making these again soon.
Hi Holly!
This is the 4th time in past few months that I have made this recipe and it is awesome! The marinade is perfect, but your honey mustard sauce really takes it over the top. Keep doing what your doing girl…it is amazing!
Thank you!
Love this recipe! My family enjoys eating these sandwiches. Definitely one of my go to dinners!
The Marinade works great for both sandwiches and kabobs. Thanks!