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.
Delicious and the chicken is so moist. Love the different flavors. My fussy husband absolutely loved it. I will definitely be making this lots. Definitely make it for my family the next time they visit. Different taste of chicken and so easy and quick to make. We used honey mustard on one and tried mayonnaise on the other Brioche buns. Along with tomatoes and lettuce. A perfect taste and match thank you for your delicious recipes
Best easy chicken sandwich
I am so glad you love this as much as I do Stephanie!
I am about to make this chicken for a crowd. Since the chicken can be stored in the fridge for up to 4 days, I am assuming I can cook these the day before the event and refrigerate them…then heat them up right before the folks arrive.
This may be a “duh” query, but while I noticed that these could be made ahead, I couldn’t find the instructions on how to successfully do so.
Thanks in advance.
PS love your cheddar/sausage biscuits!
Good question Susan! This will work just fine. I would reheat on the grill over low heat so it doesn’t dry out.
so yummy! liked the honey mustard recipe as well! served with sweet potato fries as suggested. 😋
I wasn’t sure when I tasted the marinade how this was going to turn out. I did not pound my chicken breast so my family could choose to eat a breast or make a sandwich. I cooked the breast for 30 minutes on my outside smoker grill at 350 and I would make this again. The ingredients in the marinade with the brown sugar caramelized and it was fantastic.
This is on my regular rotation. It’s easy, juicy and so tasty! Thanks for sharing!
can you air fry these or cook over stove?
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.
Yes, thank you for airfryer recipe, if I pounded the chicken breasts like in this recipe, will airfryer time be adjusted from what it says in your airfryer recipe? I hope I made sense lol.
It may need to be reduced slightly. You want to cook until the chicken reaches 165°F. Enjoy Vee!
So delicious! The honey mustard sauce is a must! Great, easy dinner and I usually have all the ingredients on hand. Thank you!