Shredded Chicken Sandwich Recipe

If you are the one who loves creamy & cheesy chicken sandwiches then try these other quick sandwich recipes - chicken mayo sandwich, chicken fajita sandwich, cajun chicken sandwich, egg salad sandwich, and paneer sandwich.

About chicken sandwiches

This shredded chicken sandwich recipe has all the magical ingredients that make it not only tasty but healthy too. There are a lot of vegetables in it that add fiber content to it.

It takes only 30 minutes to make this shredded chicken sandwich from scratch. Boil the chicken breast, shred it, and combine it with mayo, vegetables, herbs, spices, and cheese. Assemble it over the bread, grill it, or serve it as a cold chicken sandwich.

Secret for best chicken sandwich filling!

Shred the chicken as finely as possible

To create a delicious sandwich filling that effortlessly melts in your mouth texture of chicken is important. Shredding the chicken finely requires some patience but will give you the best shredded chicken sandwiches.

A delicious combo of Mayonnaise and Cheese

Mayonnaise adds a rich and creamy texture, enhancing the overall moisture and tenderness of the chicken. Its flavor complements the savory notes of the chicken.

Cheese, when melted makes the shredded chicken sandwich gooey and delicious. The melted cheese adds a tasty flavor that mixes well with the shredded chicken and other ingredients.

Vegetables for beautiful colors

Vegetables not only make this sandwich with shredded chicken healthy but also make it look appetizing. The crunch they add to the soft melt-in-mouth chicken sandwich filling is just amazing. You have to try this chicken sandwich recipe once.

How to serve sandwiches - hot or cold?

I toasted this chicken sandwich on a stovetop in a grill pan. Grilling gives these chicken sandwiches a beautiful golden crispy crust. However, you can also serve it right away without grilling it as a cold chicken sandwich.

You can serve it as a breakfast sandwich or snack or pack it up for your kid’s lunch box or a picnic.

Why I love this recipe

• Great way to use leftovers - If you have leftover grilled chicken or roast chicken just shred it finely and you can make these chicken sandwiches within 10 minutes.
• Tasty and nutritious - This chicken sandwich is packed with carbs (bread), protein (chicken), fiber (vegetables), and calcium (cheese).
• Kid-friendly - If your kids are fuzzy eaters, this is a great way to make them have a healthy breakfast or snack. They will not be able to identify veggies hidden in this sandwich.
• Meal prep-friendly - This is what I love about making sandwiches. You can boil the chicken in advance and shred it. Also, chop the veggies and keep them in a separate air-tight container. You can make these boiled chicken sandwiches in less than 15 minutes.
• Easy to customize - You can make the sandwich with whatever ingredients you have in your kitchen pantry. I have given the substitutions for the ingredients below.

Ingredients & Substitutions

Here's what you will need to make chicken sandwiches.

• Chicken - I have used boneless skinless chicken breast but you can also use boneless chicken thighs.
• Mayonnaise - For this recipe, I have used Veg mayonnaise. You can also use garlic mayonnaise or egg mayonnaise. You can substitute it with Greek yogurt to make it healthier.
• Tomato Sauce- This is an optional ingredient. It is my favorite addition to the chicken sandwich filling. The tomato sauce I have used here is hot & sour tomato sauce. It gives a sweet, sour, and spicy flavor to the filling. Substitute with regular tomato ketchup for our desi chicken sandwich.
• Vegetables - I have used onions and bell peppers (green, yellow, and red). You can use any vegetables you have on hand. You can also add steamed broccoli to it.
• Flavoring - I have used salt, crushed black pepper, Italian seasoning (or simply replace it with oregano), and red pepper flakes in this chicken sandwich filling. If you do not like spicy foods or making them for kids then skip adding red pepper flakes to the recipe.
• Cheese - I have used a combination of cheddar and mozzarella cheese. You can add any cheese of your choice. Or skip it completely and add cream cheese to make a creamy shredded chicken breast sandwich.
• Cilantro - You can substitute it with parsley or basil leaves.
• Butter - Butter enhances the taste of sandwiches. You can substitute it with oil or Ghee (clarified butter).
• Bread - You can use white bread, brown bread, or multi-grain bread. Or use soft hamburger buns to make this sandwich.

For the detailed list of ingredients and their measurements, please check out the recipe card below.

How to make Shredded Chicken Sandwiches (with step by step photos)

Preparations for making shredded chicken

1. Boil 6 cups of water over medium heat in a deep bottom pan.
2. Add 1 teaspoon crushed black pepper,  salt to taste, 1 chicken stock cube (optional), 3 garlic cloves roughly crushed, a small piece of ginger crushed, 1 bay leaf, and chicken breast.
3. Cook it for 20 minutes. Remove from heat.
4. Remove the chicken breast with the help of tongs to a plate. Let it cool down a little.
5. Do not discard the water used to cook the chicken breast. It has all the flavors. Use it for making soups or curry.
6. With the help of a fork, shred it as fine as possible while it is still warm. Your homemade shredded chicken for sandwiches is ready.

Making the chicken sandwich filling

1. In a mixing bowl, combine shredded chicken with mayonnaise, tomato sauce, salt, bell peppers, onions, Italian seasoning, black pepper powder, red pepper flakes, and cilantro.
2. Taste and adjust the seasoning.

Making the chicken sandwich

1. Apply butter to a bread slice. It acts as a protective barrier, preventing the sauce from the chicken filling from saturating the bread.
2. Spread the prepared shredded chicken sandwich filling evenly on it.
3. Next, add a layer of grated cheddar and mozzarella cheese on top.
4. Cover it with another bread slice. You can serve it as a cold chicken sandwich or grill it. If serving cold refrigerate it at least for an hour and serve. Tastes best when served chill.
5. To grill chicken sandwich - Apply butter on the top layer of the bread.
6. Heat a grill pan on the stovetop over medium heat.
7. Place the sandwich over the pan (the buttered side facing towards the pan). Apply butter on top. Let it cook for a minute.
8. Flip it and cook on another side until crisp.
9. Remove it to a plate.
10. Slice it and serve a shredded chicken sandwich with your favorite dip.

Tips to make Best Chicken Sandwiches

• Toasting the sandwich adds a little crunch to the sandwich. But if you like cold chicken sandwiches then serve them without toasting them.
• While making the shredded chicken sandwich filling, make sure there is enough moisture in the filling. It should not be dry. If required, add more mayonnaise, to keep the filling nice and moist.
• Be careful while adding salt, mayonnaise has salt in it. It is better to taste the sandwich filling and then add salt as required.
• For meal prep - Chop the bell peppers in advance and keep them in an airtight container. Stays good for 5 days. Cook chicken, shred it, and let it cool down completely. Store it in a separate airtight container. You can freeze it. It stays good for a month.
• Assemble the sandwiches just before serving.

Frequently Asked Questions

What to serve with these chicken sandwiches

• You can serve it with some Chinese chicken salad or coleslaw.
• Macaroni salad.
• French fries.
• Roasted potato wedges.
• Chips.
• Your favorite dip.

Storage suggestions

• Transfer the leftover filling to an airtight container and refrigerate. Use within 2 days. Do not store the leftover filling in the freezer. The mayo will become runny once you thaw it.
• Do not store the leftover sandwiches. They will become soggy within a few hours of making it.
• You can cook the chicken in advance and shred it. Let it cool down completely. Store it in an airtight container and freeze it. Stays good for a month.
• You can chop the vegetables in advance. Store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Stays good for a week.

Variations that you can try

• Serve it as a cold chicken sandwich - Do not grill the sandwich. Just stuff the chicken-mayo filling inside the sandwich bread, slice, and serve. For the best experience, chill it in the refrigerator for an hour before serving the sandwiches.
• Try flavored mayo like garlic mayo, tandoori mayo, or chipotle mayonnaise to make the sandwich with a different flavor.
• Instead of trying the combination of mayonnaise and cheese, you can also try mayonnaise and sour cream or mayonnaise and Greek yogurt.
• You can add boiled corn or some greens to the sandwich filling.
• Make it healthier - Use multigrain bread and substitute mayo and cheese with Greek yogurt.

If you make this recipe, please leave a comment and a starred review below.

And, consider following me on social media so we can stay connected. I’m on Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube!

Other Sandwich Recipes

• Chicken Club Sandwich
• Grilled Tandoori Chicken Sandwich
• Veg Club Sandwich

Recipe Card