Grilled Cajun Chicken Sandwich with step-by-step photos and a video recipe. It is made with tender chicken breasts spiced with cajun seasoning and grilled to perfection. Stuffed inside a soft toasted bun with cheese, mayo, lettuce, onion, and tomatoes. A quick and easy dinner perfect for busy weekdays.
Cajun Chicken Sandwiches
These cajun chicken sandwiches are quick and easy to make and taste super delicious. Each bite of this grilled chicken sandwich is loaded with soft juicy chicken, fresh vegetables, mayo, soft melting cheese, and lovely cajun flavors. Love Cajun recipes? You may also like our Cajun Chicken and Rice, Spicy Cajun Chicken Bites, and Cajun Chicken Pasta.
These grilled cajun chicken sandwiches are perfect for summer grilling. Tender chicken breasts are spiced with a bold, homemade Cajun seasoning that's easy to whip up in 5 minutes with pantry staples.
Seared over high heat, the chicken develops a crispy, blackened crust that gives way to a juicy, tender interior. This grilled Cajun chicken is stuffed inside a soft toasted bun with your favorite cheese, creamy mayo, crisp lettuce, and summer fresh vegetables. Quick, easy, and bursting with flavor, this spicy chicken sandwich is the perfect weeknight dinner!
Do try this amazing Cajun chicken sandwich recipe. The perfectly seasoned chicken and the smoky, charred crust will have you coming back for seconds. I guarantee it's one of the best grilled chicken sandwiches you'll ever make.
Cajun Chicken Sandwich Ingredients
For Cajun Seasoning
You can use store-bought Cajun seasoning. I have shared the recipe to make it easily at home. Ingredients to make cajun seasoning are:
- Paprika
- Ground black pepper
- Italian seasoning - If you do not have Italian seasoning then add 1 tablespoon dried oregano and ½ tablespoon dried thyme.
- Salt
- Cayenne pepper - You can substitute it with any spicy red chili powder. Skip if you do not prefer spicy dishes.
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder
For Chicken Marinade
- Chicken - I have used boneless skinless chicken breast. You can also use boneless skinless chicken thighs.
- Olive oil - Or use vegetable oil.
- Lime Juice - Substitute it with vinegar.
For Cajun Sandwich
- Sandwich bread/ hamburger buns - You can use any sandwich bun.
- Onion - I have used red onion for assembling this chicken sandwich. Substitute it with white onion or skip it if you do not have them.
- Mayonnaise - I have used veg mayonnaise. Substitute it with egg mayo, garlic mayo, or any other flavored mayo.
- Tomato sauce - I have used spicy tomato sauce here. It gives a spicy kick and tangy flavor. If you prefer less spicy, use regular tomato ketchup. Or skip it completely.
- Fresh Tomato
- Fresh lettuce leaves
- Butter (For toasting the buns) - You can substitute it with olive oil. Or use mayonnaise for toasting the buns.
- Cheese Slices - I have used processed cheese slices. You can use any soft cheese or a slice of Pepperjack or Monterey Jack cheese. Or skip it.
For the detailed list of ingredients & their measurements, please check out the recipe card below.
How to make Grilled Cajun Chicken Sandwich
Preparations
- In a small bowl, combine all the ingredients mentioned under cajun seasoning. Keep it aside.
- To prepare the mayo spread - Combine mayonnaise and tomato sauce in a small bowl. Keep it in the refrigerator.
- Pound the chicken breast with a rolling pin for even thickness. Remove and set it aside. Repeat the process with other chicken breasts.
- In another mixing bowl, combine 2 tablespoon of cajun seasoning, oil, and lime juice. Marinate the chicken breast with it. Cover and keep it in the refrigerator for 2 hours or overnight.
- Take out the chicken from the refrigerator and keep it on the kitchen counter. Let it come to room temperature.
Making Cajun Chicken Sandwich
- Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a grill pan over medium-high heat.
- When the pan is hot enough, place the chicken breast over it. Cook for 3-4 minutes on the first side until char marks appear. Flip and cook for 2-3 minutes or until the chicken is cooked. (If using a food thermometer, the internal temperature reaches 165˚F.)
- Add a cheese slice on top of it at the last minute of cooking. Remove it on a plate. Same way, cook the other two chicken breasts.
- Toast the bun or the bread. Apply a teaspoon of butter to a heated pan. Toast the bun for a minute or until they are crisp and golden. Remove from heat.
- Assembling the Cajun chicken sandwich - Over the base bun, apply mayo spread. Top with lettuce, grilled Cajun chicken with cheese, and onion slices. Sprinkle salt and pepper over the onion slices (optional).
- Next, place tomato slices. Apply mayo on the top bun and cover the sandwich.
- The grilled Cajun chicken sandwich is ready to serve!
Tips to make Best Cajun Chicken Sandwich
- Pound the chicken breast or slice it into half. This helps the chicken breast to cook evenly.
- Marinate the chicken for 2 hours or overnight in the refrigerator. It tenderizes the chicken and the seasoning enhances the flavor of the chicken. It will also keep the chicken moist while you grill it. However, if short of time, you can marinate for 30 minutes.
- Grill the chicken - Heat the grill pan on medium-high heat. When the pan is hot enough, place the chicken in it. The heat will seal the outer surface of the chicken and lock the juices of the chicken inside. That makes the chicken crispy outside, and soft and juicy inside.
- Cook the chicken - Make sure to cook the chicken until it is cooked through. You can make a small cut in the middle to check that it is no longer pink in the middle. It should be white or opaque in the middle. Or cook until the internal temperature reaches 165˚F.
- Cook the chicken until char marks appear on it. It will give a nice smoky flavor to the Cajun chicken sandwich.
- Give at least 10 minutes of resting time to the chicken, once it is cooked.
- To adjust the spiciness of Cajun seasoning, reduce the quantity of cayenne pepper in the seasoning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Cajun is moderately spicy. However, if you are making Cajun seasoning at home you can always adjust the spiciness by reducing the quantity of cayenne in it.
Yes, you can but the cooking time will be longer. Cook to an internal temperature of 170˚-175˚F (6 to 8 minutes per side)
Any soft cheese goes well with a chicken sandwich like Havarti, Cheddar, Monterey, Colby Jack Cheese, Gruyere, Fontina, Provolone, or Swiss Cheese.
You can serve it with salad, salsa, coleslaw, chips, or French fries.
Storage suggestions
- Store the chicken within 2 hours of cooking. Let the grilled chicken cool down completely. Transfer it to an airtight container and refrigerate. Stays good for 2 days.
- For a longer shelf life freeze it. It stays good for a month. Thaw it overnight in the refrigerator, reheat, and serve.
What to Serve with This Cajun Chicken Sandwich?
You can serve it with any
- Salad like Greek Yogurt Coleslaw, Creamy Macaroni Salad, Creamy Corn Salad, or Grilled Corn Salad
- Salsa - Corn Salsa or Mango Salsa
- Grilled veggies
- Roasted potato wedges
- Chips
Variations that you can try
- Make it dairy free - Skip cheese.
- Make it healthy - Replace Mayo with avocado. Mash the avocado, and season with salt & pepper.
- Add some crispy fried bacon to it.
- Add any vegetables of your choice.
More chicken sandwich recipes that you'll love
- Chicken Mayo Sandwich
- Chicken Club Sandwich
- Chicken Fajita Sandwich
- Shredded Chicken Sandwich
- Tandoori Chicken Sandwich
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!
Grilled Cajun Chicken Sandwich (step by step photos + recipe video)
Equipment
- 1 Mixing bowl
- 1 Grill pan
Ingredients
Cajun Chicken Marinade
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (130 gram, each)
- 2 tablespoon Cajun seasoning (recipe is given below)
- 2 tablespoon oil
- 2 tablespoon lime juice
For Cajun Seasoning
- 2 tablespoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon ground black pepper
- 1.5 tablespoon Italian seasoning (or use 1 tablespoon dried oregano and 1 tablespoon dried thyme)
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 2 tablespoon garlic powder
To grill Cajun chicken breast
- 1 tablespoon oil
For Mayo spread
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoon tomato sauce (optional) substitute tomato ketchup
To make Cajun sandwich
- 8 tomato slices
- 4 lettuce leaves
- 8 onion slices
- salt & pepper to taste
- 4 cheese slices (optional) optional
Instructions
Preparations
- In a small bowl, combine all the ingredients mentioned under cajun seasoning. Keep it aside.
- To prepare the mayo spread - Combine mayonnaise and tomato sauce in a small bowl. Keep it in the refrigerator.
- Pound the chicken breast with a rolling pin for even thickness. Remove and set it aside. Repeat the process with other chicken breasts.
- In another mixing bowl, combine 2 tablespoon of cajun seasoning, oil, and lime juice. Marinate the chicken breast with it. Cover and keep it in the refrigerator for 2 hours or overnight.
- Take out the chicken from the refrigerator and keep it on the kitchen counter. Let it come to room temperature.
Making Cajun Chicken Sandwich
- Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a grill pan over medium-high heat.
- When the pan is hot enough, place the chicken breast over it. Cook for 3-4 minutes on the first side until char marks appear. Flip and cook for 2-3 minutes or until the chicken is cooked. (If using a food thermometer, the internal temperature reaches 165˚F.)
- Add a cheese slice on top of it at the last minute of cooking. Remove it on a plate. Same way, cook the other two chicken breasts.
- Toast the bun or the bread. Apply a teaspoon of butter to a heated pan. Toast the bun for a minute or until they are crisp and golden. Remove from heat.
- Assembling the Cajun chicken sandwich - Over the base bun, apply mayo spread. Top with lettuce, grilled Cajun chicken with cheese, and onion slices. Sprinkle salt and pepper over the onion slices (optional).
- Next, place tomato slices. Apply mayo on the top bun and cover the sandwich.
- The grilled chicken sandwich is ready to serve!
Video
Notes
- Pound the chicken breast or slice it into half. This helps the chicken breast to cook evenly.
- Marinate the chicken for 2 hours or overnight in the refrigerator. It tenderizes the chicken and the seasoning enhances the flavor of the chicken. It will also keep the chicken moist while you grill it. However, if short of time, you can marinate for 30 minutes.
- Grill the chicken - Heat the grill pan on medium-high heat. When the pan is hot enough, place the chicken in it. The heat will seal the outer surface of the chicken and lock the juices of the chicken inside. That makes the chicken crispy outside, and soft and juicy inside.
- Cook the chicken - Make sure to cook the chicken until it is cooked through. You can make a small cut in the middle to check that it is no longer pink in the middle. It should be white or opaque in the middle. Or cook until the internal temperature reaches 165˚F.
- Cook the chicken until char marks appear on it. It will give a nice smoky flavor to the chicken.
- Give at least 10 minutes of resting time to the chicken, once it is cooked.
- To adjust the spiciness of Cajun seasoning, reduce the quantity of cayenne pepper in the seasoning.
Foodie
Mouth watering,,