I gotta tell ya guys, I can’t resist this Copycat Panera Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt. I ordered it the first time by accident at Panera and was immediately hooked! Just to satisfy my cravings, I had to make a home version to avoid spending $$. (And to avoid a wait in line!)
Copycat Panera Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt
Now, my first Panera love was this discontinued number (I swear I mourned it when it was gone from their menu), so here’s my copycat version: Panera’s Turkey Artichoke Panini. Next, I fell for their Steak and White Cheddar Panini. I NEVER in a zillion years would have ordered it except a friend raved about it, and that same friend and I got together to recreate it.
About Copycat Panera Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt:
So now, I’m the friend raving about this Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt. I don’t care if you get it from Panera or make my homemade version, just get it in your tummy asap! You can thank me later. When your mouth’s not full. Mic drop. Boom.
So if you’ve been following me for a while, ya gotta know I can be a little bossy when it comes to food, but trust me on this one. See, the ingredients (and doncha love that Panera discloses all their ingredients?) seem kind of simple. Maybe even a little weird.
It’s the combination of smoke from the chicken, the smoked Gouda, and the chipotle peppers, with a touch of spice (again the chipotles), all cooled by the avocado and punctuated by the sweet/sour tang of the Peppadew peppers. It melds into one glorious, hot, cheesy, squishy (if a little messy) sandwich!
Finding those “Special” ingredients:
Depending on where you live, you may or may not be able to come up with all the ingredients. Here are my thoughts on the harder to find ingredients and substitutions that won’t break the integrity of the sandwich (or the bank)
- Black Pepper Focaccia: I’ve only ever seen this at Panera (it can be bought there). If you’re a diehard stickler, make your own. Focaccia is easy to make; try this recipe from Sweet Tea & Thyme. I just used basic focaccia from the bakery aisle. If your store has no focaccia, try a flatbread or naan.
- Peppadew Peppers: Peppadews (brand name for pickled Juanita peppers) are mild but have some intense sweet/sour tanginess. They may be in jars in the condiment aisle (and will keep forever coz they’re basically pickles). You might find them at a salad or olive bar (that’s how I got mine.) They can be ordered tho they’re pricey. A reasonable substitute is Sweet Salad Peppers. Roasted red peppers will work, but depending on the brand you might lose the sweet/sour tang.
- Smoked Pulled Chicken: If you can go there, more power to you! I have used leftover chicken (rotisserie would be great), and have poached chicken, roasted chicken, and used leftover turkey. A few drops of liquid smoke (see my Top Secret Super Stealth Arsenal of Ingredients) when I roasted and poached did add the smoky flavor, but I wouldn’t go buy a bottle just for this. Plain chicken is just fine. If you’re making this after a holiday, turkey works well, too!
- Chipotle Peppers: These are canned Chipotle Peppers in Adobo sauce. I use them so often (and they’re on my link above, the Arsenal one) that I forget not everyone knows about these gems. They have a fiery, smoky flavor. Add them to mayo to taste so you can choose your heat level. Freeze any remaining and use n one of my other recipes – just click the tag at the bottom of my post or use my search bar.
- Smoked Gouda: It’s easier to find these days than it used to be; check the deli, or pick up at Aldi or Lidl for about half the price. It’s not a deal-breaker for me to use plain ol’ Gouda. White cheddar or Provolone would be great substitutes.
Copycat Panera Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt
What to serve with Copycat Panera Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt:
The sandwich, just by itself, is such a complete meal that you don’t need much. Guys, just like Panera, I had to go with chips. A nice side salad would be great, too.
You could add a bowl of soup, maybe if you lean that way. I’m going to put in a shameless plug and direct you to my Soup Menu where you’ll find Soups, Chowders & Chilis galore.
The ingredients
Making Copycat Panera Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt:
Like most sandwiches, after getting all your ingredients together, it’s just about assembly and heating. You can really play around with the amounts of ingredients and think of my recipe as a “guide.”
First, make the Chipotle mayo: mince up a little chipotle pepper and add to the mayonnaise, just so the flavors can meld together while you get everything else ready. Go by taste.
Smear on the inside of both the top and bottom of the bread with the Chipotle mayo and layer on the rest of the ingredients. Gouda first (on both the top and the bottom piece of bread), so it is closest to the heat, then the chicken and Peppadew. Finish off with the avocado and cilantro.
Toasting the Sandwich:
Grill in a large skillet (just dry, no oil or butter) and take a hint from the restaurants. As the bread picks up a little color, splash a bit of water into the skillet and add a lid. That steam permeates every part of the sandwich and helps the cheese to melt perfectly. Once the water is gone (watch that you don’t burn the sandwich or add so much water that everything gets wet and soggy) and the bread crisps up a bit, give it a turn, and toast the other side.
Saving Money on Groceries:
There are some pricier ingredients in this sandwich (although it was much cheaper to make than to order).
I covered several options for the chicken, but whatever chicken you use (white meat preferred, here), know that buying and cooking your own sale-priced chicken is cheaper than using a Rotisserie chicken. (I have proven it over and over.) Look for breasts at rock bottom (they’ll drop to a low about once a quarter) and stock your freezer at a low.
Aldi or Lidl are gonna be your friend when it comes to ingredients (except for the Chipotle and the Peppadew). They have several bread options that work, smoked Gouda for 1/2 the price of my grocery deli, and depending on the season, avocados are often on sale and sometimes bagged.
If there are canned items, like the chipotle in adobo, or pantry items, like Mayo, that you use regularly, be mindful of when you are buying. Watch for sales, and know when the cycles are:
- Mexican and Latin American items are almost always at rock bottom around Cinco de Mayo and some holidays.
- Mayo and other condiments are the cheapest during the summer holiday sales, with good sales also around the Super Bowl.
As for the Peppadew, do seek them out if you can. They really make the sandwich. If your store deli carries them, it might be your cheapest option. Then if you find yourself as hooked as I am, consider looking for them jarred. They’re delicious stuffed with cheese, btw.
I can’t stop thinking about this sandwich and have made it several times since I “discovered” it!! I hope you’ll love it as much as we do!
Mollie
Copycat Panera Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt
Copycat Panera Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: five minutes
- Total Time: 0 hours
- Yield: 2 sandwiches 1x
- Category: Sandwiches
Ingredients
- 4 to 5 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 chipotle pepper from a can of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (as much or as little as you’d like), minced
- black pepper focaccia (or substitute) enough for two sandwiches
- 4 slices smoked gouda
- about a cup of cooked, shredded chicken (smoked pulled chicken if you have it)
- 1/2 avocado, sliced
- 2 to 3 peppadew peppers, thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup cilantro or parsley
Instructions
Mix together the mayonnaise and chipotle pepper (add the chipotle to taste.) Set aside.
Slice the focaccia, slather the inside portion of each slice with the chipotle mayo mixture. Add a slice of gouda on top of the mayo mixture on each slice. Layer on the remaining ingredients.
Close sandwich and add to a skillet preheated over medium heat. Allow to toast enough to pick up just a little color, then tilt the skillet and add about 2 tablespoons water. Immediately lid and allow the water to boil off and steam. Remove the lid when water has evaporated. When the bottom of the sandwich is dry and toasty, turn the sandwich and allow the second side to toast.
Remove from skillet, cut in half and serve immediately.
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