Becky's Best Bites

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Chicken Enchilada Panini

Dinner, Kid-Friendly, Lunch, Recipes

Chicken Enchilada Panini is a warm toasty fusion of melty grilled cheese stuffed with chicken smothered in a smoky homemade and a bit spicy enchilada sauce. Southwest flavors and spicy pepper jack cheese come together in a warm ooey gooey sandwich for a quick and easy dinner that will make everyone smile :) Becky's Best Bites

Chicken Enchilada Panini is a warm toasty fusion of melty grilled cheese stuffed with chicken smothered in a smoky homemade and a bit spicy enchilada sauce. Southwest flavors and spicy pepper jack cheese come together in a warm ooey gooey sandwich for a quick and easy dinner that will make everyone smile 🙂

Does melty cheese make you swoon as much as it does me?  You could probably top an old shoe with melted cheese and I would eat it 😉 Ok…just kidding on that one, but I really do love cheese…especially melted cheese 🙂 I think that I have mentioned before that I could totally be a vegetarian and have been a couple time in my life. However, I could NEVER be vegan because I absolutely could not give up cheese!

I know, I know…cheese isn’t the most healthy thing for me to be so infatuated on, but here is the good part:

It doesn’t take much cheese in this beautiful Chicken Enchilada Panini to get that ooey gooey goodness that we are all craving 🙂

Chicken Enchilada Panini | beckysbestbites.com

Now I am going to share a tip to all my cheese-lovin’ friends out there! Never buy shredded cheese again!! Did you know that they coat shredded cheese in a powder to keep it from sticking? YUCK! Not only is that just cringe-worthy but it also masks the taste of the cheese, making you think that you need more than you really do!

Just buy block cheese (which is cheaper too by the way) & grate your cheese with a box grater. It doesn’t take but just a minute and you can use far less cheese…and get no powder!

Chicken Enchilada Panini by Becky's Best Bites

I happened across this recipe by Heat Oven to 350 when I decided that I wanted to dust off my panini press that hadn’t been used in years! Now, I don’t know why I have been neglecting it!! I’m sorry Mr. Panini Press!! I really do love you and the warm toasty melty sandwiches that you give me 🙂

Here is the recipe for Chicken Enchilada Panini:

5.0 from 3 reviews
Chicken Enchilada Panini
 
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Serves: 6
Ingredients
  • 2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 large, sweet yellow onion, chopped
  • 3-4 cloves fresh garlic, minced or pressed
  • 1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast, chopped into bite-size pieces
  • ½ cup no added salt tomato sauce
  • ¼ cup water
  • 1 tsp. lime juice
  • 1 tbsp. cumin
  • 1 tsp. chipotle chili pepper (more or less depending on preference...I probably used 1 tbsp. because we like spicy)
  • 1 tbsp. fresh oregano, chopped
  • 2 tbsp. fresh cilantro, chopped
  • sea salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
  • 12 slices of whole wheat bakery bread (approximately ½ inch thick)
  • olive oil cooking spray
  • 6 oz. pepper jack cheese, grated
Instructions
  1. Place a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the olive oil, onion and garlic. Cook until the onion is soft and turning translucent, approximately 3-4 minutes.
  2. Add chicken and continue to cook until the chicken is browned on all sides and cooked through, 5-7 minutes (depending on piece size).
  3. Add tomato sauce, water, lime juice, cumin, chipotle chili pepper, oregano, cilantro, salt and pepper. Stir to combine and cook until thickened slightly 3-4 minutes.
  4. Pre-heat a panini press. (You could also use another skillet).
  5. Spray one side of 6 pieces of bread with olive oil spray. Turn over and add ½ cup of the chicken mixture and 1 oz. of cheese. Top with another slice of bread (one of the 6 that have not been sprayed with olive oil yet).
  6. Spray the outside top piece of bread with cooking spray.
  7. Place on the panini press, close and cook for approximately 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the outside of the bread is golden. If using a skillet, toast both sides until golden brown.
  8. Cut on a diagonal and serve hot!

Chicken Enchilada Panini is a warm toasty fusion of melty grilled cheese stuffed with chicken smothered in a smoky homemade and a bit spicy enchilada sauce. Southwest flavors and spicy pepper jack cheese come together in a warm ooey gooey sandwich for a quick and easy dinner that will make everyone smile :) Becky's Best Bites

 

Comments

  1. Libby with Lemony Thyme says

    I am a grilled cheese freak and this combination sounds awesome. So yummy.

  2. KC the Kitchen Chopper says

    I love that you understand that it doesn’t take much cheese to make a dish ooey gooey. Your panini looks so good. Love the enchilada twist of flavor too!

  3. nazima says

    oh my , the flavours are singing to me here. This is going onto my meal plan for next week. I love chicken enchilada and this is such a great panini idea. yum!

  4. Elizabeth says

    Oh yes PLEASE!!! Oh goodness gracious me it’s really early in the morning over in the UK just now but I want this for breakfast! Yum!

  7. christine says

    I’m a huge fan of this grilled sandwich! I hate to admit I am guilty of buying some of the shredded cheeses. Mostly I like to buy a block, especially of a good quality cheese, but in a pinch I’m known to buy the bagged stuff. I should know better….