Chicken Pesto And Olive Panini Recipes

CHICKEN PESTO PANINI

Steps:

• Combine oregano and pepper in a small bowl. Sprinkle evenly over both sides of chicken. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken; cook until golden and cooked through, about 3 minutes per side. Remove from the pan. When cool enough to handle, slice each cutlet in half crosswise.
• Spread pesto evenly over cut sides of sandwich thins. Top the bottom halves evenly with arugula, chicken, roasted red pepper and mozzarella; cover with top halves. Press down lightly.
• Lightly coat an unheated panini griddle, covered indoor electric grill or large nonstick skillet with cooking spray. Lightly coat both sides of sandwiches with cooking spray. Heat the griddle or grill according to the manufacturer's directions. (If using a skillet, heat over medium heat.) Place the sandwiches on the griddle or grill or in the skillet, working in batches if necessary. If using a griddle or grill, close the lid and grill until the bread is toasted, 3 to 4 minutes. (If using a skillet, place a heavy saucepan or skillet on top of the sandwiches. Cook until the bottoms are toasted, about 2 minutes. Flip the sandwiches; top again with the saucepan or skillet. Cook until the other side is toasted, about 2 more minutes.)

PESTO-OLIVE CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. Flatten chicken slightly. Place in an ungreased 13x9-in. baking dish. Spoon pesto over chicken; top with mushrooms and olives., Bake, uncovered, 15-18 minutes or until a thermometer reads 165°. Sprinkle with cheese; bake 1-2 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.

GRILLED CHICKEN PESTO PANINI

Steps:

• Pound the chicken fillets until thin between two pieces of waxed paper, then marinate in oil, garlic, pepper and Italian seasoning for about 1-1/2 hours.
• Heat a grill pan or sauté pan (the breasts can also be grilled on the BBQ).
• Season the breasts with salt and pepper.
• Cook the chicken on medium heat for about 5 minutes per side, or until golden and cooked through.
• Remove from pan and place on a plate or board.
• Top each fillet with some of the roasted peppers and a slice of cheese.
• Spread BOTH sides of the bread with pesto sauce.
• Place chicken inside the bread and form to a sandwich.
• Brush both sides of the outside of bread with olive oil.
• Heat a grill pan or a 10-inch skillet on medium high heat. Place the panini in the pan (only 2 at a time).
• Weigh the panini down with another heavy skillet and then top with a heavy can (a very large can of tomato juice works great for this!) cook for about 3 minutes, or until bread is toasted.
• Turn the panini, and weigh it down again with a heavy skillet and a can on top, and toast for another 3 minutes.
• Remove from pan and cut in half.

CHICKEN PESTO PANINIS

Steps:

• Preheat a panini grill.
• Slice each quarter of focaccia bread in half horizontally. Spread each half with pesto. Layer bottom halves with equal amounts chicken, bell pepper, onion, and cheese. Top with remaining focaccia halves, forming 4 sandwiches.
• Grill paninis 5 minutes in the preheated grill, or until focaccia bread is golden brown and cheese is melted.

CHICKEN, PESTO, AND OLIVE PANINI

Steps:

• On bottom of both bread pieces brush on olive oil.
• Spread one tablespoon of pesto (or more if you like) on each piece of bread on the top side. So the bottom will have olive oil and the top will have pesto.
• On the the pesto side on ONE HALF of bread place spinach leaves. Repeat with other bread.
• On top of spinach place 1/4 of mozzarella. Repeat with other bread.
• Layer on chicken, olives, tomatoes and 1/4 of mozzarella. Repeat on other bread to make two complete sandwiches. Fold in half with the olive oil side on the outside.
• Grill on panini press or Foreman Grill.
• If you don't have these (as I don't) heat grill pan to medium heat. Wash two bricks and cover with foil. Place sandwiches side by side on grill pan. Place foil covered bricks on top. Cook on medium for 4-6 minutes. Turn over and replace bricks. Cook an additional 4-6 minutes until cheese is melted and bread is toasted brown.