This jalapeno chicken salad sandwich is easy to prepare and makes for such an incredibly satisfying lunch. With yummy ingredients like chicken, pickled jalapeno peppers and crispy fried onions, it’s a hearty chicken sandwich that hits the spot.
If you are craving a twist on a classic chicken salad sandwich recipe, then you should give this jalapeno chicken salad sandwich a try.
It has the familiar flavours of chicken salad but with some added spice and crunch. Both jalapeno peppers and pickled jalapeno pepper juice (brine) add a punch of spice, while crispy fried onions add a lovely texture and savoury flavour.
This chicken sandwich is a great way to mix up that lunch routine. I always look forward to lunch (well, every meal really, LOL), especially when I know I’m going to be having something delicious. You too?
Ingredients
- Ciabatta buns: I highly recommend you toast your ciabatta buns. I find that they are much tastier (and easier to bite through) when toasted.
- Mayonnaise: Use light or regular mayonnaise, whatever you prefer.
- Pickled jalapeno pepper juice: The pickled jalapeno pepper juice (or brine) from your jar of jalapeno peppers is packed with flavour! Don’t waste it!
- Seasoning: Includes garlic powder, salt and black pepper.
- Cooked chicken: I used white meat, but you can use dark meat or a combination of both.
- Jalapeno peppers: I used pickled jalapeno peppers. They have a lovely briny taste with a hit of spice.
- Green onion: Feel free to substitute with some chives if you prefer.
- Crispy fried onions: You can usually find bags of crispy fried onions in the grocery store alongside salad toppers (like croutons) and the like. They add such a yummy flavour and crunch to the chicken sandwich.
How To Make This Jalapeno Chicken Salad Sandwich Recipe
- Toast the ciabatta buns.
- In a bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, pickled jalapeno juice, garlic powder, salt and black pepper.
- Add cooked chicken, pickled jalapeno peppers and green onion. Stir until the chicken is nicely coated in the mayonnaise mixture.
- Assemble each sandwich by layering the chicken salad mixture onto the bottom toasted ciabatta buns and topping with crispy fried onions. Place the top bun over top for form each sandwich. There ya have it, easy and delicious jalapano chicken salad sandwiches ready to devour!
Tip
If you like, you can spread some mayonnaise on the interior of the ciabatta buns before adding the chicken salad mixture. Totally optional, of course!
What To Serve With It
I’ve always enjoyed serving a salad sandwich with something crunchy (like cheese sticks or potato chips) and a fizzy drink (soda or a carbonated water), but it also pairs deliciously with tomato soup, pasta salad, crispy potato wedges, or a simple mixed green salad.
Tips and Variations
- Chicken: To save some time, you can pick up a rotisserie chicken from your grocery store’s deli department. Of course, you can cook some chicken yourself or use some leftover chicken from another meal.
- Mix up the protein: Have leftover turkey? Try using turkey instead of chicken. Equally delicious, if you ask me!
- Lighten things up: If you want to lighten things up, sub out some of the mayonnaise for plain Greek yogurt.
- Serving: If you want to nix the bread, opt for serving the chicken salad on lettuce leaves instead. Big leaves of Boston lettuce works great. Or, you can try serving it on another type of bread, such as your favourite sandwich bread. Another option is to serve it on flour tortillas or with crackers or tortilla chips.
- Crunch: If you don’t have crispy fried onions on hand or prefer not to use, try using some kettle potato chips instead. Jalapeno or salt and vinegar flavour would be fun choices.
More Easy Chicken Sandwiches To Try
If you make this jalapeno chicken salad sandwich recipe, be sure to leave a comment below!
Jalapeno Chicken Salad Sandwich
Ingredients
- 2 small ciabatta buns
- ¼ cup mayonnaise, plus more for the ciabatta buns if desired
- ½ tablespoon pickled jalapeno juice (brine), from your jar of jalapeno peppers
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- pinch salt, or to taste
- pinch freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
- 1.5 cups shredded or chopped cooked chicken, I used white meat but you could use dark meat or a combination of both
- 2 to 3 tablespoons chopped pickled jalapeno peppers
- 1 tablespoon chopped green onion
- 2 to 3 tablespoons crispy fried onions
Instructions
- Toast the ciabatta buns: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the sliced buns on a sheet pan (cut side up) and bake for 8 to 12 minutes or until they're golden brown and toasty (or done to how you like them). Set aside.Note: Alternatively, if you have another favourite way to toast the buns, like a toaster oven or air fryer, you can use that method instead.
- Make the jalapeno chicken salad: In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, pickled jalapeno juice, garlic powder, salt and black pepper. To the bowl, add the cooked chicken, pickled jalapeno peppers and green onion. Mix until well combined.
- Assemble the sandwiches: Divide the jalapeno chicken salad mixture between the two bottom buns and then top with the crispy fried onions. Place each top bun over top to form the sandwiches. Enjoy!Note: If you want, before adding the chicken salad mixture to the ciabatta buns spread some mayonnaise to taste over the insides of the buns. This is totally optional!
Notes
- Chicken: To save some time, you can pick up a rotisserie chicken from your grocery store’s deli department. Of course, you can cook some chicken yourself or use some leftover chicken from another meal.
- Mix up the protein: Have leftover turkey? Try using turkey instead of chicken. Equally delicious, if you ask me!
- Lighten things up: If you want to lighten things up, sub out some of the mayonnaise for plain Greek yogurt.
- Serving: If you want to nix the bread, opt for serving the chicken salad on lettuce leaves instead. Big leaves of Boston lettuce works great. Or, you can try serving it on another type of bread, such as your favourite sandwich bread. Another option is to serve it on flour tortillas or with crackers or tortilla chips.
- Crunch: If you don’t have crispy fried onions on hand or prefer not to use, try using some kettle potato chips instead. Jalapeno or salt and vinegar flavour would be fun choices.
A note on times provided: appliances vary, any prep and/or cook times provided are estimates only.
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Tried this recipe?
If you do make this recipe, thank you!! It would mean so much if you could leave a comment below. Love to know how you enjoyed it, and it helps other readers too!
Michelle says
Yum! Love the hint of heat the jalapeno gives in this creamy chicken salad sandwich, and ciabatta is the perfect vessel for it!
Dawn | Girl Heart Food says
Thank you so much, Michelle! It’s such a tasty sandwich.