The flavors of this copycat Panera chipotle chicken avocado melt are hard to beat. Discover how to make this classic sandwich at home.

Chipotle chicken avocado melt sandwich on serving plate.

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Reasons to Love
Ingredients
Instructions
Variations
Tips
Serving suggestions
Storage
Related Recipes

Forget about spending money at Panera Bread, you can recreate this delectable melt right in your kitchen. With simple ingredients and easy-to-follow steps, you'll soon be savoring every bite of this tasty sandwich.

The sandwich is perfect for lunch. You can even add a cup of homemade soup or salad on the side to make a more filling meal.

Reasons to Love

A perfect flavor combination. The chipotle chilies add a fiery kick, while the chicken brings savory goodness. The avocado, cheese, and buttery bread perfectly complement the primary flavors.
Makes a quick lunch or hearty dinner. Packed with protein from the chicken and healthy fats from the avocado, it offers a satisfying and nourishing meal option.

Ingredients

This mouthwatering sandwich combines bold flavors and fresh ingredients for a unique taste sensation.

These are the items used in the recipe:

shredded or pulled chicken
focaccia bread
mayonnaise
chipotle sauce (chipotle peppers in adobo sauce)
avocado
Peppadew pepper slices
fresh cilantro
smoked gouda cheese
butter

Scroll down to the recipe card for quantities used.

Instructions

Once you've gathered all the ingredients, it's time to make the sandwich. Just follow these easy step-by-step directions.

Adding mayonnaise to small food processor container.

Place mayonnaise into a food processor.

Adding chipotle pepper to mayonnaise in small food processor container.

Add chipotle pepper to mayo and blend until smooth.

Shredded chicken spread on top of bottom bread slice.

Layer the shredded chicken on the top of the bottom slice of bread.

Peppadew pepper slices added on top of chicken layer.

Top the chicken with peppadew pepper slices.

Slice of gouda cheese and sliced avocado added to sandwich.

Add a slice of gouda and the avocado slices.

Sprinkle cilantro over the avocado then top with another slice of gouda.

Chipotle mayonnaise spread over top bread slice.

Spread the chipotle mayo on the other bread slice before using it to top off your sandwich.

Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Toast both sides of the sandwich in the skillet.

Hint: If you don't have a small food processor, simply mix together the chipotle mayonnaise ingredients together in a small bowl by hand.

Variations

This Panera copycat recipe can be easily modified to suit your preferences. Here are some easy ways to change up the sandwich:

Add bacon: Make your melt even more mouthwatering by adding crispy bacon. It will add smokiness to the melt.
Swap out ingredients: Experiment with different cheeses, veggies, or even try a vegetarian version by using grilled tofu instead of chicken. An air fryer Cornish hen or slow cooker Chipotle Chicken is an excellent option for the meat too.
Make it low-carb: Wrap all the delicious fillings in crisp lettuce leaves for a refreshing low-carb twist.
Add some sliced tomatoes and lettuce to create an even more refreshing experience.
Vary the bread. Other types of bread work well for the sandwich, like sourdough bread or ciabatta rolls.
Add ground black pepper. You can sprinkle pepper on the bread slices or add some to the mayonnaise mixture.

You can even make a no-knead Italian artisan bread loaf for the bread in the chipotle chicken avocado melt recipe.

Tips

Top tip: Don't skip the toasting step at the end. It gives the sandwich some crunch and warmth.

A rotisserie chicken can be shredded for the meat in the sandwich.
Cover the pan when toasting to melt the cheese.

Angled overhead view of chipotle chicken avocado melt sandwich on serving plate.

Serving suggestions

Serve with crispy sweet potato fries or air fryer potato wedges for a delightful textural contrast. It's a match made in culinary heaven.

You can enjoy it with a refreshing broccoli salad or green bean tomato salad. The vegetables add a burst of brightness that cuts through the richness of the chipotle chicken avocado melt.

It can also be served with a radish salad for a cool and crunchy accompaniment. The creamy dressing provides a satisfying contrast to the warm and spicy flavors of the sandwich.

Storage

Wrap the sandwich tightly in plastic wrap or place it in an airtight container. Place the wrapped sandwich in the refrigerator and consume within 3 days for optimal taste and quality.