Here is a new lunch idea that’s perfect for the summertime…Pesto Mayo Chicken Panini Sandwiches!
Homemade creamy basil pesto mayo is spread on a bagel thin and topped with grilled chicken, melted provolone cheese, tomato, and arugula and then grilled into a panini sandwich! YUM!
These things are so good! And easy!
About the ingredients.
Homemade pesto sauce.
I decided to skip the jarred pesto sauce on this recipe and instead put together a simple homemade version using finely chopped fresh basil, oil, garlic, Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper. Then, I combined the pesto mixture with the mayonnaise.
Many pesto sauces also include finely chopped pine nuts, so you could add those. I wanted to keep this recipe simple, so I opted to leave them out, and I think these sandwich turned out great as it is.
Optional veggies.
I decided to use arugula, but you could substitute the arugula with other salad greens, including spinach or romaine lettuce. The tomatoes are optional.
Bagel thins.
I suggest using bagel thins for these paninis. Thomas’ Bagel Thins are great and are just 3 WW SP per bagel, but I was also able to find an off brand at my local Aldi store that were also very good. If you do not have bagel thins, you can substitute them with sandwich thins or low point bread or buns.
Finally getting this recipe posted.
When I go too long without sharing anything on the Meal Planning Mommies blog, I start to feel frustrated, because I actually really enjoy doing this blog! I mean, if I could have some “me time” to do what I want, I would choose to spend some time working on the blog.
Recently my husband gave me the gift of time. He took the kids swimming at our YMCA pool so I could have a quiet house all to myself for a couple of hours. THANK YOU, HONEY!
Looking for more sandwich recipes?
Sandwiches are a perfect lunch idea that can be both fun and delicious! If you are interested in changing up your lunch routine with some new sandwich ideas, hop on over to our list of over 50 WW friendly sandwich recipes. There are lots of great sandwich recipes to choose from in this list, including the Skinny Cuban-Style Grilled Paninis and the Grilled Hawaiian Bagel Paninis!
Alrighty, let’s get to this recipe…
Here is what you need:
4 (4 ounce each) boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, divided
Salt and pepper, to taste
1/4 cup fresh basil
1/4 cup light mayonnaise
1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
2 garlic cloves, minced
Dash of salt
Dash of pepper
4 bagel thins
4 slices thin-sliced provolone cheese
4 slices tomato
1 cup fresh baby arugula (optional)
Here is what you do:
Place chicken that has been pounded down thin and brushed with 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil on a grill or grill pan. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper, to taste, and grill 5-6 minutes on both sides, or until fully cooked.
Using a food processor or knife, finely chop the basil. In a small bowl, combine the chopped basil with the light mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese, 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil, 2 garlic cloves, a dash of salt, and a dash of pepper.
Spread 2 tablespoons pesto mayo mixture on the bottom half of 4 bagel thins.
Top each with 1 grilled chicken breast, 1 slice of cheese, 1 tomato slice, 1/4 cup arugula, and the top half of the bagel thin.
Using the grill or grill pan you used to cook the chicken, grill the sandwiches about 2-3 minutes on each side, creating grill lines on the outside and melted cheese on the inside.
… and my 13-year old son allowed me to take a picture of his sandwich. Thanks, Preston!
Makes 4 paninis.
One panini is 8 green, 7 blue, and 7 purple points.
Pesto Mayo Chicken Panini
Ingredients
- 4 (4 ounce each) boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, divided
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1/4 cup fresh basil
- 1/4 cup light mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- Dash of salt
- Dash of pepper
- 4 bagel thins
- 4 slices thin-sliced provolone cheese
- 4 slices tomato
- 1 cup fresh baby arugula, optional
Instructions
- Place chicken that has been pounded down thin and brushed with 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil on a grill or grill pan. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper, to taste, and grill 5-6 minutes on both sides, or until fully cooked.
- Using a food processor or knife, finely chop the basil. In a small bowl, combine the chopped basil with the light mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese, 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil, 2 garlic cloves, a dash of salt, and a dash of pepper.
- Spread 2 tablespoons pesto mayo mixture on the bottom half of 4 bagel thins.
- Top each with 1 grilled chicken breast, 1 slice of cheese, 1 tomato slice, 1/4 cup arugula, and the top half of the bagel thin.
- Using the grill or grill pan you used to cook the chicken, grill the sandwiches about 2-3 minutes on each side, creating grill lines on the outside and melted cheese on the inside.
*MyWW® points calculated by Meal Planning Mommies; Not endorsed by MyWW (formerly Weight Watchers and WW). All recipe ingredients except optional items included in determining nutritional estimates. MyWW® green, blue, and purple values calculated without WW Zero Points foods using the WW Recipe Builder.
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