Home > Dinner > Chicken Melts Chicken Melts December 7, 2020 | 1 Comment SAVE TO RECIPE BOX Jump to Recipe This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy. Easy cheesy Chicken Melts showcase thick slices of bread topped with a creamy chicken sauce and cheese on top. These Chicken Melts are baked and, if you like, topped with fresh herbs. Easy Chicken Melts The holidays are such a busy time, so easy dinner recipes are essential! Chicken Melts are one of the quickest and easiest recipes to whip together and they’re always a hit with the whole family — especially the kids. I’ll often make a double batch of the filling ahead of time and keep it in the fridge. Come dinner time, all that needs to be done is assembly — slice bread, top it with chicken sauce mixture, add cheese, and bake. A little bit of prep pays off big time with these melts and they’re a last-minute-dinner lifesaver! The whole family loves them and there’s plenty of “hidden” veggies that I feel good about sneaking onto my veggie-resistant toddler’s plate. Rotisserie chicken The meat in these Chicken Melts takes mere minutes to whip together, thanks to pre-cooked and deliciously seasoned rotisserie chicken. For the fastest possible prep time, I recommend getting rotisserie chicken meat that has already been pulled from the bones and shredded. Or if you’re a seasoned meal prepper, shred an extra chicken ahead of time, so when it comes to making Chicken Melts, you already have shredded meat ready in the fridge or freezer. Cajun seasoning The “star” seasoning in Chicken Melts is Cajun seasoning. You can make your own, but I use a store-bought blend to keep the process as simple as possible. Not all Cajun seasonings are the same — they can vary quite a bit from brand to brand. Spiciness and saltiness can vary significantly, so be sure to add the seasoning slowly and taste frequently. I find Cajun seasoning is generally salty enough that these melts need no additional salt, but feel free to add a bit if desired. If you’re not a big fan of heat, start with half the amount and add gradually. Remember that the cheese and bread will mellow everything out quite a bit. Chicken Melt Quick Tips Use freshly grated cheese. Pre-grated cheese has a cellulose coating that results in a greasier/clumpier cheese topping that can turn grainy. Line the sheet pan. To keep the clean-up as easy as possible, line the tray with parchment paper before baking the Chicken Melts. Dice the veggies very finely. The finer the shallot and celery are chopped, the better they integrate and less overpowering they are in these Chicken Melts. Chicken Melt Variation Ideas Add a drizzle of Sriracha or hot sauce on top of the melts. Thinly slice a Roma tomato and add a few slices on top of the cheese (or add before the cheese and bake it). I personally love the contrast of the fresh tomato on top of these chicken melts — it’s my favorite way to eat them! Add some fresh herbs to bring freshness and liveliness to these melts. We love fresh chopped cilantro and green onions or chives best. Swap out the cheese. Try a different cheese instead, making sure to use one with plenty of flavor. Or use a combination of two types of cheese instead of just one (Swiss and Cheddar, pepper jack and Cheddar, Monterey jack and Cheddar). Replace the shallot with red onion, thinly sliced green onions, or finely diced sweet onion. The red onion and sweet onion will be more pungent than the shallot. QUICK TIP Shallots have more of a sweet and mild flavor with a hint of sharpness. Overall, they’re less abrasive, heat-wise, than regular onions, making them a great addition to these Chicken Melts. More rotisserie chicken recipes Rotisserie Chicken Tacos saucy chicken mixture in minutes Chicken Shawarma Wraps with a quick sauce Chicken Pot Pie Soup with puff pastry toppers Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas with a homemade green chile sauce BBQ Chicken Sandwich Recipe in 15 minutes! FOLLOW ALONG! Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for the latest updates, recipes and content. Chicken Melts 5 from 5 votes - Review this recipe Easy cheesy Chicken Melts showcase thick slices of bread topped with a creamy chicken sauce and cheese on top. Chicken Melts are baked and, if you like, topped with fresh herbs. SAVE TO RECIPE BOX Print Recipe Chicken Melts 5 from 5 votes - Review this recipe SAVE TO RECIPE BOX Print Recipe Easy cheesy Chicken Melts showcase thick slices of bread topped with a creamy chicken sauce and cheese on top. Chicken Melts are baked and, if you like, topped with fresh herbs. Course Dinner, Main Course Cuisine American Keyword Chicken Melts Prep Time 20 minutes Cook Time 8 minutes Total Time 28 minutes Servings 10 -11 melts Calories 518kcal Author Chelsea Lords Ingredients▢ 2 cups rotisserie chicken diced ▢ 1/2 cup shallots finely diced (1-2 medium-sized)▢ 3/4 cup celery finely diced (~2 large stalks)▢ 1 cup carrots shredded (~2 medium carrots)▢ 2 cups sharp Cheddar cheese freshly grated (or extra sharp), divided▢ 1/2 cup sour cream (lite is fine)▢ 1/2 cup mayo (we love Hellman's/Best Foods)▢ 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning blend (See Note 1)▢ 1/2 teaspoon EACH: garlic powder and paprika▢ Pinch cracked pepper▢ 1 loaf French bread (you'll use about 1/2 of it)▢ Optional: 2-3 thinly sliced Roma tomatoes, fresh green onions (thinly sliced), fresh cilantro (finely chopped), hot sauceUS - Metric USMetric InstructionsPREP: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a large sheet pan with parchment paper and set aside. Dice the chicken. Finely dice the shallots and celery. Grate the carrots on the large holes of a cheese grater. Grate the cheese.CHICKEN MIXTURE: Add the chicken, shallots, celery, carrots, and 1 cup (82g) cheese to a large bowl. In a separate bowl combine the sour cream, mayo, cajun seasoning, garlic powder, paprika, and a pinch of pepper. Whisk until smooth. Pour sauce over chicken and veggies and gently stir until everything is combined. Taste and adjust this mixture to personal preference adding more Cajun seasoning if desired.ASSEMBLE: Slice a loaf of French bread into thick slices, about 1 to 1-1/2 inches thick. Place bread slices on the prepared sheet pan. Add 1/3 cup (82g) of the chicken mixture onto each piece of bread. Smooth into an even layer with the black of a fork. Add 1 and 1/2 tablespoons cheese to the top of each chicken melt to use the remaining 1 cup of grated cheese.BAKE: Bake for 8-10 minutes or until cheese is melted on top. Remove from the oven.ENJOY: Garnish with fresh herbs and, if desired, a few thin slices of Roma tomato (my favorite!). Add a drizzle of hot sauce if desired. Enjoy immediately. Recipe NotesNote 1: Not all store-bought Cajun seasonings are the same -- they can vary quite a bit from brand to brand. Spiciness and saltiness can vary significantly, so be sure to add the seasoning slowly and taste frequently. I find Cajun seasoning is generally salty enough that these melts need no additional salt, but feel free to add a bit if desired or if your particular seasoning is not salted. I use McCormick® Cajun Seasoning. If you prefer a less-salty dish, look for a low-sodium Cajun seasoning blend. Nutrition FactsCalories: 518kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Cholesterol: 106mg | Sodium: 780mg | Potassium: 280mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 4686IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 391mg | Iron: 2mg We do our best to provide accurate nutritional analysis for our recipes. Our nutritional data is calculated using a third-party algorithm and may vary, based on individual cooking styles, measurements, and ingredient sizes. Please use this information for comparison purposes and consult a health professional for nutrition guidance as needed. DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? I love hearing from you when you've made one of my recipes! Tag me on Instagram at @ChelseasMessyApron or leave me a comment below.
I can’t even tell you how much my family loves these Chicken Melts! They are the quickest dinner or lunch and everyone goes crazy for them! Thank you so much for such an awesome recipe! Reply
