Creamy Pesto Chicken Sandwich by Bobbi’s Kozy Kitchen

Bobbi

2 Shares

Creamy Pesto Chicken Sandwich by Bobbi's Kozy Kitchen

I love this sandwich, it will have you in and out of the kitchen in no time. Nobody wants to be standing in a hot kitchen in the summer when the alternative is relaxing in the sun or shade of a tree. This is a must make recipe for me!! ~Tara

Creamy Pesto Chicken Sandwiches
Ahhh my friends, summer is upon us! Let us take a moment and revel in all things warm and sunny. Yes, soak it all in. Mmmm it makes me so very happy.

If it seems that I am a little goofy, well goofy-er than usual, it is because I seriously love this time of year here. I tend to go a bit overboard really.

You see, I used to live in San Diego, yes sunny So Cal. The land of sand, surf, and sunshine all year long. I grew up 2 blocks from the beach. I know, tough life right?

I went to school in shorts and flip flops and hit the beach for lunch just about every day. I was “brown as a berry”, as my mother would say, year round, and jackets were something that were shoved in the back of the closet and only made rare appearances a few times a year.

Yes my darling foodies, I was spoiled…rotten! I took that fabulous weather for granted. There were times that I even complained about it! I know, I should slap myself.

But it all caught up to me. In 2006 I moved to Washington, to a small town about an hour from Seattle. The Emerald City, the land of green and RAIN!! That rain, and gray overcast weather was all I could focus on for the first year (or two) that I lived here. I missed the beach and my sunshine soooooo very much. While everyone in my family was celebrating the beauty of our new home I was sulking and whining. What a brat right? I am hanging my head in shame just thinking about it!

But a funny thing happened. I don’t know how, or why, but summer rolled around and I finally opened my eyes to how amazing this place really is. I would lie in the lounger in my backyard and stare up at the glorious blue sky framed by huge trees. Everywhere you looked was lush, and green, and so alive. I realized the air smelled clean, like air is supposed to smell. I can remember loving the way the air smelled in San Diego after it rained, but it was that way here, every day. We had blackberry, blueberry, and huckleberry bushes all around our property. At night I would sit outside and listen to the symphony provided by the frogs.

It. Was. Awesome!!

Now? Oh there is no way I would live anywhere else. I am surrounded by trees, my nearest neighbor is at least 20 yards away VS 6 feet, and I have deer, squirrels, woodpeckers, and all other sorts of wildlife right outside my window. And summertime? Oh my goodness summertime! It might only, be a couple months long, but those months are celebrated by everyone. BBQs, bonfires at the beach, pool parties, walks in the woods, and picnics are an almost every day occurrence. I swear I would pitch a tent and live outside if I had one!

I tend to go on kitchen strike during those months. Well, not strike really, it is more like my stove and I are not on speaking terms. We eat salads, sandwiches, slow cooker meals, and a ton of grilled meat and veggies.

For this recipe I took a little help from the store and purchased a rotisserie chicken. They are one of my best friends in the summertime. Fresh pesto (you can always use store bought if you like), cheese, lettuce, fresh tomatoes from the garden, and a nice loaf of French bread, and you have yourself one satisfying sandwich that works for lunch OR dinner.

Pack it for the park, for the beach, or for the pool. Make it the night before. It will only get better. But, trust me, you want to make it. You will never go back to lunchmeat again!!

Creamy Pesto Chicken Sandwich by Bobbi's Kozy Kitchen

Creamy Pesto Chicken Sandwiches

1 rotisserie chicken, skin removed and shredded
3 celery stalks, diced
1/2 cup Olive Oil Mayonnaise
3/4 to 1 cup pesto,
Kosher salt
Fresh cracked black pepper
2 vine ripe tomatoes, thinly sliced
8 slices sharp cheddar cheese
Lettuce (I used butter lettuce)
1 French baguette, cut into 4 pieces

For the pesto:

1/2 cup pine nuts, lightly toasted
2 cups fresh basil leaves
1 cup fresh Italian parsley leaves
1/2 cup Parmesan or Romano
2 garlic cloves
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 to 3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

1) To make the pesto, toast pine nuts in a skillet over medium heat until fragrant, tossing occasionally to ensure even toasting, about 5 minutes. Combine all of the pesto ingredients, except the olive oil, in a food processor and pulse, drizzle in the olive oil slowly until well combined

2) In a large bowl, combine chicken, celery, pesto, mayo, and salt and pepper to taste.

3) Serve chicken pesto on the baguette with lettuce, sliced tomatoes, and cheddar cheese.

4) Wrap sandwiches and refrigerate or serve immediately.