Apple Chicken Sandwiches

Made with crunchy apples, juicy chicken, honey mustard dressing, and melty white cheddar cheese, there is so much to love about these Apple Chicken Sandwiches! They’re an easy yet satisfying main dish, perfect for light lunches and comforting family dinners.

Why You’ll Love This Chicken Apple Sandwich Recipe:

• Simple and Quick: Enjoy a hearty and flavorful meal in a few simple steps and less than 15 minutes. If you know how to heat chicken and slice bread, you can make these chicken cheese sandwiches!
• Family-Friendly: Are you looking for nutritious meals even picky eaters will enjoy? These sandwiches disappear every time I make them for family meals—even my preschooler requests them! 
• Great Year Round: Though it is admittedly one of my beloved fall sandwich ideas, these sandwiches are a hit anytime sweet and crunchy apples are in stock! Serve them with a light green salad in the summer or a bowl of hot soup in the fall and winter months. 

Let’s Get Started! Here’s What You’ll Need:

Ingredients

Chicken Breast - Adds heartiness, protein, and savoriness to the apple cheddar sandwiches. You can use leftover grilled or rotisserie chicken or cook boneless skinless chicken breasts fresh for the recipe. 

Bakery Rolls - Choose your favorite style of bakery roll, such as brioche, ciabatta, kaiser, potato rolls, or even whole wheat or white sandwich bread slices. For these photos, I used Torta rolls. If the rolls aren’t pre-sliced, slice them in half lengthwise with a serrated knife.

White Cheddar Cheese - Savory and creamy with a delightfully sharp bite, I couldn’t think of a better cheese to complement grilled chicken and sweet apples. You will need one thick slice per sandwich- if using thin slices grab two. If needed, you can swap sliced sharp cheddar, Swiss, or Fontina cheese. 

Apple - For sweetness and a satisfying crunch, choose a sweet, crisp apple, such as Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Gala. Core and slice it just before assembling the apple and cheese sandwiches. 

Lettuce - Adds fresh flavor, light crunch, and greens. I used iceberg, but you can also layer in Bibb, romaine, or curly green lettuce. 

Honey Mustard Dressing - This dressing adds a sweet and zesty zip to the sandwiches, tying their flavors and textures together. Choose your preferred brand or make your own. 

Equipment: 

Skillet - Reheat or cook the chicken in a medium-sized skillet. If cooking fresh, I recommend a lidded skillet so you can finish the chicken by steaming it. You will not need this tool if you reheat the chicken in the toaster oven or microwave. 

Heat-Safe Spatula - This tool flips the chicken as it cooks or reheats. You can omit this tool if you don’t use the skillet to reheat or cook the chicken.

Knife & Cutting Board - For slicing the apples and chicken. A paring knife, chef’s knife, or other medium-sized sharp knife works great. 

Serrated Knife - If the bakery rolls are not sliced, you will need a serrated knife to slice the bread without crushing it. 

Toaster Oven - This is an optional appliance for toasting the sandwiches- a regular oven will work fine too. If your toaster doesn’t have or fit a small baking sheet, toast the sandwiches on a piece of heavy-duty aluminum foil.

How to Make Apple Chicken Sandwiches

Cook or Reheat the Chicken 

Reheat leftover chicken on the stovetop, in the toaster oven, or in the microwave until warmed through. If heating in the microwave, warm it on low heat. 

If you don't have leftover chicken, you can cook boneless skinless chicken breasts. Season them with salt and pepper and cook them with oil in a skillet over medium heat for 7-8 minutes. Turn the chicken halfway through and add 2 tablespoons of water before covering the final 2-3 minutes. The chicken is ready when it reaches 165°F in the thickest part of the meat. 

Toast the Rolls and Prep the Filling

If not already sliced, slice the rolls lengthwise with a serrated knife. Place the rolls, cut-side-up, on a small baking sheet and toast in the oven or toaster oven for 1-3 minutes until warm and lightly golden brown. While the rolls toast, slice the chicken and apple slices.

Add and Toast Chicken and Cheese

Add the chicken and cheese to the bottom halves of the rolls. Toast another 2 minutes or so or until the cheese melts.

Assemble and Serve 

Remove the toasted sandwich halves from the toaster or oven. Top the bottom halves with the apple slices and lettuce. Brush 2 tablespoons of honey mustard spread on each roll top and place on the corresponding bottom half. Enjoy!

Recipe Success Tips

• Toasting options: Toast the bread and heat the chicken and cheese in an oven preheated to 375°F or a toaster oven on medium heat. Line the baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper for the easiest clean-up. 
• Prep them ahead of time. To prep these sandwiches ahead of time, cook and slice the chicken (if not using leftovers), slice the buns, wash and separate the lettuce, and cut the apples, tossing them with lemon juice. Store the ingredients separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. When it comes time to serve, reheat the chicken, toast the buns, heat the chicken and cheese, and assemble the chicken apple sandwiches!
• Recipe Variations. Explore different takes on these tasty fall sandwiches by swapping roast turkey for chicken, substituting Swiss or fontina cheese for cheddar, or using different lettuce, such as arugula, romaine, or baby greens. Slice a bartlett or bosc pear instead of an apple, or try sliced persimmons. You can also use different salad dressings, such as poppyseed, balsamic, or raspberry vinaigrette.

Serving Suggestions 

Enjoy these white cheddar chicken sandwiches with easy sides, such as fruit salad or kettle potato chips, or make it a filling spread by pairing them with any of the following dishes:

• Oven Roasted Parmesan Garlic Crusted Potatoes 
• Air Fryer Broccoli and Cheese Sauce 
• Crockpot Mashed Sweet Potatoes 

Storage Directions

These apple and cheddar sandwiches are best enjoyed fresh. Leftovers can be kept for 1-2 days, but will not be as crisp. If you plan to reheat it again, carefully remove the apples and lettuce from the buns before refrigerating them in an airtight container for 1-2 days. 

When ready to reheat again, remove the chicken and reheat in the microwave on medium-low heat for 30-60 seconds until hot. Reheat the bread and cheese in your oven or toaster oven on low heat until warm, then add the chicken back. Assemble with the lettuce and apples- if either browned during storage, slice fresh apples and lettuce. Add a bit more honey mustard to taste as well.

More Easy Slider, Wrap, and Sandwich Recipes 

• Pesto Caprese Sandwich
• Leftover Meatloaf Sliders
• Tri-Tip Sandwich
• Honey Mustard Chicken Wrap
• Salmon Caesar Salad Wrap

Enjoy!

I hope you enjoy these for lunch today- or the next time you have leftover chicken and some apples hanging around. Remember to come back and leave a review, or tag me on social media so I can see your kitchen success!

📖 Recipe