Italian Chicken Salad Sandwiches

Prep: 15 mins

Cook: 20 mins

Difficulty: Easy

Servings: 6 Servings

This is chicken salad for the mayonnaise-hating crowd — although even if you happen to think mayonnaise is perfectly delightful, this is a nice alternative. It’s got crunch, color, and a tangy Dijon vinaigrette. Plus, it goes really well with some slices of bacon. Just sayin’.

I like to roast bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts, and then shred the meat. It’s easy, and the skin keeps the meat moist and flavorful. But if you’ve got some leftover meat from a roast chicken, some grilled chicken thighs, or any other chicken dish, this is a great way to use it up.

And, of course, no one says you have to make this into sandwiches. Serve it alone or over some lettuce if you’d like.

Ingredients

2 1/2 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts (2 large or 3 medium)
Olive oil
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup diced celery (from 2 medium stalks)
1/2 cup thinly sliced roasted red pepper
1/2 cup slivered almonds, toasted
1/3 cup thinly sliced red onion (from 1/4 medium onion)
Handful chopped fresh parsley leaves
12 slices hearty Italian or peasant bread
12 slices cooked bacon (optional)
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground pepper
1/4 cup olive oil

Instructions

Make the chicken salad: Arrange a rack in the middle of the oven and heat to 425°F. Place the chicken on a rimmed baking sheet. Rub some olive oil over the chicken and season all over with salt and pepper. Roast until the chicken is cooked through, 25 to 30 minutes. The skin does not need to brown; you just want the meat to cook through.
Set the chicken aside on the baking sheet until cool enough to handle. Shred the meat and discard the skin and bones. (You should have about 3 1/2 to 4 cups of shredded chicken.) Place in a large bowl, and drizzle the chicken with a bit of the juices from the pan just to keep it moist. Add the celery, red pepper, almonds, onion, and parsley.
Make the vinaigrette: Place the vinegar, sugar, mustard, salt, and pepper in a small bowl and whisk to combine. While whisking continuously, pour in the olive oil until combined. Drizzle the vinaigrette over the chicken salad and toss to coat.
Make the sandwiches: Place 6 slices of bread on a work surface. Divide the chicken salad over the bread and spread into an even layer. Top each sandwich with 2 slices of bacon, then close the sandwiches with the remaining bread slices.