Chicken sandwiches are a classic lunch or dinner choice loved by many. But what really takes them to the next level is pairing them with the right cheese. The delicious, creamy texture and flavor cheese provides can make an average chicken sandwich extraordinary.
Choosing the ideal cheese depends on factors like the other toppings, type of bread, if the chicken is fried or grilled, and your personal taste preferences. By selecting a cheese that complements the other ingredients, you can make each bite of your chicken sandwich a divine experience.
This article explores 12 fantastic options for cheese that pair wonderfully with chicken sandwiches. Keep reading to discover new cheese and chicken sandwich combinations to try on your next meal!
1. Cheddar
The ever-popular cheddar cheese is a fantastic choice to top a chicken sandwich. Its familiar flavor and slight sharpness pair well with both fried and grilled chicken. Yellow and white cheddar offer a nice creamy texture that contrasts with the chicken.
For a classic chicken sandwich with cheddar, go for sliced white bread, crispy fried or grilled chicken, cheddar, tomato, lettuce, and mayonnaise. The slightly tangy and sweet flavors of the tomato and mayonnaise balance out the sharper cheddar beautifully.
To give this sandwich a spicy twist, consider adding a slather of chipotle mayo and sliced pickled jalapeños. The creaminess of the cheddar helps temper the heat.
2. Swiss
Swiss cheese is another excellent option for chicken sandwiches, as its mild and slightly sweet flavor blends well with chicken. Its firm yet creamy texture also holds up well when layered on sandwiches.
For a lighter chicken sandwich pairing, try using multigrain bread, grilled chicken, Swiss cheese, spinach, and honey mustard. The nutty whole grains, mellow Swiss, peppery spinach, and sweet mustard make a refreshing combo.
To add more flavor and texture, add some sliced apple or pear along with toasted walnuts. The sweet fruit and crunchy nuts complement the Swiss cheese nicely.
3. Pepper Jack
Pepper jack cheese adds a spicy kick to chicken sandwiches with its pieces of jalapeño pepper mixed throughout. Its buttery, melty texture also nicely complements juicy chicken.
For a flavorful fried chicken version, go for pepper jack, buttermilk fried chicken, ranch dressing, and crispy bacon on brioche buns. The creamy, cooling ranch pairs nicely with the heat from the pepper jack.
For extra crunch and tang, make it a fried green tomato sandwich with pepper jack, buttermilk fried chicken, and ranch or Cajun mayo. The spice of the cheese matches the kick of the tart green tomatoes.
4. Provolone
Provolone is an Italian cheese that comes in smooth, creamy versions that melt beautifully on chicken sandwiches. Its tang makes it an excellent pair for rich, fried chicken.
For an Italian-style chicken Parmesan sandwich, use crispy fried chicken, marinara sauce, shredded or sliced provolone, and grated Parmesan on a crusty ciabatta roll. The provolone melts into the sauce for that authentic chicken parm experience.
To make it extra hearty, add some sautéed spinach, bell peppers, mushrooms, or caramelized onions. Their earthy flavors pair nicely with the melted provolone.
5. Havarti
Havarti is a semi-soft Danish cheese with a creamy, buttery flavor. It melts smoothly and adds a nice richness to chicken sandwiches without overpowering them.
Try using it on ciabatta with grilled chicken, havarti, roasted red peppers, pesto, and balsamic glaze for an upscale twist. The havarti pairs nicely with the sweet peppers, herby pesto, and tart glaze.
Another delicious combination is havarti, chicken, cranberry sauce, and spinach on whole grain bread for a festive fall or winter sandwich. The havarti’s creaminess offsets the slight tartness of the cranberry sauce.
6. Muenster
Muenster is known for its smooth, melty texture and mild, slightly sweet flavor. It’s an excellent choice for grilled chicken sandwiches, as it beautifully complements the charred flavor without covering it up.
Build your sandwich on wheat bread with grilled chicken, muenster, tomato, avocado, red onion, spinach, and chipotle mayo for a delicious blend of flavors and textures. The creamy muenster and avocado balance the spice from the chipotle mayo.
Another tasty grilled chicken sandwich combo is muenster, chicken, caramelized onion, sautéed mushrooms, and Dijon on a pretzel bun. The melty cheese pairs nicely with the earthy mushrooms and onions.
7. Mozzarella
Fresh mozzarella adds delightful rich flavor and soft texture when melted on chicken sandwiches. It has a subtle tang that pairs well with all the classic sandwich toppings.
For an Italian-style treat, get crusty ciabatta bread, pounded chicken cutlets, fresh mozzarella, roasted red peppers, basil pesto, and balsamic drizzle. The fresh mozz melts beautifully into the pesto and peppers.
For added texture, use fresh mozzarella pearls or small mozzarella balls rather than sliced. Pair them with chicken, prosciutto, sun-dried tomatoes, and basil pesto for an upscale sandwich. The varied textures take this sandwich to the next level.
8. Asiago
Sharp, nutty asiago cheese adds robust flavor to chicken sandwiches. Its crumbly texture gives a delicious mouthfeel when contrasted with tender chicken.
Try asiago on pretzel buns with crispy chicken, arugula, tomato, and fig jam. The sharp asiago balances the sweet jam and the pretzel’s slight bitterness.
Another idea is to use asiago crumbles, chicken, artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers, and pesto on focaccia bread. The asiago’s intensity stands up to the bold roasted veggie flavors.
9. Gouda
Gouda is a widely popular Dutch cheese known for its nutty, caramel-like flavor that varies from mild to sharply aged. Its creamy, slightly crumbly texture is perfect for chicken sandwiches.
For a flavorful grilled sandwich, go for gouda, grilled chicken, caramelized onions, apple slices, spinach, and honey mustard on multigrain bread. The sweet onions, tart apples, and mustard beautifully complement the nutty gouda.
A tasty variation is gouda, chicken, bacon, avocado, lettuce, and ranch dressing on sourdough bread. The richness of the cheese pairs nicely with the meaty bacon and creamy avocado.
10. Fontina
Fontina is an Italian semi-soft cheese revered for its rich and nutty flavor with just a hint of tang. It melts wonderfully on sandwiches with its creamy texture.
Try fontina on sourdough with crispy chicken, tomato, arugula, and sun-dried tomato pesto. The fontina’s flavor profile pairs divinely with the pesto’s nutty, herby qualities.
Another great pairing is fontina, fried chicken, sautéed broccoli rabe, and roasted garlic aioli on an Italian roll. The fontina stands up to the pleasantly bitter broccoli rabe.
11. Feta
Crumblier feta cheese imparts a lovely salty tang to chicken sandwiches. Its bolder flavor allows it to stand up to bold ingredients without getting overwhelmed.
For a Mediterranean twist, use feta, grilled chicken, cucumber, red onion, tomato, and Tzatziki sauce on naan bread. The cool cucumber yogurt sauce balances the strong feta beautifully.
You could also do feta, chicken, olives, roasted peppers, spinach, and hummus on pita bread. The bright flavors of the hummus and veggies complement the salty feta.
12. Blue Cheese
Blue cheese like gorgonzola or roquefort adds a sharp, pungent flavor and creamy texture to chicken sandwiches. The bold blue cheese pairs well with sweet ingredients.
Try using blue cheese crumbles, crispy chicken, caramelized onion, apples, and balsamic reduction on an onion roll. The sweet apples and onions complement the sharpness of the blue cheese.
Another idea is blue cheese, chicken, walnuts, dried cranberries, spinach, and balsamic vinaigrette on cranberry walnut bread. The nuts and berries balance the intensity of the blue cheese perfectly.
Best Breads for Chicken and Cheese Sandwiches
The bread you choose for your chicken and cheese sandwich is key, as it impacts the texture and flavor balance. Here are some top options:
- Brioche or challah – Rich, eggy breads that pair well with indulgent cheeses like havarti or muenster
- Sourdough – Nice chew and tang balances sharper cheeses like cheddar or gouda
- Ciabatta or focaccia – Sturdy enough for melty cheeses like fontina or mozzarella
- Pretzel bun – Slight bitterness contrasts with bold cheeses like asiago or blue
- Wheat or multigrain – Whole grains complement nutty cheeses like Swiss or gruyere
- Potato bread – Sweet flavor and soft texture works with most cheese types
Cooking Methods for Chicken Sandwiches
Grilling, frying, baking, and pounding chicken all result in slightly different flavors and textures that pair well with cheeses:
- Grilled – Smoky char flavor highlights mellow cheeses like havarti or muenster
- Fried – Crisp, juicy chicken matches creamy cheeses like cheddar or pepper jack
- Baked – Gentle heat leaves chicken moist for cheeses like Swiss or provolone
- Pounded – Thin cutlets ideal for melty cheeses like mozzarella or fontina
FAQs
What is the most popular cheese for chicken sandwiches?
Cheddar cheese is one of the most commonly used cheeses for chicken sandwiches. Its familiar flavor pairs well with both fried and grilled chicken. Sharp cheddar provides a nice tang while still being creamy.
What is a good cheese for grilled chicken sandwiches?
Swiss, Havarti, Muenster, and Fontina are excellent options for grilled chicken sandwiches. Their mild, creamy flavors complement the flavor of grilled chicken without overpowering it. Mozzarella also pairs well for its melty texture.
What cheese goes well with spicy fried chicken sandwiches?
Pepper jack is an ideal match for spicy fried chicken sandwiches, as it can stand up to the heat. The peppers mixed in add another element of spiciness. Provolone and cheddar are also great options.
What is a unique cheese to use on chicken sandwiches?
Some more unique but tasty cheeses to try are Asiago, Gouda, Feta and Blue Cheese. Their bolder, more pungent flavors pair well with sweet ingredients like caramelized onions, apples, jams, and balsamic glazes.
What cheese provides the creamiest texture for chicken sandwiches?
Havarti, Swiss, Muenster, Fresh Mozzarella and Brie all melt very smoothly, giving chicken sandwiches a decadent, creamy texture.
How can I make sure the cheese doesn’t overwhelm the sandwich?
Use moderate amounts of strongly flavored cheeses like Asiago, Blue Cheese and Aged Gouda. Pair them with sweet ingredients and sauces to balance their intensity. Milder cheeses like Mozzarella and Monterey Jack integrate well without dominating.
What cheese goes well with pesto chicken sandwiches?
Pesto chicken sandwiches pair nicely with Havarti, Fresh Mozzarella, Fontina, and Parmesan for their creamy textures and ability to complement the pesto’s herby flavor without overpowering it.
Can I use multiple cheeses on a chicken sandwich?
Absolutely! Combining cheeses like provolone and parmesan, or cheddar and gruyere can add even more flavor. Just be sure the cheeses you choose have complementary flavors.
Final Thoughts
Chicken sandwiches are easy to customize with different cheeses, breads, sauces, and toppings. Think about cheese flavors and textures to find an ideal match for your other ingredients. Playing with sweet and salty additions like fruit, nuts, and cured meats can keep each bite interesting. And don’t be afraid to try unique cheese choices like asiago, feta, and gouda for delicious sandwiches.
Cheeses That Go Best with Chicken Sandwiches
Ingredients
- Chicken breasts pounded thin
- Cheddar Swiss, or other cheese, sliced
- Burger buns
- Desired toppings like lettuce tomato, onion
- Mayo mustard, or other condiment
Instructions
- Preheat grill or pan to medium-high heat.
- Season chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and any other spices.
- Place chicken on hot grill or pan and cook 6-8 minutes per side until cooked through.
- Place cheese slices on chicken during last 1-2 minutes to melt slightly.
- Toast buns on grill or in pan to warm them up.
- Spread condiment on bottom bun and add lettuce, tomato, onion, or other toppings.
- Place chicken breast on top of toppings and cover with top bun.
- Enjoy your cheesy chicken sandwich!