Salsa Chicken Grilled Cheese
Kick dinner up a notch with Salsa Chicken Grilled Cheese Sandwiches with french-fried onions (plus it’s a great way to use up leftover chicken).
I have a secret to share with you, and it’s been eating me up inside not to share.
You know how I’m always talking about making my cakes and cookies from scratch?
Truth is I kinda cheat on dinner.
I mean, it happens right? You are too tired to cook. You don’t have time to cook. You forgot to thaw the meat. You don’t even know what you’re eating today.
Can we still be friends? Because friends share their super delicious, super quick, and super easy grilled cheese sandwich recipes with each other, like this Salsa Chicken Grilled Cheese with french-fried onions.
The name may sound very basic, but oh it is far from it.
One of my favorite dinner shortcut ingredients is salsa.
A long, long time ago (I don’t think I even graduated high school yet!), I saw a recipe in a magazine where you toss salsa with tortellini for a quick dinner. That is genius and a lifesaver right there.
In fact, I still make it today (although my choice of pasta may change).
I did go through a little stage where almost *everything* had to be made from scratch, but then reality set in. I’m (slowly) learning that it’s ok to use store-bought ingredients if time is a factor.
Like the other day, I bought a fresh loaf of bread from an Italian grocery store because I knew I couldn’t bake fresh bread for dinner that night (and it was the best fresh loaf of bread I had in a long time).
Grilled cheese is a staple I’ve been making since forever.
During my junior and senior years in college where I had apartment with a real kitchen, I made grilled cheese *all* the time for lunch.
Although your usual cheese between two pieces of bread is good enough for lunch, I wanted to make grilled cheese more of a meal for dinner.
That’s when I decided to add some chicken tossed with salsa to bulk it up.
The french-fried onions give it a nice crunch.
I used a mango peach salsa for this post because that’s my favorite salsa; however, any flavor will work, including my fresh garden salsa recipe.
Some other quick dinner ideas to make with salsa – toss it with spaghetti for a kicked-up pasta sauce, use as a topping for burgers instead of ketchup, or spoon over chicken breast and bake until cooked completely.
Salsa Chicken Grilled Cheese
Kick dinner up a notch with Salsa Chicken Grilled Cheese Sandwiches with french-fried onions (plus it’s a great way to use up leftover chicken).
Ingredients
- 1 cup cooked shredded or chopped chicken
- 1 cup salsa, any flavor
- 1 cup french-fried onions
- 8 slices of bread
- 4 slices of American cheese
- Butter, for spreading
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, mix together the chicken and salsa.
- Heat up a dry skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, turn the heat down to medium-low.
- Butter one side of one slice of bread, place it buttered side down in the skillet, add one slice of cheese then top with some of the onions and chicken mixture (don't pile it too high). Top with another slice of bread, buttered side up. Cook until the cheese has melted and the bottom is golden brown** then flip. Cook until golden brown then transfer to a plate.
- Repeat with the remaining ingredients.
Notes
*The key to melting the cheese without burning the bread is cooking on low heat. If the cheese is a bit thick, cover with a lid to help speed up the process.
Looking for more quick, easy dinners?
Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo Quesadillas
Buffalo Chicken Salad Sandwiches
Buffalo Chicken Dip Quesadillas
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I have a mood-word for you: YUM!
Word of the day!
I love the idea of using mango-peach salsa with this. When I first was reading I was imagining ‘regular’ salsa, which didn’t thrill me – I have very limited tolerance for it. I love grilled cheese sandwiches, so I’ll have to try this one.
Oh, you’ll definitely have to try the mango peach salsa! It’s different than its traditional tomato salsa buddies. I mean there are still tomatoes, but the taste is different.
Oh em gee! These sandwiches look so awesome! I love that salsa, must try this recipe!
Thanks, Miriam!
Well, this is the one thing I don’t put salsa on, but that will change! This sounds awesome!
It’s life changing, promise ;)
Love this sandwich and so easy to make, Pinned!
Very easy! Thanks, Cathy.
I don’t believe everything has to be made from scratch. There is a limit of how much any one person can get done everyday. This is one of those sandwiches that is purrrrrfect after working hard all day—-that would me tonight. So I think I have a champion idea what I am going to have!
Agreed. Sometimes you just need a little help throwing together an easy dinner after a busy day!
I am allll about dinner shortcuts. We can be better friends because of your admission :) These sandwiches sound amazing!
Glad we are still friends ;)
How on earth did I not know Sabra made salsa… I have never seen it in my store!
But, seriously, SHUT UP. This sandwich?! My eyes can’t believe what I am seeing. It looks AMAZING! Pinned!
What?! You neeeeeed to find them! Try the mango peach one first.
Ohmygoshhhhhh this sandwich sounds amazing. I love adding salsa to everything, an this is no exception.
Me too! Salsa is my new shortcut sauce now.
Two of my absolute favorite things together – what a treat!
School, homework, sports…. sandwiches are my life. And now this will be added to the list. Love it!
Oh my freaking YUM! I had no idea that Sabra made salsa… of course, I’m usually too obsessed looking at the hummus to notice anything else. This sandwich is da bomb dot com!
Love this combination for a grilled cheese! Definitely need to pick up some Sabra Salsa this afternoon and make these for my boys!
Sometimes all you need is a grilled cheese! And this one looks super tasty. Love that you used salsa!
Cheating on dinner is sometimes required and totally acceptable!!!!!!
My husband makes a version of this on the weekends during the cold winter. It’s a great way to start the day.
I totally cheat at dinner too! Glad I’m not alone – this grilled cheese looks like the perfect dinner!
I’m loving that mango peach salsa with the chicken. Wonderful combo.