If you’re craving a sandwich with bold flavor and a kick of heat, this Chopped Spicy Chicken Sandwich delivers. The secret starts with a flavorful pickled jalapeno marinade, which infuses the chicken with tangy, zesty heat while keeping it tender and juicy. The brine adds just the right balance of acidity and spice, creating layers of flavor in every bite without being overpowering. Whether you’re cooking on the griddle, cast iron skillet, or traditional grill, this easy sandwich comes together in about 30 minutes and is perfect for weeknight dinners, game day, or your next backyard cookout.
Looking for more quick and easy grilled sandwich recipes, then you have to try my Shredded Buffalo Chicken Sandwich, Perfectly Grilled Steak Sandwich, or the perfect adult version of a Grilled Cheese Sandwich.
What Makes This Sandwich So Good?
The magic in this Chopped Spicy Chicken Sandwich is in the marinade.
Instead of relying on a spicy sauce alone, the chicken is marinated in the brine from pickled jalapeños along with the peppers and seasonings. The brine gently tenderizes the chicken while adding a tangy heat that penetrates every bite. Once cooked, the chicken is chopped on the griddle with melted spicy colby jack cheese ensuring every bite is loaded with flavor.
Unlike a traditional chicken sandwich with a whole chicken breast, chopping the chicken creates crispy edges while allowing the cheese and sauce to coat every piece evenly.
Ingredients needed to make a Chopped Spicy Chicken Sandwich
- Chicken: for this recipe I went with chicken breast. The pickled jalapenos tenderize the meat making it perfectly juice and will help avoid any dryness once cooked.
- Pickled jalapenos: a can of pickled jalapenos works as the perfect brine to tenderize the meat and seasoning for the ultimate flavor.
- Seasoning: I used my Sweet BBQ seasoning to balance the acidity and heat of the recipe.
- Cheese: I went with a smokey hot colby jack cheese which added another bold layer of heat. Other great alternatives include cheddar, mozzarella or provolone.
- BBQ sauce: adds a sweet smooth creamy coating to a spicy sandwich creating the perfect balance.
- Subs: I love using french rolls for the any chopped or grilled sandwich. The are the perfect size, softness and perfect vessel to hold all the ingredients.
Marinate the Chicken
The secret to this Chopped Spicy Chicken Sandwich is the pickled jalapeno marinade. Instead of using fresh jalapeños alone, this recipe takes advantage of the flavorful brine from a jar of pickled jalapeños. The brine is packed with vinegar, salt, and sliced peppers, making it an excellent marinade for chicken.
The vinegar gently tenderizes the meat by helping break down some of the muscle fibers, while the salt allows the chicken to retain more moisture as it cooks. Together, they create chicken that’s juicy, flavorful, and anything but dry.
Start by cubing up the chicken breast into bite size pieces. Drop them in a deep bowl and add the pickled jalapeno juice along with the peppers. To balance the heat, add some Dad’s Sweet BBQ seasoning. Place it in the fridge for at least 2-3 hours.
Dad’s Seasonings
Must have grillin seasonings!
How to grill a Chopped Spicy Chicken Sandwich
For this Chopped Spicy Chicken Sandwich, I used my griddle. Don’t have a griddle, no problem. Use a cast iron skillet over the stove top or any other grill.
Pre-heat the grill to a medium high heat around 375 degrees. Drop the brined chicken along with all the peppers on the hot surface and spread everything apart. Add more of my Sweet BBQ rub and diced red onions.
Flip the chicken every minute to help build a nice crust all around. Add your choice of BBQ sauce and mix it in with the grilled chicken. This will add a sweet caramelized coating to balance the heat from the brine and jalapenos.
Once the internal temperature of the spicy chicken reaches 145-150 degrees Fahrenheit, separate the chicken into the amount of servings you have. Add cheese slices and wait until they melt over the chicken. At this time, place the sub rolls face down on the griddle to toast them up.
Place the toasted bread on top of the cheesy chicken mix and lift everything up with your spatula.
Serve immediately while the cheese is perfectly melted.
What to Serve with This Sandwich
To be honest, you don’t need anything else with the Chopped Spicy Chicken Sandwich since it’s pretty filling. But cut int in half and serve with these backyard favorites for the perfect combo:
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking to take your chicken sandwich game to the next level, this Chopped Spicy Chicken Sandwich is a must-try. The pickled jalapeño marinade gives the chicken incredible flavor and tenderness, while the melted cheese, BBQ sauce and toasted bun, create the perfect combination of heat, richness, and crunch.
It’s quick enough for busy weeknights, impressive enough for backyard gatherings, and packed with the kind of bold flavors that keep everyone coming back for another sandwich. Enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions:
How spicy is the marinade? The pickled jalapeño juice adds a mild to medium heat with lots of tang. Most of the flavor comes from the brine rather than overwhelming spice. If you want less heat, exclude the pickled jalapeno’s from the recipe.
Can I freeze the marinated chicken? Yes. Place the chicken and marinade in a freezer-safe bag and freeze for up to three months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before cooking.
If you tried this Chopped Spicy Chicken Sandwich or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the📝 comments. I love hearing from you!
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Chopped Spicy Chicken Sandwich
This quick and easy Chopped Spicy Chicken Sandwich features jalapeno marinated chicken grilled to perfection for the ultimate spicy sandwich.
Course Appetizer, Snack, lunch, dinner, party food, barbecue, main
Cuisine American, Mexican, Tex-Mex, Southern
Keyword quick, easy recipe, comfort food, spicy, chopped spicy chicken sandwich, grilled chicken, pickled jalapeno, chicken brine, colby jack cheese, griddle, grillin with dad recipes.
Prep Time 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes minutes
Servings 4 People
Calories 459kcal
- 2 Chicken breast
- 12 oz Pickled jalapeno can
- 2 tbsp Sweet BBQ seasoning
- 1/4 cup BBQ sauce
- 8 slices Colby jack cheese
- 4 French rolls
- 1/2 Red onion - diced
Start by cubing up the chicken breast into bite size pieces.
Drop them into a deep bowl and add the pickled jalapeno juice along with the peppers. Add 1 tbsp Dad's Sweet BBQ seasoning to the brine and mix. Place it in the fridge for at least 2-3 hours.
Pre-heat the grill to a medium heat around 375 degrees.
Drop the chicken along with all the peppers on the hot surface and spread everything apart. Add the diced onion and the remaining 1 tbsp of Sweet BBQ rub.
Flip the chicken every minute to help build a nice crust all around. Add BBQ sauce and mix it in with the grilled chicken.
Once the internal temperature of the spicy chicken reaches 145-150 degrees Fahrenheit, separate the chicken into 4 equal servings.
Place 2 slices of cheese on each serving. Continue cooking until the cheese melts.
Toast the French rolls right on the griddle.
Place the toasted rolls right on top of the cheesy chicken mix and lift everything up with a spatula.
Serve immediately while the cheese is perfectly melted. Enjoy!
- Use chicken thighs instead of breast for more flavor.
- Marinate the chicken for at least two hours.
- Cook over medium-high heat to develop a flavorful crust.
- Toast the buns to keep them from getting soggy.
Calories: 459kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 53mg | Sodium: 2242mg | Potassium: 304mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 2140IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 452mg | Iron: 14mg
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