Never underestimate the power of great chicken sandwiches! Excellent platter for gatherings, picnics and work lunches. My secrets? Fresh dill, a handful of walnuts and shred the chicken really finely using a stand-mixer or electric beater. Yes, really.
Chicken sandwiches
If you’ve ever wondered why those chicken sandwiches from “that gourmet deli” are so coveted and command such high prices, the answer lies not just in the secret mix of ingredients for the filling but also in the texture of the chicken.
“It’s so soft and just melts in your mouth!“, friends have observed.
The secret? Shredding the chicken super, super finely, until it’s basically crumbly, using a stand-mixer. This makes the chicken sandwich filling soft and creamy because you don’t have chewy chunks of chicken in it.
No stand-mixer? No worries! Use a hand-held beater or a little patience and your hands. 🙂
Mayonnaise plus sour cream
And the second secret of course is the sauce! You want it to have plenty of creamy sauce but not be too oily and weighed down with mayonnaise. My trick is to use both mayonnaise (for flavour and richness) and sour cream (for creamy goodness with less oil).
Ingredients in Chicken Sandwich Filling
Here’s what goes in my chicken sandwiches. And before you say it, let me acknowledge that I left out the most obvious ingredient for sandwiches – BREAD! 😂
Chicken – I use store bought chicken for ease. Bonus: The flesh is seasoned all the way through.
Homemade roast chicken – If you’re a better person than me, make your own brined roast chicken (the brine will infuse the flesh with salt like store bought rotisserie chicken).
Chicken breast – I prefer to use a whole chicken so you get a good blend of white meat (breast, lean) and dark meat (thigh, leg, wings – juicier and more flavour). But if you prefer to use just chicken breast, use my Foolproof Poached Chicken Breast (guarantees juicy breast) and toss the shredded chicken with 1 teaspoon of salt before mixing the sauce through.
The bread (which I forgot to picture!) – The traditional bread is soft white sandwich bread. For fellow Australians – hot tip: Bakers Delight. The white sandwich bread, standard slice, is best for finger sandwiches. Soft but not sooooo soft that the filling squishes the bread.
And of course, the bread of choice is not set in stone so feel free to use whatever bread you want!
Mayonnaise – I always use whole egg mayonnaise which is creamier, smoother and has better flavour than mayonnaise that is not labelled “whole egg”. The reason is because whole-egg mayonnaise has more egg in it.
My favourite mayonnaise brand is S&W, followed by Kewpie. Hellman’s is good too albeit a little sweeter. I find other brands (especially non whole-egg mayonnaise) too sweet and/or too vinegary and/or lacking in (good) flavour. I live in Sydney, Australia, and you can get all these brands at everyday large grocery stores.
Sour cream – Secret ingredient! Using this means we can have plenty of tasty sauce in our chicken sandwich filling without it being overly greasy from using just mayonnaise. Yogurt can also be used but sour cream is my preference because it’s creamier.
Walnuts – The classic nut addition in “gourmet deli-style” chicken sandwiches. I think part of the appeal, other than the hint of nutty flavour, is that it adds a bit of much needed texture in the otherwise very creamy filling.
Best substitute – cashews, macadamia nuts or pecans. Else, leave it out.
Fresh dill – Another ingredient that makes this “gourmet deli-style”! Lovely hint of fresh flavour. No other herb will provide the same flavour so if you don’t have it / like it, just leave it out. (Parsley can be used for a bit of green colour but won’t add flavour).
Pickles – For the most subtle touch of tang in the filling. Use your favourite pickles. You could even substitute with capers.
Celery and green onion – Adds background freshness in the filling and the celery also adds texture. While green onion could be substituted with red onion or eschalots (French onions / US: shallots), don’t skip the celery! It really makes a difference.
Onion, garlic, salt, pepper – The seasonings for the sauce. I use onion and garlic powder rather than fresh because they have a smooth earthy flavour which is what I’m after for the sauce.
Lemon juice – For a touch of freshness in the sauce. Substitute with vinegar.
Dijon mustard – More flavour!
How to make deli-style chicken sandwiches
Nothing ground-breaking here. The only trick is shredding the chicken as finely as you can. The finer it’s shredded, the creamier the chicken filling which is what sets deli-style chicken sandwiches apart from the rest!
As I mentioned earlier, a stand-mixer will make short work of this. Hand-held beater also works. Else, your hands and some patience!
Remove flesh off the chicken and remove the skin. (No prizes for guessing where all the chicken skin goes around here. You’ll see in the recipe video!)
Shred the chicken as finely as you can. It takes about 1 minute on medium speed using a stand-mixer using the paddle attachment (not whisk, it gets all caught up in the wires). A hand-held beater will also work but will take a bit longer. Else, use your hands.
Mix sauce ingredients in a bowl until smooth. Use a whisk, if needed.
Pour sauce over the chicken with remaining Filling ingredients (walnuts, celery, green onion, pickle, dill) and mix until combined.
At this stage, you should sneak in a taste test and marvel at how soft and creamy the chicken sandwich filling is!
Butter the bread. This not only provides extra flavour but a protection barrier so the sauce of the chicken filling doesn’t soak into the bread.
Spread the filling on the bread, from edge to edge.
Cut off crusts – I typically don’t cut the crust off sandwiches but for chicken sandwiches, I do if I’m making them for other people. Partly so they look neat – think High-Tea finger sandwich style – and also because then you get the full effect of the soft creamy chicken filling with just soft white bread. No tough crust getting in the way of the eating experience!
PS You know full well the crusts get eaten right? Plenty of chicken filling makes its way to the crust!
Cut in half on the diagonal, or into rectangles, then line them upon a platter!
TIP: If you want really neat edges, refrigerate the assembled sandwiches for at least 2 hours before slicing. This will make the filling firm up and makes it easier to cut neatly. I did not do this for the sandwiches pictured in this post. You know that patience is not my greatest virtue!
I love a good sandwich, and these Chicken Sandwiches rate very, very highly in my books. As a bonus, the filling keeps well for 3 days and the assembled sandwiches, while best made fresh, are still 90% as good the next day (the bread softens with time). In fact, the sandwiches in this post were my dinner and breakfast for 2 consecutive days – and I was very happy about it!
And as I mentioned in the opening, I’m sharing this recipe with holiday gatherings in mind. Take it to your office Christmas party. A picnic with friends. A day out at the beach.
Or, you could go really crazy and have them for lunch! 😱 Live life on the edge! – Nagi x
PS If you do make these for a gathering, tell me below if they were the first food to go! #NotCommpetitiveAtAll 🤭
Watch how to make it
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Chicken sandwiches
Ingredients
Filling:
- 500g/ 1 lb cooked chicken meat from 1 large store bought roast chicken (Note 1)
- 1 celery stem , sliced 3mm/0.1″ thick then into 0.5cm/0.2″ pieces
- 1 green onion stem , finely sliced
- 3/4 cup walnuts , roughly chopped (Note 2)
- 3 tbsp finely chopped cornichon/dill pickle
- 1 1/2 tbsp finely chopped dill (Note 3)
Sauce:
- 2/3 cup whole egg mayonnaise (S&W best in Aus, Note 4)
- 2/3 cup sour cream (sub full fat yogurt)
- 2 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 1/2 tbsp lemon juice (sub white wine or cider vinegar)
- 1/2 tsp onion powder (or more garlic powder)
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder (or more onion powder)
- 3/4 tsp cooking/kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Sandwiches:
- Salted butter , for spreading on bread
- 20 slices white sandwich bread, day-old, (or more slices for less filling) (Note 5)
Instructions
- Shred the chicken as finely as you can. The best method is using a stand-mixer. Just put the meat in the bowl with the paddle attachment and mix on medium speed until it's really finely shredded (~ 1 minute). Else use a handheld beater or your hands.
- Mix the Sauce ingredients in a bowl until smooth – use a whisk if needed.
- Pour Sauce over the chicken. Add remaining Filling ingredients. Stir until combined.
- Spread bread with butter. Spread with Filling (see below for amount).
- Remove crusts if desired (for the authentic "gourmet" experience!) and cut in half. (Tip: For really neat cuts, refrigerate sandwiches before slicing so Filling firms up).
- Serve on platters littered with green fluffage, if desired!
Filling quantities (Note 6)
- Chicken filling per sandwich:– Deli standard (recommended): 100g / 1/2 cup (makes 10 sandwiches)– Very generous: 130g / 1/2 cup (makes 8)– Everyday lunchbox: 80g (1/3 cup) (makes 15).
Recipe Notes:
- 1/2 cup (100g) per sandwich is generous and makes a filling sandwich, even for someone with a “robust” appetite like myself! Makes 10.
- Normal lunchbox size sandwich – 1/3 cup (80g) is sufficient, makes 15.
- Mega sandwich – pile on as much as you want!
Life of Dozer
Stand up paddle boarding with Dozer. (He stood. I didn’t!)
YUM can’t wait to make these!
Thank you!
Love the photo…go Dozer on the paddle board! Looks like a whole lot of fun 😃
It was pretty fun! Dozer was not as bad as I thought to get on that paddle board! N x
Sue Watson, Drysdale Victoria 3222. Australia.
Hi Nagi. Just love your recipes because the ingredients are mostly already in my pantry. The recipes are easy, tasty and come with your easy to follow videos. Instead of wondering what to cook tonight, I look up your website and bingo, something to cook. I love Dozer too. Thanks again. Sue.
I love hearing that, thanks Susan! N x
Just wondering if you could freeze this in portion sizes for lunches through the week or to make ahead for chrustmas (one thing yoh dint gave yo do in yge day), or would you gave to leave out Celery & walnuts ?
Hi Ailsa, sorry to say I don’t recommend that as mayonnaise and sour cream don’t freeze well 🙁 N x
Ah well. I’ll keep my eye out fir freezable options. If I’d thought about it long enough I possibly would have realised this on my own😀. In the meantime I have this option . Ps Dozer TOTALLY deserved his bit if chicken skin because he is such a GOOD boy
I don’t think mayonnaise freezes well.
If you are keeping the crusts on, to help balance your sandwiches, cut the corners off then cut the sandwiches diagonally.
Brilliant!
OMG Nagi!
Is there a spy in my kitchen? This is almost exactly my recipe, and my sandwiches are pretty famous. Mine are loosely based on a recipe I saw 30 years ago.
I just use no pickles or onions, and almonds instead of walnuts.
Another hint: have Bakers Delight slice your bread longways. So much easier for making finger sandwiches.
LOVE HEARING THAT!
Hey Lisa, yes me too. Peter Rowland catering at my work drinks 35 years ago had a similar sandwich with toasted almonds. I still make it – a classic
This recipe was late? Well the last one was early so I guess you broke even.
Directly above “so soft it melts in your mouth” I got an ad for “the softest sandals in the world” complete with picture! The sandwiches sound delicious, the sandals not so much. 🤣
Are macadamia nuts cheaper in Australia? I think you’re closer to where they grow. They’re very expensive in Canada. I love them, but I think I’ll stick to walnuts.
Ha ha!! I was actually planning to get it out on Friday 🙂 Ads! Wish I could ditch ’em….
If all they advertised was sandals I wouldn’t mind too much. At least that one was good for a laugh. 😁
These look and sound absolutely delicious Nagi. I look forward to your posts and enjoy cooking most of the recipes.
I think Dozer is looking pretty cool on the board with you
He does look like he knows what he’s doing, doesn’t he!!! (Well, HE got to enjoy a leisurely ride, I was the one doing all the hard work!)
There is no doubt in Nagi recipes that’s going to be another hit another repeat in our home, I’ve made in over 60 recipes from your site and it’s the only site that I go to for a delicious meal, your details notes and substitute is great bc sometimes you turn around and you’re short of an ingredient or two so that helps a lot. Reading your notes feels like you’re talking to me in my kitchen Lol…🤣🤣🤣 so sometimes when I’m stuck or something I thought hey I’d go to Nagi I’d get an answer there!!!
Love Love Love to you and Dozer 🥰 Thank You so much for all your wonderful recipes Nagi!
Thanks for the lovely message Theany! I’m so glad you enjoy my recipes, I love the whole process about what I do – creating them, testing them, photographing, filming and sharing them – then the thought of them being made in kitchens around the world is the BEST feeling ever! N x
Oh thank you so much! You’re awesome!!!
looks like a great recipe will roast a chicken. use Pecans cause they are all over the ground here , and I just baked a loaf of white bread. ” Good Appetite ” Joseph
We would call this chicken salad. I use pecans and also a mixture of grrn and red grapes cut in half. Delicious. And yes, they are the first to go.
Saw this just as I was wondering what to have for lunch – amazingly I had all the ingredients, so modified the recipe to make a chicken sandwich for one!! 🤪 Just delicious!
This looks awesome – can’t wait to try it. One of the best ever chicken sandwiches I’ve had also had corn kernels. Might be an alternative to walnuts and adds a lovely touch of sweetness!
Love a good chicken sandwich. I often make this for my lunch when I have leftover roast chook. Instead of walnuts I add flaked almonds, dry toasted in a frypan. Good combo, give it a try.
Thanks for the almond suggestion. I’ll have to try this as my son is allergic to walnuts.
Yum! I’m not good at doing stuff for lunches and have a shared lunch coming up soon. Guess what I’m going to make?
Thanks, Nagi for another great recipe.
GO DOZER! I’m with Nagi, no way am I standing on that!
I’m curious why not use the food processor for the chicken chopping? Any reason? Can’t wait to try your recipe with sour cream – I think that’s why mine never quite hit the spot. Thanks Nagi. xx
A food processor would probably turn the chicken into a paste best to go the stand mixer
True. A bit much!
In the US, it’s called chicken salad. Pretty sure you’re channeling my mom by adding the sour cream. ❤️ http://www.Chickensaladchick.com
I have not yet made these – it’s winter where I live. Maybe I’ll toast the bread and do it anyway. Just wanted to comment that I love the details and notes in all your recipes. Thank you!
Try a grilled chicken salad sandwich. Sort of like a grilled cheese sandwich but with chicken salad inside instead of cheese. Butter the outside of the bread and brown the sandwich in a skillet.
Hmm ! Should I say a Saturday post-noon ‘hi’ right after you posting since I do a few things differently ? LOVE chicken sandwiches, open Scandinavian-style !! No white bread ever and no mayo – BUT love the dill pickle, walnuts, lots and lots of dill and sour cream !! Pile it on 🙂 !!! . . . Oops, unsalted butter . . . Still friends I hope . . .
Hey Nagi & Dozer –
This is tasty.
Add some grapes and I think you get all 5 food groups.
Love your new cookbook!