Panera Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt

Recreate the beloved Panera Bread experience at home with this incredible Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt that captures every delicious detail of the original. This hearty sandwich features smoky chicken breast, creamy avocado, sweet-heat peppers, and melted smoked gouda cheese, all with zesty chipotle sauce on perfectly seasoned black pepper focaccia. The combination of smokiness from the chicken and cheese with the creaminess of avocado creates an irresistible flavor profile that makes this sandwich addictive.

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What Makes the Panera Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt the Perfect Sandwich?

The smokiness of the chicken and cheese combines wonderfully with the creaminess of the avocado. The peppers and sauce add just enough sweet heat to make things interesting.

Sure, this recipe is a little more work than slapping together a typical deli sandwich, but it is worth it. 

Why This Recipe (Easy Copycat) Works

The secret to this sandwich’s appeal is the perfect balance of flavors and textures. The smokiness from both the chicken and gouda cheese creates a rich foundation, while the creamy avocado provides cooling contrast. The peppadew peppers add just enough sweet heat to keep things interesting, and the chipotle sauce ties everything together with its smoky, spicy kick. Served initially as a pressed panini, this version melts the cheese under the broiler for that perfect gooey finish.

Ingredients For a Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt

For the Creamy Chipotle Sauce:

• Mayonnaise – Creates the creamy base that carries the chipotle flavor throughout the sandwich
• Tabasco chipotle sauce – Provides the signature smoky heat that defines this sandwich

For the Sandwich:

• Focaccia bread – The foundation that provides sturdy structure and black pepper flavor
• Chopped fresh cilantro – Adds bright, fresh herb notes that complement the rich ingredients
• Smoked chicken breast – Delivers the main protein with wonderful smoky flavor
• Peppadew piquant peppers – Contributes unique sweet-heat balance and vibrant color
• Avocado – Provides creamy texture and mild flavor that balances the heat
• Smoked gouda cheese – Melts beautifully and adds rich, smoky depth

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

Focaccia is a flat, leavened Italian bread, almost like an extra-thick pan pizza dough. It is highly seasoned and comes in many flavors. Panera Bread uses a black pepper version for this sandwich, but you can switch things up.

Other Bread – Instead of focaccia, you can make this sandwich with sourdough bread, French bread, or ciabatta bread. Any of them make great sandwiches.

Smoked Chicken – You don’t need to smoke your own chicken breast to make this Panera Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt recipe. If you can’t find smoked chicken breasts or smoked chicken deli meat, use a regular cooked chicken breast or rotisserie chicken instead. 

Peppadew Peppers is the brand name for mildly hot peppers known for their unique blend of heat and sweetness. Since Peppadew Peppers are only grown in South Africa, they can be tough to find in a US grocery store. However, you can buy them online or use sweet cherry peppers as a decent substitute.

Gouda is a mild cheese with a smoky flavor that works well in this sandwich. If you prefer, you can use Cheddar cheese or your favorite cheese as an alternative.

Bacon makes everything better, right? Well, if you want to enhance the smoky flavor, you can add some crispy cooked bacon to the sandwich.

Sliced Tomatoes would also be great on this sandwich. Feel free to add some slices.

How to Make Panera Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt

To prepare the creamy chipotle sauce:

1. Mix the mayonnaise and Tabasco Chipotle Pepper Sauce in a small bowl.
2. Cover and keep in the fridge until you need it. 

To assemble the copycat Panera Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt:

1. Move the rack in your oven to the highest position and turn on the broiler. 
2. Rinse and dry the sprig of cilantro. Pick off the leaves, and give them a rough chop.
3. Drain the Peppadew Peppers and cut them in half.
4. Rinse the outer skin of the avocado and dry. Cut in half lengthwise and remove the seed. Use a spoon to scrape the avocado flesh from one of the halves. Thinly slice one half. Wrap the other half in plastic and put it in the fridge. 
5. Use a bread knife to cut the focaccia bread into your preferred sandwich size. Slice the sandwich bread horizontally in half. 
6. Use a knife to spread a layer of creamy chipotle mayo sauce on the bottom slice. 
7. Sprinkle the chopped cilantro on top of the sauce.
8. Layer the smoked chicken, peppers, Peppadew Peppers, sliced avocado, and gouda.
9. Put the open-face sandwich on a baking tray and broil until the cheese melts. 
10. Place the top slice of bread on the cheese and serve. 

What To Serve With The Sandwich

Your favorite brand of potato chips provides the crunch this sandwich is missing and makes the ultimate side. But you can also pair a Panera Bread Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt on black pepper foccacia with a salad or soup. 

How To Make Panera Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melts Ahead of Time

Melts are always served hot, but this sandwich is almost as good when it’s cold. That means it is ideal if you are brown bagging it. 

To prepare a copycat Panera Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt to go, use the same method above, but don’t bother sticking it under the broiler.

You can try brushing the sliced avocados with lemon or pineapple juice to stop the sliced avocados from turning brown. And if they get a bit darker by lunchtime, don’t worry. They are still perfectly edible.

More Panera Copycat Recipes

• BBQ Chicken Salad
• Panera Potato Soup
• Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup
• Panera Mac n Cheese
• Panera Tomato Soup

Favorite Sandwich Recipes

• Air Fryer Grilled Cheese Sandwich
• Arby’s Chicken Salad Sandwich
• Arby’s Roast Beef Sandwich
• Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich
• Chicken Fried Steak Sandwich
• Loose Meat Sandwich
• Pizza Burgers
• Taco Bell Sandwich

Check out my tasty sandwich recipes and the best copycat Panera recipes on CopyKat!