Avocado Ranch Chicken Panini

I love the word panini – it’s such a happy word 🙂  If you have a toddler, ask them to say panini, I promise it will make you smile!

Not only is it a super fun word, it also makes for a terrific weeknight meal.  You don’t have to own a fancy panini press to make a stellar sandwich.  In fact, if you own 2 frying pans and 2 cans of anything, you are well on your way to becoming a panini master.

Necessities:

4 slices good quality bread* I use a whole grain Italian ciabatta loaf. You really need to use a dense bakery quality fresh bread, unfortunately basic sandwich bread won’t hold up. 

1/2 avocado

2 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons ranch dressing

4 slices deli mozzarella cheese

8-10 oz sliced, cooked chicken breasts – great use for my perfectly roasted chicken breasts

1 cup fresh baby spinach

Method:

Begin by preparing your sandwiches.  Spread your choice of ranch dressing evenly over the 4 slices of bread.  Sometimes I have homemade ranch on hand, other days I use store bought – either way it still tastes great!  Next layer chicken on each piece and top chicken with the sliced mozzarella.  I like to break up the cheese slices and make them fit over the chicken – you get a more even melt this way.  Next chop up 1/2 of an avocado and add to 2 of the 4 pieces and lastly top the avocado with lightly torn baby spinach – now you’re ready for the grill pan!

If you don’t own a grill pan, no problem, just use a large non stick frying pan.  Heat your pan over medium low and add in the butter.  Once the butter is melted, gently add the 4 slices of bread to the pan – I’m a panini rebel – I don’t actually sandwich my panini until after each side gets some warm butter love – can you blame me though, that bread is bathing in butter from France – and the French make damn good butter.

After the butter bath you finally get to sandwich and squish your panini – hooray!  After you have sandwiched your 2 halves together you need to put some weight on it.   I happen to own this cast iron grill press for this very reason – but I’m willing to bet that not many people have the same level of food gadget obsession that I do.  So all you need to do is grab a small frying pan or pot and add in 2 cans of anything and set the pan directly on top of your sandwich.  As you can see, you might lose a few ingredients or swoon over the ooey gooey melted cheese as it hits the pan – it’s totally fair game – scoop that up and enjoy a snack while you wait for your sandwich perfection to happen.

Make sure your flame isn’t too high, keep it on medium low.  Two minutes on the first side, then flip and press again for another 2 minutes and then you will end up with this.

Now cut that baby in half, pat yourself on the back and enjoy your panini.