The Best Apple, Cheddar & Chicken Melts Recipe Ready in Minutes

Melted cheese and tender chicken create a symphony of flavors in these irresistible apple cheddar chicken melts.

Crisp, sweet fruit adds a surprising twist to this classic comfort sandwich.

Savory ingredients dance together, refineing ordinary lunch fare into something extraordinary.

Sharp cheddar brings a tangy richness that perfectly complements the juicy chicken.

The subtle sweetness of fresh apples introduces a delightful complexity to each bite.

Hearty and satisfying, this recipe promises to elevate your meal from mundane to memorable.

Warm, gooey, and packed with robust flavors, these melts will become your new go-to lunch sensation.

What Makes Apple, Cheddar & Chicken Melts Special

• Quick Flavor Fusion: Combines sweet, tangy, and savory elements with honey mustard, crisp apple, chicken, and sharp cheddar for an exciting taste adventure.
• Easy Weeknight Wow: Takes just 20 minutes from start to finish, perfect for busy home cooks wanting a gourmet-style meal without complex techniques.
• Textural Paradise: Delivers a delightful mix of crispy toasted sourdough, melted cheese, tender chicken, and crunchy slaw that keeps every bite interesting and satisfying.
• Seasonal Crowd-Pleaser: Brilliantly incorporates fall ingredients like Brussels sprouts and apples, making it an ideal lunch or light dinner option that feels both comforting and fresh.

Ingredients for Apple, Cheddar & Chicken Melts

• Sourdough Bread: Hearty base with a tangy flavor, perfect for holding melted ingredients.
• Unsalted Butter: Adds golden crispness and rich flavor to bread surface.

• Shredded Chicken: Lean protein that provides a tender and satisfying filling.

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• Cheddar Cheese: Sharp and melty cheese that adds creamy texture and bold flavor.
• Honey Mustard: Tangy and sweet spread that enhances overall sandwich taste.

• Apple: Crisp and sweet element that provides fresh crunch to the sandwich.
• Brussels Sprouts: Slightly nutty vegetable that adds nutritious green component.
• Lemon Juice: Bright acid that prevents browning and adds zesty freshness.
• Salt: Enhances and balances the overall flavor profile.
• Black Pepper: Adds subtle warmth and completes seasoning.

Kitchen Tips for Gooey, Toasty Perfection

• Butter Brilliance: Soften butter at room temperature for easy spreading, ensuring an even, golden-brown toast that adds rich flavor.
• Cheese Melting Magic: Grate cheddar cheese freshly for superior melting and more intense taste compared to pre-shredded varieties.
• Chicken Preparation Pro: Shred chicken while still warm for easier and more uniform distribution across the bread slices.
• Slaw Sensation: Cut apple and Brussels sprouts into thin, uniform matchsticks to create a crisp, balanced texture in every bite.
• Oven Timing Trick: Preheat the baking sheet to guarantee a perfectly crispy bottom and help melt the cheese quickly and evenly.

How to Keep and Reheat These Melts

• Refrigeration: Wrap sandwiches individually in aluminum foil or plastic wrap and store in an airtight container for up to 2 days in the refrigerator.
• Reheating Oven: Preheat oven to 350°F, place sandwiches on a baking sheet, and warm for 8-10 minutes until cheese melts and bread crisps.
• Toaster Oven: Unwrap sandwich, place on toaster oven tray, and heat for 5-7 minutes to restore crispiness and warm filling evenly.

Best Beverages and Sides to Serve Alongside

• Spark Refreshing Cider Pairing: Complement the savory chicken and sharp cheddar with a crisp, cold apple cider that echoes the apple slaw's bright flavors, creating a harmonious taste experience.
• Elevate with Chardonnay Match: Select a lightly oaked Chardonnay to balance the sandwich's rich, melted cheese and buttery sourdough, enhancing the overall gourmet feel of the dish.
• Create Tangy Side Salad: Prepare a light arugula salad with a white wine vinaigrette to cut through the sandwich's richness and provide a fresh, peppery counterpoint to the melted cheese and chicken.
• Boost with Dijon Mustard Drizzle: Add a small ramekin of extra honey mustard or a zesty Dijon on the side, allowing diners to intensify the sandwich's tangy undertones and customize their bite.

Ingredient Substitutes and Toppings to Explore

• Harvest Fusion Melt: Replace chicken with pulled pork and swap cheddar for smoked gouda, adding a layer of caramelized onions for deeper flavor complexity.
• Mediterranean Chicken Crunch: Substitute honey mustard with tzatziki, use feta cheese instead of cheddar, and top with diced cucumber and fresh oregano for a Greek-inspired version.
• Autumn Harvest Stack: Use roasted turkey instead of chicken, add thin slices of roasted butternut squash, switch to gruyère cheese, and sprinkle with toasted pumpkin seeds for a seasonal spin.
• Spicy Southwest Melt: Swap chicken for shredded barbecue beef, use pepper jack cheese, add pickled jalapeños, and incorporate a quick cilantro-lime slaw for a zesty southwestern kick.

How to Make These Sweet-Savory Sandwiches

Step 1: Prepare Oven Setup

Preheat oven to 450°F. Position baking sheet on middle rack to warm up.

Step 2: Create Bread Base

Spread softened butter on one side of sourdough bread slices. On four bread slices, spread honey mustard on opposite side.

Step 3: Arrange Bread On Baking Sheet

Using oven mitts, remove heated baking sheet. Place bread slices butter-side down on sheet.

Step 4: Layer Protein And Cheese

• Shredded chicken on honey mustard-spread slices
• Grated cheddar cheese on remaining bread slices

Step 5: Bake Sandwich Components

Return baking sheet to oven. Bake for 10 minutes until cheese melts and bubbles.

Step 6: Craft Crisp Slaw

• Apple matchsticks
• Shredded Brussels sprouts
• Lemon juice

Season with salt and pepper.

Step 7: Assemble Melted Sandwiches

Remove baking sheet from oven. Place chicken-topped bread on cutting board.

Top with prepared slaw.

Cover with cheese-topped bread slices (cheese side down).

Step 8: Serve Warm Sandwiches

Cut sandwiches in half. Serve immediately while warm and crispy.

Apple, Cheddar & Chicken Melts Recipe

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4.6 from 9 reviews

• Total Time: 20 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Savory apple, cheddar & chicken melts blend sweet and tangy flavors in a comforting sandwich. Crisp apple slices and melted cheese create a perfect harmony that tempts taste buds and satisfies hunger in one delightful bite.

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Ingredients

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Main Proteins:

• 2 ½ cups shredded, cooked chicken
• 1 ½ cups grated cheddar cheese

Bread and Spreads:

• 8 slices sourdough bread (½-inch-thick, from a 9-inch round boule)
• 4 tablespoons (57 grams) unsalted butter, softened
• 4 teaspoons honey mustard

Produce and Seasonings:

• 1 small Gala apple, cored and cut into matchsticks
• 4 ounces (113 grams) Brussels sprouts (about 5), finely shredded
• 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) lemon juice
• Kosher salt, to taste
• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

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Instructions

1. Fire up the oven to a scorching 450°F (230°C), positioning a baking sheet on the middle rack to get piping hot.
2. Lavishly spread softened butter across one surface of each sourdough slice, then paint the opposite side of four slices with tangy honey mustard.
3. Using protective oven mitts, extract the searing hot baking sheet and strategically arrange bread slices with butter facing downward.
4. Carefully layer shredded chicken atop the honey mustard-coated bread, then generously sprinkle grated cheddar across the remaining bread slices.
5. Slide the baking sheet back into the oven, allowing the cheese to transform into a molten, bubbling landscape for approximately 10 minutes.
6. While bread transforms, craft a quick slaw by tossing crisp apple matchsticks and shredded Brussels sprouts with a zesty splash of lemon juice, seasoning with a whisper of salt and pepper.
7. Retrieve the golden, melted creation from the oven and transfer chicken-topped slices to a cutting board.
8. Crown the chicken with the vibrant apple-Brussels sprout slaw, then cap each sandwich with the cheese-laden bread slices, cheese side touching the slaw.
9. Slice each sandwich diagonally and serve immediately, revealing the delectable layers within.

Notes

• Prep Ahead: Shred chicken and grate cheese in advance to speed up sandwich assembly and reduce kitchen time.
• Bread Selection: Use sturdy sourdough that can handle moisture from slaw and maintain crispy texture when baked.
• Temperature Matters: Preheating the baking sheet ensures a perfectly crisp, golden-brown bread bottom without soggy edges.
• Cheese Melting Tip: Choose sharp cheddar for maximum flavor and best melting consistency during quick oven bake.
• Slaw Fresh Factor: Slice apple and Brussels sprouts just before serving to prevent browning and maintain crisp texture.
• Serving Suggestion: Enjoy immediately after assembly to experience the perfect contrast between warm, melted cheese and cool, tangy slaw.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 610
• Sugar: 5g
• Sodium: 600mg
• Fat: 36g
• Saturated Fat: 20g
• Unsaturated Fat: 12g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 41g
• Fiber: 2g
• Protein: 28g
• Cholesterol: 100mg