Everyday Chicken and Prosciutto Panini Recipe (2024)

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A chicken, provolone and prosciutto panini recipe. Learn how to make a panini sandwich without a panini press. Discover super ideas for panini fillings, toppings and the perfect bread for panini! Make this today.

Everyday Chicken and Prosciutto Panini Recipe (1)
Everyday Chicken and Prosciutto Panini Recipe (2)

While traveling in Italy, we came across some of the best food I have ever eaten. Besides the amazing cheese and charcuterie selections, we were blessed with some beautifulItalian sandwiches called paninis.

They were everywhere in Tuscany and my favorite was made by Stefano Ricci at Bar Pan e Vin in Corniglia located in a small thousand year old town in the region known as La Cinque Terra.

While enjoying my Italian lunch on the patio, I witnessed an exuberant fan exclaim, “Molto Bene! How do you do it?” Stefano was beaming and leaned over to reveal his secret ingredient.

“Rosemary and olive oil“, he whispered, looking around suspiciously. He told anybody who asked but as long as he whispers it, I guess it’s a secret.

If you are planning a trip to La Cinque Terra, consider staying in Corniglia. It is the least over-run-by-tourists of the five towns. This is probably due to the fact that it is high on the hill overlooking the Mediterranean. You can either walk up the hill from the train or wait for the bus to take you up.

Christiana Ricci is Stefano’s lovely wife and she rents small flats to visitors. You can find her rentals on AirBNB or VRBO.

Everyday Chicken and Prosciutto Panini Recipe (4)
Everyday Chicken and Prosciutto Panini Recipe (5)

Tips for making great panini sandwiches

  • Lots of rosemary and olive oil is key. It’s amazing how herb infused oil can transform a sandwich. You can also use other herbs or blends such as za’atar, oregano or thyme.
  • Ciabatta or focaccia is the best bread for this type of sandwich, it holds up well to the harassment of the panini press.
  • Use the best quality ingredients. I’ve heard this so many times it’s almost cliche but it is absolutely true.
  • If you are going to use vegetables for a vegetarian version, roast the vegetables first to bring out their flavor and to release some moisture. This will help prevent your panini from getting soggy.
  • Get creative with your sauces and fillings. I bet pesto or mustard would be great.
Everyday Chicken and Prosciutto Panini Recipe (6)
Everyday Chicken and Prosciutto Panini Recipe (7)
Everyday Chicken and Prosciutto Panini Recipe (8)

Ideas on how to make a panini without a panini press

The main idea is to press the sandwich and make it more dense. Without a panini press, you would weigh it down while cooking on one side and then flip the sandwich over and press again.

Items you can use to press your panini:

  • heavy skillet like cast iron
  • a plate and then something heavy on top like a tea kettle with water in it
  • a small but heavy casserole dish
  • a brick wrapped in aluminum foil
Everyday Chicken and Prosciutto Panini Recipe (9)

Panini fillings

Below are some ideas for simple Italian panini as well as gourmet panini.

  • Turkey and swiss
  • Cuban
  • Tomato, mozzarella and basil – also known as a Caprese
  • Roast beef and swiss
  • Ham and cheddar
  • Corn beef, sauerkraut, swiss, Russian dressing – also known as a Reuben
  • Steak, swiss and onions
  • Bacon and smoked gouda
  • Brie and apples
  • Salami and provolone
  • Roasted red peppers and gruyere
  • Pesto
  • Olive oil and rosemary or Za’atar
  • Serbian relish
  • Curry Fry Sauce
  • Chimichurri Rojo
Everyday Chicken and Prosciutto Panini Recipe (10)
Everyday Chicken and Prosciutto Panini Recipe (11)
Everyday Chicken and Prosciutto Panini Recipe (13)
Everyday Chicken and Prosciutto Panini Recipe (14)

Great sides to serve with panini

  • soup
  • Citrus Summer Slaw
  • fresh tangelos or canned mandarin oranges
  • grapes
  • olives

Get creative with your panini creations and leave a comment below sharing how you made yours.

Also, very important, go explore the World around you.

Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to rate the recipe and comment below! Take a picture and tag us @FusionCraftiness #FusionCraftiness on Instagram for a chance to be featured in our Insta Stories:)

All the best, Ciao!

Everyday Chicken and Prosciutto Panini Recipe (17)
Everyday Chicken and Prosciutto Panini Recipe (18)

Everyday Chicken and Prosciutto Panini

Yield: 4 sandwiches

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

A chicken, provolone and prosciutto panini recipe plus how-to instructions on how to make a panini sandwich without a panini press. Discover super ideas for panini fillings and toppings too!

Ingredients

  • 1 Ciabatta bread loaf, sliced into four servings
  • 4 oz Prosciutto
  • 8 oz sliced cooked chicken breast
  • 8 oz Provolone
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 4 Tbs minced rosemary, fresh or dried
  • 1 brick covered in foil or heavy pan such as cast iron

Instructions

  1. Mix olive oil and rosemary, set aside for a few hours or overnight.
  2. Brush both sides of bread with rosemary olive oil.
  3. Assemble sandwiches with ciabatta, prosciutto, provolone and chicken.
  4. Cook in heavy skillet, cast iron works well, heat on low-medium.
  5. Weigh sandwich down with brick or second heavy skillet or both. When one side is browned, flip sandwich and re-apply weight. Sandwich is done when browned, heated through and cheese is melted.
Nutrition Information:

Yield: 4Serving Size: 1 sandwich
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 772Total Fat: 37gSaturated Fat: 14gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 21gCholesterol: 107mgSodium: 1858mgCarbohydrates: 58gFiber: 3gSugar: 7gProtein: 50g

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Everyday Chicken and Prosciutto Panini Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to a good panini? ›

Here are 7 tips that will ensure that the panini you make at home are as scrumptious as can be.
  1. Choose your grilling method wisely. ...
  2. Experiment with a variety of breads and fillings. ...
  3. Go for the crunch. ...
  4. Be careful with “wet” ingredients. ...
  5. Keep round tops turned in. ...
  6. Cut with a straight-edged knife. ...
  7. Greens go last.

How to make crispy panini? ›

For maximum crunch.

Brush melted butter or olive oil on the outside of the bread, and if you're including "wet" ingredients like tomatoes, layer them in the center of the sandwich with meats and/or cheeses on either side so they don't drown the bread.

Why are paninis so good? ›

A panini sandwich, sometimes called a panino, is made with grilled Italian bread, usually made using a sandwich press. It's packed with delicious ingredients like cheese that melt and warm up while the sandwich cooks. The perfect panini is crispy on the outside, warm and gooey on the inside, and entirely delicious.

Should I butter bread before panini press? ›

Butter the outside for crispy grilled bread that heightens the flavour of my favourite panini.

Can you cook raw chicken in a panini press? ›

We love to use the presses to cook proteins like chicken breasts, skirt or flank steaks — and even bacon. Because panini presses have heat sources on both sides, they cook quickly, about 4 minutes for a chicken breast 1/2 inch thick.

What is the difference between panini and sandwich press? ›

However, if you want a hassle-free experience with sealed, pocket-style sandwiches, then a sandwich maker is the better option. The Panini Maker is specifically designed to create grilled sandwiches and aims to achieve a crispy exterior and a gooey interior, giving you the perfect Panini experience.

What is the difference between a sandwich and a panini sandwich? ›

A sandwich is a more generic concept: two slices of bread and something in between. A panino (since in italian panini is plural) is a sandwich made specifically with Italian bread, like ciabatta or focaccia, and italian ingredients.

What is the best bread for paninis? ›

Use Half-Inch Thick Bread To Make A Panini

These include ciabatta, focaccia, rye, French, and sourdough. But no matter which bread you use, your slices should always be about a ½-inch thick. If you use slices that are thicker than that, you'll taste way too much bread when you bite into your panini.

Can you put aluminum foil in a panini press? ›

While there is nothing wrong with putting aluminium foil in a sandwich press, we've found that it can stick to certain breads. If you want to protect the plates and make the cleaning job easier, we recommend using baking paper instead.

Should you use mayo or butter for paninis? ›

We've been using mayo in some . . . unconventional ways lately (chocolate cake, anyone?). But when it comes to panini, mayo is simply better than softened butter. For one, there's no putzing around while the butter softens.

What is the difference between Italian panini and American panini? ›

The Italian panini does not need to be roasted. Whereas, in the panini shops in the US, you are most likely to find grilled stuffing and the bread is also toasted. The quality of bread is paramount in the making of panini. Usually, high-quality Italian bread like ciabatta or focaccia is used.

What happened to Panera paninis? ›

It seems as though Panera has rebranded all of its signature paninis as “toasted sandwiches,” without ever formally announcing the change.

Do you butter the inside of a panini? ›

Close your sandwich and butter the outsides of the bread.

Make sure you don't overfill your panini by too much or the inside of the sandwich won't warm properly when cooking. You can also use margarine.

Should I oil my panini press? ›

Season your panini grill: Seasoning is essential to keep the unit from rusting and food from sticking. Once you've completely cleaned and dried your panini grill after the first use, spread a light layer of cooking oil on the cast-iron plates and turn the heat to the highest setting.

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