Pesto Chicken Salad BLT Sandwiches

This is a perfect picnic sandwich. I've never really liked chicken salad, mainly because it just sounds like a mayo salad to me. But this chicken salad adds homemade pesto and fresh basil to the mayo, which makes quite the difference! Also, unlike typical chicken salad, I decided to roast my chicken, so that they were tender and moist. I really hate boiled chicken. The rest of the sandwich has a spread of pesto, caramelized onions, smoked crispy bacon, sun dried tomatoes, baby mixed greens, and toasted ciabatta bread. What doesn't sound good about all those ingredients? Exactly. This sandwich would be perfect on hot, sunny day. I served it along side with some brussel sprout slaw, which I'll post later on this week. So, go make this for a delightful picnic out in the park because you know I would!! Enjoy :)

Pesto Chicken Salad BLT Sandwiches 

For the Pesto Chicken Salad:

1 Roasted Chicken Breast, Shredded

¼C Mayo

¼C Pesto

1T Fresh Basil, Minced

Salt & Pepper, To Taste

For the Sandwiches:

Prepared Pesto Chicken Salad

4 Slices of Ciabatta or French Bread, Fried in Bacon Grease until Golden-Brown

4 Slices of Thick Cut Bacon, Fried until Crispy (save the bacon grease)

Spring Lettuce Mix

Sun Dried Tomatoes Halves

Caramelized Onions

Directions:

1. To Make the Chicken Salad: In a mixing bowl, whisk together the mayo, pesto, fresh basil, salt, and pepper until combined. Add in the shredded, roasted chicken breast and toss it until the chicken is completely covered. Refrigerate the chicken until chilled.
2. To Assemble the Sandwiches: Lay the bacon flat on the bottom piece of bread, and then scoop some of the chilled chicken salad on top in an even, thick layer. Then finish the sandwich by placing the sun dried tomato halves and spring lettuce mix. Spread some caramelized onions on the top slice of the bread. Eat and enjoy.