Quick chicken sandwich with Mexican-style chicken and cheddar

🌮 Mexican-Style Chicken & Cheddar Sandwich

Ingredients — serves 2

For the chicken:

• 2 small chicken breasts or 250–300 g boneless chicken
• 1 tbsp oil
• 1 tsp paprika
• ½ tsp chili powder
• ½ tsp cumin powder
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• ½ tsp oregano
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 tbsp lemon/lime juice
• 1 tsp hot sauce — optional

For the sandwich:

• 2 burger buns or 4 slices sandwich bread
• 2–4 slices cheddar cheese
• ½ small onion, thinly sliced
• ½ tomato, sliced
• Lettuce
• 1 tbsp butter for toasting

Quick sauce:

• 3 tbsp mayonnaise
• 1 tbsp ketchup
• 1 tsp hot sauce or chili sauce
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• ½ tsp lemon/lime juice
• Pinch of salt

Step 1 — Prepare the chicken

If your chicken breast is thick, slice it horizontally into thinner pieces. This helps it cook quickly and evenly.

Put the chicken in a bowl and add:

• paprika
• chili powder
• cumin
• garlic powder
• oregano
• black pepper
• salt
• lemon/lime juice
• hot sauce

Add 1 tablespoon oil and mix everything thoroughly so the chicken is completely coated.

Let it sit for 5–10 minutes while you prepare the other ingredients.

Step 2 — Make the sauce

Mix the mayonnaise, ketchup, hot sauce, garlic powder, lemon/lime juice, and a small pinch of salt.

Taste it. If you like more heat, add extra hot sauce or chili powder.

Set aside.

Step 3 — Cook the chicken

Heat a frying pan over medium-high heat and add a little oil.

Place the seasoned chicken in the hot pan.

Cook for about 4–5 minutes on the first side, then flip and cook another 3–5 minutes, depending on thickness.

The outside should become nicely browned and slightly charred.

Make sure the chicken is fully cooked through; the safest target is 74°C / 165°F in the thickest part.

Step 4 — Add the cheddar

Reduce the heat to low.

Place 1–2 slices of cheddar on each piece of chicken.

Cover the pan with a lid for about 30–60 seconds.

The trapped steam will melt the cheddar beautifully over the chicken.

Step 5 — Toast the bread

Cut your buns in half.

Spread a little butter on the cut sides and place them cut-side down in the same pan.

Toast for 1–2 minutes until golden and slightly crisp.

Don’t over-toast them — you want the inside crisp but the bun still soft.

Step 6 — Assemble

Spread your Mexican-style sauce generously over the bottom bun.

Add:

1. Lettuce
2. Mexican-style chicken with melted cheddar
3. Sliced tomato
4. Thinly sliced onion
5. A little more sauce
6. Top bun

Press the sandwich together gently.

🌶️ For an extra Mexican-style kick

You can add any of these:

• Sliced jalapeños
• Pickled jalapeños
• Avocado
• Guacamole
• Corn
• Salsa
• Fresh coriander/cilantro
• A squeeze of lime
• Crushed tortilla chips for crunch

🔥 Best quick version

For the most flavorful sandwich, I’d do:

Toasted bun → spicy mayo → lettuce → charred Mexican chicken → melted cheddar → jalapeños → tomato → onion → lime → top bun.

Serve immediately while the chicken is hot and the cheddar is still melted.