Spicy Southwest Chicken Sandwich

Elevate your sandwich game with this bold and flavorful Spicy Southwest Chicken Sandwich! Perfectly seasoned chicken breasts are grilled to juicy perfection with a smoky blend of chili powder, cumin, paprika, and garlic, then layered on toasted hamburger buns with pepper jack cheese, crisp lettuce, ripe tomatoes, and tangy red onions. The star of this recipe is the creamy chipotle mayo—made from smoky chipotle peppers in adobo and a splash of lime juice—that adds a tantalizing kick with every bite. Ready in just 30 minutes, this easy-to-follow recipe is ideal for lunch, dinner, or weekend cookouts. Whether you're craving a hearty, spicy meal or a taste of the Southwest, this sandwich checks all the boxes!

Nutriscore Rating: 73/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:15 mins

Total Time:30 mins

Servings: 2

Ingredients

• 2 pieces chicken breasts
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 0.5 teaspoon ground cumin
• 0.5 teaspoon garlic powder
• 0.5 teaspoon salt
• 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 pepper chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
• 0.25 cups mayonnaise
• 1 teaspoon lime juice
• 2 pieces hamburger buns
• 2 pieces lettuce leaves
• 4 slices sliced tomato
• 4 slices sliced red onion
• 2 slices pepper jack cheese

Directions

Step 1

Place the chicken breasts on a cutting board, and use a meat mallet to pound them to an even thickness for more even cooking.

Step 2

In a small bowl, mix olive oil, chili powder, paprika, ground cumin, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper to create a spice rub.

Step 3

Rub the spice mixture evenly over both sides of the chicken breasts.

Step 4

Heat a grill pan or outdoor grill over medium-high heat. Cook the chicken for 5–7 minutes per side, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C). Set aside to rest for 5 minutes.

Step 5

In a small blender or food processor, combine chipotle pepper in adobo sauce, mayonnaise, and lime juice. Blend until smooth to create the chipotle mayo.

Step 6

Slice the hamburger buns in half and optionally toast them on the grill for 1–2 minutes or until lightly golden.

Step 7

Spread chipotle mayo on the bottom half of each bun.

Step 8

Layer each sandwich with lettuce, one grilled chicken breast, two slices of tomato, two slices of red onion, and one slice of pepper jack cheese.

Step 9

Spread additional chipotle mayo on the top half of the bun, place it on top of the sandwich, and serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(787.2g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1713.6

Total Fat 108.9g	0%
Saturated Fat 25.9g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2.7g
Cholesterol 404.8mg	0%
Sodium 2459.3mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 56.6g	0%
Dietary Fiber 32.9g	0%
Total Sugars 5.6g
Protein 151.7g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 524.2mg	0%
Iron 7.5mg	0%
Potassium 449.9mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 54.1%

Protein: 33.5%

Carbs: 12.5%