I don’t know about you, but Wednesday nights were one of the busiest nights of the week at my house when I was growing up.
Between church youth group, dance, and DJ’ing (yeeeah, my older brother was a DJ at our high school’s onsite radio station – bahaha! Oh dear God, so was I. Definitely repressed that memory until just now.) my brothers and I had to be fed and out the door by 5:30pm at the latest every Wednesday night.
As such, dinners that evening were usually super quick and easy. No time to waste when the Lord (or Alanis Morisette circa 1997) was calling! I can recall many a Sloppy Joe, Chicken Salad, or Pasta Bake being served on those hectic nights, when time was of the essence.
These days, it’s much of the same. Regrettably, all the crap Ben and I tell ourselves we’ll do Monday or Tuesday usually gets put off until Wednesday – as neither of us want to do anything on Thirsty Thursday or Friday Funday – and as soon as we’re done working and eating dinner, we’re out the door running errands, cleaning the house, and, in general, being responsible adults.
Blerg.
For those of you in a similar situation, try whipping up Open Face Chicken Caprese Sandwiches for a quick and easy dinner on a hectic Wednesday (or any weekday) night. They’re incredibly delicious, filling, and, best of all, ready in just 15 minutes.
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Plus they’re covered in melted cheese!
I am a sucker for caprese anything, but I love how the addition of sauteed chicken in these sandwiches gives the classic caprese combo of tomato, basil, and cheese a filling and satisfying oomph. 
Start the Open-Face Chicken Caprese Sandwiches by seasoning chicken breasts cut into strips with salt & pepper.
Saute the strips on a non-stick sprayed skillet over medium-high heat for about 3-4 minutes a side, or until the chicken is no longer pink in the center.
Remove the chicken to a plate and set it aside.
Meanwhile, slice up some bread for the base of the sandwich. You want something hearty like a crusty baguette or loaf of French bread, which is what I used.
Slice the bread at an angle, then lightly butter 2 slices per person, and toast them under the broiler until they’re just barely golden brown along the edges.
While the bread’s toasting, slice up a couple of juicy tomatoes.
I used vine-ripened tomatoes, but you could use roma, beefsteak – or really anything you’ve got on hand. Next, slice up zee cheeeese.
Now, mozzarella is what’s usually used in caprese salads, etc, but I had fontina on hand which is mild in flavor like mozz, plus I love how it melts. Feel free to use either! Slice as thin or as thick as you like, too.
Once the bread is toasted, layer on the sauteed chicken and tomato slices.
Then top with torn fresh basil, and finish with the cheese.
Pop the pieces back under the broiler until the cheese melts and the fillings are warm, then crack some black pepper on top.
Check your watch, ’cause that’s it!
Open-Face Chicken Caprese Sandwiches
Serves 2
Ingredients:
2 small chicken breasts (or 1 large breast)
salt & pepper
4 slices hearty bread (french or country)
butter
2 vine-ripened tomatoes, cut into 1/4″ slices
4-5 fresh basil leaves, torn into small pieces
2oz fontina or mozzarella cheese, cut into slices
Directions:
- Season chicken with salt & pepper on both sides, then saute in a non-stick sprayed skillet over medium-heat until chicken is no longer pink in the center, about 3-4 minutes a side. Remove to a plate, and set aside.
- Position oven rack in the second slot under the broiler, about 6-7 inches away from the heat. Lightly butter one side of each bread slice, then place on a foil-lined baking sheet. Broil until golden brown around the edges.
- Place cooked chicken on top of toasted bread slices, then top with tomatoes, basil, and cheese. Place back under the broiler until cheese is melted. Crack black pepper over the top, then serve.
GAHHHH I love this dinner! So fresh and easy. Plus Ben really liked it too – although he requested his sandwich “closed face”.
“Closed face is the new open face,” he insists. Right.
The simply seasoned chicken didn’t interfere with the delicate flavors of tomato, basil, and cheese, either, and will give us the lasting energy we need to get through our manic Monday Wednesday night.
Speaking of manic, I am heading out for a short, 2 day trip to California tomorrow that I have yet to pack for. Typical! I’m really excited to go and will be posting updates to Facebook and Twitter while I’m there.
Off to throw some stuff in a bag. Have a super night everyone!
~~~~~
What’s your craziest night of the week? Why?
Thursday! I do my meal planning and grocery list for Saturday. Then the usual weeknight activities, gym, make supper and blog makes for a busy night.
i LOVE anything and everything with basil — especially cheeeeese! love these little sammies
The weather is beautiful here in CA right now. Enjoy your trip!
We went on a cruise for our honeymoon and I used to order this sandwich from the restaurant almost every single day. I absolutely LOVED it but probably haven’t had it since then. It’s just so fresh and summery!
These look like little slices of heaven
How did our moms do it? My mom & I both had to be at handbell choir rehearsal on Wednesdays by 5:30. Then I’d go straight to youth group. So somehow she made dinner for us all, taught piano lessons until 5, and still got us all to church on time. I am in awe…I hope I can live up to her someday!
busiest nights are the nights we go to the gym right after work, when my husband has a crossfit-type class and i follow with a personal training class.
i still don’t know how mother’s do it with work, kids, a home and all the kids’ activities. i can barely keep up and i don’t have any kids!
Those look amazing! And Easy!!!!! I just love your recipes, I have made so many it is crazy!!!!
Do this all the time when I have fresh mozz cheese, minus the butter & chicken. Never even crossed my mind to add chicken, if u drizzle some reduced balsamic vinger on top it will take it too awhole other level, love balsamic!
Were going to cali on Friday morning for a few days! Glad to get out of Iowa for a few days.
That sandwich looks awesome! Love the caprese combo!
These look so good! I love anything caprese!
Mmmm! I don’t love fresh basil but I can never resist a caprese sandwich.
You guys are doing so much better than be in the busy-night-dinner department. We had chocolate chip waffles tonight.
Ahhhh, open face sandwiches are the best! They remind me of my childhood! Looks delish!
Amazingness. I have been in a cooking rut, so I’ll have to make these quick and easy sandwiches soon. It’s also a challenge meal planning for the week for ONE. I am not a huge fan of leftovers (can handle it for like a day), so sandwiches and recipes like this are GREAT.
Thanks for dinner IG! It was delicious!!!
Looks fantastic!!! This is a great idea and a recipe I know my fiance would love.
We just planted a basil plant and I have been making caprese everything ever since!! Hope you have a great trip to CA!
Where in Cali are you going? I’m in Sacramento, it’s beautiful right now.
Most hectic days are Wed too!
you had me at 15 minutes. yum.
Wednesdays and Thursdays are busy for us (I start teaching Thursday evenings at 5:15!), so this will be perfect. I think I’ll add a drizzle of pesto for an extra punch… yum!
This looks great! I bet it would be awesome with a balsamic reduction drizzled on top…but maybe that would be better for a Monday or Tuesday night!
OMG! These look delicious!!!! I would say Wednesday and Thursday because traffic is especially bad those days which puts me home 20-30 minutes late.. Ugh!
These look great! We had basically the same thing last night–pesto, chicken, mozz, and tomato paninis. It’s amazing how something so simple can be so delicious, especially on a gorgeous spring night.
How did you know my love for tomatoes? And Caprese? These are suddenly on the menu tonight!
LOVE LOVE LOVE caprese anything. Love quick and easy dinners even more!
Sandwiches? Yes, please. Tomatoes? Yes, yes, please. Basil? HAND IT OVER NOW!
This looks fantastic – thank you for the always interesting inspiration!
(Wednesdays were always our busiest night growing up, too. Lots of hamburger helper or Schwann’s man pizza pockets.)
this is one of those things where I am like “WHY DIDNT I THINK OF THIS!!!!” CAnt wait to try. My picky hubby will love!
LOVE caprese! Gorgeous idea of an open-faced sandwich.
you are the best!
love this idea
That looks delicious, I think I will drizzle a little balsamic vinaigrette on top of mine just to add a little something!
What a great summer meal! Nothing like fresh, healthy ingredients!
Oh yes…I’d eat these anyday of the week!
I made these supper last night! Thanks for the recipe! The flavor was delicious!
I bought the ingredients to try these this weekend. I notice that you cut your tomato side to side instead of bottom to top, any reason? Thanks!
Nope, no reason!
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Looks amazing! Glad I found your blog. I’m in Iowa too and have a blog. We actually did a sandwich similar to this the other day – but it’s a breakfast sandwich.
Come and look: http://sistersplayinghouse.blogspot.com/2012/05/delcious-breakfast-sandwich.html
Craziest day for us is Sunday; almost always have to do leftovers for lunch or something super fast because of when we get home from church.
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I think every day of the week is crazy busy for us nowadays! This sandwich sounds like a definitely winner in my book though =)
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Made these tonight for dinner….delish! And so fresh! Thanks for great idea in using summer garden tomatoes!
What did you have on the side with these? or did you just serve them on their own? BTW, we eat the broiled potatoes in our house at least 2x a week.
We probably just had a salad – they are actually pretty filling!
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