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Ah, summer nights – the best time to sit outside with your loved ones, look up at the stars, and end the day with a delicious grilled chicken sandwich… but not just any grilled chicken sandwich!

The perfect summer evening calls for a perfectly marinated chicken breast filet squeezed between buttered-up slices of bread and topped with all the fixings.

Grilled Chicken Sandwiches: The Summer Staple

Dry, tough, and bland chicken – who wants that for dinner? Imagine having to chew, wash it down with water, chew again, wash it down, repeating this tedious process until you finally conquer the world's worst grilled chicken sandwich.

It's an endless cycle that will leave you regretting every mouthful. Save yourself the misery and soak your chicken in some saucy marinade to liven up its taste and texture.

Marinades: The Secret to Flavorful and Juicy Meals

Lemon Peppercorn, Kansas City BBQ, and Tomato Herb marinades are triple-threat flavors. You can mix up your regular salt and pepper chicken breast filet with sweet, tangy, and savory flavors. The right marinade is the essential ingredient to mouthwatering, succulent chicken sandwiches that are sure to impress your loved ones at your next BBQ gathering.

Although…why struggle with finding the right ingredients and measuring them all out? It’s inconvenient and wastes a lot of time. You must worry about buying the right ingredients and letting the marinade and chicken rest before cooking. Creating marinades from scratch takes time you might not have.

Pre-marinated chicken is the way to go! The chicken is already packed with flavor and ready for grilling; now, all you have to do is put it on the grill, and let time and temperature take care of the rest.

Lemon Peppercorn Marinade

Ingredients:

• 3-4 boneless skinless chicken breasts

• 2 tbsp. olive oil

• 2 lemons juiced (about 4 tbsp.)

• Zest of 1 lemon

• 3 garlic cloves, minced

• 2 tsp. freshly cracked pepper

• 1 tsp. salt

• 1 tsp. dried parsley

Method:

Prepare Marinade:

• Add all ingredients (lemon juice, minced garlic, olive oil, salt, pepper, lemon zest, dried parsley) to a small bowl.

• Whisk well to combine.

Marinate Chicken:

• Pour the marinade over the chicken.

• Toss to coat the chicken evenly.

Refrigerate:

• Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, and up to 12 hours, to let the flavors infuse.

Grill Chicken:

• Grill, cook on the stovetop, or use an air fryer to cook the marinated chicken. Discard any leftover marinade.

AdapTable Meals Lemon Peppercorn

Forget leaving your chicken to rest in the marinade for hours—fire up the grill with AdapTable Meals' pre-marinated Lemon Peppercorn Chicken Breast Filet! This flavorful dish bursts with zesty citrus and bold peppercorn flavors, creating an irresistible aroma.

Kansas City BBQ Marinade

Ingredients:

• 4-6 boneless skinless chicken breasts

• 6 tbsp. packed brown sugar

• 3 tbsp. paprika

• 2 tsp. garlic powder

• 2 tsp. chili powder

• 2 tsp. onion powder

• 1½ tsp. salt

• 2 tsp. black pepper

• ⅓ cup BBQ sauce

Method:

Prepare Rub:

• In a bowl, mix brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, chili powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper.

Coat Chicken:

• Place chicken breasts in a ziplock bag.

• Add the brown sugar mixture to the bag.

• Seal the bag and shake well to coat the chicken breasts evenly.

Marinate:

• Refrigerate the coated chicken for at least 2 hours

Grill Chicken:

• Remove the chicken from the bag.

• Grill until the internal temperature reaches 165ºF, brushing with BBQ sauce on each side before removing from the grill.

AdapTable Meals Kansas City BBQ

Looking to add a delicious twist to your sandwich? Try the mouthwatering AdapTable Meals’ pre-marinated Kansas City BBQ chicken. Grill it to perfection and customize it by shredding or slicing.

Tomato Herb Marinade

Ingredients:

• 2-3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

• 1/4 cup olive oil

• 2 tbsp. red wine vinegar

• 4 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 tsp. dried basil, divided

• 1/4 tsp. salt

• 1/8 tsp. freshly cracked black pepper

• 1/2 cup chicken broth

• 2 tbsp. tomato paste

• 1/4 tsp sugar

Method:

Prepare Marinade:

• In a small bowl, combine olive oil, red wine vinegar, minced garlic, ½ teaspoon dried basil, salt, and pepper.

Fillet and Marinate Chicken:

• Fillet the chicken breasts into two thinner pieces, each using a sharp knife.

• Place the chicken pieces in a shallow dish and pour the marinade over top.

• Flip the chicken to coat all surfaces. Marinate in the fridge for 30 minutes to one day, flipping once or twice.

Grill Chicken:

• Set your grill to medium heat.

• Once hot, transfer the chicken to the grill, using the marinade's oil to prevent sticking.

• Cook the chicken for about five minutes each side or until cooked through.

• Remove the chicken to a clean plate.

AdapTable Meals Tomato Herb

AdapTable Meals’ pre-marinated Tomato Herb Chicken Breast Filet delivers a deliciously sweet and tangy flavor without any of the prep work and is perfect for a grilled chicken sandwich.

Don’t Forget the Fixings!

From zesty and peppery like onions and spinach, to spicy and smoky like jalapeños and bacon, there’s a whole rainbow of toppings and endless mix ‘n match possibilities for your grilled chicken sandwich.

If you want to add a touch of acidity or a bit of crunch to your Lemon Peppercorn grilled chicken sandwich, tomato slices and pickled onions are the way to go! Or maybe you want something more peppery; in that case, arugula and spinach also complement the marinade.

If pepper isn’t your style, you might prefer the savory and aromatic flavors of the Tomato Herb grilled chicken sandwich. Add a creamy and mild flavor with some mozzarella, or some sweetness and a slightly smoky flavor with roasted red peppers.

In the mood for some sweet and saucy goodness? The Kansas City BBQ grilled chicken sandwich is exactly what you need to get rid of those cravings! Spicy Jalapeños, tangy coleslaw, and smoky bacon are an out-of-this-world combination that suits the rich, smoky, and slightly sweet flavors of the BBQ sauce.

Now there’s only one question left – which one are you grilling tonight?

Learn about AdapTable Meals’ pre-marinated chicken here, or discover where you can find your favorite chicken breast flavors with our store locator.