This Chicken Salad and Apple Sandwich is restaurant-worthy, foodie food that’ll make an everyday, at-home lunch into an elevated, memorable event. And yet it’s so easy!
Chicken Salad and Apple Sandwich
4
open-face sandwichesIngredients
- For the Salad
1 cooked chicken breast
1 stalk celery, diced
¼ cup mayo, or more to taste
1 generous Tbs chopped cornichon
2 tsp tarragon
1 tsp Dijon or honey mustard
Salt and pepper, to taste
- For the Sandwich
1 sweet-tart apple, such as Honey Crisp or Jazz
1 tsp lemon juice, or more to taste
2 onion bagels
4 thick slices of sharp cheddar
Directions
- Make the Chicken Salad
- Cut the breast into small dice. Add remaining salad ingredients and mix to combine. Taste to adjust seasoning.
- Assemble the Open-Face Sandwiches
- Thinly slice and core the apple. Reserve as many slices as you feel you’ll need to create one thin layer of slices per sandwich, and repurpose the rest of the apple. Toss the reserved slices with lemon juice. Set aside.
- Pre-heat the broiler, or ready a culinary torch.
- Split the bagels in half. Distribute the apple slices among the bagel halves. Divide the chicken salad into four portions, and use them to top the apple slices. Top each sandwich with a slice of cheese.
- Broil the sandwiches just until the cheese melts. Monitor the broiler constantly; its takes almost no time to accomplish this. (Optionally, continue to broil until the cheese browns.) OR, use the torch to melt the cheese.
Notes
- I eat these by hand, although my husband likes a knife and fork.
- In a pinch, you can substitute pickle relish for the cornichons.
- Any method of cooking will work for the breast, from roasting to frying to poaching. I prefer sous vide.
- I like to slice the apple by placing it on its side and slicing it thinly, starting at the stem end. Then, I use a set of small, round pastry cutters to cut out the core from each slice.
- Do the bagels have to be onion? It’s not a deal-breaker, but the way the pungency of the onion bagel plays with the sweetness of the apple contributes a great deal to the sandwich. I’ve used Parmesan bagels as a substitute, and liked them almost as much.
- Although I don’t normally consider it a good substitute, dehydrated lemon powder works really well in this context.
- It’d be worth going to a bagel shop, rather than settling for the bagels you get at a typical grocery store.
- I have a preference for broiling instead of torching, because it slightly warms the sandwich. However, unless you have a toaster oven, the torch is so much more convenient.
The Backstory
Apple picking is a great activity if you’re looking for something you can do with socially-distant, mask-wearing friends, outdoors. There are only so many apples you can eat, though. Thankfully, there is in fact no limit to the number of apple crisps that you can enjoy, and only vague limits on the number of other applicious desserts. Still, sometimes you just gotta have something savory.
For me, this sandwich is a bit of everyday, super-practical, at-home cooking. I will often bring home a roasted chicken from the grocery store, eat both legs and thighs while the bird is still warm, then remove and refrigerate the breasts for a sandwich like this the next day.
Or, I might buy a family-pack of breasts – especially if they’re on sale – and sous vide the bunch of them. I’ll move them straight from the bath to the fridge without opening them, where they’ll be at the ready for a sandwich like this one.
Social Learning
One of the things I love about this sandwich is how the flavors interact. I toss the lemon with the apple not to keep the apple from browning – that’s not really a concern – but to keep the lemon from melding with the chicken salad, so that you can really taste its perfumy, floral brightness as it comingles with the apple. I’ve already talked about the apple and the bagel’s caramelized onion – what a great combo. The tarragon elevates the chicken and gives depth to the salad, and the little hits of pickle keep every bite tasting fresh.
Would I cook chicken in order to make this sandwich? Yes. However, it’s the perfect way to make something fantastic out of leftover chicken.
Chicken salad might as well be a blank canvas that you can paint with whatever palate you like: curry, cranberry, grapes, pecans, walnuts, capers, olives are all great ingredients to either add or build a salad around, and they’d all work perfectly in this sandwich.
I also make a tuna salad version of this sandwich. When I do, I often lay a thick slice of tomato – especially when they’re in season – between the salad and the cheese.
Chicken Salad and Apple Sandwich
Credit for images on this page: Make It Like a Man! This content was not solicited by anyone, nor was it written in exchange for anything. Thanks, Kesor. Thanks Prosper Circle.
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Now I’m really wishing I had an apple, and it’s sleeting outside. Damn. This looks really good.
Thank you! And I know! I woke up to snow flurries!
Jeff, I love savory apple dishes and we sous vide chicken and turkey breast regularly. So, your chicken salad apple sandwich sounds great. The only problem I have is finding bagels. They are rare to non-existent here. Not to be deterred though, I’ll be making this on a nice slice of my homemade rye sourdough. I’ll let you know how it goes. Thanks for the lunch inspiration…
Ron recently posted…Smoked Cheese Update…
No bagels! What do you do with all that smoked fish? 😉
We have it with a side baked potato topped with romsås and topped with bay shrimp or with Swedish Hönö bread. But a fresh-baked bagel would be nice once in a while…
Ron recently posted…Smoked Cheese Update…
Nice! Your food world is so intriguing to me!
I always love the combo of chicken and apple…the aged Cheddar makes it even better and tastier!
angiesrecipes recently posted…Cucumber Avocado Tartare with Parma Ham
Thanks, Angie!
LOVE this sandwich! We received a bag of Honey Crisp Apples from a friend recently (although apple picking sounds like a great way to spend an afternoon) and I do have chicken, so it will likely go on my menu plan this week. The tarragon makes this sound so French to me, I may have to skip the onion bagel and go for a freshly baked croissant!
Eva Taylor recently posted…Ballpark Caramel Corn
I know, the terragon really does make it seem French! It would be great on a croissant, but trust me on the onion bagel!
This looks delicious, though I will admit I would have to add chopped toasted pecans, ’cause I am from the south and that is just what we do.
anne recently posted…Food,, and Food For Thought
Toss’em in!
Seems like a interesting medley of flavors. I think the chap would really like it. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you!
These sandwiches sound fantastic, Jeff! I love the idea of serving them on a sliced bagel. I mean I love cream cheese and all, but this puts the bagel + cream cheese to shame! And for the record, I would eat this with my hands, too.
David @ Spiced recently posted…Antipasta Grilled Cheese
Thanks, David!
We love to go apple picking and you are right, it’s a great pandemic activity! I always love apple and cheddar combinations. I’ll have to show this recipe to my meat eating husband. I’m sure he would love it.
🙂
I’m so curious about this combination. It sounds like an easy recipe so I’ll try it soon. Thank you so much for the recipe!
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Dennis Yannakos recently posted…Top Awesome Personalized Aprons in 2019
I hope you ebjoy it!
I love this flavour combo, Jeff – and using apple in savoury dishes, especially if there’s sharp melted cheese in the mix is so good! Definitely a cafe worthy meal at home. Thanks for the inspiration!
Katerina recently posted…Super cheesy baked cauliflower [five ingredients]
You’re welcome!
That is a great idea and looks super-yummy!
Fruit-picking I´ve never seen here. You can buy fresh from the field at some stalls, that´s all. I´ve only seen strawberries and asparagus sold like this. Some farms sell, but it´s all already packed.
That´s as far as I know…
iris Flavia recently posted…Buy Local
Oh, that’s interesting.
I always have apples on hand at this time of the year! And have some chicken, too. I think this recipe is calling my name. 🙂
John / Kitchen Riffs recently posted…Roast Grapes and Chili Crisp Dip (or Spread)
Hello-o-o, John … your sandwich is calling!
I love chicken and I love apples, so this is a win-win! Thanks so much for sharing!!
You’re welcome, Balvinder!
I’m tired of having the same old ham ‘n cheese sandwich everyday, so your recipe will give me a refreshing change. Adding the cranberries or curry to the sandwich- now you’re talkin’!
Hope you enjoy it!
Wow that looks really delicious! What a combination too!
Lary recently posted…Matte Golf Balls?
Thanks!
It’s always worth going to a bagel shop especially when you’ve got special toppings like this. However, bagels aren’t what LA does best. I have managed to find a good place called “Hanks… a deli of sorts” in Toluca Lake. https://www.hanksbagels.com/
Well at least you have tacos! I guess having good bagels is the trade-off that we Chicagoans get for having to be famous for deep-dish pizza. 🙁
I agree that you should get your bagel from the bakery, not the grocers. The quality is so much better. This sandwich sounds so perfect for a fall lunch option!
Thank you!
I love apple in a savory dish! And, I think you’re onto something here with the onion bagel. I’m totally on board for this, especially because I have all of the ingredients right here. Love that!
laura recently posted…Pulled Pork Barbecue in Crockpot
Perfect
Jeff – this is a beautiful thing. My favorite part is how you describe what the lemon does for the salad. I felt the same way about my tuna salad — it just takes it to the next level.
Thank you, David! I’m eager now to see your tuna recipe!
Thats such a fun recipe Jeff. Never thought of adding an apple to a sandwich. The chicken salad recipe is so delicious.
Thank you, Rahul!
Sounds incredible. Love the use of tarragon and serving it on an onion bagel is brilliant. I like that you use the lemon as a separate layer of flavor. And now I’m hungry! 🙂 ~Valentina
Thanks! Wish I could invite you over for one!
Chicken and apple salad eh? Not a combination I’m familiar with Jeff but one I’m definitely willing to try out! I’m not big on bagels, but I often take rolls in for my packed lunch to work so this filling would be delicious on them.
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I hope you like it. It is a little off the beaten path, but it’s really good.
oh yum oh yum it’s nearly lunchtime and i’m feeling hungry …
sherry recently posted…In My Kitchen – November 2020
Wish I could make you one!
What an interesting combo!! I have to try this sandwich – love all the ingredients in this one! Thanks!
It’s a great sandwich. I hope you love it!
I love this recipe, absolutely yumm and delicious !!
Thank you!
Normally I use grapes in my chicken salad, but I love your use of apples. Will have to try that next time. And I love seeing you use tarragon. Chicken salad just doesn’t work without a little tarragon.
Yes, I love grapes in a chicken salad, too!
Wow!
Great apple sandwich ideas.
This is the first I have read your blog. I love your apple sandwich ideas. I can’t handle my greed to apply your ideas. I will apply the tips basis of regular for my hubby. Helpful recipe. Thank you for the excellent sharing..
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