Sometimes I just crave a a good old-fashioned sandwich. Something cheesy and flavorful between two slices of bread. There's no doubt my sandwich and bread consumption has decreased since losing weight, but every now and then I like to indulge. This sandwich TOTALLY hit the spot -- warm, melty, tasty and only 5 ingredients that I picked up at ALDI.
If you never shopped at nor heard of ALDI, click here -- I just wrapped up a campaign with then on my weight-loss blog, Roni's Weigh.
In a nutshell they are a discount supermarket chain that mostly carries their own brands of the most popular grocery items. I've been shopping there since college as I've been lucky enough to have one pretty close to me everywhere I've lived. It was my mom who turned me on to them; she does most of her shopping there as well.
While working with them the past few weeks, I was inspired to make a few recipes with their products, today's sandwich included. They didn't ask me to do this. I just thought it would be a fun way to show people how they can use simple, inexpensive ingredients to make good food at home fast, cheap and easily.
Here's how I made what I thought was quite the perfect sandwich…
Ingredients
- 2 slices of whole grain bread (I used their 12 Grain)
- 1 oz ripe avocado (28g)
- 2 tablespoon salsa (I used their Simple Nature Thick and Chunky Medium)
- 2 oz grilled chicken breast strips (I used their pre-cooked line)
- 1 oz finely shredded Colby-Jack cheese (I used their Happy Farms brand)
Instructions
Heat a skillet or grill pan over medium heat.
Smear one slice of the bread with the avocado and the other with the salsa.
Top the bread with the chicken and cheese.
Put the sandwich together and press on the skillet.
Cook for 3-4 minutes until the bread toasts to a nice golden brown. Then flip and cover.
Cook for another 3-4 minutes until the other side is toasted and the cheese is melted.
I paired mine with baby carrots that were a special buy this week for 49 cents!
It was a great lunch, super satisfying.
Calories are little higher but easily could be knocked down with a "lighter" bread option. The 12 Grain is 100 calories a slice just to give you an idea. This is the Nutritional Info using all the ALDI specific products.
Full Disclosure This is NOT a sponsored post. However ALDI has sponsored posts on my other blog, Roni's Weigh. All opinion expressed are my own.
📖 Recipe
Grilled Chicken Panini With Avocado and Salsa
Ingredients
- 2 slices of whole grain bread I used their 12 Grain
- 1 oz ripe avocado 28g
- 2 tablespoon salsa I used their Simple Nature Thick and Chunky Medium
- 2 oz grilled chicken breast strips I used their pre-cooked line
- 1 oz finely shredded Colby-Jack cheese I used their Happy Farms brand
Instructions
- Heat a skillet or grill pan over medium heat.
- Smear one slice of the bread with the avocado and the other with the salsa.1 oz ripe avocado, 2 tablespoon salsa
- Top the bread with the chicken and cheese.2 slices of whole grain bread, 2 oz grilled chicken breast strips, 1 oz finely shredded Colby-Jack cheese
- Put the sandwich together and press on the skillet.
- Cook for 3-4 minutes until the bread toasts to a nice golden brown. Then flip and cover.
- Cook for another 3-4 minutes until the other side is toasted and the cheese is melted.
- I paired mine with baby carrots that were a special buy this week for 49 cents!
Cynthia
I used whole wheat pita bread.......it was soooo delicious!!! Thanks!
Jackie Miller
Hi Roni - your Sammy looks yummy. Another quick swap out for your bread is to use one of their sandwich thins. I make grilled cheese all the time with them for my son. The most important part of that is to flip the thins inside out so the outside of the thin is inside. That way the "bread" side is out. And I put a pat of butter in my pan so it crisps up and feels more indulgent but isn't too bad. Just what I do...
BTW - I read this and your Ronisweigh blog all the time and refer to you and your posts so regularly that it probably sounds like I'm talking about a friend. And, I guess you are - even though we don't actually know each other ;-). Have a great day.
roni
Great idea! I used to do that all the time but I just happen to pick up the 12 grain because it was all they had in stock. I will some times use a sprits of olive oil spray but this grill pan worked perfectly with no fat.
So glad you like the sits. One day we shall meet then we will "know" each other. 🙂
Jackie Miller
Deal 🙂
Joshua Hampton
This sandwich made me hungry. I too love a good, old-fashioned sandwich, cheesy and flavorful. Thanks for the recipe.
Sheri TeGantvoort
Roni, I am so like you...sometimes a good grilled 'anything' just sounds good. I just had a grilled ham and cheese with a serving of guacamole on the side to dip the sandwich in. Aldi (little salad bar, I think) has a fantastic spicy guacamole in their refrigerated section. I have found it packaged in 6 - 100 cal. packs and in 2 packs per package. It is really good.
Sheri TeGantvoort
Forgot to mention, I used Ezekeil, low sodium, original sprouted grain bread. Didn't think it would be as good as white, but it worked perfect.