Chicken Ranch Panini with Candied Bacon
Main Ingredient: Poultry
Yield: 3-4 sandwiches
Recipe courtesy of Michelle Landry, Finalist in the 2015 Black Creek® “Everything's Better with Cheddar” recipe contest
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- Prep
- 30 mins
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- Total
- 60 mins
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- Serving
- 3-4 sandwiches
Suggested Cheeses
Black Creek® Sharp Cheddar Cheese (Aged 9 Months)
Black Creek® Cheddar cheeses are made using old-world craftsmanship by Gregg Palubicki, a certified Wisconsin Master Cheesemaker. The result? The finest in premium Wisconsin Cheddar cheese with a dedication to quality you can taste.
Black Creek® Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese (Aged 2 Years)
Black Creek® offers award-winning premium Cheddar cheeses that are recognized for their rich and creamy taste. Each of the brands’ offerings is carefully selected to ensure you receive a consistently delicious cheese that’s perfect for snacking.
Black Creek® Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese (Aged 3 Years)
For over a century, farm fresh milk from the heart of America’s Dairyland has been finely crafted into classic, naturally-aged cheeses under the watchful eyes of certified Wisconsin Master Cheesemakers. Black Creek® Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese is made using these same time-honored traditions and carefully aged for three years to build a full, richly sharp flavor and delightfully crumbly texture.
Ingredients
AVOCADO RANCH DRESSING
- 1 small avocado, pitted and peeled
- 1/4 c. ranch dressing
CANDIED BACON
- 1/2 lb. bacon, thickly sliced
- 1/8 c. brown sugar
- 1 tbsp. maple syrup
- 1 tbsp. rice vinegar
- cracked black pepper, to taste (optional)
REMAINING INGREDIENTS
- 2 chicken breasts
- 1 loaf French bread
- spicy brown mustard
- 4 slices sharp Cheddar cheese
- 2 plum tomatoes
Directions
AVOCADO RANCH DRESSING
- Mash the avocado and add ranch dressing. Blend with a hand mixer until smooth. Set aside.
CANDIED BACON
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 13x9 inch sheet pan with tin foil (for easy clean up). Place a wire cookie rack over the sheet pan and lay out the strips of bacon in one layer. The bacon strips should not overlap each other. In a small bowl, mix the brown sugar, maple syrup and rice vinegar together. After 10 minutes, remove the bacon back in the oven and repeat three times, every 5 minutes. The third time after brushing on the brown sugar mixture, use pepper mill to lightly sprinkle cracked black pepper onto the bacon (optional). Then remove bacon from oven and allow to cool.
CHICKEN
- Cut chicken breasts in half lengthwise. If the breasts are thick, pound to uniform thickness ( ½ - ¾ inches). Fry the chicken in oil and set aside to cool. When the chicken is cool, cut into thin strips.
SANDWICHES
- Spread one side of each bread slice with butter. Place bread slice, buttered side down on the panini grill. Spread spicy brown mustard, top with chicken, 2 cheese squares, tomatoes, and bacon. Finish with spreading avocado mixture on the bottom of the top slice (which has been buttered on top). Cook on panini grill until the bread is golden brown and the cheese is melted.
AUTHOR'S NOTES
- If you do not have a panini press, you can use cast iron pans and place another cast iron pan on top of the sandwich, turning the sandwich over after 4-5 minutes to cook on the other side.
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