For those nights when you need an easy, quick, family-friendly meal. This Rotisserie Chicken & Havarti Focaccia Sandwich takes under 10 minutes to make and is SO delicious. Tips included on how to serve deconstructed or adapt for younger kids!
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If you have young kids, chances are you’re always on the hunt for easy dinner ideas that work for the whole family, I know we certainly are. I wanted to create a deli-style worthy sandwich that works for the whole family – and this Rotisserie Chicken Focaccia sandwich is it! Looking for more dinner ideas? Check out my full round up post with over 20 easy and family-friendly dinner ideas including favourites like my Parmesan Crusted Chicken Pasta or these Build-Your-Own Pita Pizzas!
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Ingredients for Rotisserie Chicken & Havarti Focaccia Sandwich
- Focaccia bread
- Rotisserie chicken
- Havarti cheese
- Avocado
- Romaine lettuce or mixed greens
- Shallot
- Italian dressing
See recipe card for quantities.
How To Make This Easy Chicken & Focaccia Sandwich That Works For The Whole Family
Heat up the oven or a sandwich grill to 400. Slice the focaccia bread in half.
Spread a little olive oil on each side of the bread (helps with toasting). Add the chicken to one side.
Add the cheese on top of the chicken.
Place in oven until toasted and cheese has melted.
Prepare the Italian salad. Dice shallot, shred the Romain lettuce (or mixed lettuce) and add to a bowl. Add the Italian dressing (store-bought or homemade). Toss to combine.
In a small bowl, scoop out avocado and mash. This makes it easier to spread on the sandwich.
Once cheese has melted and the bread is toasted, remove from oven. Spread a layer of avocado on one slice of the bread. Add the Italian salad
Place the bread on top. Slice the sandwich and enjoy!
Hint: It is important to add the avocado and lettuce after toasting the sandwich, otherwise the avocado turns brown and hardens.
Substitutions
- Bread – Ciabatta bread also works well for these sandwiches.
- Chicken – Roasted chicken breast can be swapped for rotisserie chicken.
- Cheese – I definitely think Havarti is the best here, but you can swap for mozzarella, mild cheddar or Swiss cheese if you wish.
- Veggies – Feel free to add other veggies like tomatoes or cucumbers!
Make it Kid-Friendly
For younger eaters or kids who may be unsure about mixed sandwiches, you can serve this deconstructed. Offer the focaccia, chicken, cheese, avocado, and Italian salad separately so they can explore each part at their own pace or put their sandwich together themselves. I also suggest removing the skin off the rotisserie chicken and shredding it up to make it manageable for younger kids.
Here is an example of the sandwich served deconstructed for my 18-month old.
Here is the sandwich served for my 4 year old, which she then deconstructed herself.
Equipment
- Not much equipment needed for this sandwich! Just an oven or a sandwich/panini press if you wish.
Storage
This sandwich is best enjoyed fresh, especially with the avocado and dressed salad. If you’re prepping ahead, store the components separately in airtight containers in the fridge for up to 2-3 days.
Keep the chicken, chopped salad, sliced cheese, and bread separate, and slice the avocado just before serving to prevent browning. If you do need to assemble it in advance, wait to add the avocado and dressing until just before eating to avoid sogginess.
Leftover rotisserie chicken should be refrigerated within two hours and used within 3 days for best quality and food safety.
Toddler Tip
Many toddlers love building their own meals. Try setting up a simple “sandwich bar” with the focaccia, chicken, cheese, avocado, and salad on the table and let your child choose what to add and how to assemble it. You can also provide the foods deconstructed on their plate and they can put it together that way.
If they prefer to eat the ingredients separately instead of as a sandwich, that’s completely okay, exploring foods in their own way is part of the process!
FAQ
Yes. Any cooked chicken works well here, including baked, grilled, or poached chicken.
Try serving the ingredients separately so they can explore each part. Many kids prefer to build their own or eat components individually, and that’s completely okay.
Recipe
Rotisserie Chicken Focaccia Sandwich with Havarti
Ingredients
- 1 loaf of focaccia
- 1½ cups rotisserie chicken shredded, skin removed
- 4-5 slices Havarti cheese
- 2 cups romaine lettuce or mixed greens
- 1 shallot diced
- ¼ cup Italian dressing homemade or store bought
- 2 tablespoon olive oil optional, for toasting bread
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375℉ (190℃).
- Slice the focaccia in half horizontally. Lightly drizzle or brush olive oil on the cut sides (optional, but it helps with toasting and flavour).
- Remove the skin and shred the rotisserie chicken into small bite-size pieces. Layer the shredded chicken over the bottom half of the focaccia.
- Add the cheese on top of the chicken. Toast for 5-6 minutes, until edges are lightly crisp and cheese is melted.
- Make the Italian salad: Add the lettuce to a medium bowl. Finely dice the shallot and add it to the bowl. Drizzle in the dressing and toss gently until everything is evenly coated.
- Mash the avocado in a small bowl until smooth (this makes it easier to spread). Once the bread is toasted and removed from oven, spread the avocado evenly over one half. Spoon the Italian salad onto the other half, then place the top piece of bread on and gently press down.
- Cut into portions and serve whole, or deconstructed for younger children.
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