I’m elevating your sandwich game with this mouth-watering Sweet Tea Brined Chicken Cheddar Sandwich recipe! It’s brined in sweet tea which leaves it juicy and flavorful. This sandwich is a family favorite.
SWEET TEA BRINED CHICKEN CHEDDAR SANDWICH
The most important tip regarding this recipe is to start it early! Ideally, you’ll marinate the chicken for 12 to 24 hours. The longer the chicken sits in the sweet tea, the more flavor it will absorb.
HOW TO MAKE SWEET TEA BRINE
- First, bring 4 cups of water to a boil in a saucepan. Add 2 family-size tea bags and remove from heat. Allow the tea to steep for 10 minutes.
- Remove the tea bags and stir in coconut sugar (you can use brown or granulated sugar), sliced lemon, and garlic.
- Allow the tea to cool before you put the chicken into it. After about 10 minutes, when the sugar is melted, you can add ice cubes to speed up the cooling process.
- While it cooling, pound the chicken to 1/2 to 1-inch thick.
- Place the chicken into a large zip-top bag or a plastic container that has a lid.
- Finally, pour the cooled tea over the chicken. If you’re using a zip-top bag you will want to double bag it or place it into a bowl in case of leaks.
- Refrigerate up to 24 hours.
SWEET TEA BRINED CHICKEN CHEDDAR SANDWICH TIPS AND TRICKS
You can totally brine the bacon as well. Sometimes I do and other times I don’t.
Additionally, you can grill or pan-fry the chicken. I tend to grill during warm months. My family likes this recipe so much that I make it all year. Therefore, during colder weather, I pan fry it. It’s great both ways.
I always have cheddar cheese in the fridge. However, you can use any cheese you like or have on hand.
Don’t limit yourself to lettuce as a sandwich topper. You can pile on all your garden-fresh produce!
YOU HAVE OPTIONS!
I’m all about the sauce. I’ve served this sandwich with several different sauces and they’re all good. Click on the title below for the recipe or you can always use store-bought.
- Easy Remoulade
- Sriracha Comeback Sauce
- Honey Mustard
- Spicy Mango Mayonnaise
- Houstons Restaurant Buttermilk Garlic Salad Dressing
- Lulu’s Wow Sauce
Please keep in mind that nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary based on the products used.
This is one of the first recipes I posted on this site way back in March 2012. Recently, I updated this post from the original version. I made photos and simplified the recipe instructions.
Sweet Tea Brined Chicken Cheddar Sandwich
Ingredients
SWEET TEA BRINE
- 2 family-size tea bags
- ½ cup coconut sugar or brown sugar
- 1 medium lemon sliced
- 2 medium cloves garlic minced
CHICKEN SANDWICH
- 4 medium chicken breasts boneless, skinless
- ½ teaspoon salt and pepper more or less to taste
- 4 Hoagie rolls or your favorite rolls or buns
- 8 slices bacon I like thick cut
- 8 slices Cheddar cheese or your favorite cheese
- 1 cup spring salad mix
- ⅓ cup Remoulade sauce store bought or homemade
Instructions
SWEET TEA BRINE
- In a saucepan, bring 4 cups of water to a boil. Add tea and remove the pan from the heat. Let the tea steep for 10 minutes. Remove and discard tea bags.
- Stir in coconut sugar, lemon slices, and garlic. Allow the tea to cool. After 10 minutes you can add ice to help it cool quicker. But you don't want to add the chicken to warm tea.
- Flatten chicken to 1-inch thick and place into a large zip-top bag or plastic container with a lid. (If you used a zip-top bag, you will want to double bag or place the bag in a bowl in case of leaks.) Pour the cool tea over the chicken and seal. Place in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
CHICKEN SANDWICH
- Remove from tea and discard tea. Season chicken with salt and pepper.
- Cook on the first side for about 4 minutes on med-high. Turn and cook on the second side 3 to 4 minutes until cooked through.
- Cook bacon. Drain on paper towels.
- Layer cheese on bread and toast to melt. Remove from toaster and spread remoulade sauce on bread. Layer on chicken, bacon and lettuce. Slice and enjoy!
You can also find great recipes at Recipe Index or at Meal Plan Monday or Weekend Potluck
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Sandra Rivas says
This looks amazing! I will definitely be trying this! I'm stopping by from SITs! 🙂 Congrats again on your SITs Day!
Debi Bolocofsky says
Thanks so much for sharing with Wednesdays Adorned From Above Link Party. This is an amazing recipe. It looks delicious.
Debi
Christine says
This simply looks DELICIOUS!!!! Now I have a probably very weird question… I noticed a lot of people pound chicken. Why? What does it do?
Thanks so much for sharing this at The DIY Dreamer.. From Dream To Reality!
Sarah Carletti says
Oh, sounds good and thanks for linking with me at TFF.
royalegacy says
That looks so much more better than what we had for dinner!
Danielle @ Royalegacy