Crispy Bacon & Ranch Chicken Melt Recipe

The Crispy Bacon & Ranch Chicken Melt is a hearty, flavor-packed sandwich layered with melty cheese, juicy chicken, crispy bacon, and a tangy homemade ranch dressing. Baked to golden perfection on ciabatta bread, it’s the ultimate comfort food with a gourmet twist. Perfect for lunch, dinner, or weekend gatherings.

Crispy Bacon & Ranch Chicken Melt Recipe Instructions

Ingredients

1 loaf ciabatta bread, sliced in half
2 cups cooked chicken (roasted or grilled), sliced
4 slices Havarti cheese
4 slices pepper jack cheese
6 slices crispy bacon
1/2 cup salsa verde
1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
2 cups arugula
1 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
1 tbsp fresh dill, chopped
1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
Salt and black pepper, to taste

Homemade Ranch Dressing

1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup buttermilk
1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
1 tbsp fresh chives, chopped
1 tbsp fresh dill, chopped
Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions

Prepare the dressing: Blend all dressing ingredients in a blender until smooth. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.
Preheat the oven: Set to 400°F (200°C).
Assemble the sandwich: Lay the ciabatta cut side up. Hollow out some of the bread from the top half to make space for the filling. Spread ranch dressing over the bottom half.
Layer the ingredients: Add Havarti and pepper jack cheese over the bread, then layer the sliced chicken. Pour salsa verde over the chicken. Season with salt and pepper.
Bake the sandwich: Place the sandwich (without the top half) on a baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes, until the cheese melts.
Prepare the greens: Toss arugula, sun-dried tomatoes, cilantro, dill, and sesame seeds together. Season with salt.
Finish assembling: Remove the sandwich from the oven. Add the arugula mix and crispy bacon on top of the chicken. Drizzle with more ranch dressing. Place the top half of the ciabatta and press gently.
Toast again: Bake for an additional 5 minutes until golden and crisp.
Serve: Slice into 6 sandwiches and enjoy!