Creole Chicken Sandwich with Salsa & Avocado Lime Crema
We recently had the opportunity to try Sam’s Fresh Salsa for their blogger recipe contest. Their range of salsas are packed with flavor and are so fresh they make a great addition to many dishes. The bright, refreshing flavor of the Sam’s Fresh Mild Salsa is a perfect complement to many meaty dishes. Of course, you can also add it to your Mexican classics like burritos, tacos, quesadillas, etc. (or eat it straight up) but we wanted to try something different.
One thing we have come to truly love is chicken thighs because they are quicker to cook than bone-in thighs and more flavorful than your basic chicken breast. And, with a baby at home, we have been looking for quicker, easier-to-eat dinner dishes. That’s how we decided upon the Creole Chicken Sandwich.
Our Creole Chicken Sandwich with Sam’s Fresh Salsa & Avocado Lime Crema took about 30 minutes for us to pull together. The boneless skinless thighs cook up perfectly in a cast iron skillet – we use our trusty Lodge – and the avocado crema takes only minutes to puree in the food processor. Being able to work with the bread and chicken at the same time cuts your process in half and the avocado crema can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge.
Ingredients (all fresh, of course):
– Avocado
– Lime
– Cilantro
– Sour Cream
– Garlic
– Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs
– Sam’s Fresh Mild Salsa
– Demi Soft French Bread
– Sliced Cheese (we use Cabot’s Vermont Sharp Cheddar)
– Cajun or Creole Seasoning
Check out Sam’s Fresh Salsa on Facebook, Instagram, and their website for more product details and recipes. You can purchase Sam’s Fresh Salsa at ShopRite, Acme, and Safeway.
- Times
- Description
- Image
- Ingredients
- Method
- Notes
- Nutrition
- Cook time: 25 minutes
- Total time: 30 minutes
- Serves: 4 People
Ingredients
Avocado Lime Crema
- 2 avocados, whole
- 2 garlic cloves, sliced
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon cilantro
- 3 limes, freshly squeezed
Cajun Chicken Sandwich
- 2 loaves soft demi french bread
- 6 tablespoons sam's fresh mild salsa
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken thigh
- .25 cup cajun or creole seasoning
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 8 slices vermont cheddar cheese
Method
Avocado Crema
- 1)
Add all ingredients into your food processor and process until smooth
- 2)
Taste and add extra salt, pepper, or lime, as preferred
- 3)
Scrape into a serving bowl or container and store in the fridge to cool
Creole Chicken Sandwiches
- 1)
Preheat your oven to 450 degrees and line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil
- 2)
Slice your bread loaves through the middle and in half with a bread knife then place face up on your cookie sheet
- 3)
Place two slices of cheese on each piece of bread (tops and bottoms) then layer with a spoonful of Sam’s Fresh Mild Salsa
- 4)
Pat chicken thighs dry with a paper towel then generously cover with seasoning on both sides
- 5)
Once the oven is preheated, put your cookie sheet in and bake until the cheese is melted (approximately 6-8 minutes)
- 6)
Heat butter and oil over medium-high in a skillet (we prefer cast iron)
- 7)
In batches, add your chicken thighs to the skillet and cook until brown (approximately 5 minutes)
- 8)
Repeat on the other side. Internal temperature should read 165 when cooked through.
- 9)
Remove your Avocado Crema from the fridge and add an even layer to the bottom half of each sandwich
- 10)
Cut your chicken into strips and layer on top of the Avocado Crema
- 11)
Add another squeeze of fresh lime to bring out the flavor in each bite
- 12)
Plate with extra Avocado Crema, slice (or keep whole), and enjoy!
Options for Substitutions
Do you like things extra hot? Swap out the salsa for Sam’s Fresh Medium Salsa or add extra hot sauce to the top!
We prefer soft french bread but you can use whatever type of loaf or roll you would like for this recipe
Any creole or cajun seasoning will do but we love Bayou Basics by The Tailgate Foodie
While we prefer Vermont sharp cheddar, you can sub swiss, gruyere, or any other sliced favorite