HG's Mega-Delicious Chipotle Chicken Panini

Someone HAD to replicate the delicious and tempting chipotle chicken sandwich from Panera Bread. We stepped up to the challenge. Did we succeed? You be the judge. (But we totally did!)

Ingredients:
Sauce
1 1/2 tbsp. fat-free mayonnaise
1/2 tsp. adobo sauce (from canned chipotle peppers) or chipotle hot sauce (like the kind by Tabasco)
2 dashes onion powder
2 dashes garlic powder

Sandwich
One 100-calorie flat sandwich bun (like Arnold Select/Brownberry/Oroweat Sandwich Thins)
2 oz. cooked skinless lean chicken breast, shredded or pulled into pieces
1 tbsp. roughly chopped fresh basil
2 thin slices red onion
2 slices plum tomato
1 stick light string cheese, shredded or pulled into pieces

Directions:
In a medium bowl, combine ingredients for the sauce and mix well. Set aside.

Split bun in half and lay the halves flat, split sides up. Evenly spread half of the sauce onto the bun halves, leaving half of the sauce in the bowl. Set aside.

To the bowl with the remaining sauce, add chicken and toss to coat. Set aside.

Evenly top one bun half with basil, onion, tomato, saucy chicken, and cheese. Place the other half on top, sauce side down.

Bring a grill pan sprayed with nonstick spray to medium-high heat on the stove. Place sandwich in the pan. Using a spatula, press down gently but firmly to seal the sandwich. Grill until hot and lightly browned, about 2 minutes per side, flipping carefully and pressing down with the spatula to seal.

Cut in half (or not) and enjoy!

MAKES 1 SERVING

Panera Bread's Frontega Chicken Hot Panini

We can't explain WHY hot sandwiches are so tempting. Maybe it's the fact that doughy bread, melted cheese, and savory meats are each insanely delicious on their own. Maybe it's that they only become more delicious when you put them together with decadent condiments and veggies. What we can easily explain is HOW the nutritional profiles of these sandwiches get so out of control. Bread? Big calorie contributor. Cheese? Brings the fat. The spreads? Who knows what goes into that stuff?! We do know the chipotle mayonnaise on Panera's Frontega Chicken sandwich has 17g fat per serving. ACK! We also know how to indulge in a toasty, melty, savory sandwich without delving into scary stat territory -- just follow our recipe! Our chipotle spread is incredibly flavorful and WAY lower in fat and calories than Panera's, our cheese is light, our meat is lean, and our bread is super-slim. Panera's version looks a little less tempting now, doesn't it? We thought so...