The messy chicken sandwich is the only way to use up chicken (or turkey) leftovers. It’s comfort on a plate, not to mention so moist and delicious.
A messy chicken or turkey sandwich is most definitely a comfort food. It’s hot, saucy, and very filling.
This sandwich is perfect for those of us who enjoy gravy. I am obsessed with gravy and can honestly eat it with anything. In this dish gravy is the star of the show.
This sandwich is also perfect for using leftover chicken or turkey. Especially if your poultry is a little on the dry side. With all that gravy you’ll never notice an overcooked breast.
As always, this dish is super easy to make. You just have to do a little chopping to get the chicken ready.
Preparing the Messy Chicken Sandwich
Ingredients
Rotisserie chicken:
Olive Oil: I use olive oil for this recipe because of its mild flavour. Olive oil is the fat extracted from olives. The least processed is extra virgin olive oil, which I use in this recipe.
Toast bread: Bread is made from water and flour, and sometimes other ingredients, and is baked as a loaf. It comes in many different varieties, shapes and sizes. It’s most commonly made from wheat however there are many different flours that yield delicious bread. Our favourites for this recipe are toast bread and rye bread, but sourdough is also at the top of the list.
Chicken gravy: Gravy is a sauce made from the fat and drippings of cooked meat. In this recipe, we call for a packet of gravy mix which is a combination of starch and flavours that, when combined with liquid, turns into gravy.
Stock: Stock adds the base for this delicious sauce so the flavour it brings is very important.
How to Make a Messy Chicken Sandwich
This is an open-faced messy chicken sandwich with gravy. So, the key components will be getting the chicken and gravy prepped.
Remove the meat from the bones of half of a chicken and dice it. I like small pieces to add to the “messy” bit but also to create even more of a buttery and saucy texture in every bite.
Gravy Almost from Scratch
If you have leftover chicken drippings from making the chicken, warm up the drippings and stock (see note 1 in the recipe card below) in a small pot on medium-low heat.
While that is warming, combine the contents of the gravy packet with another 1 cup of stock or water in a measuring cup. Whisk until the powder is fully dissolved.
NOTE: The package of gravy that I have called for two cups of water per package. 1 cup comes from the drippings mixture and one from the stock with the package content.
Read the back of your package to make sure it’s a 2:1 liquid-to-powder ratio.
The less stock you use the thicker the gravy will be so this is really based on personal preference.
Add this mixture to the pot and whisk vigorously to combine.
See our herbed-roasted whole chicken recipe if you want to make your own gravy fully from scratch.
Simmer, on low, for 5 minutes or as directed on the gravy packet.
Gravy From a Package
In a small pot, combine the package’s contents with 2 cups of stock or water or a combination of both. Bring to a boil whisking constantly then simmer on low for 5 minutes.
Gravy From Scratch
If you just want to use the drippings with stock, simply make a slurry with one part flour and one or two parts water. Use a tablespoon of flour per 2 cups of liquid to start then add more to achieve the consistency you love.
Warm the Chicken
Next, warm up the butter or oil in a medium pan and add the diced chicken. Toss the chicken in the fat to coat and warm on medium-low heat for 2-3 minutes until heated through.
Once the gravy is done simmering, remove it from the heat. Add ¼ cup of the gravy to the pan with the chicken and toss to coat.
Assemble the Sandwich
Place a slice of bread on a plate. Top with half the chicken and ½ a cup of gravy. Repeat plating for the second sandwich.
Substitutions
Chicken: Chicken is easily replaced with turkey in this recipe. Chances are that if you made a turkey, you also made gravy which means that this sandwich will come together even faster.
Gravy: I used a chicken gravy packet but you can use any gravy you like. Try it with poutine sauce or siss chalet sauce to really spice things up a bit.
Toast Bread: I like to use toast bead because it’s so soft it absorbs all of the delicious gravy instantly. It also has a soft crust so the texture in every bite will be consistent. If you like any other types of bread feel free to substitute them.
Serving the Messy Chicken Sandwich
I like to serve a messy chicken sandwich with a veggie on the side since it’s such a ‘beige’ dish. Try it with our oven-roasted butternut squash or simple butter lettuce salad.
Any vegetable that’s leftover from your roasted chicken dinner will also be great especially steamed beans, roasted asparagus or parmesan Brussels sprouts.
Let us know in the comments if you have any questions. And if you like this recipe be sure to leave us a five-star rating below.
Are you looking for dinner ideas? Check out our recipes:
Messy Chicken Sandwich Recipe
Equipment
- Medium pan
- Small pot
- Knife and cutting board
Ingredients
- ½ cooked whole chicken
- 2 tbsp oil or butter
- 2 slices toast bread
- 1 package chicken gravy note 1
- 2 cups stock optional – you can use water instead
Instructions
- Remove the meat from the bones of half of a chicken and dice.½ cooked whole chicken
- If you have leftover chicken drippings from making the chicken, warm up the drippings and stock (see note 1) in a small pot on medium-low heat. If you don't have any dripping follow the detailed instructions above.
- While that is warming, combine the contents of the gravy packet with another ¼ cup of stock or water in a measuring cup. Whisk until the powder is fully dissolved.1 package chicken gravy, 2 cups stock
- Add this mixture to the pot and whisk vigorously to combine.
- Simmer, on low, for 5 minutes or as directed on the gravy packet.
- Next, warm up the butter or oil in a medium pan and add the diced chicken. Toss the chicken in the fat to coat and warm on medium-low heat for 2-3 minutes until heated through.2 tbsp oil, ½ cooked whole chicken
- Once the gravy is done simmering, remove it from the heat. Add ¼ cup of the gravy to the pan with the chicken and toss to coat.
- Place a slice of bread on a plate. Top with half the chicken and ½ cup of gravy and serve with your favourite side. Repeat plating for the second sandwich.2 slices toast bread
