Honey Balsamic Chicken and Peach Sandwiches

With a perfect combination of savory and sweet flavors, these Honey Balsamic Chicken and Peach Sandwiches are bound to become your new favorites! The chicken thighs are juicy and tender thanks to a simple balsamic vinegar chicken marinade. Layer them on ciabatta rolls with goat cheese, sliced peaches, arugula, and balsamic glaze and you are in for a real treat. You won't want to miss out on your opportunity to make these delicious sandwiches when peaches are in season!

Honey balsamic chicken is great on these sandwiches, but you'll also love it on salads (it would be a terrific topping for this strawberry goat cheese salad), rice bowls, or with mashed potatoes. We love to balance sweet peaches with the rich umami-packed flavor of balsamic vinegar. Just like in this salmon with mango and peach salsa, the flavors enhance each other for an unexpected combination!

Balsamic Vinegar Chicken Marinade Ingredients

I include ingredient notes here when I think they'll be helpful, including ways to source, any preparation tips, or why I've chosen a particular ingredient. Be sure to check out the recipe card below for the full list of ingredients and their quantities!

• Balsamic Vinegar - This dark brown vinegar is slightly sweet and packed with rich and deep flavors thanks to the aging and fermentation process.
• Honey - Use a simple clover honey to add a touch of sweetness to the marinade.
• Onion Powder - No chopping necessary! Use onion powder to make this marinade extra simple.
• Boneless and Skinless Chicken Thighs - This is our favorite cut of chicken to get extra juicy and tender meat for these sandwiches. Trim any excess fat from the thighs and they are ready to marinate.

Chicken and Peach Sandwich Ingredients

• Ciabatta Rolls - Ciabatta rolls are sturdy enough to stand up to the juicy peaches, goat cheese, and warm chicken thighs. I buy them regularly at Trader Joe's and Costco.
• Goat Cheese - Creamy, tangy goat cheese spreads well over the toasted rolls and adds a richness to the chicken and peach sandwiches.
• Balsamic Glaze - The glaze is optional, but it is such a great ingredient for adding sweet and tart flavor to the sandwiches. I have found it at Trader Joe's and at large supermarkets.
• Arugula - Subtly bitter arugula cuts right through the rich cheese and perks up these sandwiches. 
• Ripe Peaches - Choose perfectly ripe peaches that aren't too soft to stay intact in the sandwiches.

Instructions

Whisk together the balsamic vinegar, honey, salt, pepper, and onion powder in a medium bowl until the honey is dissolved.

Add the trimmed chicken thighs and stir everything together to coat the chicken well. Refrigerate the chicken and marinate for at least 30 minutes and up to 8 hours.

Remove the chicken to a plate. Grill the chicken over a medium flame for 4-5 minutes per side, until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.

Transfer the chicken to a fresh plate or tray and allow it to rest for 5 minutes.

While the chicken rests, toast the rolls in a toaster oven or under the broiler in the oven. Divide the goat cheese between the four rolls and spread it evenly over the bottom half of the roll.

Add one chicken thigh to each roll and top it with the optional balsamic glaze.

Divide the arugula up over the four sandwiches and then top the arugula with the peach slices.

Top the peaches with the other half of the ciabatta roll and serve the sandwiches immediately.

Grill or Broil your Honey Balsamic Chicken

When it's grilling weather, cook your chicken over the grill for delicious char. No grill? No problem! Cook your balsamic chicken using your oven broiler. Preheat the broiler for 5 minutes while you prepare a sheet pan with a wire rack. Cook the chicken for 4-5 minutes per side, until it reaches a temperature of 165°F. Extra details for this method are in my recipes for everyday broiled chicken thighs or 5 spice chicken thighs.

Substitutions and Variations

The substitutions listed below have been tested in this recipe and work well. If you successfully make any other ingredient substitutions, let us know in the comments!

• Swap Goat Cheese for Blue Cheese - If you are a fan of blue cheese, try it in place of the goat cheese on this sandwich! The sharp and tangy blue cheese compliments the chicken and peach sandwiches just as well as goat cheese.
• Change the Greens - Use shredded Romaine or baby spinach in place of the arugula.
• Use Nectarines - If you have nectarines on hand, they make an easy swap for the peaches.

Equipment

Here are some notes on the standard kitchen tools that make prep of these chicken and peach sandwiches extra simple:

• Whisk - I have what may be an excessive number of whisks to choose from, but an 8-inch whisk I got years ago as a wedding gift is my favorite for incorporating the honey into the balsamic vinegar chicken marinade.
• Chef's Knife - An 8- or 10-inch chef's knife is an essential tool in any kitchen.  I use it for trimming the chicken thighs as well as slicing up the peaches.
• Mixing Bowl - It's helpful to have mixing bowls in a variety of sizes, but choose a sturdy glass or stainless steel mixing bowl for mixing marinades, batters, cookie doughs, snack mixes, and salads.

Serving Suggestions

Serve these chicken and peach sandwiches with potato chips, French fries, potato salad, green salad, or a fruit salad for an easy meal!

Make This Recipe Kid Friendly

My kids do not share the same appreciation for a sweet and savory combination that I have! If yours are the same, consider offering the sandwich components separately. Slice the chicken and provide a preferred dipping sauce, add some sliced peaches or veggie sticks, and offer the ciabatta as a buttered roll.

Check out my guide to keeping peace with picky eaters for more tips on getting the whole family to enjoy dinners!

Storage

Store the cooked honey balsamic chicken in an airtight container for up to three days and enjoy it on these sandwiches or sliced onto salads. Any extra arugula or goat cheese can be stored in the refrigerator. A prepared sandwich will hold up in the refrigerator pretty well for about one day before the peach slices start to break down, so eat that the next day.

Make-Ahead Options

You can marinate the chicken for up to 8 hours to get some of the prep for these tasty sandwiches out of the way earlier in the day. You can also cook the chicken ahead of time and either reheat the chicken in the microwave or serve it cold on your sandwich.

Peach Recipes

When it's peach season, we like to take advantage of it with as many delicious peach recipes as possible! Here are a few options to try:

More Grilled Options

Grilled foods have an extra layer of flavor! Try any of these recipes during grilling season:

Try It and Share

I hope you try these Honey Balsamic Chicken and Peach Sandwiches and enjoy the recipe as much as we do. I want to see your results! Tag your photo with #planeatpostrepeat and mention me @planeatpostrepeat on Instagram or Facebook. I can give you a virtual high five and thank you for cooking one of my recipes! Comment below with any questions and please leave a review so others can find this recipe more easily.