Busy weeknights need quick and easy meals that everyone will enjoy. Make BBQ Chicken Melts in 30 minutes with only 5 simple ingredients.
Ever since Tyler started kindergarten, which means 5 days per week of school, our schedule has gotten a bit crazier. There are some nights that, by the time we get home from school pickup, we only have an hour before we have to be somewhere else. Those nights, I like quick and easy recipes so we aren’t rushing through dinner. That’s where a meal of BBQ Chicken Melt works well.
One-pan recipes and those with few ingredients are great for busy school nights. Right now, we only have Tyler doing Cub Scouts in the evening, but between that, getting his backpack and lunchbox unpacked, checking his folder, and doing some of his (optional) homework, showers, and bedtime routine, we aren’t left with a lot of time.
One of these crazy nights I decided to try something new and completely different for us. We also were low on food and needed to go to the grocery store, so I was a bit limited.
And that’s where the idea for this BBQ Chicken Melt came from. It’s only 5 ingredients and all the foods that our family enjoys. I decided on the meal as I was making it. Earlier in the day, I had taken out some chicken to thaw, but that was the extent of my planning.
Why You’ll Love This BBQ Chicken Melt
A BBQ chicken melt is the perfect comfort food, combining smoky barbecue flavor with gooey melted cheese in every bite. It’s quick to make, requires just a few simple ingredients, and works for both lunch and dinner. Whether you’re feeding a hungry family or looking for a satisfying weeknight meal, this recipe brings big flavor with minimal effort.
Ingredient Substitutions
This BBQ chicken melt can easily be adapted to fit what you already have on hand. If you don’t have shredded chicken, rotisserie chicken or leftover grilled chicken both work well. For the cheese, cheddar adds a sharp bite, but mozzarella, provolone, or pepper jack bring their own unique twist. You can also swap the bread for ciabatta rolls, sandwich thins, or even tortillas to make a quesadilla-style version.
Best Bread for a Melt
The bread you choose can make a big difference in your BBQ chicken melt. Thick-cut sourdough or Texas toast will hold up to the filling without getting soggy. Whole wheat bread adds a hearty, nutty flavor, while brioche or challah create a slightly sweet contrast to the smoky barbecue sauce. For an extra-crispy bite, butter the outside of the bread before toasting.
Sauce Options
While classic barbecue sauce is the star, you can switch up the flavor with different varieties. A smoky chipotle BBQ sauce adds heat, while a honey-based sauce balances the savory chicken with sweetness. If you like tangy flavors, mix in a little mustard or hot sauce for a bold twist. Keeping a few sauce variations on hand makes it easy to customize your BBQ chicken melt every time.
Side Dish Ideas
A BBQ chicken melt pairs perfectly with a variety of side dishes. For something light, serve it with a fresh garden salad or coleslaw to balance the richness of the sandwich. If you want a more indulgent meal, add crispy French fries, sweet potato fries, or onion rings. A simple fruit salad or roasted vegetables also make great accompaniments for a well-rounded plate.
Leftover Ideas
If you have leftover BBQ chicken melts, they can be repurposed in creative ways. Chop up the sandwich and use it as a topping for a baked potato or in a quesadilla. You can also reheat the melt in the oven or air fryer to bring back the crispy texture. Leftovers are best eaten within a day, but the filling can be refrigerated for up to three days before assembling a fresh sandwich.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
One of the most common mistakes when making a BBQ chicken melt is adding too much sauce, which can cause the bread to become soggy. Another mistake is using bread that’s too thin to support the filling. Make sure to preheat your pan or skillet so the bread crisps up evenly, and keep an eye on the heat to avoid burning the outside before the cheese melts inside.
Variations to Try
There are endless ways to customize your BBQ chicken melt. Add sliced jalapeños or banana peppers for extra heat. Try topping the sandwich with crispy bacon or caramelized onions for added depth of flavor. You can also layer in a few slices of tomato or avocado for freshness. Each variation gives the BBQ chicken melt a new personality without straying from the classic comfort food feel.
BBQ Chicken Melt FAQ
You can prep the filling ahead and store it in the refrigerator for up to three days. Assemble and toast the sandwich right before serving for the best texture.
It’s best to freeze just the BBQ chicken filling rather than the entire sandwich. The filling can be frozen in an airtight container for up to two months, then thawed and reheated when ready to use.
Cheddar is a classic choice, but mozzarella, Monterey Jack, or provolone all melt beautifully and pair well with barbecue sauce.
BBQ Chicken Melt Step by Step
Ingredients
- 2 lbs chicken breast (boneless, skinless)
- 1 cup bbq sauce
- 8 slices of bread
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese (shredded)
Preparation
In a medium saucepan, pour the BBQ sauce over the chicken. Set the heat to medium-high, and stir
Meanwhile, toast each slice of bread in a regular toaster at a medium setting. Butter the bread with just a small amount of butter per slice.
Once the chicken is cooked through, remove it from the pan and shred it. Return the chicken to the pan and stir to coat it all with the BBQ sauce.
Set the toast on a baking sheet, buttered side up, and cover each piece with a scoop of the shredded chicken.
Add the shredded cheese of your choice to the top of the chicken. I put shredded mozzarella on ours, but provolone would also be a good choice. I find any white cheese goes well with BBQ.
Broil the chicken and toast for a few minutes, just enough to melt the cheese.
BBQ Chicken Melt Leftovers
Storage: Add leftovers to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 1 day.
​Reheating: Reheat in the oven broiler for a few minutes, until warm.
Recipe
Originally Published On: October 29, 2018
Last Updated On: October 3, 2025
BBQ Chicken Melt
Ingredients
- 2 lbs chicken breast (boneless, skinless)
- 1 cup bbq sauce
- 8 slices bread
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese (shredded)
Recommended Equipment
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, over medium-high heat, add the chicken and your choice of bbq sauce
- Cook for about 20 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through, stirring occasionally, so the chicken doesn’t stick to the pan
- Meanwhile, toast the bread then lightly butter each piece
- Once the chicken is done, remove it from the pan, shred it, then put it back in the pan and sauce to coat
- Lay the bread out on a baking sheet
- Place a scoop of the bbq chicken on each piece of bread
- Top with cheese
- Broil for about 3-5 minutes, until the cheese has melted
All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutrition content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.
BBQ Flavored Recipes
- Instant Pot BBQ Chicken Drumsticks
- BBQ Chicken Sandwiches
- 3 Ingredient BBQ Ranch Chicken in No Time
- BBQ Chicken and Black Bean Tacos
- Easy Corn Bread Muffins (Dairy-Free)
- BBQ Pork Potatoes in the Slow Cooker
- Justin’s Famous BBQ Burgers
- BBQ Chicken Melt with Only 5 Ingredients
- BBQ Waffle Chips from Scratch
Mozzarella Cheese
- Super Easy Homemade Fried Mozzarella Sticks Recipe
- Fresh Mozzarella-Topped (Not So) Flatbread
- Crispy Fried Mozzarella Cakes Recipe with Fresh Cheese
- Mozzarella-Stuffed Meatloaf
- Super Easy Pizza Dip
- Cheesy Meatball Skillet
- Homemade Pizza Burgers: The Best Combo of Two Recipes
- Five Cheese Pull-Apart Bread
- Chicken and Spinach Alfredo Bake Casserole
- Thai Basil Pesto Flatbread
- Easy Chicken Cordon Bleu
- Super Easy Pizza Flatbread
- Spinach and Artichoke Stuffed Shells
- Fresh Caprese Salad
- Spinach and Artichoke Quesadillas
- Easy Chicken Parmesan
- Kreacher’s French Onion Soup
- Hearty Sausage and Kale Pesto Pizza
- Classic Stuffed Shells
- Quick and Easy Homemade Pizza Bagels Recipe
- Baked Spinach Artichoke Dip
- Chicken and Spinach Casserole with Cream Cheese
- Baked Ziti
- BBQ Chicken Melt with Only 5 Ingredients
- Cheesy Garlic Bread
- Stromboli
- Cheesy Baked Crab Casserole
- Pizza Hot Pocket
- Cheesy Chicken and Spinach Stromboli Ring
- Hawaiian Chicken Wraps
- Cheesy Caper-Stuffed Tomatoes
You’re an absolute genius! There is no way I ever would have thought of these quick BBQ chicken melts but they look divine. And so easy!
They were so easy! It’s funny what happens when you only have a limited supply of ingredients in the house!
They look absolutely divine. I can definitely seeing me fixing these for dinner one night coming up. You’re a lifesaver.
It’s such a quick and easy meal, but something so different from what we normally do.
Give me anything bbq chicken related and I am there! This sounds SO GOOD!
Girl, me too! I love BBQ chicken.
This looks so good! I am always looking for easy recipes for hectic days. I will be trying this out soon.
I really had to start with the quick easy meals when my oldest started kindergarten and Cub Scouts this past year.
I feel your pain, there really are days that it is just such a struggle to fit dinner in, in the short timespan we have available. I really love this recipe, isn’t it funny how we sometimes come up with our best stuff when we have to make do with what we have?
Some of my favorite recipes have been discovered that way! Adding Cub Scouts plus full-time school made our schedule much more hectic.
I am all for a simple and delicious meal and you can never go wrong with BBQ chicken. I would make this again with my daughter.
I agree, BBQ chicken is so yummy!
Yes! Easy one pot meals are such a necessity for a busy household. And I always love when there are fewer dishes to wash.
Me too! With both kids in full-time school plus Cub Scouts, we have to have quick meals here.
Those look SO amazing!! I love anything with bbq chicken! I should add this to my list of things to cook for dinner this week! I’ve been looking for new recipes !
It’s such an easy recipe, and a good one to work into a meal plan during the week.
This sounds so yummy. I am a big fan of easy to whip together type meals! Also toast works for so many things!
I am too since our schedule is just getting busier as the kids get older!
This is a quick and simple meal to whip up. Looks delicious. I might have to add some lettuce, tomato, red onion and ranch dressing, and then I would be in heaven.
You could add so much to these! I was looking for super simple that night, but it’s a great idea to add more. I’ll have to try that next time I make it.
This recipe seriously sounds so delicious!! BBQ chicken is always a good idea đŸ™‚
Yep, and it’s one that my entire family agrees on, too!
Ooo this is fab. My other half would love this, right up his street, I will wing the recipe his way xx
It’s such a great, easy recipe to make for a quick meal. I hope he enjoys it!
Yum! This looks so delicious. I know my entire family would love this recipe!!
We all enjoyed this recipe. I’ve made it a few times now on busy nights.
Simple and delicious are always the perfect designs for amazing meals. And sometimes the best comes from necessity. This looks so great. I wouldn’t have thought to do this straight out in a pan. But the provolone is a perfect choice here. Mozzarella works too.
We had both cheeses and they were both great! Some of my favorite meals have come from the nights we have nothing planned.
This looks so delicious! I love quick and simple to make meals
It was so much better than I was planning, and so easy to make!
OMG this looks soooo delicious!!! I am definitely making it this weekend, the recipe is very easy to put together. Thanks a lot.
Yes, so easy to throw together and such a yummy meal!
I can literally taste that chicken melt just by looking at the picture. I have no doubt that everyone in my home will enjoy eating this as much as I will take pleasure making it for them.
I wasn’t sure how it would turn out at first but it was such a good, easy meal.
I love simple and delicious recipes! This one looks so good too, I bet my whole family would love it!
My whole family really enjoyed the meal, I hope yours does too!
This looks delicious. We’re always looking for quick, easy dinners and this fits the bill. And hey, we love Sweet Baby Ray’s too!
Quick and easy are the only meals I make during the school week since we always have so much going on between the two kids. Sweet Baby Ray’s is the best!
I love that you make such delicious home cooking and comfort foods. They make us all want to join you for a meal.
I wish I could have everyone over for a meal, that would be so fun!
What a delicious and easy summer meal! I love BBQ chicken and sandwiches so this looks like the perfect combo!
This would be similar to a BBQ chicken sandwich, just with less bread so it’s a bit lighter on the carbs that way!
These sound absolutely delicious and would be a really quick, easy, and yummy summer lunch idea!
The melts were so good and we all enjoyed them for a quick dinner. I hope you do, too!