Give A Chicken Caesar Salad Sandwich A Flavor Boost With One Unexpected Bread Move

If you already know how to make the viral chopped Italian sandwich at home, preparing a Caesar salad-based alternative isn't much different. Whether you're using chopped salami and banana peppers or crisp romaine and Parmesan cheese, both sandwiches start with a base of thick and crusty bread. Yet, in order to hone in on the salad's prominent garlic flavor, you may want to give your next Caesar salad sandwich a noteworthy upgrade.

More specifically, to make the best-tasting chicken Caesar salad sandwich, rub raw garlic on your bread of choice before filling both sides with crisp greens, cooked chicken, and creamy dressing. Rubbing your sandwich bread with raw garlic brings out the flavor of garlic-infused Caesar dressing. Better yet, your bread takes on the flavor of savory croutons, especially when toasted.

Before you try this simple hack, make sure to choose the best bread for the job. Instead of using a variety of store-bought white breads, use a sturdier option that toasts well and can handle extra moist toppings. A crusty French baguette, Italian-style loaf, or individual hoagie rolls work well.

After you prepare the Caesar salad and cook your chicken, spread butter on both halves of your bread and toast them in the oven. Once the bread is perfectly toasted yet still warm, firmly rub raw garlic cloves against each toasted surface. As you rub, the garlic will meld into the bread bit by bit. Now you have an ideal base for a delightful Caesar salad sandwich: buttery garlic bread.

Beyond rubbing raw garlic on toasted bread, there are other delicious ways to upgrade the base of your Caesar salad sandwich. For a more pronounced garlic flavor, make a compound butter and spread it on your bread before toasting. Simply mix softened butter with minced garlic, salt, Italian seasoning, and grated Parmesan cheese.

Or, for ultra flavorful garlic bread, double down on the garlic and simplify preparation. Add butter or oil to each bread half, and then, incorporate some minced garlic and a sprinkle of garlic powder. Since adding croutons to a Caesar salad sandwich may be too much crunch for one meal, having options to give your bread the same noteworthy flavors and textures is essential. 

Once you feel comfortable adding garlic to your bread in more ways than one, satisfy your taste buds with different toppings. Instead of (or in addition to) raw garlic, add a smear of basil pesto to your bread prior to toasting. Made with toasted pine nuts, fresh basil, lemon, olive oil, and Parmesan cheese, this vibrant condiment adds a variety of fresh and bold flavors when paired with creamy Caesar dressing.

Finally, if you'd like to give your bread an extra crunchy bite, toward the end of toasting, broil both halves open-faced for one to two minutes. Better yet, to upgrade your chicken Caesar salad sandwich even further, consider dressing both bread halves in pizza sauce and shredded mozzarella cheese for a dish that combines the classic comfort foods.