Jul 14 2026
RestaurantsCafe BellaChicken & Eggplant Panini Recipe

Chicken & Eggplant Panini Recipe

Inspired by Cafe Bella
Time45m
Serves2

Chicken, grilled eggplant, smoked gouda, roasted red bell peppers

Was this page helpful?

Help improve this recipe for others.

Send this recipe to your inbox.

We'll email it straight to you - plus weekly cooking inspiration.

Ingredients

Some product links may be affiliates. If you buy through them, you're supporting the site and Pekin may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Main Ingredients

Seasoning and Oil

Method

Preparation

  1. 1

    Prepare the Eggplant

    Slice the eggplant into 1/2 inch thick rounds. Sprinkle with salt and let sit for about 20 minutes to draw out excess moisture. Rinse and pat dry.

  2. 2

    Grill the Eggplant

    Preheat a grill or grill pan over medium heat. Brush the eggplant slices with olive oil and season with black pepper and garlic powder. Grill the eggplant for about 3-4 minutes on each side until tender and grill marks appear.

  3. 3

    Cook the Chicken

    If not pre-cooked, season the chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and basil leaves. Grill the chicken on medium heat for about 6-7 minutes on each side or until fully cooked. Remove from the grill and let rest.

  4. 4

    Slice the Chicken

    Once the chicken has rested, slice it into thin strips.

Assembling the Panini

  1. 5

    Prepare the Bread

    Cut the ciabatta rolls in half. Brush the inside of each half lightly with olive oil.

  2. 6

    Add Ingredients

    On the bottom half of each ciabatta roll, layer the grilled eggplant, sliced chicken, roasted red bell peppers, and smoked gouda cheese.

  3. 7

    Close the Panini

    Place the top half of the ciabatta roll on the layered ingredients to close the panini.

Grilling the Panini

  1. 8

    Grill the Paninis

    Heat a panini press or a skillet over medium heat. Place the assembled paninis in the press or skillet. If using a skillet, press down with a heavy pan. Grill for about 4-5 minutes on each side until the bread is crisp and the cheese is melted.

  2. 9

    Serve

    Remove the paninis from the heat and let cool for a minute. Cut in half and serve warm.

More from Cafe Bella