Getting tired of basic grilled cheese sandwiches? Me too!
Try this sweet and savoury BBQ pulled chicken sandwich with crushed pineapple stuck together with a mix of mozzarella and cheddar cheese! This grilled cheese sandwich has so much flavour and the sweetness from the pineapple is amazing with the spicy BBQ sauce.
What to serve with a pineapple BBQ chicken grilled sandwich?
Baked Beans
Coleslaw
Macaroni and Cheese
Cornbread
Biscuits
Greek Pasta Salad
Ceasar Salad
Corn Chowder
Baked Wedge Fries
Sweet Potatoes
Fries
Why is my bread burnt but my cheese not melting?
Heating your pan to the perfect temperature is important when making a grilled cheese of any kind.
Here is my grilled cheese grilling tip: Preheat the pan over medium heat, add the sandwich and put on a lid, keeping your eye on the sandwich. I use tongs to pinch the sandwich and peak under the bread. Never walk away! Ever! When the downside is golden, use the tongs to flip the sandwich. This helps hold a loaded grilled cheese sandwich together. Do not add lid this time. I find it holds in too much steam and the sandwich gets slightly soggy. Once golden on the downside, remove from pan. Bonus tip: Let sit a minute and always slice before serving!
Cooking/Grocery Tips
Buy boneless skinless chicken breast for shredding or pulling.
For the bread, I like using white sesame, sour dough or plain white bread. I don’t like seedy, wheat, brown breads for grilled sandwiches, personally. You can use mayonnaise for the outside pieces of bread instead of butter.
Shopping List
sour dough or white sesame bread
butter or mayonaise
chicken breast
canned pineapple tidbit or crushed
BBQ sauce
hot sauce optional
chili powder
shredded cheddar cheese
mozzarella
salt and pepper to taste
Shredded Chicken
Place chicken breasts in large pot and cover chicken breast with water about inch over the chicken, do not over crowd. Bring to a boil and simmer for 8 minutes or until 165F internal temperature.Drain water and let sit for 10 minutes before shredding. To shred the chicken breast use two forks and pull apart the chicken until completely shredded.
Sandwich Assembly
Butter the outsides of each piece of bread with a good amount of butter. Add shredded cheese on the bottom slice, and then add a layer of shredded chicken, add crushed pineapple and then more shredded cheese. Add top slice of bread and place into the frying pan over medium heat for a few minutes on each side. Use tongs to flip the sandwich as it can spill out easily. When both sides are golden brown and cheese is melted remove from pan. Cut in half and serve hot with ranch or BBQ dipping sauce!
Storage
Store the shredded chicken in fridge for 3 days in air tight container or in freezer for up to 6 months. I would suggest using left over shredded chicken for a stir-fry or fajitas.
Alterations or Substitutes
You can use any cheese you have, a layer of cream cheese in addition to cheddar is a great touch! If you like whole wheat bread, then of course use that. I just prefer white breads for grilling. You do not need to add the pineapple but that is the big part of why I enjoy this recipe and why I call them Hawaiian grilled chicken sandwiches. The sweetness and the BBQ sauce reminds me of Panago Hawaiian pizza when I dip the sandwich in ranch. Use butter or mayonnaise to grease the outside for grilling.
More Recipes From Third Street
Chicken Souvlaki Pita’s
Simple Mac & Cheese
Coconut Fig Bars

BBQ Chicken Hawaiian Grilled Cheese
Ingredients
- 8 slices sour dough or white sesame bread
- butter or mayonaise
- 2 chicken breast, shredded
- 1 can canned pineapple tidbit or crushed
- 1/8 cup BBQ sauce
- 2 tbs hot sauce optional
- 1 tbs chili powder
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup mozzarella
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Shredded Chicken
- Place chicken breasts in large pot and cover chicken breast with water about inch over the chicken, do not over crowd. Bring to a boil and simmer for 8 minutes or until 165F internal temperature.
- Drain water and let sit for 10 minutes before shredding. To shred the chicken breast use two forks and pull apart the chicken until completely shredded.
Sandwich Assembly
- Butter the outsides of each piece of bread with a good amount of butter.
- Add shredded cheese on the bottom slice, and then add a layer of shredded chicken, add crushed pineapple and then more shredded cheese.
- Add top slice of bread and place into the frying pan over medium heat for a few minutes on each side. Use tongs to flip the sandwich as it can spill out easily. When both sides are golden brown and cheese is melted remove from pan.
- Cut in half and serve hot with ranch or BBQ dipping sauce!