Quick and Easy Chicken Bagel Recipe

A sandwich and a sandwich …. and again a sandwich … why not try a bagel for a change? Filled with a flavorful chicken salad and a creamy sauce, this quick and easy chicken bagel recipe will become your summer’s favourite!

This is the perfect alternative to a sandwich. Tasty, creamy and crunchy, you will LOVE this chicken bagel recipe! It is easy and quick to prepare and it is ideal to carry with you on a hike or any other outdoor activities this summer.

What you need to know

How it started

Calling out all walkers, hikers, picnickers and outdoor lovers! Let me introduce you to your new number 1 summer lunch, tasting, nourishing and easy to carry, ideal for your day out.

I am (mostly) a vegetarian and I know that not everyone who reads my blog is. So, I wanted to come up with a non-veggie lunch idea to bring on a hike. That’s how this recipe is born.

Starting with the idea of a caesar salad filling in mind, I changed the original caesar yoghurt sauce for something thicker to avoid soaking the bread. No one wants to bite into a soggy sandwich!

What goes inside of a chicken bagel?

There are a variety of recipes you can make for a chicken bagel. Some ideas are:

• Lettuce, tomatoes and cheese for a more traditional version
• Pesto, spinach and bell pepper for an Italian version
• Lime, coriander and avocado for a Mexican version
• Humus, rocket, tomatoes for a Middle East version
• Mango, cucumber, onion for a tropical version

And the list goes on…

In this recipe, we are going through a caesar salad inspired chicken bagel with a twist.

Here are a few tips when making the chicken bagel recipe

• Cut the chicken breast in half lengthwise. It is easier and quicker to cook when thinner and also you need small pieces for the sandwich, so it’s already half the job done
• You can swap the chicken breast for turkey breast, it’s delicious!
• Why not sprinkle parmesan shavings on top of the chicken
• Also, you can add some slices of black olives
• If you wanted to go for the traditional caesar salad sauce, you would need one 0% fat yoghurt, 1tsp of honey, 1tsp of mustard, salt and pepper to taste. Mix until combined. As it is more liquid than the sauce used in this recipe, you could keep the sauce separate and add it just before eating to avoid soften the bread too much
• You can prepare the sandwich the night before the hike and keep it in the fridge overnight
• If you make too much food, you can keep it in the fridge for an additional 24 hours but no longer than that because of the mayonnaise
• On the hike, carry it wrapped in foil and in an insulated lunch bag to keep it fresh
• You can add some shredded lettuce leaves on the side in the lunch box for additional greens

What is inside the chicken bagel recipe?

So what exactly goes inside the chicken bagel and how it can benefit you when on a hike?

Chicken breast: Once grilled is it an excellent source of protein and contains little fat and carbs. It also a source of vitamin and calcium making it one of the favourite food for those who like to work out.

Romaine Lettuce: Not all lettuces are born equal and have the same health benefits. As a general rule, consuming lettuce helps with bone health, sleep and hydration. Romaine lettuce is by far the best, and lucky for us, that is the one we are using in this recipe. It contains 82% of the vitamin A intake we need per day.

Wholemeal sesame bagel bread: While bagel bread is not the healthiest option because it is poor in nutrients, it is however high in carbohydrates making it perfect for sport. I would recommend also that you go for the wholemeal bagel bread option, similar to the one used in this recipe, as it is higher in fibre, vitamins and minerals.

The chicken bagel recipe

You can use this recipe as a lunch or diner, for a hike, a picnic or a diner with friends or family. I served it as a diner for my parents, as below, and use the extra chicken breast and lettuce on the side for presentation.

I hope you enjoyed reading this chicken bagel recipe. If you like this recipe or know a few tweaks to improve it, please let me know in the comments below. I would love to read about your version of the recipe.

If you are looking for more summer lunch ideas, you might like the following articles:

Easy Cold Quinoa Salad Recipe Perfect For Summer

Best Cold Lentil Salad Recipe To Bring On A Hike (Or A Picnic)

And if you are looking for some walks where you can give the chicken bagel a try, why not check the below trails?

10 Beautiful Walks Close To London You Didn’t Know Existed

10 Best Pub Walks Near London

Best Walks In Kent: 7 Hikes For All Levels

Circular Walks Near London: 7 Beautiful Countryside Hikes