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If you are looking for a sandwich that is packed with flavor and easy enough for a weeknight, this Mexican Chicken Torta is one of my favorite things to make. It has juicy seasoned chicken, creamy guacamole, melty pepper jack cheese, crisp lettuce, fresh tomato, and a drizzle of chipotle ranch all tucked into soft torta rolls. It is hearty, fresh, and such a fun way to change up taco night.
5 Star Reviews ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“I could eat this sandwich every day and not get tired of it!” – Phoebe
“Love how easy this Torta recipe is. It’s perfect for our family!” – Shadi
Why I Love This Mexican Sandwich
I love this Chicken Torta recipe because it takes all those favorite Mexican-inspired flavors and turns them into an easy, satisfying sandwich. Sometimes I want something with the same flavors I already know and love, but in a different form, and this chicken torta always hits the spot.
The seasoned grilled chicken, soft bread, creamy guacamole, and spicy ranch work so well together. It is great for an easy dinner, but it is also perfect for picnics, casual lunches, and nights when I want something just a little different. The original version uses torta rolls from Costco and that soft, chewy bread really makes it feel extra special.
🩷 Emily
Ingredients You’ll Need
- 4 Torta sandwich bread rolls – I found a big package of Torta rolls at Costco, and they’re delicious! Soft, chewy, perfect for a hearty sandwich. Bolillo rolls, telera rolls, or sturdy French rolls also work well.
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts – I like to use four chicken breast halves from two large chicken breasts. Not too thick, not too thin.
- Seasonings: Taco seasoning and paprika give the chicken a quick shortcut to lots of flavor with a little smoky color. You can do store bought or our tasty Homemade Taco Seasoning.
- Pepper jack cheese – four slices. You can use Monterey Jack or cheddar cheese too. I just love the spicy cheese on this yummy chicken sandwich.
- Lettuce and tomatoes: Crisp shredded lettuce and sliced tomatoes add freshness and balance out the richer toppings.
- Homemade Guacamole – our easy recipe is SO delicious. Save extra for tortilla chips!
- Chipotle mayo or spicy ranch: A creamy, zippy sauce ties everything together and gives the torta even more flavor.
Ingredient Additions and Substitutions
- Swap pepper jack for Monterey Jack, cheddar, queso fresco, or even sliced Oaxaca cheese.
- Use bolillo rolls, telera rolls, or French bread if you can’t find torta rolls.
- Add refried beans for a more traditional torta-style layer.
- Add avocado slices if you want even more creamy texture.
- Try Mexican crema instead of spicy ranch for a milder finish.
- Add fresh cilantro, lime juice, hot sauce, or pickled jalapeños for extra flavor.
- Use chicken thighs instead of breasts if you prefer darker meat.
How to Make a Mexican Chicken Torta
- Cut each chicken breast into two thin slices and season.
- Grill on one side.
- Then flip and add cheese while grilling the other side.
- Cut rolls in half and add chicken and guacamole.
- Add remaining toppings.
- Add the top bun and serve.
Recipe Tips
- Slice the chicken thinner so it cooks faster and fits the sandwich better.
- Don’t skip the guacamole because it adds creaminess and helps keep every bite flavorful.
- Toast the rolls lightly if you want the bread to hold up better to the toppings.
- Melt the cheese on the chicken instead of adding it cold so the sandwich comes together better.
- Use sturdy rolls that are soft inside but strong enough to hold all the fillings.
- Prep your toppings before grilling so you can build the tortas while the chicken is hot.
- Add sauce to taste since some spicy ranch and chipotle sauces are much stronger than others.
Frequently Asked Questions
A torta is not specific only to Mexican food. It has place in Spanish, Italian, Greek, Albanian, Bulgarian, Maltese, Hungarian, Portuguese, Croatian, Swedish, Serbian, Macedonian, Slovene and Slovak languages. However, in the case of this recipe, a torta basically refers to a Mexican sandwich. To qualify as a torta it must include a fluffy bun, spread with butter and topped with meats, cheeses and fresh veggies. all kinds of things. You can use refried beans, meats, cheeses, spicy peppers, avocado, and more.
Yes. Shredded rotisserie chicken or leftover grilled chicken works great. Just toss it with a little taco seasoning and warm it up before assembling the sandwiches.
A Mexican torta resembles a sandwich with its bun, meats and cheeses. But the ingredients inside are always full of big, bold, spicy flavors that are found in other types of Mexican dishes.
Yes. You can cook the chicken in a skillet or on a grill pan over medium heat until fully cooked, then melt the cheese on top at the end.
Definitely. Use Monterey Jack instead of pepper jack and swap the chipotle or spicy ranch for plain mayo or a mild sauce.
Yes. Refried beans are a great addition and make the sandwich even more filling. They are one of my favorite add-ons when I want something a little heartier.
Make Ahead and Storage
You can make parts of this recipe ahead to save time later. Cook the chicken and prep the toppings up to a day in advance, then store everything separately in the refrigerator. When you are ready to eat, warm the chicken, melt the cheese on top, and assemble the sandwiches fresh.
Leftover cooked chicken can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 to 4 days. I do not recommend storing fully assembled tortas because the bread can get soggy once the guacamole and sauce are added.
Pairing Ideas
This Mexican Chicken Torta goes really well with tortilla chips and salsa, Torchy’s Queso, Restaurant Style Mexican Rice, Refried Beans, Elote Pasta Salad, fresh fruit, or a simple side salad. If you want to turn it into a bigger meal, serve it with Mexican Street Corn, Taco Salad, or a bowl of Instant Pot Chicken Enchilada Soup for an easy lunch or dinner spread.
More Great Mexican Meals
The torta really mixes things up in a good way on the Mexican meal menu. If you want to find even more great Mexican dishes, give some of these a try.
This Mexican Chicken Torta is one of those easy recipes that feels a little more fun than the usual sandwich night. It has juicy seasoned chicken, creamy guacamole, melty cheese, and fresh toppings all layered into soft bread for a sandwich that is filling, flavorful, and simple to make.
If you try it, I’d love to hear how you liked it and what toppings you added to make it your own! 🌮🇲🇽💛
Mexican Chicken Torta
Ingredients
- 4 Torta sandwich bread rolls
- 2 large chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon taco seasoning
- 1/2 tablespoon paprika
- 4 slices pepper jack cheese
- 2 tomatoes
- shredded lettuce
- 1 cup guacamole recipe
- 3/4 cup chipotle or spicy ranch dressing, I used Hidden Valley spicy ranch
Instructions
- Cut the chicken breasts in half horizontally, so you have two large but thin and flat slices of chicken. Mix together the taco seasoning and paprika and rub it all over the chicken.
- Grill over medium heat for 6 to 7 minutes on each side or until thoroughly cooked. When the chicken has just a minute left, top each piece with a slice of pepper jack cheese. (Optional: I also like to slice and grill the torts bread for just a minute),
- Cut Torta bread into two slices, layer on a piece of chicken on the bottom slice, then top that with guacamole, lettuce, tomatoes, and chipotle ranch dressing then finish with the top slice of the bread.
Equipment
- Outdoor BBQ Grill
Notes
- Torta rolls are ideal, but bolillo rolls, telera rolls, or French rolls all work well.
- Slice the chicken thin for faster, more even cooking.
- Melt the cheese directly on the chicken for the best texture.
- Homemade guacamole gives the best flavor, but store-bought works in a pinch.
- Extra toppings like refried beans, avocado slices, cilantro, lime juice, hot sauce, or crema are all great here.
- Assemble just before serving so the bread stays soft but not soggy.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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I could eat this sandwich every day and not get tired of it!
Love how easy this recipe is. It’s perfect for our family!
Your HYPERLINK to the Guac recipe is not working. I am using Safari browser on a Mac FYI
The hyperlink I mentioned is the one in the Ingredients list that says 1 c guacamole recipe HERE”
The HERE does not work as a link.
However, I just saw another link to your Guac, up in the main content, that does work…so my problem just solved itself!
Thanks for the recipe! I will try it tonight
Oh good! I will try to get the link fixed in the recipe. Thanks for spotting that!
Thank you for letting us know, I just fixed it!
I just have to say that I LOVE all your yummy recipes that you’ve so graciously share on pinterest. I am planning on buying you book on amazon in the near future.
Again a HUGH “Thank You”.
Thank YOU so much! We will do our best to keep the tasty recipes comin’ 😉
This looks fabulous! I love this twist on Mexican food!
Those look awesome. Love that bread from Costco.