Meat & Poultry Chicken Chicken Main Dish Chicken Sandwich Cheesy Spinach & Chicken alla Vodka Sandwich 5.0 (2) 2 Reviews This cheesy spinach-and-chicken alla vodka sandwich is full of textures and flavors. Crispy chicken cutlets are smothered in creamy tomato sauce, wilted spinach and gooey mozzarella cheese. As an alternative to frying, you can coat both sides of the chicken cutlets with cooking spray and cook them in a preheated air fryer at 375°F for about 5 minutes on each side until they’re cooked through. By Melissa Gray-Streett Melissa Gray-Streett A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Melissa Gray-Streett trained in traditional French-style cooking, restaurant and front-of-house management. Since transitioning to recipe development and food styling in 2015, Melissa has developed over 1,500 original recipes and styled over 300 photo shoots. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Updated on May 23, 2024 Reviewed by Dietitian Emily Lachtrupp, M.S., RD Reviewed by Dietitian Emily Lachtrupp, M.S., RD Emily Lachtrupp is a registered dietitian experienced in nutritional counseling, recipe analysis and meal plans. She's worked with clients who struggle with diabetes, weight loss, digestive issues and more. In her spare time, you can find her enjoying all that Vermont has to offer with her family and her dog, Winston. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Save Rate PRINT Share Active Time: 55 mins Total Time: 55 mins Servings: 4 Nutrition Profile: Sesame-Free Nut-Free Soy-Free High-Fiber High-Protein Jump to Nutrition Facts Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hauser Cook Mode (Keep screen awake) Ingredients 4 (4-ounce) chicken cutlets 1/2 teaspoon salt plus 1/8 teaspoon, divided 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper, divided, plus more for garnish 1/3 cup whole-wheat flour 2 large eggs, beaten 1 cup whole-wheat panko breadcrumbs 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil 4 (2-ounce) pieces baguette, preferably whole-wheat, halved lengthwise 4 cups packed fresh spinach 1 cup vodka pasta sauce 4 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, torn into 1-inch pieces (about 1 cup) 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil Directions Position oven rack in top third; preheat to 250°F. Place an oven-safe wire rack inside a large rimmed baking sheet. Sprinkle chicken evenly with 1/2 teaspoon salt, garlic powder and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Place flour in a shallow dish. Place beaten eggs in a separate shallow dish. Place panko in a separate shallow dish. Dredge a seasoned cutlet in the flour, turning to coat; shake off any excess. Place in egg, turning to coat. Place in panko, turning to fully coat and gently pressing to adhere. Place on a plate. Repeat the process with the remaining cutlets. (Discard any remaining flour, egg and panko.) Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hauser Heat oil in a large, wide skillet over medium heat until shimmering, about 8 minutes. Add 2 cutlets; cook, turning once, until golden brown and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest portion registers 165°F, 5 to 6 minutes, adjusting heat as necessary. Transfer to the prepared wire rack in the baking sheet; place in the oven to keep warm. Repeat with the remaining 2 cutlets. Reserve 2 tablespoons oil from the skillet. (Discard the remaining oil or reserve for another use.) Wipe the skillet clean. Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hauser Brush cut sides of baguette pieces with 1 tablespoon of the reserved oil. Place cut-sides down in the skillet, working in batches as needed. Cook over medium-high heat, undisturbed, until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Remove from skillet; set aside. Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon reserved oil in the skillet over medium-high heat. Add spinach and the remaining 1/8 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; cook, stirring constantly, until the spinach is wilted, about 1 minute. Remove from heat. Remove the baking sheet from the oven; set aside the rack with the chicken on it. Increase oven temperature to broil. Place the baguette pieces cut-sides up on the baking sheet; spread evenly with vodka sauce. Place 1 chicken cutlet on each of 4 bottom baguette pieces; divide the wilted spinach among the cutlets and sprinkle with mozzarella. Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hauser Broil until the cheese is melted, about 2 minutes. Top with basil; sprinkle with pepper, if desired. Place the baguette tops on the cheese-topped bottoms to make sandwiches. Frequently Asked Questions Are chicken cutlets healthy? Chicken breast cutlets are simply chicken breasts cut in half lengthwise. Chicken breast is an excellent source of lean protein—3 ounces of chicken breast has just 3 grams of fat, with just 1 of those grams being saturated, plus 26 grams of protein. You also get vitamins and minerals, including B vitamins and choline, in chicken breast. Choline is necessary for a healthy nervous system. Is vodka sauce healthy? Vodka sauce is typically made with minimal main ingredients—vodka, butter, tomatoes, onion and heavy cream—all of which come together to offer a smooth, velvety texture. Because it tends to be richer than traditional marinara, a little bit of vodka sauce goes a long way. The fat from the butter and cream makes it easy to use a little bit since it clings to the pasta beautifully. The tomatoes and onions in vodka sauce are rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. When the sauce is made, as it cooks, most of the alcohol in the vodka cooks off—although there may be trace amounts of it. So while it should be safe for children to eat, if you’re uncomfortable with the potential trace amounts of booze lingering in the sauce, you can certainly swap in traditional marinara here. Can I use regular breadcrumbs instead of panko? Of course you can use regular breadcrumbs, but know that the results won’t be the same as if you used panko, which is light and airy and maintains a crispy and crunchy texture when cooked. If you’re out of panko, you can try to mimic the intended results of panko with crushed ingredients such as dry stuffing mix, matzo meal, potato or veggie chips, cornflakes or cracker crumbs. Can I make this recipe ahead? Yes, you can. If you plan to use them the following day, cook the chicken cutlets (Steps 1 through 3). Once the cutlets are cooked, let them cool on the baking rack and refrigerate them in an airtight container. When you’re ready to assemble the sandwiches, complete Steps 4 through 7, while also warming the cutlets in a 400ºF oven for about 12 to 15 minutes. Test the chicken with an instant-read thermometer to be sure you’ve reheated it to a safe temperature. It should be at 120°F. You can also make a batch of cutlets and freeze them for up to a month. Put the cooked cutlets on a tray in the freezer, check them in about an hour to see if they’re firm, and then store them in freezer-safe bags where they’ll be good for about three months. You can reheat the frozen cutlets in a 350°F oven for about 25 to 30 minutes. What should I serve with cheesy spinach & chicken alla vodka sandwich? The sandwich already has the veggies and protein covered, so we suggest adding a simple potato side dish and a refreshing garden salad with one of our healthy salad dressings. Additional reporting by Carrie Myers, M.S. and Linda Frahm Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hauser EatingWell.com, April 2024 Save Rate Print Nutrition Facts (per serving) 671 Calories 37g Fat 44g Carbs 41g Protein Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label Nutrition Facts Servings Per Recipe 4 Serving Size 1 sandwich Calories 671 % Daily Value * Total Carbohydrate 44g 16% Dietary Fiber 6g 21% Total Sugars 2g Added Sugars 0g 0% Protein 41g 82% Total Fat 37g 47% Saturated Fat 8g 42% Cholesterol 151mg 50% Vitamin A 244µg Vitamin C 16mg 18% Vitamin D 0µg Vitamin E 6mg 38% Folate 144µg Vitamin K 177µg Sodium 919mg 40% Calcium 225mg 17% Iron 3mg 18% Magnesium 119mg 28% Potassium 865mg 18% Zinc 3mg 27% Vitamin B12 1µg Omega 3 0g Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate. * Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.) (-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.