Panera Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt: Price, Calories and Nutrition (2026)

Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt is Panera’s heavyweight sandwich, and it eats like one: pulled chicken, smoked gouda, chipotle mayo, avocado, and cilantro, pressed on toasted black pepper focaccia. It is the sandwich for people who find Panera’s menu too light, the order that shuts down the “Panera is diet food” conversation. The chipotle mayo brings the heat, the avocado brings the richness, and the smoked gouda ties it together. In 2026 a whole sandwich runs from $11.99 at most US cafes, with 920 calories per whole sandwich based on cross-checked aggregator nutrition data.

Panera prices vary by cafe and market, and delivery orders run higher with fees and tips. Menu aggregators have listed the sandwich between $11.99 and $12.41 in 2026, so the from $11.99 figure is a market-varied estimate. The 920-calorie figure comes from independent aggregators (eatthismuch, carbmanager), cross-checked across multiple sources, since the older official Panera nutrition document predates this recipe. This is the highest-calorie item in this batch, so plan the rest of your day around it.

Last updated: June 15, 2026

Table of contents

• What is in the Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt
• Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt nutrition facts
• Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt ingredients and customization
• Allergens
• Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt vs Toasted Frontega Chicken
• Getting the best value on the Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt
• Frequently asked questions

What is in the Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt

Pulled chicken, smoked gouda cheese, chipotle mayo, sliced avocado, and fresh cilantro, served hot on toasted black pepper focaccia. The pulled chicken is the base protein, generous and shreddy. The smoked gouda melts into the chicken and gives the sandwich its name. The chipotle mayo is the flavor driver: smoky, spicy, and creamy all at once. The avocado adds the buttery richness that pushes the calorie count up, and the cilantro cuts through the richness with freshness.

At 920 calories with 48 grams of protein, this is a serious meal, not a light lunch. The 49 grams of fat and 2480 milligrams of sodium are the numbers that demand attention: the sodium alone exceeds a full day’s guideline. The 76 grams of carbs come largely from the focaccia, which is a substantial bread. The 7 grams of fiber is respectable and comes from the avocado and the focaccia.

The black pepper focaccia is worth calling out because it is doing real work: it is sturdy enough to hold a hot, heavy sandwich without falling apart, and the pepper crust adds a savory bite that stands up to the chipotle mayo. This is not a sandwich that needs a side. It barely needs a beverage.

Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt nutrition facts

Full nutrition breakdown for one whole Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt, cross-checked across independent aggregators (eatthismuch, carbmanager) since the older official Panera nutrition document predates this recipe.

Nutrient	Amount per whole sandwich
Calories	920
Total fat	49g
Saturated fat	14g
Trans fat	0.5g
Cholesterol	135mg
Sodium	2480mg
Total carbohydrates	76g
Dietary fiber	7g
Sugars	5g
Protein	48g

The 920 calorie figure is 46 percent of a 2000 calorie day in a single sandwich. The 48 grams of protein is excellent, nearly a full day’s worth for many people, but it arrives with 49 grams of fat and 14 grams of saturated fat. The 2480 milligrams of sodium is the standout concern: that is more than the daily guideline in one item, and anyone watching blood pressure should treat this as an occasional order.

Context against the batch: this is the highest-calorie item of the ten, ahead of the Kitchen Sink Cookie’s 810 and the Toasted Frontega Chicken’s 790. The half sandwich, available through the Pick Two, cuts everything roughly in half and is the sane way to order it for lunch.

Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt ingredients and customization

The standard build is pulled chicken, smoked gouda, chipotle mayo, avocado, cilantro, and toasted black pepper focaccia.

Customization can pull the numbers down meaningfully. Light chipotle mayo or mayo on the side cuts a big chunk of the fat, since the mayo is one of the two main fat sources alongside the avocado. Dropping the avocado saves the most calories of any single change, though it also removes what makes the sandwich distinctive. The Pick Two half sandwich is the built-in portion control: roughly half the calories, still a satisfying lunch with a soup or salad alongside. Extra cilantro is free and brightens the whole thing.

Allergens

This sandwich contains milk (smoked gouda, chipotle mayo), egg (chipotle mayo), wheat (focaccia), and soy. Panera’s kitchens handle tree nuts, peanuts, fish, and sesame, so cross-contact is possible. The avocado and cilantro are naturally allergen free, but the sandwich is assembled in a shared kitchen where flour and dairy are everywhere. Guests with severe allergies should speak to the cafe staff before ordering, since the hot sandwich station handles multiple builds on shared equipment.

Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt vs Toasted Frontega Chicken

Panera’s two hot chicken sandwiches, settled with numbers. Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt (whole): 920 calories, 49g fat, 14g saturated fat, 135mg cholesterol, 2480mg sodium, 76g carbs, 7g fiber, 5g sugar, 48g protein, from $11.99. Toasted Frontega Chicken (whole): 790 calories, 36g fat, 10g saturated fat, 120mg cholesterol, 2360mg sodium, 73g carbs, 4g fiber, 5g sugar, 45g protein, from $11.99.

The Frontega is the lighter pick by 130 calories and 13 grams of fat, with slightly less protein. The Avocado Melt brings more fiber and the avocado’s richness. Both are high-sodium sandwiches on the same black pepper focaccia, and both cost the same. The flavor choice is the real decider: smoky-spicy with avocado versus the Frontega’s mozzarella, tomato, and red onion build.

Pick the Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt when you want the biggest, richest sandwich on the menu, the most protein, and the smoky-spicy flavor profile. Pick the Toasted Frontega Chicken when you want 130 fewer calories, a slightly lighter build, and the classic Frontega flavor. Both are full-meal sandwiches that need no side.

Getting the best value on the Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt

• The Pick Two half sandwich is the value move: roughly half the sandwich with a soup or salad for less than the whole sandwich plus a side would cost separately.
• At 920 calories, the whole sandwich is two meals for many people. Eating half now and half later is the simplest value strategy on the menu.
• MyPanera rewards run sandwich deals and free-item offers. A free drink or bakery item with your sandwich is a common promotion.
• Skip delivery on this one if you can. A $11.99 sandwich plus fees and tips pushes $17, and a hot pressed sandwich travels worse than a cold one anyway.

Frequently asked questions

ManuBite Team. We track fast food prices and nutrition across the USA so you always know what your meal really costs, in dollars and in calories.