This irresistible Bánh Mì sandwich brings the vibrant flavors of Vietnam straight to your kitchen in under an hour. A perfect balance of lean protein, fresh vegetables, and crusty bread creates a satisfying meal at just 271 calories.

Whether you’re meal prepping for the week or serving a casual lunch, this Vietnamese classic delivers bold taste while keeping the nutrition in check with 17g of protein and only 7g of fat per serving.

Ingredients for Vietnamese Bánh Mì

For Pickled Veggies: Water, rice vinegar, salt, carrots (matchstick-cut), English cucumber (thinly sliced), jalapeño (optional) – creates that signature tangy crunch!
For Chicken: Chicken breasts, garlic powder, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper – perfect protein base for our sandwich
For Special Sauce: Mayonnaise, hoisin sauce, Sriracha – creates a creamy, sweet-spicy blend
For Assembly: French baguettes (4 small ones), fresh cilantro – essential for authentic texture

Step-by-Step Instructions

Pickle Your Veggies: Bring vinegar, water, and salt to a boil. Pour over prepared vegetables and let them transform for 30 minutes – they’ll become wonderfully tangy!
Create the Magic Sauce: Mix mayonnaise, hoisin, and Sriracha until smooth. Season to taste – this sauce brings everything together!
Cook the Chicken: Season chicken with spices, cook in olive oil until golden brown (about 3-4 minutes per side). Let it rest for best results!
Assembly Time: Toast your baguette, spread sauce, layer with chicken, add pickled veggies, and crown with fresh cilantro. Your authentic Bánh Mì is ready to enjoy!

Cooking Techniques

The key to perfect bánh mì is getting those beautiful layers of flavor just right! Quick-pickling the veggies brings that signature tangy crunch – and it’s super easy. Just heat your vinegar mixture until it bubbles, pour it over your veggies, and let them hang out for 30 minutes while you prep everything else.

For the chicken, keep the heat at medium to get that lovely golden brown outside while staying juicy inside. A quick 5-10 minute rest after cooking lets all those tasty juices settle back into the meat before slicing.

Variations & Substitutions

This sandwich is super flexible! Not feeling chicken? Try it with pork, tofu, or even crispy fish. If you can’t find hoisin sauce, a mix of sweet BBQ sauce and five-spice powder works great. No rice vinegar? Regular white vinegar works too – just add a tiny pinch of sugar.

For a less spicy version, skip the jalapeños and cut back on the sriracha. Can’t find French baguettes? Any crusty roll with a soft inside will do the job!

Storage Tips

Want to meal prep these tasty sandwiches? The pickled veggies stay crisp and delicious in their vinegar bath for up to a week in the fridge. You can also make the sriracha mayo ahead and keep it chilled for 3-4 days.

The cooked chicken is good for 2-3 days refrigerated. Just keep all the parts separate and build your sandwich fresh – this keeps the bread from getting soggy and lets those flavors shine!

Serving Suggestions

Make your bánh mì into a proper meal by adding some fun sides! A bowl of simple miso soup pairs wonderfully, or try some crunchy shrimp chips. Love extra heat? Put out some extra sriracha or sliced jalapeños so everyone can spice up their sandwich just how they like it.

And don’t forget to serve it right away while the bread is still a little warm and crispy – that’s when bánh mì is at its absolute best!