ST. LOUIS – Panera’s new Chef’s Chicken Sandwich is slated to hit the bakery-café chain’s menus March 30. The item will come in a “Signature Take” and a “Spicy Take” with prices starting at $10.99.

The sandwiches feature a quarter pound of all-white meat chicken breast filet that is marinated with and seasoned with a signature spice blend, Panera said. The filet is seared and then finished sous vide to lock in flavor, tenderness, and juiciness. Toppings include parmesan crisps or spicy, crispy pickle chips, and a proprietary garlic aioli sauce, served between a brioche roll.

“Our chefs and bakers know how to combine flavors to create elevated culinary classics – ‘The Familiar, Made Fantastic’. We’ve brought that expertise to this new category many times over,” said Claes Petersson, head chef and chief food innovation officer, Panera Bread. “We always love crafting a new offering from Panera’s pantry of clean ingredients, because we believe clean food, freshly prepared, tastes delicious. From the juicy chicken breast filet to the spicy, crispy pickle chips, our two new Chef’s Chicken Sandwiches pack a serious flavor punch.”

Panera Chef’s Chicken Sandwiches began rolling out in select markets this week, and will be available at bakery-cafes nationwide and on the Panera app starting March 30, the company said.

“With Panera’s new Chef’s Chicken Sandwiches, we’re launching an exciting new platform, that will delight our guests. This is no ordinary chicken sandwich,” said Eduardo Luz, chief brand and concept officer, Panera Bread. “This is for a guest looking for a delicious, chef-crafted, gourmet-level sandwich, freshly prepared and made with Clean ingredients in true Panera fashion. This will shatter the expectations of what a chicken sandwich should taste like, and we think they’re worth every bite and every penny.”

To further highlight the new sandwiches, Panera designed a new tear-away box that protects the brioche roll and prevents the sauce from leaking out. The box is recyclable, the company said.