Monterey Chicken Recipe

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Published: December 31, 2021Author: Camille Beckstrand
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If you are looking for an easy chicken recipe to make for dinner, this Monterey chicken recipe is it! You can make it in 30 minutes or less and have a wonderfully flavorful chicken dinner.
Monterey Chicken Recipe

Monterey chicken was born out of the need to create something different for dinner, but still use chicken and have a budget-friendly recipe. Not to mention that the flavor is amazing.

Monterey Chicken on a white plate

I love that this easy chicken recipe can be made in about 30 minutes, add a side or two and you have a fantastic meal. My kids especially love it because it is filled with cheese and bacon. 

This has become a popular dinner recipe in our house, so it is found on the dinner menu at least twice a month if not more.

Some great sides to pair with this Monterey chicken dinner recipe is our Instant Pot green beans, some homemade rolls, and a fresh apple cranberry walnut green chopped salad!      

Ingredients You’ll Need For Our Monterey Chicken Recipe:   

Monterey Chicken on a white plate sliced
  • Boneless chicken breasts
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Barbecue sauce
  • Cooked bacon
  • Shredded Monterey Jack cheese 

How To Make Our Monterey Chicken Recipe:

Begin by pounding the boneless chicken breast until they are nice and flat.

Then season them generously with salt and pepper on the front and back. 

Once that is done, cook the chicken on a grill over medium hight heat for about 6-7 minutes each side or until the chicken is fully cooked and is at least 165 degrees fahrenheit. 

If you do not intend on using a grill, simply use a skillet or the awesome Ninja Foodi grill and spray it down with nonstick cooking spray and cook it the same. 

Once the chicken is done cooking transfer the chicken breats to a large baking sheet lined with aluminum foil and preheat the broiler to 500 degrees.

Then spread 2-3 tablespoons of barbecue over each chicken breast. 

Now top each piece of chicken with 2 slices of bacon and a handful (about ¼ cup) of shredded Monterey Jack cheese. 

Place the pan in the broiler for 2-3 minutes or until the cheese is melted or in the microwave until the cheese is melted. 

Monterey Chicken on a baking sheet

After the cheese has melted, top it with diced tomatoes, and green onions and serve it immediately. 

Monterey Chicken on a white plate

To Make This Popular Dinner Recipe You Will Need:

  1. Grill or Ninja Foodi (like THIS one)
  2. Large baking sheet
  3. Aluminum foil
  4. Nonstick cooking spray
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Best Way to Tenderize Chicken

One of the reasons we like to pound the chicken before we cook on the grill is to minimize the amount of time it takes to cook the chicken. The other reason is becuase it cause the chicken to be wonderfully tender. 

There are other techniques to make chicken tender that you can use too! Master Class has a great list of 4 easy steps for tender chicken. They would be great to use when you want to class up an easy recipe!

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Serves: 6

Monterey Chicken Recipe

If you are looking for an easy chicken recipe to make for dinner, this Monterey chicken recipe is it!
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 15 mins
Total Time 25 mins
Print Pin

Ingredients

  • 6 boneless chicken breasts
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 cup barbecue sauce
  • 10 strips bacon cooked
  • 1 ½ cups Monterey Jack Cheese Blend shredded
  • 2 tomatoes diced
  • 1 bunch green onions diced

Instructions

  • Pound the chicken breasts so that they flat (this will also help make the chicken very tender). Season with salt and pepper.
  • Cook the chicken over an outdoor grill over medium high heat; 6-7 minutes per side or until fully cooked. If you don't have an outdoor grill, you could easily cook it over an indoor grill or in a skillet on the stove top that has been sprayed with cooking spray.
  • After the chicken is finished cooking, transfer the chicken breasts to a large baking sheet covered in aluminum foil. Spread 2-3 tablespoons of barbecue sauce over each chicken breast. Top each chicken breast with 2 slices of bacon and and a handful of the shredded cheese mix. Place the baking sheet in an oven broiler (or microwave long enough to melt the cheese). Top with diced tomatoes and green onions. Serve immediately.

Notes

One of the reasons we like to pound the chicken before we cook on the grill is to minimize the amount of time it takes to cook the chicken. The other reason is because it causes the chicken to be wonderfully tender.

Nutrition

Calories: 430 kcal · Carbohydrates: 22 g · Protein: 32 g · Fat: 23 g · Saturated Fat: 10 g · Trans Fat: 1 g · Cholesterol: 105 mg · Sodium: 765 mg · Potassium: 509 mg · Fiber: 1 g · Sugar: 17 g · Vitamin A: 910 IU · Vitamin C: 7 mg · Calcium: 261 mg · Iron: 2 mg

Equipment

  • Grill or Ninja Foodie
  • Large Baking Sheet
  • Aluminum Foil
  • nonstick cooking spray

Recipe Details

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Monterey Chicken Pieces on a white plate

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  1. Nantucket Daffodil says:
    October 7, 2012

    Ok....I cannot focus on the recipe when I am looking at Taylor Joy! What a sweetie!
    Reply
  2. Kim says:
    October 7, 2012
    Cute girl! Best wishes with your new little one. My husband would go crazy for this chicken. Bacon, cheese, barbecue sauce, it is three of his favorite things!
    Reply
  3. Teresa says:
    October 7, 2012
    your daughter is beautiful! congratulations!! :)
    Reply
  4. 104640003827828098023 says:
    October 7, 2012
    Enjoy your baby. She is beautiful. I used to love just holding my baby for hours :)
    Reply
  5. Trisha Vranish says:
    October 7, 2012
    You have a very Gorgeous baby girl!!!!
    Reply
  6. Leanna says:
    October 7, 2012
    Oh what a beautiful baby! She is lovely...she definitely fits in with her Mommy and all her Aunties!!!
    Reply
  7. Michelle's Tasty Creations says:
    October 7, 2012
    Camille,
    She is absolutely beautiful! Congrats and good luck with the sleeping schedule :)

    These blondies look amazing! I can't wait to try the recipe.
    Michelle
    Reply
  8. Heather and Holly says:
    October 8, 2012
    Congratulations on the sweet new baby! ; ) They are just so pure and precious when they are that new!

    Holly
    welovebeingmoms.blogspot.com
    Reply
  9. Lita says:
    October 8, 2012
    God bless your little bundle of "joy". That's my middle name too.
    Precious.
    Reply
  10. Jill says:
    October 12, 2012
    Congratulations on the arrival of your gorgeous baby girl!!!

    Lovely looking recipe too!

    Thanks for linking to a Round Tuit!
    Hope you have a fabulous week!
    Jill @ Creating my way to Success
    http://www.jembellish.blogspot.com/
    Reply
  11. Hillary Miller says:
    October 17, 2012
    Hey,
    What a very beautiful delicious healthy food up there! :O
    I can?t believe you can make the healthy version of Monterey Chicken!
    If you don?t mind, could you post this Monterey Chicken photos on a food photography website called http://www.foodporn.net to make others live in a healthier way? :)
    And congratz for your newborn baby girl :)
    Thank you.
    Reply
  12. Alex says:
    November 4, 2013
    I make something similar. Marinate the chicken in McCormick's mesquite marinade then grill. Top with bbq sauce, rotel tomatoes (drained), bacon, shredded cheddar, green onions AND french fried onions. The french fried onions really take it over the top!
    Reply
  13. Susan L. @ Full Happy Muffin and Mama says:
    March 26, 2014
    I made this tonight as part of my Spring Cleaning New Recipe Challenge and blogged about it. Thanks for posting!
    Reply
  14. Kim says:
    June 1, 2014
    Made this tonight and my family loved it! My son said he wants it for his next birthday dinner. That's big. :-) I added avocado to the top of ours.
    Reply
  15. Cathy B says:
    July 4, 2014
    This is a fabulous recipe! I'd love to take this for my family on our vacation to SD (because it seems sort of cowboy-like to me.) However, I would need to make it as a freezer version to keep it in a cooler then thaw and cook in a crock pot or skillet. Obviously this version would be different but I'm hoping to get the same great taste. Any idea if that might be possible? I'm not an experienced enough as a cook or freezer meal cook to know if this might work. Thanks for considering!
    Reply
    • Camille says:
      July 8, 2014
      Hi Cathy! Hmm . . . it might be a little different where you wouldn't be grilling it and then throwing it in the oven. I would maybe try the following: 1. Cook the chicken in a crock pot for 6-7 hours on low. When it's done, top each piece of chicken with bacon, cheese, tomatoes and green onions. If the chicken is warm enough, it will melt the cheese just a little bit. or, one more option: 2. Grill the chicken before you leave, let it cool, then place in a large ziploc bag. Freeze until you need it. Thaw the grilled chicken, top with BBQ sauce, and place on a skillet for just a couple of minutes. Top with cheese, bacon, tomatoes, and onions while it is still on the skillet and keep on there until it's warmed through. I don't know if these will work, as I have never tried them before, but I hope that it helps!! xo, Camille
      Reply
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