Name: Monterey Chicken
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 2 boneless (skinless chicken breasts); 1 tablespoon olive oil; ¼ teaspoon seasoning salt; ¼ teaspoon pepper; ¼ teaspoon garlic powder; 2 tablespoons barbeque sauce; 5 slices bacon (cooked and crumbled); ½ cup Monterey Jack cheese (shredded); 1 small tomato (chopped); 1 green onion (chopped)

Welcome to your new favorite recipe – Monterey Chicken! Imagine tender, juicy chicken breasts topped with a smoky barbecue sauce, crispy bacon, melted Monterey Jack cheese, fresh tomatoes, and green onions. Sounds amazing, right? The best part is it’s incredibly easy to make!

Ingredients:

Prep Time: 15 minutes | Total Time: 30 minutes | Servings: 4

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 tablespoon olive oil
¼ teaspoon seasoning salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
2 tablespoons barbeque sauce
5 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
½ cup Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
1 small tomato, chopped
1 green onion, chopped

1. Prepare the Chicken: Season both sides of the chicken breasts with seasoning salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the chicken breasts and cook for about 5-7 minutes on each side or until the chicken is thoroughly cooked and golden brown on both sides. The internal temperature should reach 165°F. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.

2. Cook the Bacon: In the same skillet, add the bacon slices and cook until crispy. Remove the bacon from the skillet and drain on paper towels. Once cooled, crumble or chop the bacon into small pieces. Set aside.

3. Combine Chicken and Toppings: Return the chicken breasts to the skillet over low heat. Cover each chicken breast with barbeque sauce. Sprinkle the Monterey Jack cheese evenly over the chicken breasts, allowing the cheese to melt slightly. Top each chicken breast with the chopped bacon, chopped tomatoes, and green onions.

4. Finish and Serve: Cover the skillet with a lid to allow the cheese to melt thoroughly and the toppings to warm through, about 2-3 minutes. Once the cheese is melted and bubbly, carefully remove the chicken from the skillet and plate.

Storage and Reheating Instructions

For storage, keep it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. If you want to freeze Monterey Chicken, wait for it to cool down, then transfer it to a freezer-safe container. It’ll keep for up to 2 months. Just thaw it in the fridge overnight before reheating.

How to Reheat Monterey Chicken:

Monterey Chicken reheats beautifully. Just pop it in the oven at 350°F until it’s heated through. To save time you can use the microwave but it might change the texture of your chicken.

Helpful Tips & Substitutions

Can this be made ahead of time?

I prefer to make everything fresh but you can prepare the chicken and bacon ahead of time. When you’re ready to eat, just assemble everything and heat it up.

Substitutions & Variations

This recipe is super versatile! Not a fan of Monterey Jack? Try cheddar or mozzarella. For a healthier twist, use turkey bacon or skip the bacon altogether. Feel free to get creative!

Helpful Cooking Notes

To ensure the chicken cooks evenly, pound the breasts to an even thickness before seasoning.
For an extra flavor boost, marinate the chicken in your favorite barbecue sauce for a few hours before cooking.
Don’t skip resting the chicken after cooking; it helps retain the juices, making your chicken super tender and flavorful.

What to Serve with Monterey Chicken

Monterey Chicken

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 15

Cook Time 15

Total Time 30

Servings

Calories 615 kcal

With juicy chicken, crispy bacon, and melted cheese, Monterey Chicken is an ideal 30-minute recipe. It's perfect for any occasion.

INGREDIENTS

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 tablespoon olive oil
¼ teaspoon seasoning salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
2 tablespoons barbeque sauce
5 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
½ cup Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
1 small tomato, chopped
1 green onion, chopped

INSTRUCTIONS

Prepare the Chicken: Season both sides of the chicken breasts with seasoning salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the chicken breasts and cook for about 5-7 minutes on each side or until the chicken is thoroughly cooked and golden brown on both sides. The internal temperature should reach 165°F. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
Cook the Bacon: In the same skillet, add the bacon slices and cook until crispy. Remove the bacon from the skillet and drain on paper towels. Once cooled, crumble or chop the bacon into small pieces. Set aside.
Combine Chicken and Toppings: Return the chicken breasts to the skillet over low heat. Cover each chicken breast with barbeque sauce. Sprinkle the Monterey Jack cheese evenly over the chicken breasts, allowing the cheese to melt slightly. Top each chicken breast with the chopped bacon, chopped tomatoes, and green onions.
Finish and Serve: Cover the skillet with a lid to allow the cheese to melt thoroughly and the toppings to warm through, about 2-3 minutes. Once the cheese is melted and bubbly, carefully remove the chicken from the skillet and plate.

NOTES