Monterey Chicken

Monterey Chicken Recipe

This simple Monterey Chicken recipe has been a long-time family favorite and a busy night go-to for our family. You simply cannot beat the short list of ingredients, ease of preparation and most importantly – the amazing flavor! It’s such a simple dish but it packs big flavor in every bite.

I still remember the first time I was at Chili’s and realized that they had removed the Monterey Chicken from their menu – I was devastated! I cannot tell you how relieved I was to realize how quickly and easily this restaurant favorite could be made at home.

This easy copycat recipe comes together in one skillet with just a few minutes of hands-on preparation. It looks impressive enough to serve to company but is simple enough for even the busiest nights. It’s the kind of dinner that makes an ordinary weeknight feel a little more special.

The combination of tender chicken, smoky bacon, tangy barbecue sauce and plenty of melted cheese makes for an irresistible meal the whole family will love. Finished with fresh tomatoes and green onions, this Monterey Chicken is ready in about 30 minutes.

Add a few easy sides and you’ll have a complete meal! We often serve it with a side of mashed potatoes and my Nana’s green beans but it’s equally delicious with a sweet baked potato and some fresh dinner rolls on the side. So satisfying and sure to earn a spot in your regular dinner rotation – it sure has in ours!

What Is Monterey Chicken

A longtime favorite at Chili’s restaurant, this simple recipe is a juicy chicken breast topped with barbecue sauce, bacon, and cheese – it’s all my favorites in one dish! Green onions and diced tomatoes give the dish depth and freshness and you are going to love that it’s made in just one skillet.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Monterey Chicken delivers restaurant-style flavor without requiring complicated ingredients or a lot of time in the kitchen. This easy chicken dinner has everything you want in a family-friendly meal. It’s warm, comforting and bursting with smoky, savory flavor from the first bite to the last. With its quick skillet preparation, it’s perfect for even the busiest weeknights. Here’s why we love it so much:

• Quick and Easy: This simple skillet recipe comes together in about 30 minutes, making it ideal for busy weeknights.
• Packed with Flavor: Every bite is smoky, savory, cheesy and incredibly satisfying.
• Family-Friendly: Familiar flavors make this a meal that both kids and adults can enjoy.
• Made in One Skillet: Cooking most of the recipe in the same pan keeps preparation and cleanup simple.
• Easy to Customize: Change the bbq sauce, cheese or toppings to create a delicious variation your family will love.

Ingredients Needed

A short list of ingredients is one of my favorite things about this recipe. That, and I typically have most, if not all, of these ingredients on hand at any given time.

1. Boneless skinless chicken breasts: Chicken breasts create a lean, hearty base for the recipe. Pounding them to an even thickness helps them cook quickly and evenly. Chicken thighs, tenders, etc. will also work for the recipe – just adjust the cooking time as needed.
2. Bacon: Bacon adds a smoky, savory flavor and a satisfying crisp texture. Cooking it first also leaves flavorful drippings in the skillet for browning the chicken.
3. Chicken stock: The stock gently finishes cooking the chicken while keeping it moist and tender. It also helps loosen the flavorful browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Use chicken broth if you can’t find chicken stock.
4. Barbecue sauce: Barbecue sauce adds tangy, smoky sweetness and creates a flavorful layer between the chicken and cheese. Use a sauce your family already loves.
5. Colby Jack cheese: This mild, creamy cheese melts beautifully and complements the bold barbecue flavor. Shredding it allows it to melt quickly and evenly. We also like cheddar or Monterey Jack.
6. Tomato: Fresh tomato adds color, a light texture and a bright finish that balances the richer toppings.
7. Green onions: Sliced green onions bring a mild onion flavor and a pop of fresh color to the finished dish.
8. Salt and pepper: These simple seasonings enhance the chicken’s natural flavor. How much you need will depend on the saltiness of the bacon, stock and barbecue sauce.

The tomatoes and green onions might be considered a garnish generally speaking, but they are a must for this recipe. This tomatoes and green onion really brighten up the flavors immensely. I also have used chives in place of the green onions and that is super delicious as well.

How To Make Monterey Chicken

This chicken monterey recipe moves quickly, so it helps to have the toppings prepared before you begin cooking the chicken. Use an oven-safe skillet so the dish can go directly under the broiler to melt the cheese or simply put the lid back on the skillet and let residual heat melt the cheese.

1. Fry bacon in a large skillet until crispy. (You can also air fry the bacon and bake the bacon but you will want to use the drippings for browning the chicken.)
2. Pound chicken breasts to desired thickness. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Brown chicken on both sides (2 to 3 minutes per side.) Add chicken broth and cover skillet with a lid. Cook until chicken is done (165°F on an instant read thermometer), about 4 to 5 minutes.
4. Spread barbecue sauce on top of each chicken breast.
5. Top with two slices of bacon.
6. Divide cheese evenly among the chicken.
7. Place under the broiler for 30 seconds to 1 minute or put the lid back on and let the cheese melt.
8. Top with tomato and green onions. Serve immediately.

Storage Information

• Refrigerator: Store leftover chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days. Reheat it gently in a covered skillet over low heat or microwave it in short intervals until warmed through. For the best results, store the fresh tomato and green onion toppings separately and add them after reheating.
• Make Ahead: To prepare the recipe in advance, pound and season the chicken, cook the bacon, shred the cheese and chop the toppings earlier in the day. Store everything separately in the refrigerator, then cook and assemble the dish just before serving.
• Freezer: For the best quality, freeze the cooked chicken without the tomato and green onions in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Variations To Try

This recipe is easy to customize based on what you have available or the flavors your family enjoys. Try one of these simple variations:

• Use spicy barbecue sauce, pepper jack cheese or add sliced jalapeños to turn up the heat on this chicken monterey recipe.
• Substitute cheddar, Monterey Jack, pepper Jack, mozzarella or a Mexican cheese blend for the Colby Jack for a simple way to change up the flavor.
• Choose a hickory or mesquite barbecue sauce plus hardwood smoked bacon for an even deeper smoky flavor.
• Top the finished chicken with diced or sliced avocado just before serving – this is how my youngest always has it!
• Boneless skinless chicken thighs can be used in place of chicken breasts. Adjust the cooking time as needed.

What To Serve with Monterey Chicken

Since this is a chicken dish, the options are really endless. I frequently find myself serving a side salad or veggies along with the Monterey Chicken. Here are some of our favorite sides:

• Sweet Potato Wedges
• Broccoli Rice Casserole
• Deviled Egg Macaroni Salad
• Mashed Potato Casserole
• Broccoli Salad
• Twice Baked Potato Casserole

Trish’s Tips

This dish is truly the perfect easy, weeknight dinner recipe that the whole family will love! And you’re going to love how quick clean up is 😉

1. Use a meat tenderizer to pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness so they cook evenly and stay juicy.
2. Cut each bacon slices in half prior to cooking so they fit on the chicken perfectly.
3. Use freshly shredded cheese when possible. It melts more smoothly than packaged pre-shredded cheese.
4. Season the chicken lightly at first because the bacon, cheese and barbecue sauce all add saltiness.
5. Check the chicken with an instant-read thermometer instead of relying only on cooking time.