This delicious one-pan Monterey chicken recipe is perfect for a quick, easy weeknight dinner. With tender chicken, tangy BBQ sauce, savory bacon, and melty cheese, this recipe will become a family favorite!
Are you looking for a simple and tasty dinner idea? This Monterey Chicken is a Chili’s copycat recipe that will be your new go-to. With just a few ingredients, it’s easy to make and bursting with flavors. Try it tonight! I love to serve this with Olive Garden Copycat Salad or Mexican coleslaw.
Let’s Spill The Tea
- Cuisine style: Tex-Mex, a fusion of American and Mexican cuisine
- Taste: slightly spicy, cheesy, sweet, and smoky
- Effort and skill: effortless, and anyone can master this
- Pros: So easy my dog could make this (just kidding folks)
- Cons: more time to watch gory shows (not such a good thing)
What you’ll need
- Olive oil: extra virgin
- Chicken: cutlets or boneless, skinless breasts cut in half lengthwise
- Salt
- Black Pepper: freshly ground is always best
- Barbecue sauce: your favorite brand
- Cheese: Monterey Jack and cheddar
- Bacon: crispy, cooked, and crumbled
- Tomatoes: the fresher, the better
- Green onions: also known as scallions
How to Make Monterey Chicken
Brown the chicken cutlets in an ovenproof skillet. Coat them with your favorite BBQ sauce. Top with cheddar and Monterey Jack Cheese and melt it in the oven. Then, top with crispy bacon, tomatoes, and green onions. Simple enough, right?
What To Serve With Monterey Chicken
I am a soup nut, so I like to serve a little soup such as minestrone or broccoli cheddar soup. Cabbage salad and corn salad are great side dishes with it. For a cool, refreshing beverage, try blueberry lemonade or an Arnold Palmer drink.
Frequently Asked Questions
I like a spicy barbecue sauce with this recipe to complement the other ingredients in this Tex-Mex recipe.
Yes, it works great with fish filets like cod and tilapia.
Let’s Recap
- So flavorful you will wonder why you did not make this sooner.
- Quick and easy for busy families.
- Much cheaper than eating at Chili’s. You can just about make four servings of this for one in the restaurant.
Monterey Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 thin boneless skinless chicken breasts or 2 thick ones cut in half lengthwise
- kosher salt
- freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup barbecue sauce use your favorite brand
- 1 cup Monterey Jack and cheddar blend
- 4 slices bacon cooked and crumbled
- 1/2 cup finely diced tomatoes
- 1 green onion thinly sliced
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Heat olive oil in an ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Add the chicken and cook each side for about 4 minutes or until golden brown.
- Spread the barbecue sauce over the browned chicken breasts. Divide the cheese evenly over the barbecue sauce. Place the skillet in the oven and cook for 5 minutes or until the cheese melts and the chicken cooks through.
- Top with the bacon, tomatoes, and green onions. For best results serve promptly.
Melissa
Delicious – all my favorite topping! My family loved your recipe!
Tisha L
I love making these for meal prep during the week. Always look forward to lunchtime
Beth Pierce
Me too, Tisha! Thanks!
Karen C
omg this was sooooo good! It was amazing and it was very easy to follow. Thank you so much.
Yolanda
Super delicious recipe that the whole family enjoyed. Easy to make and a new favorite, Thanks, Beth!
Beth Pierce
My pleasure, Yolanda!
Allen J
Never tried something like this before, I am so glad I did! It was delicious! Great for anyone looking for something tasty, easy, and full of flavor!
Lavanda Michelle
My family absolutely loved it, especially with that gooey cheese and crispy bacon.
Tamara R
Oh this was absolutely delicious! What a fabulous meal…great for a simple dinner yet elegant enough for company!
Addison
This was so good! Such a delicious recipe and just as good as Chili’s monterey chicken! Thank you for sharing – yum!
Melissa
This sounds incredible and I am for sure making this recipe this week for dinner! My husband and the kiddos will love this one! Looks so good and honetsly it is making me hungry now 😉
Jupiter H
I have never had a chicken topped like this – it was delicious and easy to make! Thanks for a great recipe!
Beth Pierce
My pleasure, Jupiter!
Rosey
We love this recipe. It was quick, easy, and flavorful! Everything you want in a family dinner.
Beth Pierce
I feel the same way, Rosey!
Natasha M
We loved this chicken recipe. It tasted better than Chili’s recipe and we controlled all the ingredients. This is a keeper.
April
LOVED the flavor! Can’t wait to make it again!
Anastasia
Monterey Chicken was a total winner for dinner last night! The combination of cheese, bacon, and BBQ sauce was irresistible. It’s going into our regular dinner rotation.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Anastasia! So glad that you like the Monterey Chicken!
Sandy F
My kids loved this dish! It was perfect dinner on busy weeknights! So easy to make and delicious!
Beth Pierce
So glad that the kids loved the chicken!
Krystle
What a delicious combination of flavors.A new favorite in our house.
Beth Pierce
Thank you, Krystle!