Monterey Chicken Recipe (VIDEO)
This Chili's copycat Monterey Chicken recipe brings the grilled chicken, tangy BBQ, smoky bacon, and gooey cheese restaurant favorite home to your kitchen.
Ingredients
- 4 small chicken breasts, boneless, skinless (1 1/2 to 2 lbs)*
- 1/2 tsp fine sea salt
- 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 Tbsp olive oil, plus more as needed
- 1/2 cup BBQ Sauce, divided, preferably a sweet and thick variety
- 8 slices applewood smoked bacon, not thick-cut
- 1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack Cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/3 cup diced tomatoes, to serve
- 2 Tbsp chopped green onions, to serve
Instructions
- Cook bacon until browned and crisp (either on the stovetop, or make either Oven-Baked Bacon or Air Fryer Bacon), so it’s ready when the chicken comes off the grill.
- Pound the chicken between two layers of plastic wrap until it reaches an even thickness of about 1/2 inch. Season all over with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
- Preheat the grill or a large oiled oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken to the preheated grill or skillet and cook on the first side until nicely browned or charred (about 3-4 minutes). Flip and brush the cooked side with barbecue sauce. Once the chicken approaches an internal temperature of 165°F, flip it again and brush the second side with BBQ sauce. Once it reaches 165°F on a thermometer, remove from heat. If using a stovetop skillet, you can keep the chicken in the oven-safe skillet, or transfer it to a 9x13 casserole dish or rimmed baking sheet.
- Brush the top of the chicken again with barbecue sauce. Top with bacon, then sprinkle with cheese. Broil for 2-3 minutes until the cheese is melted.
- Serve warm, garnished with diced tomatoes and chives.
Notes
*I used about 1 3/4 lbs of boneless, skinless chicken breasts to make this recipe. You could also use 2 large chicken breasts and cut them in half lengthwise for a total of 4 cutlets.
Nutrition Facts
Monterey Chicken Recipe (VIDEO)
Serving Size
1 serving
Amount per Serving
Calories
521
% Daily Value*
Fat
33
g
51
%
Saturated Fat
12
g
75
%
Trans Fat
0.1
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
4
g
Monounsaturated Fat
13
g
Cholesterol
128
mg
43
%
Sodium
1261
mg
55
%
Potassium
664
mg
19
%
Carbohydrates
17
g
6
%
Fiber
1
g
4
%
Sugar
13
g
14
%
Protein
37
g
74
%
Vitamin A
435
IU
9
%
Vitamin C
4
mg
5
%
Calcium
235
mg
24
%
Iron
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
