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Monterey Chicken

Monterey chicken is an easy chicken dinner with golden grilled-style seared breasts smothered in tangy BBQ sauce, then topped with crispy bacon, caramelized onions, and melty Monterey Jack. Each bite gets a bubbly, golden broiled cheese finish that’s restaurant-style without the fuss.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
marinate 10 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 780
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Chicken
  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • Salt, pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika to taste Use a mix of seasonings to taste.
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 0.5 cup BBQ sauce Divide the BBQ sauce; use half for brushing and half for topping.
  • 8 bacon Cooked crispy.
  • 1 onion Thinly sliced and caramelized in butter.
  • tbsp butter Use enough to caramelize the onions in butter.
Cheese and garnish
  • 2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
  • 0.25 cup diced tomatoes For garnish.
  • 2 tbsp fresh chives For garnish.

Equipment

  • 1 cast iron skillet
  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Marinate and season
  1. Season the chicken with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika, then brush with half the BBQ sauce and marinate for 10 minutes.
  2. Heat olive oil in an oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering.
Sear and finish in the oven
  1. Sear the chicken in the skillet for 4-5 minutes per side, until golden and cooked through to 165°F.
  2. Brush each breast with the remaining BBQ sauce, then top with the caramelized onions and 2 strips of bacon per breast.
  3. Pile Monterey Jack cheese generously over each breast until fully covered.
  4. Broil for 2-3 minutes until the cheese is fully melted, bubbly, and golden in spots.
Garnish and serve
  1. Garnish with diced tomatoes and fresh chives and serve immediately.

Notes

For the best caramelized-onion topping, cook the onions in butter over medium heat until soft and lightly browned before assembling. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days; reheat in a skillet at 350°F until warmed through and cheese remelts. Freezing is not recommended due to the cheese texture. For a gluten-free option, double-check your BBQ sauce label and use one that’s certified gluten-free.