Monterey Chicken is not only DELICIOUS, but quick and easy to make with only 6 ingredients and one pan. The combination tangy BBQ sauce, smokey bacon, and rich colby jack cheese makes this a meal the whole family will love!
Prep Time10 minutesmins
Cook Time25 minutesmins
Total Time35 minutesmins
Servings: 4servings
Calories: 559kcal
Ingredients
2poundsboneless skinless chicken breastthinly cut or pounded
Preheat the oven to 425˚F. Place chicken flat in the bottom of a baking dish. Spread 1-2 tbsp BBQ sauce on each chicken breast.
Cut the bacon into slices equal to the size of the chicken breast and lay it over the top of the chicken. Bake uncovered for 20 minutes. If you want crispier edges on your bacon, broil for 2-5 additional minutes.
Remove from oven and sprinkle cheese over the top, then turn oven to 350˚F and cook for 5 additional minutes, or until chicken is cooked through (165˚F internal temp.)
Once done, sprinkle tomatoes and green onions over the top. Serve warm. Enjoy!
Notes
Crispy Bacon Method
pre-cook the bacon to your desired level of crispiness.
Reduce the cooking heat of the recipe to 350˚F. Bake the chicken covered in BBQ sauce for 20-25 minutes or until it is no longer pink.
Top each chicken breast with the crispy bacon, cover with cheese, and put back into the oven for 3-5 minutes or until the cheese is completely melted.
Remove and continue with recipe as directed.
Substitutions:
Chicken — Any boneless, skinless cut will work such as chicken thighs or tenderloins.
Bacon — You can use most any bacon or bacon product you like for this recipe including turkey bacon, vegetarian bacon, or any flavor of regular bacon.
Colby Jack cheese — Colby jack is traditional here, but you can sub cheddar or Mexican blend.
Grape tomatoes — You can substitute pico de gallo for a zesty twist
How to Store: To save leftovers, place in an airtight container and store in the:
Refrigerator for 3-4 days
Freezer for up to a month
How to Freeze:
Prepare the chicken breasts and layer BBQ sauce and bacon on top of them. (For crispy bacon method, pre-cook bacon and freeze separately)
Place in an airtight container or zip top bag. Freeze.
When ready to make, thaw for 24-48 hours.
Place in an oven safe dish and continue with recipe as directed.
How to Reheat: In the microwave on 30 second increments or cover with tin foil and place in the oven at 350˚F for 15-20 minutes or until heated through.How to Scale: This recipe can easily be doubled if you are feeding a crowd or halved for smaller portions.