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Monterey Chicken

Monterey chicken is a restaurant-style chicken dinner with golden grilled (seared) breasts smothered in tangy BBQ sauce and topped with crispy bacon, caramelized onions, and bubbly Monterey Jack cheese. Quick to make in an oven-safe skillet, then broiled to a golden, cheesy finish.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
marinating 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 Seasoning blend for chicken.
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 0.5 cup BBQ sauce, divided Use half for brushing pre-sear; remaining for topping before baking/broiling.
Toppings
  • 8 strips bacon, cooked crispy Crisp the bacon before topping.
  • 1 onion, thinly sliced and caramelized in butter Caramelize in butter until soft and golden.
  • 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 prep
  1. Season the chicken breasts with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika, then brush with half the BBQ sauce. Let the chicken marinate for 10 minutes at room temperature.
Sear the chicken
  1. Heat olive oil in an oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat, then sear the chicken for 4-5 minutes per side. Cook until golden and the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Add toppings and broil
  1. Brush each breast with the remaining BBQ sauce, then top with caramelized onions followed by 2 strips of crispy bacon per breast. Keep the skillet warm so the sauce lightly sets on the chicken.
  2. Pile shredded Monterey Jack cheese generously over each breast. Transfer to the broiler and broil for 2-3 minutes until the cheese is fully melted, bubbly, and golden in spots.
Finish and serve
  1. Garnish with diced tomatoes and fresh chives, then serve immediately. Plate so the bacon and onion topping stays visible under the melted cheese.

Notes

Pro tip: caramelize the onions until truly golden so they bring a sweet depth against the smoky BBQ sauce. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container up to 3 days; reheat gently in a skillet or oven until warmed through (broil briefly only if you want the cheese to re-melt). Freezing: not recommended for best cheese texture. Dietary swap: use turkey bacon and reduced-sodium BBQ sauce for a lighter version.