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Monterey Chicken

Monterey chicken is a restaurant-style chicken dinner with golden seared breasts smothered in tangy BBQ sauce and topped with crispy bacon, caramelized onions, and melted Monterey Jack cheese. It finishes under the broiler until the cheese is bubbly and golden in spots for that grilled-style comfort texture.
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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: 650
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Chicken and BBQ sauce base
  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 0.25 tsp salt to taste
  • 0.25 tsp pepper to taste
  • 0.5 tsp garlic powder to taste
  • 0.5 tsp smoked paprika to taste
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 0.5 cup BBQ sauce divided
Toppings
  • 8 bacon cooked crispy
  • 1 onion thinly sliced and caramelized in butter
  • 1 tbsp butter for caramelizing
  • 2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
  • 0.25 cup diced tomatoes for garnish
  • 2 tbsp fresh chives for garnish

Equipment

  • 1 cast iron skillet

Method
 

Marinate and prep toppings
  1. Season the chicken breasts with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika, then brush with half of the BBQ sauce and marinate for 10 minutes.
  2. Caramelize the thinly sliced onion in butter until soft and browned, then set aside for topping.
  3. Cook the bacon until crispy, then keep it ready to add on top.
Sear the chicken
  1. Heat olive oil in an oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat and sear the chicken for 4-5 minutes per side until golden and cooked through to 165°F.
Assemble and broil
  1. Brush each chicken breast with the remaining BBQ sauce, then top with caramelized onions and add 2 strips of bacon per breast.
  2. Pile shredded Monterey Jack cheese generously over each breast until fully covered.
  3. 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.

Notes

For maximum browning, pat the chicken dry before seasoning and use an oven-safe skillet so the same pan goes from sear to broil. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days; the broiled cheese may firm up a bit when chilled. Freezing is not recommended because the bacon and cheese texture can change. For a lower-carb swap, use sugar-free BBQ sauce while keeping the Monterey Jack topping the same.