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Monterey Chicken

Monterey chicken is an easy chicken dinner with grilled-leaning skillet searing and a BBQ sauce finish, topped with crispy bacon, caramelized onions, and melted Monterey Jack. This restaurant-style chicken bakes down to 165°F, then broils until the cheese turns golden and bubbly.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
marinate 10 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Calories: 820
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Chicken
  • 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, 8 strips
  • 1 onion thinly sliced
  • 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
 

Season and marinate
  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.
Sear until cooked through
  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. Continue cooking until the chicken reaches 165°F in the thickest part.
Top and broil
  1. Brush each breast with the remaining BBQ sauce, then top with caramelized onions. Layer 2 strips of bacon per breast on top of the onions.
  2. Pile Monterey Jack cheese generously over each breast so it fully covers the toppings. 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. The toppings should be hot and the cheese should remain glossy and melted.

Notes

Pro tip: caramelize the onions in butter until deeply golden before topping the chicken—this keeps the BBQ flavor tasting concentrated instead of watery. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container up to 3 days; reheat gently in a skillet or microwave until hot. Freezing is not recommended because the bacon and cheese can lose texture. Dietary swap: use turkey bacon if you want a lighter option while keeping the smoky, crispy topping.