Monterey Chicken Recipe
Total Time
28 mins
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Rating
4.95 out of 5 stars
(20)
Ingredients
4 servings
- 4 small chicken breasts, boneless, skinless (1 1/2 to 2 lbs)*
- 1/2 tsp fine sea salt
- 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 Tbsp olive oil, plus more as needed
- 1/2 cup BBQ Sauce, divided, preferably a sweet and thick variety
- 8 slices applewood smoked bacon, not thick-cut
- 1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack Cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/3 cup diced tomatoes, to serve
- 2 Tbsp chopped green onions, to serve
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Preparation
Step 1
Cook bacon until browned and crisp (either on the stovetop, oven-baked, or air fryer), so it’s ready when the chicken comes off the grill.
Step 2
Pound the chicken between two layers of plastic wrap until it reaches an even thickness of about 1/2 inch. Season all over with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
Step 3
Preheat the grill or a large oiled oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken to the preheated grill or skillet and cook on the first side until nicely browned or charred (about 3-4 minutes). Flip and brush the cooked side with barbecue sauce. Once the chicken approaches an internal temperature of 165°F, flip it again and brush the second side with BBQ sauce. Once it reaches 165°F on a thermometer, remove from heat. If using a stovetop skillet, you can keep the chicken in the oven-safe skillet, or transfer it to a 9×13 casserole dish or rimmed baking sheet.
Step 4
Brush the top of the chicken again with barbecue sauce. Top with bacon, then sprinkle with cheese. Broil for 2-3 minutes until the cheese is melted.
Step 5
Serve warm, garnished with diced tomatoes and chives.
Step 6
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Chef's notes
Use the flat end of a meat tenderizer to pound the chicken into thin pieces. If you do not have a mallet, you can use anything heavy, like a saucepan, or a rolling pin.
I used about 1 3/4 lbs of boneless, skinless chicken breasts to make this recipe. You could also use 2 large chicken breasts and cut them in half lengthwise for a total of 4 cutlets.
