This grilled Monterey Chicken recipe is easy enough for weeknights but fancy enough for company. It’s got juicy chicken, crispy bacon, and sweet barbecue sauce topped with melted Monterey Jack cheese.
Our copycat version of Chili’s famous smothered chicken tastes just like it came from the restaurant, but can be made at home in about 30 minutes. We’ll also show you how you can skip the grill and make this recipe completely in the oven.
What is Monterey Chicken?
If you are a fan of Chili’s, you may have tried their famous Monterey chicken, which is basically grilled chicken smothered in the most epic combination of BBQ sauce, melted cheese, and bacon.
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If you break it down, it’s basically a baked chicken dish so I figured—why not make it at home? This version uses boneless, skinless chicken breast, Sweet Baby Ray’s barbecue sauce, and homemade bacon bits. Let’s get cooking!
Ingredients You Will Need
- Chicken- Boneless skinless chicken breast works great. You can also use chicken thighs for this recipe.
- BBQ Sauce— Use your favorite. We love Sweet Baby Rays and Jack Daniels
- Cheese- Monterey Jack Cheese is typically what is used in a Chili’s Copycat version but we love to use Pepper Jack Cheese. If your family loves a little spice, it’s the perfect addition to this amazing smothered chicken recipe.
- Bacon Bits- You can use homemade bacon bits or buy bacon bits. If you plan to buy bacon bits, the precooked bacon bits work great. You can add them when you add the cheese and they will crisp up great when broiling the cheese.
- Green Onions- Thinly sliced green onions are a fresh and delicious addition to this recipe.
- Tomatoes- Tomatoes are traditionally used for the copycat recipe. You can even have them available on the side for anyone who loves fresh tomatoes.
How to Make Your Own Bacon Bits
It’s super quick and easy to make your own bacon bits, and also the best way to ensure that they are crispy. Here’s what you need to do:
- Cut the bacon. Slice bacon into 1/4″ slices.
- Saute. In a large saucepan, saute the sliced bacon for 3-5 minutes over medium heat, or until the bacon bits turn a light golden color and are just a little crispy.
- Drain and cool. Transfer the bacon bits on a plate lined with paper towels to soak up the grease and allow to cool until you are ready to use.
How to Make Monterey Chicken
- Tenderize the chicken. Cover chicken with plastic wrap and whack it with the bottom of a jar or heavy glass cup until tenderized and flattened.
- Grill. Season with salt and pepper, then grill on both sides for a total of about 10 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.
- Assemble. Place in a 9 by 13 ” baking dish, smother with your favorite BBQ sauce, then add the cheese and bacon bits.
- Broil. Broil in the oven for about 5 minutes or until the cheese is golden and crispy.
- Serve. Remove from the oven and add thinly sliced green onions and tomatoes. Enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yup! If you would rather not fire up the grill, you can bake the chicken in the oven. Preheat it to 425 degrees, then add the chicken breasts topped with BBQ sauce. Bake for about 20 minutes, then remove and cover with the cheese and bacon. Cook for another 5 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.
Sure—just be sure to thaw it first. The easiest way is to pull it into the fridge overnight so it will be ready the next day.
Recipe Variations and Substitutions
- Make it spicy: For those who like it hot, try using Pepper Jack cheese and adding a few sliced jalapeno peppers along with a dash of chili powder and/or cayenne pepper.
- Turn it into a salad: If you’re looking for a lighter option, add your sliced grilled chicken to a bed of lettuce. Top with tomatoes, shredded Monterey Jack cheese, and top with a creamy ranch dressing for a refreshing and healthy meal.
- Switch up the chicken: instead of chicken breasts, try using chicken thighs. Or, go a completely different route by using shredded rotisserie chicken (obviously skip the grilling) and assemble before broiling.
Easy Monterey Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- 6 small chicken breasts, (about 2 pounds)
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil
- 1/2 cup bbq sauce
- 1 cup shredded pepper jack cheese
- 1/2 cup bacon bits
- 2 tablespoons green onions, thinly sliced
- 2 large tomatoes, sliced into 1/3" slices
Instructions
- Preheat grill to medium heat and oven to broil setting.
- Cover your chicken breast with some plastic wrap and giving it a few good whacks with the bottom of a jar or heavy glass cup in order to tenderize and create an even thickness.
- Season the chicken with salt and pepper, then place on the hot grill. Cook until the first side has nice grill marks and comes off easily. Flip to the other side and cook for another 5-6 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.
- Remove cooked chicken from the grill and place in a 9" x 13 " baking dish. Cover with BBQ sauce, then sprinkle the bacon bits and shredded cheese evenly over the top.
- Broil in the oven for about 5 minutes, or until the cheese is golden and crispy. Remove from the oven and top with thinly sliced green onions and sliced tomatoes. Enjoy!
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Nutrition
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This Monterey Chicken recipe is an easy weekday meal that’s fancy enough for company too. This grilled chicken recipe is juicy chicken, crispy bacon and sweet barbecue sauce, what’s there not to love!?!
