Smothered in barbecue sauce, covered in melted cheese, and then topped with crispy bacon, fresh diced tomatoes, and green onions this Monterey Chicken is absolutely delicious! It’s a fantastic way to dress up some simple chicken breasts and is a super easy 30-minute meal!
Easy Baked Monterey Chicken Recipe
You will never think of chicken breast as boring ever again after you try this amazing Monterey Chicken! It’s not your average baked chicken that turns out dry and tasteless. Nope! I don’t do dishes with no flavor and flare. It’s not my thing and I also think that chicken breast can have tons of flavor when done well.
Just like my Honey Mustard Chicken and Marry Me Chicken the chicken breasts in this recipe are baked in sauce, which keeps them super juicy and tender. And in this case, it also infuses them with tasty barbecue sauce. And the melted cheese and crispy bacon on top along with the fresh tomato and sprinkle of green onions just take the dish to the next level.
It’s the perfect quick and easy weeknight meal that your whole family will love. It goes well with any side from Baked Potatoes and Steamed Broccoli to Mexican Rice and Avocado Tomato Salad.
Why You’ll Love Monterey Chicken
- Quick And Easy! All you need is chicken breast, BBQ sauce, some cheese, bacon, and a few veggies! This is a 6-ingredient recipe that you can whip up in just 30 minutes.
- BBQ Cheesy Bacon Chicken! Juicy chicken covered in barbecue sauce and then topped with melty cheese and crispy bacon is an amazing addictively good combination.
- Make Ahead Meal! You can easily coat the chicken in barbecue sauce, chop the veggies, and cook the bacon the night before. Then just pop it in the oven to bake the next day.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Chicken – I’m using boneless skinless chicken breasts. Ideally, your breasts should all be about the same size so they cook more evenly.
- Seasonings – Salt and black pepper are used to season the chicken breasts.
- Barbecue Sauce – Your favorite barbecue sauce will work perfectly.
- Cheese – Monterey Jack cheese or cheddar cheese are a great choice. Or better yet, use a mixture of them both.
- Bacon – You can use any kind of cooked and crumbled bacon you like to top the chicken.
- Tomato – Adds a touch of freshness to the dish. Any type of tomato is fine.
- Green Onions – Also called scallions, they are used as both a garnish and to add a subtle touch of onion.
How To make Monterey Chicken
This recipe is super easy! Once you’ve got your chicken in the oven you can prepare the bacon, tomatoes, and green onions. Then once the chicken is cooked all you have to do is top it and serve. It’s a perfect weeknight dinner!
Preheat The Oven
The first thing you need to do is preheat your oven to 400°F (204°C) so that it is hot and ready to go once your chicken is seasoned.
Season The Chicken Breasts
For chicken breasts to be really flavorful it’s important to season them well. So first, sprinkle them with salt and pepper on both sides. Then spread half of the barbecue sauce on the bottom of the casserole dish and place the breasts in the dish. Now, brush the rest of the remaining barbecue sauce evenly over the chicken.
Bake The Cheese
The breasts are seasoned, it’s time to bake! Transfer the casserole dish to the oven and bake for about 20 to 25 minutes or until the chicken has an internal temperature of at least 165°F (74°C).
Add The Cheese
Now that the chicken is fully cooked, top it with the shredded cheese and place it under the broiler for about 2 to 3 minutes for it to melt. But watch it super close! You want the cheese to melt, but you don’t want it to burn.
Garnish And Serve
This is when the Monterey Chicken really starts coming together! Once it’s out of the oven, top the cooked chicken with the diced tomatoes, crumbled bacon, and green onions to serve.
Can I Use Chicken Thighs Instead?
Yes! But I do recommend using boneless and skinless thighs. Just follow the instructions as stated in the recipe. And just like the chicken breasts, the internal temperature of the thighs needs to be at least 165°F (74°C) when checked with a digital meat thermometer to ensure that they are fully cooked through.
Can I Grill The Chicken?
Yes! Grill the chicken until it reaches 165°F (74°C) basting it with the barbecue sauce halfway through. Then when it’s done, top with the cheese, cover the grill with the lid, and let the cheese melt for a few minutes. You can turn the grill off or to the lowest temperature to melt the cheese.
Expert Tips
- Crisp up the bacon. Take the time to cook the bacon to crunchy perfection. It adds a yummy touch of salty savory flavor and a nice crunchiness that contrasts well with the melted cheese and tender baked chicken.
- Temp your chicken. To ensure that the chicken breast is fully cooked, you will want to make sure that the chicken has reached 165°F (74°C) by using an instant-read digital meat thermometer. Temping the chicken also helps to keep you from overcooking it as well.
- Add tasty toppings. This Monterey Chicken bake is delicious served exactly as it is, but if you want to jazz it up even more, serve it with a dollop of sour cream, Cheesy Guacamole, or Homemade Buffalo Sauce.
Leftovers
You can store leftover Monterey Chicken breast in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months! To reheat, just put it in the microwave for about 4 minutes on medium heat or in the oven at 350°F (177°C) for about 12 minutes. If the chicken is frozen, the best option is to reheat it in the oven for 20 to 25 minutes.
Other Chicken Recipes To Try
- Baked Chicken Breast
- Instant Pot Shredded Chicken
- Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
- Creamy Herb Chicken
- Braised Balsamic Chicken
- Easy Grilled Chicken Breast
Craving More? Follow Along:
Monterey Chicken
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts boneless and skinless
- ½ teaspoon salt or to taste
- ½ teaspoon black pepper or to taste
- 1 cup barbecue sauce
- 1 cup Monterey Jack cheese or cheddar cheese, shredded
- 4 slices bacon cooked and crumbled up
- 1 medium tomato finely diced
- 1 green onion chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper on both sides. Pour half the barbecue sauce on the bottom of a casserole dish, then place the chicken breasts in the dish. Brush the remaining sauce over the chicken breasts.
- Transfer the casserole dish to the oven and bake the chicken for 20 to 25 minutes or until the internal temperature of the chicken breasts reaches 165°F.
- Top chicken breasts with shredded cheese and place under the broiler for another 2 to 3 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.
- Garnish the breasts with diced tomatoes, crumbled bacon and green onions. Serve immediately.
Tips & Notes:
- Crisp up the bacon. Take the time to cook the bacon to crunchy perfection. It adds a yummy touch of salty savory flavor and a nice crunchiness that contrasts well with the melted cheese and tender baked chicken.
- Temp your chicken. To ensure that the chicken breast is fully cooked, you will want to make sure that the chicken has reached 165°F (74°C) by using an instant-read digital meat thermometer. Temping the chicken also helps to keep you from overcooking it as well.
- Add tasty toppings. This Monterey Chicken bake is delicious served exactly as it is, but if you want to jazz it up even more, serve it with a dollop of sour cream, Cheesy Guacamole, or Homemade Buffalo Sauce.
- You can store leftover Monterey Chicken breast in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months! To reheat, just put it in the microwave for about 4 minutes on medium heat or in the oven at 350°F (177°C) for about 12 minutes. If the chicken is frozen, the best option is to reheat it in the oven for 20 to 25 minutes.
