Monterey Chicken Skillet
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This Monterey chicken skillet is a perfect dinner idea. It’s a pan-fried chicken breast, smothered in barbeque sauce, baked and them topped with a blend of cheese and bacon. This is really taking a simple chicken breast and kicking it up a notch. This easy dinner is something different that’s packed with flavor.
Ok. I love this Monterey chicken, chicken Monterey…whatever you’d like to call it. It’s just a savory protein that’s so easy to make for dinner. You have all the things in this dish. You have your chicken, bacon, BBQ sauce and then top it with some fresh tomatoes and green onions. This recipe is seriously so delicious.
Questions You Might Have:
What is Monterey chicken?
Monterey chicken is a baking or pan-fried piece of chicken breast that is then slathered with BBQ sauce, then topped with bacon and cheese. You’ll then broil then top it with Pico de Gallo and green onions. There is a Chili’s Monterey chicken that is delicious that I used to eat when I was in college.
Can I use a different cut of chicken?
Ehhh. I don’t know. The whole point is to really tenderize your breasts, get them really thin, then fry them in the bacon grease. It really wouldn’t be the same. You technically could, just be mindful that having bone-in chicken would produce a different flavor and result.
What to serve with Monterey chicken?
This recipe would be so good served with a flavored rice and a green salad with ranch dressings. It’s BBQ chicken with cheese, so it’ll go with a lot of different things!
What type of BBQ sauce should I use?
Whatever is your favorite. I like several different ones, so I never use the same storebought sauce every time. I think you can find a homemade one I made in this recipe.
How long to bake chicken breast?
Your chicken will be pan fried already so, it won’t take too much to get the chicken to reach temperature. You want the chicken to reach an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees. It takes about 20 to 30 minutes.
How long will these keep in the fridge?
I would say 5 days? Definitely do not store any longer than 7 days.
Equipment You’ll Need
There’s not just a ton of equipment that you’ll need for this Monterey chicken recipe. You’ll need a large cast iron skillet. This will be for frying the bacon, the chicken, and then baking it all together in. You’ll also need a kitchen knife, a meat tenderizer, a meat thermometer, and some tongs.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Bacon:
You’ll need a half of a pound of bacon. It really doesn’t matter what thickness or what flavor. Be sure to leave the grease in the pan.
Chicken Breast:
I used three large chicken breasts. You’ll slice them down the center into two thinner pieces.
Cornstarch:
I used about a cup of cornstarch. You just want to lightly dust them, so they will get just a small crust on the outside once you pan fry them.
BBQ Sauce:
You’ll need maybe a cup of BBQ sauce. It really doesn’t matter what brand or what flavor.
Shredded Cheese:
I used two to three cups of Colby and Monterey Jack shredded cheese.
Diced Fresh Tomatoes:
I garnished the top with some fresh diced tomatoes. You could also use storebought Pico de Gallo.
Green Onion:
You’ll also garnish with some green onion.
Chicken Seasonings:
You’ll want to season your chicken before pan frying it. You’ll need salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and paprika.
How to Make Monterey Chicken
step one:
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Take your chicken breasts and slice them down the center, making two thinner pieces. Tenderize them with a meat tenderizer, then season both sides with the chicken seasonings.
step two:
In a large cast iron skillet, fry a half a pound of bacon, remove it from the skillet, and set aside. Leave your bacon grease in the skillet. Add your cornstarch to a bowl, then lightly dust the chicken breasts with the cornstarch. Place them in the bacon grease skillet on medium to high heat.
step three:
Get a nice crisp on both sides then remove from heat. Brush your BBQ sauce over each piece generously then add the skillet to the oven. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes.
step four:
Once your time is up and your chicken has an internal temperature of at least 165, take it out of the oven and increase the temperature to broil. Add the bacon and shredded cheese over the top. Broil for several minutes until bubbly.
step five:
Remove from the oven. Serve topped with fresh, diced tomatoes and green onions. Enjoy!
Monterey Chicken Skillet
Equipment
- Cast Iron Skillet
- Chef's Knife
- Meat Tenderizer
- Tongs
- Skillet
Ingredients
- 1/2 lb Bacon
- 3 Large Chicken Breast
- 1 cup Cornstarch
- 1 1/2 cup BBQ Sauce
- 2-3 cups Shredded Colby and Monterey Jack Cheese
- Diced Fresh Tomatoes or Pico de Gallo
- Green Onion
Chicken Seasonings:
- Salt
- Pepper
- Garlic Powder
- Onion Powder
- Paprika
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Take your chicken breasts and slice them down the center, making two thinner pieces. Tenderize them with a meat tenderizer, then season both sides with the chicken seasonings.
- In a large cast iron skillet, fry a half a pound of bacon, remove it from the skillet, and set aside. Leave your bacon grease in the skillet. Add your cornstarch to a bowl, then lightly dust the chicken breasts with the cornstarch. Place them in the bacon grease skillet on medium to high heat.
- Get a nice crisp on both sides then remove from heat. Brush your BBQ sauce over each piece generously then add the skillet to the oven. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes.
- Once your time is up and your chicken has an internal temperature of at least 165, take it out of the oven and increase the temperature to broil. Add the bacon and shredded cheese over the top. Broil for several minutes until bubbly.
- Remove from the oven. Serve topped with fresh, diced tomatoes and green onions. Enjoy!
Before you go…
Please let me know if you made this Monterey chicken skillet. What did you think about it? Please let me know here or in the comments below. Happy cooking!
