Description
Monterey chicken combines juicy grilled chicken with melted cheese and crispy bacon for a mouthwatering main course. Hearty flavors and simple ingredients make this dish a quick family favorite that satisfies hunger with minimal preparation.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 to 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 ½ cups (6 oz) shredded cheddar or monterey jack cheese
- 3 to 4 slices cooked applewood smoked bacon
- 1 cup barbecue sauce
- ½ cup diced tomatoes
- Coarse salt (to taste)
- Fresh black pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Preparation: Gently pound chicken breasts between plastic wrap to create uniform thickness, ensuring even cooking and optimal texture.
- Seasoning: Generously season chicken with salt and black pepper, establishing a foundational flavor profile.
- Marination: Coat chicken thoroughly with barbecue sauce in a large bowl, refrigerating for 1-2 hours to enhance tenderness and develop rich taste dimensions.
- Thermal Preparation: Heat oven to 400°F (204°C), positioning rack in central position for consistent heat distribution.
- Cooking Process: Transfer marinated chicken to baking dish and roast until internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C), approximately 20-25 minutes for complete doneness.
- Cheese Topping: Activate broiler setting and carefully layer shredded cheese across fully cooked chicken, allowing for smooth, even melting.
- Finishing Touch: Broil for 1-2 minutes, watching attentively to achieve golden-edged cheese without burning. Immediately garnish with crispy bacon fragments and fresh diced tomatoes.
- Serving: Present hot, maintaining the cheese’s luxurious molten consistency and showcasing the vibrant, layered flavors.
Notes
- Tenderize Strategically: Gently pound chicken breasts between plastic wrap to create uniform thickness, ensuring even cooking and preventing dry edges.
- Marinate for Maximum Flavor: Refrigerate chicken in barbecue sauce for 1-2 hours to enhance tenderness and infuse deep, rich taste throughout the meat.
- Monitor Cheese Melting: Watch closely under broiler for 1-2 minutes, preventing burning while achieving perfectly golden, gooey cheese topping.
- Temperature Precision: Use meat thermometer to confirm internal chicken temperature reaches 165°F, guaranteeing safe and juicy results every time.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking, Broiling
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 100mg