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    Home » Recipes » Chicken and Poultry

    Chili's Monterey Chicken Recipe

    By Marjory Pilley Published Jun 17, 2015 · Updated Mar 20, 2023

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    This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure.

    Jump to Recipe
    Chili's Monterey Chicken on a platter.

    Make Chili's Monterey Chicken recipe with BBQ sauce, crispy bacon, and Monterey cheese at home. This mouthwatering dish is easy to recreate.

    Copycat Chili's Monterey Chicken on a plate with a red checkered napkin and fork behind it.

    When you feel like eating out but don’t feel like going out, this hand-off cooking recipe has your back! Just layer the ingredients and bake everything in the oven, just like the customers at our meal assembly stores did.

    It's a restaurant-quality dish that your whole family will love. When I announce that we're having Monterey Chicken for dinner, I get hugs and smiles, at least until it's time to do the dishes.

    It's a nice feeling. And everyone needs a few of these hero recipes in their life.

    By the way, Alice Springs Chicken is another copycat dish with the same result. The easy preparation and unique flavor combinations make them feel like cousins.

    You're going to love Monterey Chicken because:

    • It takes minutes to prepare; then it's all hands-off cook time while it bakes.
    • You can make it ahead of time and pull it out of the refrigerator (or freezer) when it's time for dinner.
    • It's perfect for busy weeknights or entertaining and is easily doubled.
    • It tastes like the flavor-packed dish at Chili's restaurant, but you can enjoy it in the comfort of your home any time you want!
    • It's low-carb, depending on the type of BBQ sauce you use.
    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Directions
    • Expert Tips and Variations
    • What to Serve with Monterey Chicken
    • Storage, Reheating, Make-Ahead
    • More Fantastic Chicken Recipes
    • 📋 Recipe

    Ingredients

    Below are the ingredients you'll need to make Copycat Chili's Monterey Chicken:

    Ingredients to make Monterey Chicken: chicken breasts, barbecue sauce, Monterey Jack cheese, crumbled bacon, tomato, green onions.
    • Chicken Breasts - We used boneless skinless chicken breasts. Pound chicken breast thin to shorten the cooking time. You can also butterfly the chicken or use chicken cutlets.
    • BBQ Sauce smothers the chicken and keeps it moist and juicy while it bakes. Use your favorite barbecue sauce. If you're watching your carbs, use a sugar-free one. But even if you don't, this recipe's carb count is pretty low.
    • Cooked Bacon is layered on the chicken while it cooks. Use whole slices or crumble them. I find smaller pieces are more manageable when cutting the finished chicken dish. Turkey bacon can be used instead.
    • Monterey Jack Cheese - Gooey, melted cheese is another signature ingredient in this dish. You'll often find Monterey Jack cheese blended with Colby Jack or cheddar cheese. These blends will work too, and so will slices of cheese.
    • Tomato - Chili's adds a small amount of cold chopped tomatoes on top of the cooked chicken. We used easy-to-dice plum tomatoes. Any type will work.
    • Green Onions that have been thinly sliced finish this colorful dish.
    • Salt and Pepper to taste. Since it's covered with barbecue sauce, you don't need much.

    Please see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the complete list of ingredients with measurements plus recipe instructions.

    How to Cook Bacon in the Microwave

    Cooking bacon in a microwave oven is easy. First, place several sheets of paper towels on a microwave-safe plate. Place 2-4 slices of bacon on top of the paper towels and cover the bacon with several more paper towels. Cook on high for 2-3 minutes and in short bursts afterward.

    Directions

    Here's how to make baked Chicken Monterey:

    1. Place chicken in a baking dish or on a pan coated with non-stick cooking spray. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
    2. Spread barbeque sauce over the top of each piece of chicken.
    3. Top chicken breast with cooked bacon and Monterey cheese.
    4. Bake until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
    5. Remove and sprinkle diced tomatoes and sliced green onion over the top.
    Uncooked Monterey Chicken in a glass baking dish.

    Expert Tips and Variations

    Below are some additional tips and tricks to make your Chicken Monterey the best!

    • Use a meat thermometer to know exactly when the chicken is done!
    • Customize this dish by adding more or less of any ingredient, which adjusts the calorie count, carbohydrates, and other nutritional estimates.
    • Make this recipe with cooked chicken! It doesn't matter whether it was grilled, cooked in an air fryer, or baked. Layer the ingredients as you normally would and heat long enough to warm the chicken and melt the cheese.
    • Chicken, seasoned with salt and pepper, can be seared in a skillet first by adding a tablespoon of oil to a large skillet and cooking the chicken for about 1 minute on each side. I don't find this extra step necessary, but you certainly can.
    • Use thin-sliced chicken and make Monterey Chicken on the stovetop. The process used to make Skillet Bruschetta Chicken works like a charm.

    What to Serve with Monterey Chicken

    Mix and match these side dishes to make to turn Monterey Chicken into a complete meal:

    • Cauliflower mash
    • Mashed potatoes
    • Baked sweet potato
    • Sweet potato fries
    • Roasted broccoli
    • Crispy green beans
    • Stovetop garlic carrots
    • Microwave Corn cooked in the Husk
    • Cole slaw
    • Mixed greens drizzled with ranch dressing
    • Turn it into a sandwich and serve it on a bun!

    Storage, Reheating, Make-Ahead

    Monterey Chicken was a popular dish at our Meal Assembly Stores! When you have everything out, make extras to freeze.

    • Storage. Store leftovers in a sealed container in the refrigerator for about 3 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months.
    • Reheat. Cover and warm in the oven on low heat (325°F) or in the microwave at 50% power.
    • Make-Ahead. Assemble the dinner up to the point of cooking. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 1-2 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months. When you're ready to enjoy it, defrost the dish in the refrigerator overnight and cook it as you usually would.
    Copycat Chili's Monterey Chicken on a platter with slices of bacon on the side.

    More Fantastic Chicken Recipes

    • Baked Lemon Pepper Chicken Recipe
      Baked Lemon Pepper Chicken Recipe
    • Healthy bang bang chicken that was baked in the oven in a bowl.
      Healthy Bang Bang Chicken: Easy Baked Recipe
    • Alice Springs Chicken topped with honey mustard and cheese on plate with mushrooms surrounding it.
      Alice Springs Chicken - Copycat Recipe

    Did you make this recipe?
    Please leave a rating and tell us how you liked it!

    📋 Recipe

    Copycat Chili's Monterey Chicken on a plate with a red checkered napkin and fork behind it.

    Chili's Monterey Chicken Recipe

    Make Chili's Monterey Chicken recipe with BBQ sauce, crispy bacon, and Monterey cheese at home. This mouthwatering dish is easy to recreate.
    5 from 5 votes
    Email Ingredients + Recipe
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 40 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 464kcal
    Author: Marjory Pilley

    Ingredients

    • 16 ounces boneless, skinless chicken breasts pound to ¾ inch thickness to shorten the cooking time.
    • 1 cup barbecue sauce cut the amount in half or use low-sugar BBQ sauce to cut carbs and calories
    • 4 slices bacon cooked and crumbled
    • 1 cup Monterey Jack cheese shredded
    • 1-2 plum tomatoes diced
    • ½ cup green onion sliced thin (optional)

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350°F.
    • Place chicken in a baking dish or sheet pan coated with non-stick cooking spray and cover with barbecue sauce.
    • Top with bacon and cheese, reserving a little of each for garnish if desired.
    • Bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165°F.
    • Remove and top with diced tomatoes and sliced green onions.

    Notes

    See more expert tips, variations, and pictures above.
    • Storage. Store leftovers in a sealed container in the refrigerator for about 3 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months.
    • Reheat. Cover and warm in the oven on low heat (325°F) or in the microwave at 50% power.
    • Make-Ahead. Assemble the dinner up to the point of cooking. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 1-2 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months. When you're ready to enjoy it, defrost the dish in the refrigerator overnight and cook it as you normally would.
    Grab 5 Low-Carb Saucesand get more easy, healthy recipes! JOIN HERE

    Nutrition

    Calories: 464kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 111mg | Sodium: 1167mg | Potassium: 831mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 25g | Vitamin A: 1050IU | Vitamin C: 12.6mg | Calcium: 255mg | Iron: 1.5mg
    Nutritional and Food Safety Disclaimer

     This recipe was originally published on June 17, 2015 and has been updated to improve the reader experience.

    More Chicken Recipes

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      Easy Turkey Tenderloin Marinade Recipe
    • One pot lasagna soup topped with two dollops of ricotta cheese and garnished basil and more mozzarella cheese in a white bowl on a red checkered napkin.
      Easy One Pot Lasagna Soup Recipe
    • Creamy shredded chicken salad made with leftover chicken in a glass bowl with a spoon.
      Shredded Chicken Salad Recipe (Using Leftovers)
    • A serving of Mediterranean chicken bake with zucchini, artichokes, tomatoes, and a balsamic vinaigrette on a plate with a fork.
      Mediterranean Chicken Bake - Easy One Pan Recipe!
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      Recipe Rating




    1. Martha

      June 19, 2015 at 7:46 am

      I just found dinner! 🙂 We have all of the ingredients to make this TONIGHT!

      Reply
    2. Lizzie

      September 01, 2017 at 10:30 am

      5 stars
      This is such an easy, flavoursome dish! Great tips for keeping it simple too, though I'd never cook bacon in the microwave! It looks similar to hunters' chicken.

      Reply
    3. Elaine

      September 01, 2017 at 10:46 am

      5 stars
      Yummy. This looks so delicious! I can't wait to make this for my hubby! Great recipe!

      Reply
    4. Amy

      September 01, 2017 at 11:04 am

      5 stars
      What an amazing combination! You really can't beat chicken, bacon and cheese

      Reply

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    This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure.

    Chili's Monterey Chicken on a platter.

    Thanks for stopping by! We're sharing easy, healthy recipes. . . many from the Meal Assembly Kitchens we owned. Most are low-carb too! Read more about us here.

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