Print

Monterey Chicken Bake Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.7 from 79 reviews

Monterey Chicken Bake is a flavorful and easy-to-make oven-baked dish featuring tender chicken breasts topped with smoky bacon, tangy BBQ sauce, melted colby jack cheese, fresh grape tomatoes, and green onions. Perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner, this recipe combines savory and fresh ingredients for a delicious meal.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken and Sauce

  • 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast (thinly cut or pounded)
  • 6 tablespoons BBQ sauce

Toppings

  • 4 ounces bacon (regular or thin sliced)
  • 4 ounces grape tomatoes (quartered)
  • 1 cup colby jack cheese (shredded)
  • 2 green onions (sliced)

Instructions

  1. Prepare and preheat: Preheat the oven to 425˚F. Place the thinly cut or pounded chicken breasts flat in the bottom of a baking dish. Spread 1-2 tablespoons of BBQ sauce evenly over each chicken breast to infuse flavor.
  2. Add bacon and bake: Cut the bacon into slices that match the size of the chicken breasts and lay them on top of the chicken. Bake uncovered in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. For crispier bacon edges, broil the dish for an additional 2-5 minutes to achieve desired crispness.
  3. Top with cheese and continue cooking: Remove the dish from the oven and evenly sprinkle shredded colby jack cheese over the chicken and bacon. Reduce the oven temperature to 350˚F. Return the dish to the oven and bake for 5 more minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165˚F, ensuring it is fully cooked and juicy.
  4. Add fresh toppings and serve: Once cooked, remove the dish from the oven and sprinkle the quartered grape tomatoes and sliced green onions on top for a fresh contrast. Serve the Monterey Chicken Bake warm and enjoy the medley of smoky, cheesy, and fresh flavors.

Notes

  • For even cooking, pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness before baking.
  • Bacon thickness affects cooking time; thin sliced bacon crisps faster than thick-cut bacon.
  • Use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken reaches 165˚F for food safety.
  • Serve with a side of steamed vegetables or a fresh salad for a complete meal.
  • Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven to maintain crispness.

Keywords: Monterey Chicken Bake, baked chicken recipes, chicken with bacon and cheese, BBQ chicken bake, easy dinner recipes

Find it online: https://ellaeatsdaily.com/monterey-chicken-bake-recipe/