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This mouthwatering Monterey chicken is slathered in tangy barbecue sauce, covered in melty cheese, and topped with crisp bacon and sweet tomatoes. The combination of all these flavors creates a satisfying dish your family will want on repeat!

Overhead shot of Monterey chicken in a baking dish. Overhead shot of Monterey chicken in a baking dish.

Reasons You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Family-Friendly: This recipe is seriously so good and your whole family, the kiddos to the old guys will love it! Its probably because of the delicious combo of chicken, cheese, bacon, and BBQ sauce!
  • Simple and Easy: Marinate the chicken the night before, and you’ll have a quick, tasty dinner ready to go on those busy weeknights.
  • Money Saver: Love dining out but want to save some cash? This copycat of Chili’s Monterey chicken tastes even better—and won’t break the bank!

Easy Monterey Chicken Recipe Ingredients

The ingredients needed for this Chili’s copycat recipe are simple and work so well together. Scroll to the bottom of the post for exact measurements.

  • Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts: Chicken is my favorite protein for recipes like this. It absorbs the flavor so well and is so tender and juicy when it’s baked!
  • Honey: This adds the perfect touch of sweetness to balance the savory flavors happening in this dish.
  • Soy Sauce: I feel like no marinade is complete without soy sauce! it just gives the perfect amount of flavor and saltinesss.
  • Worcestershire Sauce: Provides a complex depth of flavor you can’t get anywhere else.
  • Minced Garlic: Garlic is one of those ingredients you can measure with your heart! It adds so much delicious savory flavor.
  • Salt: Enhances everything in the marinade.
  • Pepper: Adds a bit of heat and enhances the other flavors in the dish.
  • Applewood Smoked Bacon: Provides a rich, smokey flavor and a delightful texture to this Monterey chicken.
  • Barbeque Sauce: Use your favorite barbecue sauce. It adds so much moisture and flavor.
  • Shredded Monterey Jack Cheese: With the name Monterey in the title you know this cheese is perfect for this recipe! It gives the perfect salty, cheesy goodness on top of the chicken breasts.
  • Diced Roma Tomatoes: Add a burst of freshness with a tangy flavor and a hint of sweetness
  • Chopped Green Onions: This gives the dish a pop of color and a punch of onion flavor.
Overhead shot of labeled ingredients. Overhead shot of labeled ingredients.

Chili’s Copycat Monterey Chicken

This Monterey chicken dish is so easy to put together. You make the marinade, bake the chicken, then broil the cheese and sauce, and dinner is served! Just make sure to give yourself enough time to let the chicken marinate.

  1. Make Marinade: Mix the honey, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, salt, and pepper in a large sealable bag or bowl.
  2. Marinate Chicken: Add the chicken breasts to the marinade and marinate for at least an hour or overnight.
  3. Bake Chicken: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, then place the marinated chicken into a 9×13-inch baking dish. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 30-40 minutes, until the chicken has fully cooked.
  4. Cook Bacon: While the chicken is baking, fry the bacon, roughly chop it, and set it aside.
  5. Top Chicken: Take the chicken out of the oven, then remove the foil, and top each breast with BBQ sauce, shredded Monterey jack cheese, and cooked bacon.
  6. Broil Chicken: Set the broiler to high and broil the chicken until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
  7. Serve: Garnish with the diced tomato and green onion. Serve fresh, and enjoy!
Overhead shot of marinade in a bowl. Overhead shot of marinade in a bowl.
Overhead shot of chicken breasts in marinade in a bowl. Overhead shot of chicken breasts in marinade in a bowl.
Overhead shot of marinated chicken in a baking dish. Overhead shot of marinated chicken in a baking dish.
Angle shot of cooke bacon cut on a cutting board. Angle shot of cooke bacon cut on a cutting board.
Overhead shot of cooked chicken in a baking dish with BBQ sauce spread on top. Overhead shot of cooked chicken in a baking dish with BBQ sauce spread on top.
Overhead shot of a baking dish with chicken breasts with BBQ sauce and cheese spread on top. Overhead shot of a baking dish with chicken breasts with BBQ sauce and cheese spread on top.

Monterey Chicken Variations

  • Chicken: You can use chicken thighs instead of breasts. Just be sure to bake them enough and that the chicken is thoroughly cooked. 
  • Bacon: This recipe calls for applewood smoked bacon, but you can use any bacon you prefer. 

Close up shot of cooked Monterey chicken breast being lifted out of the baking dish, Close up shot of cooked Monterey chicken breast being lifted out of the baking dish,

Ideas for What to Serve with Monterey Chicken

Let me help you put together the simplest and most delicious dinner ever!

  • Side: Start with my super easy crock pot mashed potatoes. They are rich and creamy; you just have to set it and forget it!
  • Salad: Let’s make another fun copycat recipe with this Olive Garden salad copycat. It’s fresh and tangy and will go perfectly with the Monterey chicken.
  • Vegetable: You will love how quick and easy this air fryer corn on the cob recipe is. The buttery sweetness of corn will complement the savory chicken and the tangy salad.
  • Dessert: Finish your night with this sweet, simple, no-bake key lime pie. It will be the perfect fresh end to your delicious night!

Storing Leftover Monterey Chicken

Side shot of plated Monterey chicken cut in half. Side shot of plated Monterey chicken cut in half.

More Cheese, Bacon, and Chicken Recipes

I absolutely love the combination of chicken, cheese, and bacon! They are all just meant to go together. The salty, crispy bacon and melty cheese complement the tender chicken in the recipes below!

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  • Mix the honey, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, salt, and pepper in a large sealable bag or bowl.

  • Add the chicken breasts to the marinade and marinate for at least an hour or overnight.

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the marinated chicken into a 9×13-inch baking dish. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 30-40 minutes, until the chicken has fully cooked.

  • While the chicken is baking, fry the bacon, roughly chop it, and set it aside.

  • Pull the chicken out of the oven, remove the foil, top each chicken cutlet with barbecue sauce, cooked bacon, and shredded Monterey jack cheese.

  • Set the broiler to high and broil the chicken until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

  • Garnish with the tomatoes and green onion. Serve fresh, and enjoy!

Originally Posted on December 28, 2012
Updated on September 13, 2024

Calories: 700kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 63gFat: 32gSaturated Fat: 13gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 199mgSodium: 2361mgPotassium: 1270mgFiber: 1gSugar: 32gVitamin A: 713IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 264mgIron: 3mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.