Monterey Chicken
Ingredients
Serves 4
For the Chicken
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4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 180g / 6 oz each)
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1 tbsp olive oil
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1 tsp garlic powder
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1 tsp onion powder
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½ tsp smoked paprika
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½ tsp salt
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¼ tsp black pepper
For the Toppings
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120ml (½ cup) barbecue sauce (hickory or honey-smoked works great)
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8 slices crispy cooked bacon, crumbled or halved
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120g (1 cup) shredded Monterey Jack cheese
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60g (½ cup) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
For the Fresh Salsa Topping
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2 ripe Roma tomatoes, seeded and diced
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3 green onions, thinly sliced
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1 tbsp fresh parsley or coriander (cilantro), chopped
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Squeeze of lime juice
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Pinch of salt
Method
1. Prep the Chicken
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Preheat oven to 200°C (400°F) .
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If the chicken breasts are thick, butterfly them or pound to an even 2 cm (¾ inch) thickness so they cook evenly.
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Rub the chicken with olive oil, then season both sides with garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.
2. Sear the Chicken
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Heat an oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken for 3-4 minutes per side until deeply golden. It doesn’t need to be cooked through yet.
3. Sauce and Top
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Brush the top of each chicken breast generously with barbecue sauce.
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Sprinkle the crumbled bacon over the sauce.
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Mix the Monterey Jack and cheddar cheeses together, then pile generously on top of each breast.
4. Bake
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Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven (or move chicken to a baking dish if your skillet isn’t oven-safe).
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Bake for 12-18 minutes, until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and beginning to brown, and the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 74°C (165°F) .
5. Fresh Salsa
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While the chicken bakes, mix the diced tomatoes, green onions, parsley, lime juice, and a pinch of salt in a small bowl.
6. Serve
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Plate the chicken and spoon the fresh tomato topping over each piece. Add an extra drizzle of barbecue sauce if desired.
Serving Suggestions
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Garlic mashed potatoes or loaded baked potatoes
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Steamed green beans or a crisp garden salad
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Corn on the cob with chili-lime butter
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Texas toast or crusty bread to soak up the extra sauce
Variations
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Spicy Kick: Add pickled jalapeños under the cheese.
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Smokier Flavor: Use smoked bacon and fire-roasted tomatoes.
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Extra Lean: Use turkey bacon and reduced-fat cheese.
Let me know if you’d like a slow-cooker version or a grilling method for this recipe.