Monterey Chicken

Name: Monterey Chicken with Bacon and Pico de Gallo
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 6 slices bacon; 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.5 lbs); 1 tbsp olive oil; 1.5 tsp Adobo seasoning, divided; 1 tsp smoked paprika; 2 Roma tomatoes, diced; 1 jalapeño, seeded and diced; 1/4 red onion, diced; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped; 1 lime, juiced; 1/4 cup avocado oil; 1 tbsp white vinegar; black pepper, to taste; 1/2 cup BBQ sauce; 1.5 cups shredded Colby Jack cheese; 2 tbsp green onions, sliced

Monterey Chicken is a pan-seared chicken breast topped with smoky bacon, melted cheese, tangy BBQ sauce, and fresh pico de gallo—a copycat of Chili's discontinued favorite that delivers restaurant flavor in 30 minutes.

🌍American 🏷️Monterey chicken 🏷️Copycat recipe 🏷️Chicken breast 🏷️Bbq chicken Cheesy chicken

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🏷️Bacon

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TikTok

Total

30 min

Servings

4

Difficulty

Easy

Est. Cost

$31–$51

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From TikTok

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TikTok

Ingredients

6 slices bacon
2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.5 lbs)
1 tbsp olive oil
1.5 tsp Adobo seasoning, divided
1 tsp smoked paprika
2 Roma tomatoes, diced
1 jalapeño, seeded and diced
1/4 red onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
1 lime, juiced
1/4 cup avocado oil
1 tbsp white vinegar
black pepper, to taste
1/2 cup BBQ sauce
1.5 cups shredded Colby Jack cheese
2 tbsp green onions, slicedoptional

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Instructions

1
In a large, oven-safe skillet, cook the bacon over medium heat until crispy. Remove the bacon and set it on a paper towel-lined plate, leaving the rendered grease in the skillet.
2
Butterfly the chicken breasts by slicing them horizontally, creating four thinner cutlets.
3
Drizzle the chicken with olive oil and season both sides generously with 1 tsp of Adobo seasoning and the smoked paprika.
4
Place the seasoned chicken in the skillet with the bacon grease and cook for 4-5 minutes per side, or until golden brown and cooked through.
5
While the chicken is cooking, prepare the pico de gallo. In a medium bowl, combine the diced tomatoes, jalapeño, red onion, minced garlic, and chopped cilantro.
6
In a small bowl, whisk together the lime juice, avocado oil, white vinegar, the remaining 1/2 tsp of Adobo seasoning, and black pepper.
7
Pour the dressing over the pico de gallo ingredients and stir to combine.
8
Once the chicken is cooked, brush a layer of your favorite BBQ sauce over the top of each piece.
9
Crumble the cooked bacon and sprinkle it over the BBQ sauce.
10
Spoon the fresh pico de gallo over the bacon.
11
Top generously with shredded cheese and sliced green onions.
12
Place the skillet under the broiler for 1-2 minutes, just until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
13
Remove from the oven and serve immediately.

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Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Cook bacon until crispy first, then reserve the rendered fat to pan-sear the chicken for extra flavor and texture.
Pound chicken breasts to even 3/4-inch thickness to prevent dry edges and undercooked centers.
Add cheese and toppings during the last 1–2 minutes of cooking so the cheese melts without the chicken overcooking.
Let cooked chicken rest for 2–3 minutes before plating so juices redistribute and stay inside the meat.

Substitutions

Boneless, skinless chicken breasts → bone-in, skin-on breasts (add 5–8 minutes cooking time)
Bacon → crispy pancetta or smoked turkey bacon (for a lighter version)
Roma tomatoes → cherry tomatoes, halved, or fresh salsa (note: salsa may add extra liquid)