Monterey Chicken

Greatest company dinner ever. Amazing and gorgeous, not nearly as much work as it looks like and just incredible tasting. I’ve had this chicken on my Pinterest boards for a while now, just waiting for the right opportunity to make it. I served it up when my mother-in-law was visiting recently. Wow wow wow. I won’t be waiting long before making it again. It was glorious.

Start with some flattened chicken breasts and grill them up in a pan or on a grill. When they’re nice and golden, lay them out on a foil lined cookie sheet.

Then we start topping them. First, some BBQ sauce.

Then some cheese.

Then a mixture of tomatoes and chilies. At this point, the residual heat from the chicken started warming up all the toppings. The smell was ah-mazing. I got really distracted by it and forgot to take the pictures properly at each step. So, this is three steps all at once. The tomato mixture, bacon (mmmm, bacon) and some green onions.

Pop it into the oven for about 5 minutes to get everything all fully melted together.

Seriously unbelievably good. The flavors all blend together and it is just beyond deliciousness. Really, I’m begging you. Make it soon. Don’t wait for a big deal dinner. It’s easy enough for a weeknight!

Print Recipe for Monterey Chicken

Monterey Chicken
adapted from All Things Simple

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/4 cup bar-b-que sauce
1/4 cup real bacon bits
1 cup cheddar/monterey jack cheese, shredded
1 14 oz. can diced tomatoes, drained
1 5 oz can fire roasted green chiles
sliced green onions
salt & pepper

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Pound out chicken breasts to flatten. I cut mine in half lengthwise first, giving me 8 pieces. But they were HUGE breasts. Season with salt and pepper.
2. Over medium high heat (using either a non-stick skillet or a Foreman-type grill) grill chicken until no long pink (be careful not to overcook it) and place on baking sheet covered with foil.
3. Combine tomatoes and chiles in a bowl. Top each chicken breast with one tablespoon barbeque sauce, 1/8 c. cheese, 1/8 c. tomatoes/chilies, green onions and one tablespoon of bacon bits. Place in oven and bake until cheese is melted (about 5 minutes).

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