This Monterey Chicken is a brilliant dinner for any night of the week and ticks all the boxes. Juicy chicken breasts are topped with BBQ sauce, melted Monterey Jack and Cheddar cheese, diced fresh tomatoes and crumbled bacon. It’s simple, full of flavour and comes together without any fuss, making it ideal when you need something quick but tasty.
The smoky BBQ sauce with a little honey is a delicious match with the melted cheese and salty bacon, and it pairs well with various sides. It’s a great recipe to make plain chicken a bit more interesting, and it’s always a big hit with the whole family, especially the kids.
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Calories in Monterey Chicken
This recipe serves 4 and is 336 calories per serving
If you're looking for more recipes within the same calorie range, you'll find an abundance of options in my dedicated collection of 300+ calorie recipes.
If you're following a calorie-controlled diet or a healthy eating plan, it's important to calculate your daily calorie needs using a reliable calorie calculator. The calorie counts provided are estimates and can vary depending on the exact ingredients and portion sizes you use. Using your own calculations helps ensure you're meeting your individual needs. A calorie calculator can help you make informed choices and stay on track with your goals.
See the recipe card for full nutritional estimation.
Ingredients Notes
To make this recipe you will need the following ingredients:
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts: Lean and high in protein, these are the perfect base for soaking up all the flavour from the toppings. Try to use evenly sized pieces so they cook at the same rate.
- Salt and pepper: A simple seasoning to bring out the natural flavour of the chicken. Don't skip it, even with all the toppings.
- Garlic powder: Adds a subtle savoury depth to the chicken without overpowering the BBQ sauce. A quick and easy way to build flavour.
- BBQ sauce: Smoky and rich, this is the star of the show. Use your favourite store-bought brand.
- Monterey Jack and cheddar: Both melt well and add a creamy, comforting layer. Monterey Jack is mild and smooth, while cheddar gives a bit more sharpness.
- Ripe tomatoes: Fresh and ripe, they help cut through the richness of the cheese and bacon. Dice them small so they scatter nicely over the top.
- Spring onions: Add a bit of freshness and colour at the end. Sprinkle them on just before serving for the best texture.
- Cooked slices of bacon: Crispy and salty, they bring that extra hit of flavour. Cook ahead and crumble over the top once everything’s baked.
Once you've gathered all the ingredients and prepared them accordingly, you're all set to create this easy and delightful recipe.
See the recipe card for specific quantities and instructions.
Variations and Substitutes
This recipe is easy to tweak depending on what you have on hand or your personal preferences. Here are a few ideas.
- Alternative Proteins: While not traditional, boneless skinless chicken thighs are a great alternative. They stay juicy and work just as well with the toppings. Lean boneless pork chops are another good option and bake up nicely with the same flavours.
- Cheese: If you do not have Monterey Jack, try mozzarella, a cheese blend, or even reduced-fat versions if preferred. Any cheese that melts well is great this recipe.
- Tomatoes: Cherry tomatoes or regular salad tomatoes chopped up small are fine if you do not have grape tomatoes. However ripe vibrant red tomatoes are the best for this recipe.
- Spring onions: Swap with chives, finely diced red onion or leave them out if you are not a fan.
- BBQ sauce: Use whatever brand you like. For a smoky twist, go for one with chipotle, or one with chilli notes for a spicy kick.
- Honey or Maple Syrup: add Just a little to balance the tanginess of the BBQ sauce and brings out a lovely sticky finish once baked.
- Bacon: Turkey bacon or even chopped pancetta can be used. Or leave it out entirely if you don't like pork of any kind.
How to Flatten Chicken Breasts
If your chicken breasts are quite thick, it’s a good idea to flatten them slightly so they cook more evenly and stay tender. Place one breast between two sheets of cling film or baking paper, then use a rolling pin or the flat side of a meat mallet to gently pound it to an even thickness, around 2 cm. This helps them cook at the same rate and gives you a better surface for the toppings. Repeat with the remaining pieces.
Sides for Monterey Chicken
There are loads of sides that work well with this dish. Here are a few ideas to get you started
- Lighter mashed potatoes – one of my personal favourites
- Buttered corn on the cob – simple but always a hit
- Garlic and Herb Wedges or Oven Baked Fries – great for something a bit more indulgent
- Herby Garlic Seasoned Rice – ideal if you want to keep it quick and fuss-free
- Sweet Potato Fries - great alternative to regular fries
- Side salad – fresh and light if you want to balance things out
- Roasted or steamed veg – easy to throw in while the chicken bakes
- Pasta – any shape works well with the BBQ flavours
Pick what suits your mood or whatever you’ve got in the fridge.
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Do you want more delicious Chicken recipes? Here are some of recipes that you will LOVE!
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or if you would like more recipe ideas - head on over to the FULL RECIPE INDEX where you will find over 900 delicious recipes with calories and you can search by meal type, ingredients, course, diet and more.
All recipes on Slimming Eats have estimated nutritional information for your convenience.
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Recipe Card
Monterey Chicken
This easy Monterey Chicken is loaded with flavour, featuring tender chicken breasts topped with smoky BBQ sauce, melted cheese, fresh tomatoes and crispy bacon for a fuss-free dinner the whole family will love.
Ingredients
- 4x 150g boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
- salt and pepper
- 6 tablespoons of your favourite barbecue sauce
- 40g Monterey Jack cheese, grated
- 40g cheddar, grated
- 2 small ripe tomatoes, finely chopped (remove juice and seeds)
- 4 slices of cooked lean bacon, chopped small
- 2 spring onions, chopped (green part)
- olive oil spray
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180°C fan (200°C conventional), 400°F or gas mark 6.
- Flatten the chicken breasts using a meat tenderiser, then sprinkle all over with garlic powder and season well with salt and black pepper.
- Heat a large frying pan over medium-high heat and spray with olive oil spray.
- Add the chicken and cook for a few minutes on each side until golden (They will finish cooking in the oven)
- Transfer the chicken to an oven dish, pour the barbecue sauce over the top, and sprinkle with the cheese and bacon
- Bake in the oven for 8 to 10 minutes, just until the cheese is melted and the chicken is cooked through.
- Remove from the oven and top with the diced tomatoes, and sliced spring onions.
- Serve and enjoy.
Notes
Please see below for full nutritional info and additional details about recipe:
- Calories - scroll down to nutritional info box
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Nutrition Information
Yield 4 Serving Size 1 SERVINGAmount Per Serving Calories 336Total Fat 11gSaturated Fat 5gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 7gCholesterol 58mgSodium 624mgCarbohydrates 13gFiber 1gSugar 10gProtein 45g
Nutritional information and values etc are an estimate and is to be used for informational purposes only. Ingredients can vary greatly from brand to brand and therefore it would be impossible to give accurate information. It is always advised that you calculate by the ingredients you use.
Claire says
Hi what can I use instead of jack cheese as we can’t get it in the uk
Siobhan (Slimming Eats) says
You can find Monterey Jack cheese in the UK at some grocery stores. Asda usually carries it. I’ve also listed some alternative cheeses you can use in the ‘Variations and Substitutes’ section of the post.
Jar says
What type of lean bacon would you use? Do you mean a medallion without the fat?
Siobhan (Slimming Eats) says
Any bacon that is lowish in calories is fine. You want it around 160 calories for 4 slices to keep the calories per serving around the same as in the nutritional box.
Charlie says
Can this be frozen ?
Siobhan (Slimming Eats) says
This recipe is best enjoyed when cooked, but there is nothing in the recipe that can't be frozen.