Ingredients
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.5 lbs total), pounded to 1/2-inch thickness
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
6 slices bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled
1/2 cup your favorite BBQ sauce
1.5 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
2 tablespoons olive oil (or bacon fat from cooking)
Instructions
Step 1: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
Step 2: Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Season both sides with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.
Step 3: In a large oven-safe skillet (cast iron works best), cook the bacon over medium heat until crispy. Remove bacon, drain on paper towels, and crumble once cool. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon of bacon fat from the skillet.
Step 4: Add olive oil (or remaining bacon fat) to the skillet and increase heat to medium-high. Add the seasoned chicken breasts and sear for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown. The chicken does not need to be cooked through at this stage.
Step 5: Reduce heat to low. Spoon BBQ sauce evenly over each chicken breast, ensuring good coverage.
Step 6: Sprinkle the crumbled bacon over the BBQ sauce on each chicken breast, followed by a generous layer of shredded Monterey Jack cheese.
Step 7: Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through (internal temperature reaches 165°F / 74°C) and the cheese is bubbly and melted.
Step 8: Carefully remove the skillet from the oven. Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley or cilantro, if desired.
Notes
For best results, use a good quality BBQ sauce that you love. Pounding the chicken to an even thickness is key for even cooking and preventing dry chicken. Freshly shredded Monterey Jack cheese melts much better than pre-shredded. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated gently.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner Dishes
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 breast
- Calories: 420 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 780 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg
Keywords: Monterey Chicken, Easy Chicken Recipe, Skillet Chicken, BBQ Chicken, Bacon Chicken, Monterey Jack Chicken, Weeknight Dinner, Family Dinner, Quick Chicken, Baked Chicken
