How to Make Easy-Cheesy Grilled Monterey Chicken

This easy-cheesy Grilled Monterey Chicken is the most delicious combo ever. (Cheese + Bacon + BBQ = YES) You’re going to want this on the menu this weekend FOR SURE. A big thanks to Crystal Farms® for sponsoring this cheesy goodness AND a chance to win a Grilling Prize Pack full of Cuisinart goodies!

Look at that CHEESE.

Not all grilled chicken recipes were created equal… and let me just say, this easy-cheesy Grilled Monterey Chicken is Ahhhh-mazing. My family literally devours this summertime favorite. (Although, really, can any recipe be less than delicious when involving both CHEESE and BACON?)

For me, what puts this grilled chicken recipe over the edge is the sweet and tangy surprise of BBQ sauce hiding under the mellow, melted Crystal Farms® Marble Jack Cheese slice. Your family can enjoy this grilled chicken straight up with traditional veggies and potatoes, or the combo is also perfect on a pretzel bun as a sandwich, too.

So, let’s get started…

I’m not sure who does the grillin’ at your house, but in our backyard, the grill is my domain.

Mom by day.

Grill Master by night.

Over the years, I’ve finally ROCKED the art of grilled chicken with a few simple tricks. So, before we dive into the Grilled Monterey Chicken recipe below, let’s talk grilling basics. Here are three tips to ensure perfect grilled chicken breasts EVERY TIME:

1. PREHEAT your grill so that it’s super-duper hot by the time you use it.
2. Always POUND your boneless chicken breasts to a uniform thickness to ensure an even cook.
3. Keep the lid closed on your meat, and only FLIP ONCE.

When I made this Grilled Monterey Chicken recipe this week, I used a simple marinade (1/2 cup olive oil & vinegar dressing, 3T soy sauce, 1T Worcestershire sauce) in a gallon-sized Ziploc bag as I pounded the chicken to approximately one-half inch thick. If you don’t have these marinade ingredients on hand, just sprinkle some seasoned salt on your chicken breasts. That’s easy and delicious, too.

Next, throw your chicken breasts on the preheated grill (smoother-side down). Close the lid and set a timer on your phone for 6 minutes.

What I love about this grilled chicken marinade is that when it hits the super-duper-hot grill grate, it will elicit a small burst of flames, giving your chicken breasts great color, a delicious grilled flavor (even from a gas grill), and those fancy-dancy black grill marks.

After 6 minutes has passed, flip the chicken. Remember: Only flip the meat ONE TIME.

I usually grill “side two” of the boneless chicken breasts for 4–6 minutes, depending on the thickness. (Use a grill-safe meat thermometer to ensure the poultry hits a safe 165 degrees.) At this point, turn the grill down to low and leave the lid open as you grab your accoutrements:

• BBQ sauce
• Crystal Farms® Marble Jack Premium Deli Cheese Slices
• Crumbled bacon

The first step in finalizing your Monterey Chicken is to add a healthy strip of your favorite BBQ sauce to the cooked chicken breast. Now, traditionally Monterey Chicken recipes use honey within the marinade, but I prefer to just use a sweet BBQ sauce instead.

Next, top each BBQ chicken breast with a slice of Crystal Farms® Marble Jack Cheese. It’s a tasty blend of orange Colby and white Monterey Jack cheese.

Oh, glorious cheese. 

I admit, being from Wisconsin, my girls and I like to sneak a sample slice from the cheese pile as it sits waiting to top the BBQ chicken. (They give you 10 slices… 6 for the recipe, plus a few extras for “chef sampling”!)

Finally, add the bacon. Liberally sprinkle fresh crumbles over the Crystal Farms® Marble Jack Cheese. Then turn off the grill and close the lid for 1–2 minutes.

What happens next is magic…
Mmmmmm. Melty goodness.

Of course, what makes this recipe insanely delicious is the CHEESE.

Here in Wisconsin, cheese is a big part of our culture. In fact, we even wear it on our heads. (Look for us “Cheeseheads” cheering in the stadiums during football season!)

What I love about Crystal Farms® products is that they are made BY cheese lovers FOR cheese lovers. Here’s a little bit about today’s local recipe sponsor:

Crystal Farms® is nestled in the heart of America’s Dairyland, calling Lake Mills, Wisconsin, home for the past 25 years. Today, the Crystal Farms® brand is one of the largest cheese brands in the country, but the hard-working people of this small city (population only 5,708) are devoted to delivering consistent quality and great-tasting products for what they love—CHEESE. Crystal Farms® cheese products are natural with few preservatives, a rich source of calcium, gluten-free, and lactose tolerant.

But what I love most about Crystal Farms® is their…
Small town roots. Big time quality.
Read their full story here.

Doesn’t this easy-cheesy chicken recipe sound amazing?!?

You can enjoy this Grilled Monterey Chicken as a classic combo with veggies and potatoes or as a delicious sandwich. (Pretzel buns are our favorite!)

Here’s the official recipe, if you’d like to print it.

What’s more… To get you into the grilling mood this summer, Crystal Farms® is giving away a Grilling Prize Pack to one lucky reader. This awesome prize pack will include:

• A Cuisinart Deluxe Stainless-Steel Grill Set,
• A Cuisinart Nonstick Grilling Basket, AND
• A Cuisinart Stainless-Steel Grilling Platter

How cool is that? Enter below for a chance to win.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I know your family is going to love this recipe as much as mine does. If you have any questions about the grilling process or the recipe, let me know in the comments. You’ll want this easy-cheesy Grilled Monterey Chicken on the menu this week FOR SURE.

Happy grilling,

Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Crystal Farms® Cheese. The company who sponsored it compensated me via a cash payment, gift, or something else of value to write it. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Pin it for later: