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.
Oh. My. Word.
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 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...
How to Make Monterey Chicken on the Grill
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:
- PREHEAT your grill so that it's super-duper hot by the time you use it.
- Always POUND your boneless chicken breasts to a uniform thickness to ensure an even cook.
- 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 (½ 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 accouterments:
- BBQ sauce
- Marble Jack 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 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 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.
Printable Monterey Chicken Recipe
Get a printable copy of this cheesy chicken recipe here!
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.
Ingredients
- 4–6 Boneless chicken breasts
- ½ cup BBQ sauce
- 4-6 Slices Crystal Farms® Marble Jack Cheese
- 4-6 slices Cooked bacon, crumbled
- Optional marinade: Olive oil & vinegar dressing, soy sauce, & Worcestershire sauce (Or, if you don’t have these on hand, use seasoned salt)
Instructions
- Preheat grill on high.
- Pound chicken in a gallon-sized Ziploc bag with optional marinade to approximately ½ inch thick.
- Grill boneless chicken breasts for 6 minutes with lid closed.
- Flip and grill chicken for an additional 4–6 minutes until meat reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Then turn grill temp to low.
- Top each cooked chicken breast with a strip of BBQ sauce, then cover with Crystal Farms® Marble Jack Cheese Slices and cooked bacon crumbles.
- Close grill lid for 1–2 minutes, until cheese is melted.
- ENJOY!
Nutrition Information
Yield 6 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 1646Total Fat 40gSaturated Fat 12gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 22gCholesterol 798mgSodium 1321mgCarbohydrates 11gFiber 0gSugar 8gProtein 291g
Disclaimer: Nutrition calculation is automatically calculated and may be inaccurate.
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!)
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,
So delicoius...
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.”
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