Monterey Jack Chicken Recipe

Description:

Indulge in the succulent flavors of our Monterey Jack Chicken recipe, bursting with savory goodness and served alongside your favorite mashed potatoes. Topped with an easy-to-make salsa, this dish is guaranteed to transport your taste buds to culinary heaven!

Cook Time: 1 hour
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Recipe Category: One Dish Meal
Keywords: Chicken, Pork, Poultry, Meat, Savory, Oven, < 4 Hours

Nutritional Information:

Calories: 447.1 per serving
Fat Content: 25.2g
Saturated Fat Content: 12.4g
Cholesterol Content: 129.1mg
Sodium Content: 754.7mg
Carbohydrate Content: 17.3g
Fiber Content: 1.5g
Sugar Content: 11.2g
Protein Content: 34.8g

Ingredients:

4-6 boneless skinless chicken breasts
2-3 tablespoons butter
8 slices bacon
1/2 cup Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
1/2 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
1/2 cup barbecue sauce
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 onion, diced
1 tomato, diced
1 tablespoon white vinegar

Instructions:

1. Prepare Salsa Topping:

Begin by preparing the salsa topping at least one hour, or even a day, ahead of time.
In a small bowl, mix together the diced green bell pepper, onion, tomato, and white vinegar. Chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

2. Cook Chicken:

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
In a 13×9″ baking dish, arrange the chicken breasts, ensuring they are not touching each other.
Dot the chicken breasts with butter for added flavor.
Bake in the preheated oven for 30-45 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked and no longer pink in the center.

3. Prepare Cheese and Bacon:

While the chicken is cooking, fry the bacon in a skillet until crispy. Once cooked, crumble or chop the bacon into small pieces.
Shred the Monterey Jack and cheddar cheeses using a grater or cheese shredder.

4. Assemble and Bake:

Once the chicken is fully cooked, remove it from the oven and increase the oven temperature to 425°F (220°C), unless you prefer to use the broiler.
Spread barbecue sauce evenly over each chicken breast.
Next, layer the cooked bacon pieces over the barbecue sauce.
Sprinkle the shredded Monterey Jack and cheddar cheeses generously over the bacon and barbecue sauce.

5. Final Cooking:

Place the baking dish back into the hot oven or under the broiler for a few minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly, and the edges are golden brown.
Keep a close eye on the dish to prevent burning.
Once the cheese is melted and bubbly, remove the baking dish from the oven.

6. Serve:

Plate the Monterey Jack Chicken hot from the oven.
Top each serving generously with the chilled salsa topping prepared earlier.
Serve alongside your favorite side dishes, such as mashed potatoes or steamed vegetables, and enjoy the explosion of flavors in every bite!

This Monterey Jack Chicken recipe is a true crowd-pleaser, perfect for family dinners or entertaining guests. With its irresistible combination of tender chicken, crispy bacon, gooey melted cheese, and zesty salsa topping, it’s sure to become a favorite in your recipe collection. Give it a try and delight your taste buds today! 🍗🧀🥓