Copycat Monterey Chicken Recipe

Name: Copycat Monterey Chicken
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 80 min
Ingredients: ½ cup Dijon mustard; ¼ cup honey; Salt and pepper; 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (trimmed, and about 6-8 ounces each ); ½ small red onion (cut into 1/2-inch slices); 4 slices bacon (cut into ½-inch pieces); 1 ½ cup shredded pepper Jack cheese; ½ cup cherry tomatoes (cut into quarters); 2 Tablespoons sliced green onion; Lime wedges for serving

Recipe Cost $10.53

Recipe Serving Cost $2.63

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This Copycat Monterey Chicken recipe is the perfect combination of honey-mustard chicken breasts, bacon, and melted Monterey Jack cheese. See how easy it is to make this easy and crave-worthy restaurant favorite at home!

This recipe serves four and costs approximately $10.53 to make. That works out to be about $2.63 per serving.

I like serving this chicken with a Spinach Salad, some Oven Roasted Broccoli, or Buttery Smoked Corn on the Cob.

An overhead picture of the finished Monterey Chicken recipe in a casserole dish.

Chicken is the most common food item I serve my family for dinner. But I have to admit, chicken can get a little blah after a while. But not with this Copycat recipe! It is SO incredibly flavorful and straightforward to make!

Chicken, cheese, bacon, honey, mustard, onion, and tomatoes. What’s not to like about this delicious chicken recipe? My family loves this dinner and asks for it often!

This Monterey Chicken is a copycat recipe made better at home. It is restaurant-quality food with minimal effort and will get rave reviews from everyone you serve it to.

A overhead picture of a piece of Monterey Chicken on a white plate.

Ingredients and Estimated Cost

Per Serving Cost: $2.63

Recipe Cost: $10.53

½ cup Dijon mustard – $0.32
¼ cup honey – $0.72
4 skinless chicken breasts – $4.42
4 slices bacon – $0.84
1 ½ cups Pepper Jack cheese – $2.62
½ small red onion – $0.70
½ cup cherry tomatoes – $0.80
2 Tablespoons green onions – $0.11

NOTE: The recipe prices are calculated by using grocery store websites. The actual cost of the recipe will vary depending on what ingredients you already have.

How To Make Monterey Chicken

First, using a small bowl, whisk together the mustard, honey, salt, and pepper. Reserve ¼ cup of the honey-mustard mixture.
Next, place the chicken and the rest of the honey-mustard mixture in a Ziplock back and shake to coat the chicken. Place the bag in the fridge to chill for at least thirty minutes.
Then, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and spray a 9×13-inch pan with non-stick cooking spray.
Set the chicken in the pan.
Add the onion slices on top of the chicken. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 35-40 minutes.
In a 10-inch skillet, over medium heat, cook the bacon for 5-7 minutes and then place it on a paper towel-lined plate.
After the chicken is done baking, spread the remaining honey-mustard mixture over it.
Then, top with bacon and cheese.
Place the dish back in the oven under the broiler. Broill until the cheese is bubbly.
Finally, top the dish with chopped tomatoes and green onions before serving.

***For complete recipe instructions, see the recipe card below.

Recipe Variations

You can double this recipe. You’ll need to use a bigger pan or use two pans.
Instead of pork bacon, you can use turkey bacon in this recipe or uncured bacon.
You can grill this chicken recipe instead of baking it. Preheat the grill to medium-high (about 375 degrees). Cook about 6-8 minutes per side, or until chicken is no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear.

A close up picture of the finished Monterey Chicken in a baking dish.

Storage and Serving Tips

SERVE: Serve with lime wedges. You can keep the Monterey chicken out for no more than two hours before they ned to be covered and refrigerated.

STORE: Leftovers can be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

REHEAT: To reheat, place the chicken back into the pan and cover it with foil. Warm it in the oven at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes.

FREEZE: This recipe does not freeze and thaw well so I do not recommend freezing it.

Recipe FAQ’s

What’s in Monterey Chicken?

Monterey Chicken typically consists of chicken breasts, cheese, and bacon, with a sauce slathered over the top. I use Pepper Jack cheese and a honey mustard sauce to smother the chicken and top with bacon pieces.

What kind of cheese do you use for Monterey Chicken?

I enjoy the extra kick of spice you get from Pepper Jack Cheese and so it is my top preference for this recipe. However, you can use other cheeses such as Colby Jack.

A piece of Monterey Chicken being taken out of the casserole dish.

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