Air Fryer Monterey Chicken
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Air Fryer Monterey chicken is a fantastic healthier version of an old Chili’s favorite! Chicken breasts covered in barbecue sauce, cheese, bacon and tomatoes or pico de gallo. A super quick and easy dinner option that the whole family will chow down on!
Air Fryer Monterey chicken is a fully loaded flavor bomb that tastes just like sitting in the booth at Chili’s. With this recipe, you can make it skinny-ish in the comfort of your own home in less than 30 minutes
I kind of did a little research (by research I mean I googled and nothing came up in the first 12 results so I gave up) where Monterey Chicken came from. I figured it had to have some sort of back story, but nothing! It’s so good! Have you had it before? Do you know where it originated?
Monterey Chicken from Chili’s is kind of nostalgic for me. When I was a 14 or 15 we had just gotten a Chili’s in our small town. My friends and I immediately made it “our place” to go when we would “go out on the town” in our extra sparkly lipgloss and love spell lotion on Friday night. Going out on the town basically meant we’d get dinner at Chili’s and/or go see a movie and wait for my mom to come get us. I can’t tell you how many laughs were shared over a plate of Monterey Chicken and mashed potatoes. It still makes me think of all those dorky dinner dates I’d share with my friends back then.
Since then, they’ve actually discontinued it as a meal on its own which annoyed the crap out of me so I decided to make it at home instead. I’m super excited to share this recipe for my Air Fryer Monterey Chicken with you because I think you’ll just love it so much!
Let’s make Air Fryer Monterey Chicken!
First we’re going to prep some tomatoes and green onions. This dish is traditionally topped with either chopped tomatoes and onions or pico de gallo. Both options are super delicious. I go back and forth between the two, but decided that I’d keep it simple. It’s also good without the chopped tomatoes too! It’s up to you.
You should prep this part before getting started on the chicken so it’s all ready to go when the chicken is done. Chop up one or two (seeded) Roma tomatoes and about 2-3 green onions. I throw’m into a Tupperware, cover it, and place in the fridge until ready to plate your chicken.
Ah, a photo of raw chicken. How delightful!
Grab two large chicken breasts (about 8 oz each) and slice in half so they’re about 4 oz each. Spray each side of chicken with avocado oil spray, mix up 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp kosher salt, and 1/4 tsp pepper, and rub into both sides of chicken.
I prefer using Avocado Oil Spray in the Air Fryer because it’s the best in high temperature situations. It also doesn’t leave a “crusty” film you have to scrub the daylights out of on the Air Fryer pan. You can find Avocado Oil Spray in any ol’ grocery store near where the other cooking sprays are.
Be sure to preheat your Air Fryer for about 5 minutes at 360 degrees.
Place chicken (without any BBQ sauce or toppins) in preheated Air Fryer and cook for about 6 minutes.
After the timer beeps, flip chicken, and brush both sides of chicken with BBQ sauce. Top evenly with reduced fat Mexican style shredded cheese, and chopped crispy center cut bacon. It works out to be about one tbsp of BBQ sauce, 2 tbsp of cheese, and 1 piece of bacon per chicken breast.
Continue to cook in the Air Fryer for another 6-8minutes or the chicken temps at 165 degrees. I’ll usually take it out around 162 degrees then let it rest for a few minutes. It’ll finish cooking those few extra degrees while you leave it alone and let the juices redistribute. The exact time really depends on how thick your chicken is. For thinner breasts I would check the temp sooner. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. The best way to get yourself properly cooked chicken is by temping it. This thermometer is my tried and true trusty companion.
I use Sugar Free G. Hughes BBQ Sauce most of the time. If you’re not into Sugar Free stuff, totally fine! Sometimes I just use regular since it’s just about one tablespoon of sauce per piece of chicken. Eric prefers it with regular so I just make half a batch that way. Easy to please everyone with this recipe.
I use this Air Fryer and love it! I really appreciate that it’s 7 quart so I don’t have to work in batches.
And you’re all done! Despite the lengthy instructions, this Air Fryer Monterey Chicken really couldn’t be any easier to make!
Top it off (if you choose to) with the chopped tomato and green onion mixture or some pico de gallo!
I hope you enjoy!
Air Fryer Monterey Chicken
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 large chicken breasts(about 8 oz each) cut in half to make them about 4 oz each
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 cup BBQ Sauce (I use G Hughes Sugar Free BBQ sauce, but any kind will do)
- 1/2 cup shredded Reduced Fat Mexican Cheese (I love the Kroger brand's blend of Reduced Fat colby jack, monterey jack, cheddar, and mozzarella)
- 4 slices cooked and chopped center cut bacon I use Oscar Meyer
- Avocado Oil Spray (you can find this in any grocery store near the other cooking sprays. I prefer using this, but any cooking spray will work)
Topping (optional)
- 1-2 roma tomates (seeded and diced)
- 3-4 green onions (green and white parts) (diced)
- you can also do Pico De Gallo on top
Instructions
- Preheat Air Fryer to 360 degrees.
- Mix together garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Spray chicken on both sides with avocado oil spray then rub with the spices. Place in the Air Fryer and cook for 6 minutes.
- Flip chicken over and brush each side with evenly with BBQ sauce then top with cheese and bacon. (It works out to be about 1 tbsp of sauce, 2 tbsp of cheese, and 1 slice of center cut bacon per piece of chicken if you want to be super accurate)
- Continue to cook chicken in the Air Fryer for an additional 6-8 minutes. *It really depends on the thickness of your chicken how much longer it will need. I always recommend using a meat thermometor to temp your chicken to determine if its done or not. I take it out around 162ish degrees and set on a plate for a few minutes to finish cooking and let the juices redistribute.
- If you choose to, top them off with chopped tomatoes and green onions or pico de gallo.
Oh. My. Goodness! This is sooo good! Next time, I think I’ll save some weeklies and use more cheese and bacon.
Let me encourage everyone to try. Very easy and quite tasty.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve printed but never made this recipe. Now I’m kicking myself. The whole family gave it 5 stars! I served it with your Mexican Street Corn. Great combo and it will be in our regular rotation.
This was my fist time making this and it was good, except the cheese was really crunchy and kind of hard. Next time I’ll wait and add the cheese and bacon for just the last minute
Maybe it was the reduced fat cheese?
Hm, might have been the brand of cheese? I’m not sure! Mine is always soft and melty. Sounds like a good plan to wait and add it later just in case!
This looks really good but I would love to know how to cook it in an instant pot or baked in the oven.
Oh my gosh, this looks soooo good! I have many fond memories of this dish as a teen. This is going on the menu for next week for sure!
This is a family favorite! We love this dish. #top2021
This recipe was amazing!!! Definitely making again!!
A family favorite, and sends me back to me BK (before kids) days when we went to Chili’s on the regular. #top2021
#top2021 One of my favorite recipes. So incredibly simple and quick, and so tasty. Plus, its all ingredients we usually have on hand! It’s a go-to when we don’t know what to make.
This recipe is SO easy and SO SO SO yummy! #top2021
This is a favourite in my house. Really easy recipe and quick for days where you don’t have much time to cook. The chicken turns out so juicy. Simple, but delish! #top2021
Excellent recipe #top2021
A weekend favorite! Super easy to make and delicious! Also super low calorie! #top2021
So easy! My picky man child loves this recipe so thank you!! Yummy #top2021
Delicious! Everything cooked up so nicely in the air fryer! Will definitely make again. #top2021
Anything in the air fryer is my jam. This was so good! #top2021
#top2021
This was on of my very first air fryer recipes. I had no idea what I was doing, but the directions were so easy to follow and the end result was amazing! The chicken was perfectly cooked and so flavorful! You made me an air fryer convert!
So good and SO easy! Made this for dinner and my boyfriend kept asking if I was sure this was the “heathy version” lol. It was a huge hit and definitely on our repeat list for meals.
Easy and delicious! I like to dip it in honey mustard. Yum!
This is the BEST chicken! So much flavor and comes together so fast in the air fryer!