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Chicken topped with melted Colby Jack cheese, bacon, and sliced green onions, served with mashed potatoes on a patterned plate.

Easy Colby Jack Chicken with Bacon and BBQ Sauce

Grilled chicken brushed with BBQ sauce and topped with crispy bacon, melted Colby Jack cheese, and green onions. An easy homemade dinner inspired by my favorite Chili’s Monterey chicken.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, approximately 1½–2 pounds total
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • ½ cup James River BBQ sauce or your favorite BBQ sauce
  • 8 slices bacon cooked until crispy
  • 1 cup shredded Colby Jack cheese
  • 2 green onions thinly sliced
  • Prepared mashed potatoes for serving (optional)

Method
 

  1. Preheat the grill to medium heat, approximately 375–400°F. Cook the bacon until crispy and set aside.
  2. Pat the chicken dry. If the breasts are thick or uneven, pound them to an even thickness of approximately ½–¾ inch. Season with salt and pepper.
  3. Grill the chicken with the lid closed, turning halfway through, until nearly cooked through. Start checking around 5–7 minutes per side; the time will vary with thickness and grill temperature.
  4. Brush the chicken with BBQ sauce toward the end of cooking. Top each breast with two slices of cooked bacon and approximately ¼ cup shredded Colby Jack cheese.
  5. Close the grill lid and cook for another 1–3 minutes, until the cheese melts and the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F in the thickest part. Move to a cooler area of the grill if needed to prevent the sauce from scorching.
  6. Transfer to plates, top with sliced green onions, and serve with mashed potatoes if desired.

Notes

Use Monterey Jack in place of Colby Jack if preferred.
Adjust the sauce, bacon, and cheese amounts to your liking.
Brush the sauce on near the end of grilling to help prevent burning.
This is my homemade version inspired by Chili’s Monterey chicken, rather than an official restaurant recipe.