Instant Pot Monterey Chicken–tender chicken with bacon, cheese and BBQ sauce. A fun Chili’s copycat recipe, Instant Pot style!
Instant Pot Monterey Chicken
This is an easy recipe that is very satisfying without being over the top. The chicken is cooked in the Instant Pot and then covered with BBQ sauce, cheese and bacon crumbles. It comes together quickly. It tastes great served with steamed red potatoes and broccoli.
- This recipe uses chicken breast cutlets. A chicken cutlet is a chicken breast that has been cut in half horizontally to make two thinner pieces. I bought the chicken like this at the grocery store. They were about a half inch thick. I like using cutlets because they cook quickly and they cook more evenly than whole chicken breasts. If you’d like you can make chicken cutlets out of chicken breasts. I have not tried this recipe with frozen pieces of chicken. If you do try that I would increase the pressure cook time by 2-3 minutes.
- Do not quick release the pressure as it will toughen up the chicken. Instead let the pressure release on its own for 10 minutes and then move the valve to venting.
- I used a combination of cheeses…Monterey, mozzarella and cheddar. You can use your own combination if you’d like!
- I like buying the big bacon of bacon crumbles at Costco and keeping them in my fridge or freezer for recipes like this one. It makes it convenient rather than frying up bacon on the stove, although you can totally do that if you’d like.
- I used my 6 quart Instant Pot.* You can also make this in the 3 or 8 quart pot. Stagger the chicken pieces in the 3 quart pot instead of stacking them right on top of each other.
- Make it low carb by using a low carb BBQ sauce and forgoing the tomatoes.
- This recipe can be gluten free. Just make sure to pick out a gluten free BBQ sauce.
More Instant Pot Chicken Recipes You’ll Love…
Instant Pot Dr. Pepper Chicken
Instant Pot Cheesecake Factory Cashew Chicken
Instant Pot Cheesy Sour Cream Chicken
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Instant Pot Monterey Chicken
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 minutes (plus 10 minute NPR)
- Total Time: 17 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
Tender chicken with bacon, cheese and BBQ sauce. A fun Chili’s copycat recipe, Instant Pot style!
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast cutlets
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 cup your favorite BBQ sauce
- 1/4 cup bacon crumbles
- 1/4 cup shredded Monterey jack cheese
- 1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup diced tomatoes
- 1/4 cup diced green onion
Instructions
- Pour 1 ½ cups water in the bottom of the Instant Pot. Place a trivet in the bottom of the Instant Pot.
- Place chicken breasts cutlets on top of the trivet without stacking directly on top of each other. Stir together the garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper. Sprinkle over the chicken evenly.
- Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 7 minutes. When time is up let pot sit for 10 minutes and then move valve to venting. Remove the lid.
- Use tongs to place chicken on a plate. Remove the trivet and dump out the water. Place chicken back into bottom of Instant Pot.
- Baste the chicken with BBQ sauce, sprinkle with the bacon pieces, sprinkle the cheese on top. Cover the Instant Pot and keep on the warm setting for 3 minutes, until cheese is melted (or use an air fryer lid). Serve chicken topped with tomatoes and green onions.
Notes
A chicken cutlet is a chicken breast that has been cut in half horizontally to make two thinner pieces. I bought the chicken like this at the grocery store. They were about a half inch thick.
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Instant Pot
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NHow would you reheat leftovers? Should I go through step 4 the first night and then top and AF a bit longer when reheating? This sounds so good!
Yes I think that would work well!
Thanks for replying. I went to write my review and couldn’t find the air fryer version. I realized I was using a very similar recipe from another site that only used the air fryer. It did work the way I did it.. I air fried 2 breasts cut in half for 12 minutes (too long in the OmniPllus). I finished/reheated only one piece at a time since I’m only cooking for one. I topped the breast half and air fried for about 3 minutes at 360. When reheating, I used a product I’ve found helpful for getting a small amount of food out of the oven–the Instant Vortex Nonstick Perforated Pizza Pan from Amazon (https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B08B8XR6PR?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details). Next time, I’m using your recipe!
★★★★★
Hey Karen, you have been a lifesaver! Learning how to cook for one is not easy, esp. with all these lovely health issues that come with maturity (LOL). I now have “3” instant pots. I do up meals for a month (freezer portions). Then on iffy days I don’t have to worry about cooking (gotta eat, no excuses). I have tried so many of your recipes. Thanks for doing all the work for me. And yes I do make changes to suit my aging tummy. I also get upset when folks can’t read the recipe or follow directions. Gees, ya can’t make it any easier! You’re doing a great job! This GGma is so happy to have found you. Keep up the good work. My daughter is jealous. She’s only got 2 instant pots and she’s doing the freezer filler too! Yaaaa, Karen!!!
★★★★★
So glad you are using your IP and getting lots of good ideas here! Thanks for your nice comment and for following along!
Do I need to adjust the cooking time if I use chicken tenders?
I would use a 4 or 5 minute pressure cooking time for tenders.
Thanks, Karen. I’ll let you know how it comes out.
Absolutely Devine!! Love how easy this recipe is and how fresh it tastes.
★★★★★
Thanks Colleen!
If you double this recipe do you need to change the cooking time?
Nope, same cooking time
Thank you, Karen! Should I also double the water to put in at the bottom?
nope!
Thank you! Can’t wait to try it tonight!
Want to try this but I am low carb and the carb count is higher than I am allowed. Is it the barbecue sauce that causes the carb count to be so high? Do you think it would work without the barbecue sauce?
I would use a low carb BBQ sauce
Hubby & I LOVED this recipe!!! Our fav of all those we’ve tried in the IP…. so far. Thanks for all the great tips & ideas, Karen! Hope you keep ’em coming.
★★★★★
Oh that’s awesome! I am so happy you both enjoyed it! Thank you for the 5 stars.
Can I use boneless thighs for this? My husband does not like chicken breasts.
If so, would the cooking time change?
Yes you can. If you place them on the trivet I would cook them for 12-15 minutes with 10 minute natural pressure release.
Woo-hoo! Thanks for info. Guess what’s for dinner???
Will be back with stars.
Was so delicious. Can’t wait for leftovers because they will be better than first time around.
Karen, thanks for ALL you do to make our lives easier. I need all the help I can get!
★★★★★
Ahhh you’re welcome Kim! Thanks for your positivity!