Crockpot Monterey Chicken
A new crockpot recipe! Making quick and delicious midweek meals in my slow cooker is my Roman Empire, and my newest creation is this crockpot Monterey chicken. We’re going to be cooking chicken breasts in a bbq and tomato sauce and topping them with melted cheese, bacon, and scallions, to make a fuss-free family dinner that’s just the ticket for busy days. I love serving mine with mashed potatoes and green beans, and I think this might just become a new favorite to add to your rotation!
Ingredients
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Chicken breasts
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Garlic powder
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Onion powder
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Smoked paprika
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Salt & pepper
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BBQ sauce
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Canned tomatoes with green chiles
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Bacon
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Colby Jack cheese
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Tomato
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Scallions
How To Make Crockpot Monterey Chicken
Please note that I’ve included a printable recipe card for you towards the bottom of this post!
- Season the chicken breasts with the garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt and pepper.
- In a large skillet over medium high heat, brown the chicken breasts for 2-3 minutes per side until just golden.
- Add your chicken to the crockpot.
- Pour over 1 cup of bbq sauce and the canned tomatoes with green chiles (you’ll use the remaining bbq sauce later!).
- Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours until tender.
- 10 minutes before serving, carefully remove half of the liquid from the slow cooker.
- Top the chicken breasts with the remaining bbq sauce.
- Add a slice of cheese to each of the chicken breasts.
- Top each one with the bacon, chopped tomatoes and scallions.
- Cover and let cook 10 more minutes until the cheese is melted.
- Serve and enjoy!
Serving Suggestions
Crockpot Monterey chicken is rich, saucy, and packed with bold flavor—so it pairs best with simple sides that let it shine. Here are a few easy ways to round out your plate:
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Mashed Potatoes: The creamy texture is perfect for soaking up that savory tomato-BBQ sauce. It’s classic comfort food, and it works.
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Green Beans: A side of steamed or sautéed green beans adds freshness and crunch to balance out the richness of the chicken and cheese.
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Rice or Cauliflower Rice: Great for a low-effort, weeknight-friendly base. Spoon the chicken and sauce right over the top.
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Crusty Bread or Dinner Rolls: For sopping up every last bit of sauce—because trust us, you won’t want to leave any behind.
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Side Salad: A simple green salad with a light vinaigrette adds a fresh contrast to the warm, cheesy main dish.
Tips & Tricks
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Leftovers? No problem – Store any extras in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. The flavors get even better the next day.
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BBQ sauce is your call – Sweet, smoky, spicy—use whatever BBQ sauce you love most.
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Turn up the heat – Like it hot? Add extra red pepper flakes or a splash of hot sauce to give it some kick.
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Thighs over breasts? Go for it – Boneless, skinless chicken thighs work just as well and stay super juicy after a long cook.
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Cheese swap – Cheddar melts beautifully too. Use what you have—or go half and half.
Crockpot Monterey Chicken
Ingredients
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups bbq sauce divided
- 10 ounce canned tomatoes with green chiles drained
- 8 slices bacon cooked, crumbled
- 4 slices colby jack cheese
- 1 tomato diced
- 4 scallions diced
Instructions
- Season the chicken breasts with the garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt and pepper.
- In a large skillet over medium high heat, brown the chicken breasts for 2-3 minutes per side until just golden.
- Add your chicken to the crockpot.
- Pour over 1 cup of bbq sauce and the canned tomatoes with green chiles (you'll use the remaining bbq sauce later!).
- Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours until tender.
- 10 minutes before serving, carefully remove half of the liquid from the slow cooker.
- Top the chicken breasts with the remaining bbq sauce.
- Add a slice of cheese to each of the chicken breasts.
- Top each one with the bacon, chopped tomatoes and scallions.
- Cover and let cook 10 more minutes until the cheese is melted.
- Serve and enjoy!
If you’ve tried this crockpot chicken dish, I’d really love to hear your thoughts! You can tag me in your photos on Instagram @slimmingviolet, or leave a quick review in the comments section below. I read and respond to every comment, and it really helps me with the process of creating and developing more recipe you’ll love making in your own kitchen.
