Smothered BBQ Chicken

This Smothered BBQ Chicken is inspired by my first memorable restaurant meal.  Let me start by saying that my family didn’t eat at restaurants very often when I was growing up.  Restaurants were for very special occasions or grabbing fast food on the run.  But once I got into high school, I started to explore on my own.  I was working, driving and had my own minimum wage income.  And I spent it on food!  

One of my earliest dining out memories is eating the Monterey Chicken from Chili’s.  Not very daring, but indulgent with seasoned chicken covered in barbecue sauce, bacon and cheese.  It was very different from anything I ate at home.  Now as an adult, I realized that this could be easily made in a skillet at home and my family would love it! 

Day Ahead Prep

Up to a day ahead (more time is better), combine the chicken with the salt, ground cumin, garlic powder, black pepper and chipotle chili powder.  Seal the seasoned chicken in a zippered plastic bag or in a lidded container and place in the fridge to marinate for up to 24 hours.

Ready To Cook 

I start with cooking the bacon in a large skillet.  Once it is crispy, set it aside on paper towels to drain, but don’t clean the pan!  Just carefully remove all but 2 tablespoons of the bacon drippings.  

Then brown the chicken on both sides in the pan with the bacon drippings.  This will add flavor and reduce clean up! I love wins like that;-)  When the chicken is almost cooked on the second side, generously brush barbecue sauce on top.  Then layer the tomato slices and bacon on next.  Mound the cheese on the bacon, then scatter scallions on top.  

Ready, Set, Melt!

To help the cheese melt, there are a few options.  If you have a lid for your skillet that is high enough that it won’t touch the cheese, use that to trap the heat in the pan for the last 2 minutes of cook time.  Otherwise, you can tent aluminum foil over the pan.  If the skillet you are using is oven safe, another option is to place the whole skillet in the oven with it set to high broil.  In less than a minute, the cheese will be melted and even a bit toasty!

More Gluten Free Main Dishes

Check out my Honey Dijon Roast Chicken, Easy Garlic Baked Shrimp, Veggie Lasagna, Italian Style Turkey Meatloaf, Honey Ginger Stir-Fry, Veggie Tacos with Coconut Lime Slaw, Nutty Baked Chicken, Pecan Crusted Pork Loin, Broiled Salmon with Creamy Basil Sauce and Filet Mignon with Madeira Mushrooms to name a few!

Smothered BBQ Chicken

Skillet made chicken with sweet BBQ sauce, tomatoes, bacon & cheese make this Smothered BBQ Chicken enjoyable any night of the week all year around.

4.75 from 4 votes

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Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 pieces

Calories: 732kcal

Ingredients  

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• 4 chicken breasts - boneless & skinless
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon ground pepper
• ¼ teaspoon chipotle chili powder
• 8 full slices bacon
• ⅓ cup BBQ Sauce - I use Sweet Baby Ray's
• 2 medium tomatoes - cut into 8 thin slices
• 8 oz shredded cheddar jack cheese
• 2 scallions - thinly sliced

Instructions

• Several hours to a day ahead, season the chicken breasts with salt, cumin, garlic powder, pepper and chipotle chili powder.  Cover and let marinate in the fridge.
• In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium-high heat until crisp on both sides.  Turn off the heat and remove the bacon from the pan. Let the bacon strips drain and rest on paper towels while you cook the chicken.
• In the pan you cooked the bacon in, remove all but about 1-2 tablespoons of bacon grease.  Turn the heat back to medium-high and brown the chicken on both sides.  Approximately 4-6 minutes each side, depending on thickness. 
• When the chicken is almost completely cooked on the second side, coat with a generous layer of BBQ sauce.  Layer 2 slices each of tomato and bacon on top of each piece of chicken.  Then pile a handful of cheese on each, then sprinkle with scallions. 
• Cover the pan if you have a cover that is tall enough or tent aluminum foil over the skillet, or place in the oven under the broiler for a minute to melt or even crisp the cheese before serving.
• Serve with extra BBQ sauce on the side.

Nutrition

Calories: 732kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 69g | Fat: 43g | Saturated Fat: 19g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 233mg | Sodium: 1740mg | Potassium: 1233mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 1332IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 455mg | Iron: 3mg