This Keto Monterey Chicken Skillet is a simple keto chicken recipe that is not so simple in flavor! I know that there are a lot of chicken recipes in the keto diet, and I also know that adding new recipes is imperative to avoid burnout.
This recipe is a great one for keeping the entire family happy (even your non keto family members are going to love this one).
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Keto Monterey Chicken Skillet
In your pre-keto days, you may have enjoyed this recipe at Chili’s restaurant or similar. Is Chili’s even a thing still???
I know that trying to recreate some recipes can be intimidating, but they don’t have to be. The easiest way to make your own Monterey Chicken is with this super easy recipe!
What is Needed to Make This Recipe?
In order to create this recipe, you need very little! Including the list of ingredients, you need just the following list of tools:
How to Make Keto Monterey Chicken
In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium high heat.
Season the chicken with chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, cayenne, and salt and pepper to taste. Add the chicken to the heated skillet, and saute until cooked through completely. Remove and set aside.
Reduce the heat to medium and stir in the onions. Saute until the onions have softened.
Add the garlic and cherry tomatoes to the skillet and saute until the tomatoes begin to soften. In a medium bowl, add the broth and BBQ sauce. Whisk until combined.
Pour the BBQ mixture into the skillet and return the chicken to the skillet. Toss to coat in the sauce.
Turn the heat off and sprinkle cheddar cheese and crispy bacon on the top of the chicken. Allow 2-3 minutes for the cheese to melt. For a quicker cheese melt, you can add a cover.
Add in the avocado just before serving.
Is Monterey Chicken Always Keto Friendly?
Monterey Chicken is often made with BBQ sauce. BBQ sauce tends to be very high in sugar, meaning that no it is not keto friendly. This recipe, however, is made with sugar-free BBQ sauce to keep the carbs down. Being able to make your favorite chicken recipes low carb is important to prevent splurging!
This particular recipe has 5 servings and each serving is just 4 net carbs per serving.
What Kind of Skillet Should Be Used to Make This Recipe?
If you are on the fence about what type of skillet to use for this recipe, I recommend a good cast iron skillet. But any large skillet will do just fine!
How Long Does it Take to Make this Keto Monterey Chicken Skillet?
This is a great recipe for busy nights because it takes just 10 minutes to prep and a maximum of 30 minutes to cook! I love skillet meals. Not only do they often require less cleanup, but they tend to be quicker too!
Variations You Can Make To This Monterey Chicken Dish
Make Your Own Homemade BBQ Sauce
Sure it’s easier to just buy a bottle of sugar free BBQ sauce, but making your own keto bbq sauce is a great option too!
Swap Out the Chicken Thighs for Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
If you prefer white meat chicken, you can easily swap out the thighs and use chicken breasts or honestly, any type of chicken you wish. If you are short on time, you can even use rotisserie chicken.
Use Pepper Jack Cheese for Added Flavor
If you like a little spice in your food, swapping out some or all of the cheese for pepper jack is a great option!
Instead of BBQ Sauce, Use Sugar Free Honey Mustard
Making this change will significantly change the taste of the chicken, but it is well worth trying at least once! YUM!
Add More Bacon
Adding crispy, cooked bacon to any recipe just makes it better, am I right? You can use turkey bacon as well. Just double the bacon crumbles on top of the melted cheese and you have a winning dish!
Serve With Cauliflower Rice
If you are trying to figure out what to serve with this keto Monterey chicken recipe, just whip up some cauliflower rice! It is a great side dish for keto dinners!
Other Great Keto Chicken Recipes
Keto Pesto Chicken Sheet Pan Meal
Keto Monterey Chicken Skillet
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs cut into bite sized pieces
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- Cayenne pepper to taste
- Salt and pepper to taste
- ½ onion chopped
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- ¼ cup chicken broth
- 4 tablespoons sugar free BBQ sauce
- ¼ cup bacon pieces
- 1 cup Monterey jack cheese shredded
- 1 avocado diced
Instructions
- In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium high heat.
- Season the chicken with the chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, cayenne and salt and pepper to taste.
- Add the chicken to the heated skillet, and saute until cooked through completely. Remove and set aside.
- Reduce the heat to medium and stir in the onions. Saute until the onions have softened.
- Add the garlic and cherry tomatoes to the skillet and saute until the tomatoes begin to soften.
- In a medium bowl, add the broth and BBQ sauce. Whisk until combined.
- Pour the BBQ mixture into the skillet and return the chicken to the skillet. Toss to coat in the sauce.
- Turn the heat off and sprinkle on the bacon and cheese. Allow the cheese to melt. You can add a cover if you want the cheese to melt faster.
- Add in the avocado just before serving.
Nutrition
Trina Krug is a Holistic Nutritionist, Integrative Health Coach and host of the Carbless Conversations Podcast. With a Master’s Degree in Complementary and Alternative Medicine, her single mission in life is to facilitate self-healing in herself and those around her through awareness, lifestyle shifts and low-carb eating. As a current Doctor of Science student, she continues her studies in functional nutrition.