Hi everybody, welcome to a new week!
First thing’s first, I apologize if you were unable to access the site this weekend to get a recipe or check in. It took a bit longer to start showing up on the new server than anticipated then, to top it all off, the new server had its own outage yesterday. Blarg! Hopefully this isn’t a sign of things to come, but so far I’m really happy with the switch. The site feels lightening fast to me, which, as the-most-impatient-person-in-the-world, I appreciate. : ) Please do let me know if you continue to experience any funkiness though!
The rest of the weekend went fast, don’t ya think?! Baby class (or rather birth-prep class) on Saturday was actually pretty great. (You never know how those things will go…) I feel like I’ve been existing in my own little pregnant bubble for the past 7 months so it was neat to be in a room full of other pregnant women, but strange at the same time because I was one of the least far long. Made me feel like maybe my back doesn’t hurt quite that bad.
Ok, it still does. Ben’s been doing nightly pushups to keep up with my massage demands – muwahaha!
Anyway, yesterday was a work day for me, but I took some time to whip up this mouthwatering Monterey Chicken Grilled Cheese for Ben and me for lunch:
Decadent and drool-worthy, this sandwich is definitely a splurge, but super good for the soul. I just HEART the combo of chicken, bacon, BBQ sauce, and cheddar cheese grilled up on crusty, hearty bread. I was full for hours after eating this baby!
While the combo isn’t rocket science, I liked the fact that I had all the ingredients in the house, it was quick to put together, and ermahgerd look at that melted cheeeese!
Start the Monterey Chicken Grilled Cheese by cookin’ up some bacon! If I have the time I prefer to bake my bacon, as it renders a crispy yet melt-in-your-mouth texture, not to mention slowly fills the house with that unmistakable, mouthwatering scent. It actually got Ben out of bed on Sunday morning to come investigate – baHA! Anyway, place 8 slices of bacon on a nonstick sprayed cooling rack set atop a foil-lined baking sheet then pop into the oven, turn the heat to 425, and then bake for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway through. Best bacon you’ll ever have.
Next get 1lb chicken breasts cookin’ any way you like. Grill, saute, or bake, which is the route I took. Just brush the chicken breasts with extra virgin olive oil, season with salt and pepper, then bake for 15-20 minutes at 400 degrees. Let it rest for at least 10 minutes, then slice.
Most moist (moistest?) chicken you’ll ever have!
Once you get the bacon and chicken prepped, setup your sandwich assembly station and get to stackin’.
First, brush or mist 8 hearty bread slices on one side with extra virgin olive oil. I use this oil mister from Williams & Sonoma which I bought a few years ago. It’s great for getting an even coating of oil without having to pour it on.
Next, flip the bread so the oil side is facing down then layer on a few slices of chicken, then a few slices of fresh tomato.Â
Followed by 2 slices cooked bacon, and a slathering of your favorite BBQ sauce.Â
Finally, pile on freshly shredded cheddar cheese. One of Ben’s and my favorite restaurans in the area does this on one of their signature cheeseburgers instead of using sliced cheddar cheese. It makes ALL the melty difference in the world. Just make sure it’s freshly grated vs pre-grated for best results.
Pop the sandwiches in a panini press (I use the Griddler >) or cook in a pan until both sides are golden brown.
I mean!
Let the sandwich rest for 2 or 3 minutes then slice ‘er up, and dig on in!
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Monterey Chicken Grilled Cheese
Description
Monterey Chicken Grilled Cheese is chicken, bacon, BBQ sauce, and cheddar cheese grilled up on crusty, hearty bread.
Ingredients
- 1lb chicken breasts, pounded thin
- extra virgin olive oil
- salt & pepper
- 8 slices hearty Italian bread
- 2 vine-ripened tomatoes, sliced
- 8 slices cooked bacon
- BBQ sauce
- Cheddar cheese, sliced or shredded
Directions
- Brush chicken breasts with extra virgin olive oil on both sides then season with salt and pepper. Grill, saute, or bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes. Cool slightly then cut into thick slices.
- Brush or mist one side of each piece of bread with extra virgin olive oil then turn so oiled-side is facing out. Lay chicken slices on half the bread then top with tomato slices, 2 slices of bacon, BBQ sauce, and then cheese. Top with remaining bread slices then cook in a large skillet or panini press until both sides are golden brown.
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
Sizzling, savory, smoky, with a hint of sweet. This sandwich is the ultimate grilled cheese.
Hope you enjoy this treat!
Meal Plan Monday ~ Light Meals! 05.13.2013
[…] 4/13 ~ While this Monterey Chicken Grilled Cheese from Iowa Girl Eats might not an especially “light” sandwich, it could surely be lightened up by using less […]
Sharon 05.11.2013
Oh my dear goodness! That second to the last picture before the recipe with the sandwich just standing there and all with the melty ooey gooey cheese just about made me lick my screen. YUM!!!
Kevin @ Closet Cooking 05.09.2013
That is one nice looking grilled cheese!
Trish - Mom On Timeout 05.07.2013
We make these all the time but without the tomato :) Such an easy weeknight meal. We also like to add onion rings to ours – sooo good! Yours looks incredible!
Katie @ Blonde Ambition 05.07.2013
BBQ, bacon & cheddar is seriously the best ‘classic’ grilled cheese combo I could imagine. This sounds amazing!
Erin 05.07.2013
This sandwich looks A-MAZING!! What kind of bread did you use?? Ciabatta?
Iowa Girl Eats 05.07.2013
It was Tuscan Italian bread – pre-sliced from Target!
Lisa 05.07.2013
Good luck in the contest! Looks like a winner to me!! :)
Amanda @ Once Upon a Recipe 05.07.2013
Oh my goodness, yes! This sandwich looks amazing!
shelly (cookies and cups) 05.07.2013
Oh this looks out of control good!
Kate 05.07.2013
Oh, that bread looks crusty, crispy, and to die for! What kind did you use? Was it pre-sliced, or did you slice it yourself?
Iowa Girl Eats 05.07.2013
It was pre-sliced Tuscan Italian bread from Target!
Kate 05.07.2013
Wow, consider me shocked! It looks amazing!
Jen W 05.07.2013
That sounds amazing! It also might happen for dinner tonight…
Jess 05.07.2013
I stressed about the glider decision and did tons of research. I really wanted one that reclined and it had to have an ottoman. I loved the Dutailier but finally decided I didn’t want to drop $600 on one. I ended up getting the Shermag Glider Rocker and Ottoman from Babies R Us. My son is now 4.5 months old and I’ve logged countless hours in the rocker. I love it! It doesn’t recline but I haven’t wanted it to. I even ended up sleeping in most of one night and it handle the night pretty well. I’m pretty sure I was able to use BRU’s 20% off coupon for it.
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=11981544
Kathy 05.07.2013
This looks delicious! What kind/type of olive oil do you use? There are so many varieties, so I’m never sure what to get. Thanks.
Iowa Girl Eats 05.07.2013
I just get a big jug of Trader Joe’s brand. I think it’s tastes really good and fruity!
Jan @ Sprouts n Squats 05.07.2013
That looks delicious! Love the idea of BBQ sauce in a sandwich!
Jess 05.07.2013
That saucy/crunchy/cheesy goodness looks irresistable. What an awesome lunch, Kristin. The glider answer will come – you’ve still got time. ;)
Jane 05.07.2013
I think this sandwich needs your caramelized onions in there too!!!! Yum! :)
Debt girl 05.07.2013
Her carmelized onions are insane looking,,,,!!!!! Agreed! Makes me drool every time she posts them.
Loretta | A Finn In The Kitchen 05.06.2013
Dang! So hard to beat this combination of flavors…. :) Gotta love all that oozing cheese!
Tieghan Gerard 05.06.2013
Looks so good!! Love it!
Alexa 05.06.2013
The Pottery Barn Kids Glider was the best decision we made for our nursery (OK, I like all of it, but it’s the most used piece). It was pricey, but worth it. When you’re a new parent, you spend so much time in that damn chair, and I’m glad to know with this chair I can use it after our kids are grown as well. There’s a link to it in the nursery tour I did: http://www.alexastales.blogspot.com/2012/10/nursery-tour.html (Also the drawer organizers on there are a life saver too!)
debtgirl 05.06.2013
I had someone elses email in mine as well. LOL..
Also, about the blog, every time I come to your site my mouse freezes, then it takes so much time to click on comments and actually have them appear at the bottom. I was happy to think with a new site that wouldn’t happen, but it still does. It is only on your site, so I am not sure what it is.
That sammy looks so totally awesome. I want a panini press or at least a new grill pan so badly!
Must remember to budget for that!!!
Iowa Girl Eats 05.06.2013
So sorry about that – my developer is working on a solution as we speak!