Monterey Chicken (Bonanza Copycat)

I still remember my very first day working as a 'salad girl' at Bonanza. The manager (snickering) said, "I need you to go down to the storage room and bring up some elbow grease." So off I went...That was my introduction to the work world and my very first job at the age of 14. And it was at Bonanza that I not only learned the true meaning of elbow grease but also fell in love with Monterey Chicken. 

This recipe is popular any time of the year. And it pairs well with veggies and a baked potato.

Jump to:

• 🥘 Ingredients
• 🔪Instructions
• 📖Variations & Substitutions
• 🥗 Side dishes
• 🍽Equipment
• 🌡️Storage
• 👪 Serving Size
• 💭Can it be made in advance?
• 🦺Food Safety
• 📋 Monterey Chicken (Bonanza Copycat) recipe
• 📋More Copycat Recipes

I'm from the '80s and if you are too, then you'll likely remember down-home family restaurants like Bonanza and Ponderosa. These restaurants still exist in some U.S. states such as Texas, but sadly, they are no longer in Canada.

I have craved this Bonanza Chicken Monterey for years and since I can't get it in Canada, I decided to create a copycat version of it. In the process of creating this recipe, I attempted to get a hold of everyone I remembered who worked with me at the restaurant all those years ago (and I was still friends with on Facebook) to see if I could piece the recipe together. After some Facebook messages and experimentation, this was the delicious result!

🥘 Ingredients

In my quest to find out how this Ponderosa Monterey chicken recipe was made, I discovered that the chicken arrived from Sysco, already marinated, then the Catalina dressing was brushed on toward the end of the cooking process. Sadly, I can’t replicate it exactly because Sysco doesn't sell to the public, but this recipe is a close second! For this recipe, you'll need:

• Boneless, skinless chicken breast
• Worcestershire sauce
• lemon juice (from concentrate)
• soy sauce
• garlic powder
• salt
• Catalina dressing

*See recipe card for quantities

🔪Instructions

1. Mix all marinade ingredients in a large bowl. Set aside ¼ of the marinade (and place in separate sealed container in fridge)
2. Cover raw chicken with remaining marinade in a sealed container and place in fridge to marinate overnight (8 hours)
3. Remove chicken from marinade and dispose of used marinade. *The chicken will have a pinkish/orange color from the marinade.
4. Grill (or cook in frying pan on stovetop over medium-high heat) marinated chicken until thoroughly cooked (about 15-20 minutes) or until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F/74 degrees C, brushing with the marinade you set aside, before removing from the grill. Serve hot.

Obviously, I never found the elbow grease in the storage room, but let me tell you, I searched really hard for it, even going back upstairs to ask the supervisor what the container looked like. My hazing was complete; I was officially initiated into the world of work.

And although I put a hell of a lot of elbow grease into that job, I still had some of the best times of my young life working at Bonanza. I guess it was the combination of my newfound freedom, earning an actual paycheque, and the social connection that made it fun because it definitely wasn't the actual work. In fact, it was total grunt work.

I clearly recall, on a relatively slow day at the restaurant, being assigned the task of "scraping the scum off the baseboards." I was a bit more seasoned by that point and asked the supervisor if he was serious. Unfortunately, he was. That particular experience was what first motivated me to consider pursuing post-secondary education.

📖Variations & Substitutions

• Toppings - you can add crispy bacon, green onions and
• Sandwich -make it into Monterey chicken sandwiches
• Cheese - add melted cheese. You can use cheddar cheese, Monterey jack cheese, Colby jack or pepper jack

🥗 Side dishes

If you're not sure what to serve with Monterey chicken, here are some suggestions:

• Baked potato - try my 3 Ingredient Onion Baked Potatoes in Foil (shown)
• Frozen mixed veggies (I love to add Everything Bagel Seasoning to them)
• French fries - try my Moxie’s Sweet Potato Fries with Garlic Mayo Dip - Copycat Recipe
• Quick Cucumber Kimchi
• Skinny Coleslaw Recipe
• Healthy Mexican Street Corn (Elote)
• Everything Bagel Cloud Bread Recipe
• Rice
• Side salad

🍽Equipment

You will need a grill, a stovetop grill or a large skillet (this can be a cast iron skillet) to make this easy chicken recipe. You'll also find that an instant-read thermometer (affiliate links) is ideal for checking doneness of chicken (chicken is very easy to overcook). (affiliate links).

🌡️Storage

Store leftover chicken monterey in an airtight container in the fridge for 3- 4 days. It freezes well in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

👪 Serving Size

This version of Monterey chicken dish serves 6. However, you can half, double, or triple the recipe by clicking on the blue serving number and selecting the number of servings you'd like. The ingredient quantities will automatically adjust.

💭Can it be made in advance?

Yes, you can make this in advance! It can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days (before OR after making it).

🦺Food Safety

• Cook ground beef to an internal minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
• Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
• Wash hands after touching raw meat
• Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
• Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
• Never leave cooking food unattendedSee more guidelines at USDA.gov 

So if you're looking for an easy dinner recipe, this is one the whole family will love!

📋More Copycat Recipes