I love a good copycat recipe. So many of our favorite restaurants just don’t taste the same any more. I don’t quite know what it is, but we’ve given up going to Olive Garden, Cheesecake Factory, and Outback Steakhouse and prefer instead to recreate some of our favorite dishes at home. I’m not the only one, right? This tender chicken breast dish was always one of my favorite menu items at the Outback restaurant, along with their grilled salmon, a bloomin’ onion, and their irresistible brown bread. This dish is named after the town of Alice Springs, which is located in the heart of the Australian Outback. It’s supposed to reflect the hearty and bold flavors that are synonymous with the Australian culinary tradition. This copycat Alice Springs chicken recipe is one of those meals that the whole family enjoys and tells me “make this again!” as soon as they are done. And it’s really a pretty simple recipe so I have no problems with fulfilling that request! The chicken is marinated first in a honey mustard marinade, then pan-seared or grilled to perfection, resulting in a juicy and tender meat that’s full of flavor. The bacon adds a smoky and savory element that perfectly complements the sweetness of the honey mustard sauce. The sauteed onions add major umami elements and savory notes. And the melted cheese ties everything together, adding a gooey texture and richness that makes every bite irresistible. But what really sets the Outback Steakhouse Alice Springs Chicken apart is its honey mustard sauce. Made with a blend of honey, mustard, and mayo, this sauce is the perfect balance of sweet and tangy. It’s the kind of sauce that you’ll want to slather on everything, from chicken to sandwiches to salads.
What You’ll Need
Scroll down to the recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
Chicken breasts – Look for small to medium boneless, skinless chicken breasts, which are better for individual serving sizes and will cook more evenly. Bacon – We prefer regular cut bacon for this recipe rather than thick cut. Cheese – The Outback version uses a combination of Monterey Jack cheese and cheddar cheese, but you can sub other similar melty cheeses like Colby Jack, Muenster, mozzarella, or Swiss. Mushrooms – Grab some baby bella mushrooms (aka cremini mushrooms) and slice them up about 1/4-inch thick. Onions – I don’t think there are actually onions in the original Alice Springs Chicken recipe, but they are so good with the sauteed mushrooms that I can’t resist adding them here. Feel free to leave them out if you prefer. Honey – This adds a wonderful element of sweetness that balances the tangy mustard and savory bacon, chicken, and mushrooms. Mustard – You can really use any kind of mustard you like, including yellow mustard or stoneground mustard, but we like Dijon mustard for it’s punchy, complex flavor. Mayonnaise – Use real mayo, not Miracle Whip, for best results. Salt & pepper – Properly seasoning your dish means it won’t turn out bland. Smoked paprika – Regular paprika can be substituted, but we love the smoky flavor of smoked paprika, especially when we are cooking the chicken in a pan instead of grilling it. Lemon juice – All of the other flavors are pretty rich and a little bit of lemon juice helps balance things out and keeps everything tasting fresh instead of heavy. Salted butter – For sauteeing the mushrooms and onions. You could just use more of the bacon grease that cooks off, but I prefer the butter flavor better.
How to Make Alice Springs Chicken
Tips for Success
Use freshly grated cheese for best results. It melts much better than the pre-shredded kind that is coated with powder to prevent it from sticking during storage. Use a digital meat thermometer (affiliate link). I swear this made the biggest difference in my cooking. It takes all the guesswork out of knowing when your chicken is done so you never have to deal with dry, overcooked chicken breasts again! Let the chicken rest. Like any good burger or steak, these chicken breasts will benefit from a 5 minute rest before serving them which allows their juices to redistribute so every bite is mouthwateringly juicy and tender!
What to Serve With Alice Springs Chicken
This is practically a meal all on its own with protein, veggies, and cheese, but you can’t go wrong serving it with some steamed or roasted broccoli or green beans. Or try it with a nice side salad, baked potato, or mashed potatoes instead. And don’t forget the brown bread! Here are some other dishes that would be great with your copycat Alice Springs Chicken:
Homemade French Fries Crispy Baked Sweet Potato Fries Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes Easy Rice Pilaf with Orzo Pasta Oven Roasted Asparagus Baked Macaroni and Cheese Apple Salad with Candied Walnuts Homemade Brown Bread Dinner Rolls
How to Store Leftovers
You can store any leftover Alice Springs chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. For best results, we recommend reheating covered with foil in a 350°F oven to 10-15 minutes until hot all the way through, or in the air fryer for 7-9 minutes. You can also reheat in the microwave for a minute or two. You can also freeze Alice Springs chicken in a freezer-safe container for up to 1 month. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating as directed above.
More Restaurant Copycat Recipes
Olive Garden Lemon Chicken Piccata Bombay House Chicken Tikka Masala Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Zupa’s Wisconsin Cauliflower Soup Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Easy Creamy Chicken Marsala
Chicken Madeira
Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo
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