Alice Springs Chicken (Outback Copycat)
This copycat Alice Springs Chicken from Outback Steakhouse combines honey mustard sauce with buttery mushrooms and bacon, all smothered in way too much cheese. AKA The Most Delicious Way To Eat Chicken Known to Man.
With a name like Outback Steakhouse, you can guess what most people are going to order when they walk through the door: Steak. (Unless your my sister Meredith who seeks the based-on-availiblity pork tenderloin.)
But it’s always wise to have chicken on the menu, right? People are obsessed with their chicken. And yet, at Outback Steakhouse, the chicken has a to compete at a high level. Because in steak vs. chicken at a Steakhouse, chicken better have a plan.
Alice Springs Chicken has a plan. In fact, it has one huge advantage over steak: You can smother it in anything without fear of retribution.
No one wants to pay $24.99 for a steak and have it drowning in bacon and cheese. But that’s EXACTLY what’s happening with the famously lovely Alice Springs Chicken.
And it’s amazing.
We start with a 4-ingredient honey mustard sauce. It doubles as a marinade and a dipping sauce, so that’s fun and helpful. Make it once, reserve a bit, marinade with the rest.
Sear the chicken in an oven-safe skillet (I use my cast-iron skillet but a Dutch oven would also work), cover in buttery mushrooms (previously buttered and sautéed), top with crispy bacon, smother in cheesy wonder. Two kinds of cheese: Cheddar and Monterey Jack, or my personal favorite, the Colby-Jack blend. Two cheese in one for twice the fun.
Cover the skillet and bake for just 10 to 15 minutes, to cook the chicken through. The cheese melts all over everything and it’s just positively mouth-watering. Here is a visual representation of the process for your enjoyment.
And don’t forget about your extra dipping sauce that you stashed away! Serve that on the side, it’s tangy and sweet and perfect for cutting through all the mushroom/bacon/cheese richness.
In case you are wondering about this chicken’s namesake, you can read about Alice Springs, Australia here. #themoreyouknow
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Alice Springs Chicken (Outback Copycat)
Ingredients
- ½ cup Dijon mustard
- ½ cup honey
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breast (about 1 ½ pounds)
- 2 Tablespoons butter
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 8 ounces mushrooms sliced
- 4 slices cooked bacon chopped into 2-inch pieces
- 2 cups shredded Colby Jack cheese
- 2 Tablespoons fresh parsley for garnish, optional
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together mustard, honey, mayonnaise, and lemon juice. Reserve ¼ cup sauce in a covered container and refrigerate until serving time.
- Meanwhile, place the chicken breast in a large plastic zipper-top bag. Pour in remaining sauce and turn in bag until evenly coated. Refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight.
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Heat butter in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until the foaming subsides. Add mushrooms and sauté until the mushrooms have released most of their liquid and have started to turn brown, about 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer to a bowl.
- Meanwhile, heat oil in a large oven-proof skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat until shimmering. And chicken breast in a single layer, discarding leftover sauce. Leave the chicken on the pan without moving until a golden-brown crust forms, about 5 minutes. Flip each piece and continue to cook until the second side is browned.
- Divide the mushrooms evenly over the chicken. Top with bacon and cheese. Cover the skillet and place in the oven. Bake until the chicken reaches 165°F when tested with an internal thermometer at the thickest part, about 10 to 15 minutes.
- Remove from oven and garnish with parsley if desired. Serve with the reserved sauce on the side for dipping.
Recipe Notes
Adapted from Top Secret Restaurant Recipes.
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Why did I make the mistake of reading this right before I got into the gym? I am now starving for a cheesy, mushroom smothered chicken breast, with EXTRA bacon. The sauce sounds really good and I love a bit of chikky dunking.
You silly girl, reading food blogs before working out! XXXXtra bacon, please, right over here too!
This dish sounds very decadent! I wish I could be enthusiastic about anything from Outback Steakhouse, but can’t be, because they have nothing on their menu that I’m able to eat. The problem is that everything, even when you order a plain chicken breast, is way too salty. And the last time I ate there, when I tried for the plain chicken breast, it also tasted like lighter fluid. I think they brine everything. Even though this is probably very tasty, I’m going to pass on it.
You know, I love salt, and even I think their food is too salty. I guess I can say that with this dish, I didn’t add any extra salt on top of salty bacon, salty cheese, salty honey-mustard… ha ha ha. But yes. Your point is taken and true, for sure.
Love this dish! Thanks for the copycat recipe – all the flavor without paying those restaurant costs! Besides, homemade is always better :)
What I love about homemade is you just get tons so you have a lot for leftovers. ;) This recipe was definitely a hit in my house!
Love this copycat recipe, looks so delicious! Now I need to try it! Love the sauce! Pinning!
Thanks Mira, the sauce is the best! Seriously. Love it. Even just with chicken fingers, ha ha!
I have to agree with Susan, unfortunately…. I tried a few things on their menu but it’s not a place I care for, this one looks especially well, kind of on the indulgent side with those toppings lol. Their sweet potato fries weren’t that bad if I remember. Looks yum though!
Thanks Malia, and I totally understand. It’s not for everyone, for sure! But for a special occasion… it’s definitely tasty!
Oooh, now you’ve not only made me hungry but I want to go to Alice Springs and Uluru!!
This really looks fabulous – for me it would win hands down over the steak (I’m weird like that).
Another nice one, Meggan! :-)
I totally agree with you on the steak vs. chicken! Especially when the chicken is buried in good stuff… thank you, Helen!
This looks so scrumptious! Chicken ,bacon and cheese! So perfect together. I love this recipe!
Thank you, Diane! All the good stuff together, piled on chicken!
Yumm! My hubby will be psyched I will be able to make this dish at home!
Thank you, Jennifer! It’s a seriously husband-pleasing dish, no doubt! ;)
This looks so good…. especially because its cooler here in southern california. Of course it does have the magic words with it….BACON!!
Alice Springs chicken has BBQ sauce on it. Not a mustard sauce.
Not at my Outback. It’s a honey mustard sauce, not straight BBQ. I am going to call them today and ask and make sure I’m not missing anything. I wonder if there are regional variations? Strange!
This was SPOT ON!! I’ve made it twice now and it’s perfect. Why do people comment that they are GOING to try something? Here is my r commendation: Cook this tonight. Your family will love you. Thanks for the awesome recipe. It was EXACTLY like Outbacks version.
LOL, Dawn! Thank you so much. I’m glad you loved it. I need to make this again! It’s so good! Thanks again. :)
Alice Springs Chicken is not BBQ sauce. We at the Outback three times per week before we had children. Trust me, it’s honey mustard. They do have a BBQ Chicken dish but it’s not Alice Springs. I also made the broccoli. Just a few spices and butter to finish. Delish. Thanks again!!