Fiesta Lime Chicken Recipe (Applebee's Copycat)

Original Post: https://www.evolvingtable.com/fiesta-lime-chicken/

Copycat Fiesta lime chicken is eaten off of a plate.

5 from 60 votes

Fiesta Lime Chicken Recipe (Applebee's Copycat)

Applebee's Fiesta Lime Chicken is a surprisingly easy recipe! Serve over tortilla strips with pico de gallo and a side of Mexican rice for a fabulous family dinner.

Prep Time10

Cook Time30

Total Time40

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: Mexican

Servings:

Author: London Brazil

Ingredients

1 ¼ - 1 ½ lbs. chicken breasts cut into 4 portions
2 Tbsp. lime juice
1 Tbsp. soy sauce
2 Tbsp. taco seasoning
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
2 Tbsp. oil olive or avocado
1 Tbsp. honey
½ tsp. salt to taste
4 oz. Colby Jack cheese slices

Salsa Ranch

¼ cup ranch dressing
¼ cup salsa mild or medium
2 Tbsp. sour cream
1 tsp. lime juice
1 Tbsp. cilantro finely chopped

To Serve: (Optional)

Tortilla Chips
Pico de Gallo
Cilantro

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Prepare Chicken Breasts: Cut chicken into four 5-6 ounce portions. Tenderize with a meat mallet until they are 1-inch thick.
1 ¼ - 1 ½ lbs. chicken breasts
Marinade Chicken: Whisk together lime juice, soy sauce, taco seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, olive oil, honey, and ½ teaspoon salt in a large bowl. Add chicken and marinade in refrigerator for at least 30 minutes or up to an hour.
2 Tbsp. lime juice, 1 Tbsp. soy sauce, 2 Tbsp. taco seasoning, 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce, 2 Tbsp. oil, 1 Tbsp. honey, ½ tsp. salt
Bake in Oven: Once the chicken has marinaded, place it in a 13 x 9 inch baking dish in a single layer with a little space between each one. Be sure to let any excess marinade drip off before adding it into the dish. Bake chicken at 350 for 20-25 minutes.
Salsa Ranch and Cheese: While the chicken is cooking, whisk the Salsa Ranch ingredients together in a medium-sized bowl. Once the chicken is almost cooked through, add 1-2 tablespoons of sauce per breast and then place 1 slice of cheese on each. Return to oven for 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted.
¼ cup ranch dressing, ¼ cup salsa, 2 Tbsp. sour cream, 1 tsp. lime juice, 1 Tbsp. cilantro, 4 oz. Colby Jack cheese slices
Serve Fiesta Lime Chicken over tortilla chips with additional sauce, lime wedges, pico de gallo, cilantro, and a side of Mexican Rice. Enjoy!
Tortilla Chips, Pico de Gallo, Cilantro

Video

Notes

To Grill: Add chicken to a medium-heat grill and cook for 4-5 minutes per side, or until cooked through. Add sauce and cheese slices and cook until cheese is melted.
Nutrition information is calculated without tortilla strips, pico de gallo, or additional cilantro.

Prep-Ahead Instructions:

Cut and tenderize the chicken, mix up the marinade, and make the Mexican ranch. Keep separately in the fridge for up to 2 days until you're ready to cook.

Storage Directions:

Place leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3-4 days. To freeze, keep in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months, but just know the ranch sauce may change texture slightly. To reheat, return to a 350°F oven, or microwave until heated through.

Recipe Tips

Pound it out. Take the time to tenderize the chicken.
Similar sizes. Make sure to cut the chicken breasts into the same size so they cook up evenly.
Make it spicy. Use a medium or spicy salsa for the Mexican ranch to give it some heat.
Better when homemade. Mix up your own taco seasoning for the most flavor.
Serve with strips. The crunchy texture and salty bite complement the juicy chicken breasts perfectly.

Nutrition