This Alice Springs Chicken recipe features juicy chicken breasts piled high with bacon and a duo of cheeses, lots of sautéed mushrooms, and an incredible honey mustard marinade. Bring the flavors of the Outback to your kitchen!
This Alice Springs chicken is inspired by the Outback Steakhouse recipe. Loaded with flavor and packed with all the good stuff like bacon, cheese, and sautéed mushrooms, you’ll be making this chicken recipe over and over again in the comfort of your home.
Why We Love This Chicken Recipe
- Flavorful: I love the hint of smoky flavor from the bacon, the sharp bite of cheddar cheese, and the slight citrusy note from the lemon juice.
- The marinade! The bacon and the blend of cheeses make this dish impossible to resist, but the real standout is the marinade of honey, mustard, and mayo.
- Easy to make at home: While I love going out to eat as much as anyone else, I also love recreating my favorite dishes at home.
What is Outback Alice Springs Chicken?
Alice Springs chicken is inspired by the Outback Steakhouse, featuring chicken topped with bacon, mushrooms, and cheese baked in a honey-mustard marinade. It gets its name from the town of Alice Springs in Australia’s Northern Territory. I’ve tried to keep it as close to the restaurant flavors and texture of Outback Alice Springs Chicken as possible, meaning that you can easily recreate this staple at home.
Ingredients For Alice Springs Chicken
- Mayonnaise
- Honey: I like to use local honey whenever possible, but any honey will do.
- Dijon mustard: This is a big component of the marinade, so try not to substitute it.
- Lemon juice: Freshly squeezed lemon juice will give the best flavor.
- Bacon: Choose your favorite type of bacon.
- Mushrooms: White or cremini mushrooms work well.
- Onion: I use a yellow onion, but a white onion is fine, too.
- Salt and pepper: I use Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- Butter: You can use salted or unsalted butter.
- Chicken: Choose boneless, skinless chicken breasts.
- Cheddar cheese: I like sharp cheddar, but a medium or mild cheese will also work.
- Monterey Jack cheese
- Fresh parsley: Used as a garnish.
How to Make Alice Springs Chicken
- Make the marinade. Whisk together the mayonnaise, honey, Dijon mustard, and lemon juice.
- Marinate. Place the chicken breasts in the marinade and rest in the fridge.
- Cook bacon. In a large skillet, cook the bacon until it’s crisp.
- Add vegetables. Now add the mushrooms and onion.
- Sauté mushrooms. In the same skillet, cook the mushrooms and onions.
- Cook the chicken. Season the chicken with salt and pepper, remove it from the marinade, and brown in butter on both sides.
- Add bacon. Transfer the chicken to an oven-safe baking dish and top with bacon.
- Assemble. Top each chicken breast with mushrooms and onions and sprinkle with cheese.
- Bake. Cook in the oven until the chicken is cooked and the cheese is melted.
- Serve! Alice Springs chicken is best served hot, garnished with fresh parsley and honey mustard sauce on the side.
Recipe Tips & Variations
- Use a meat thermometer. An instant-read thermometer is always your best bet for knowing when chicken or meat is cooked to doneness. The thermometer should read 165 °F when the chicken is fully cooked.
- Tenderize the chicken. For juicy and tender chicken breasts, you can pound them with a meat tenderizer before you cook them.
- Marinate! Marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes, preferably longer. The longer the chicken rests in the marinade, the more flavorful it will be.
- Add vegetables. Sometimes, I’ll add a pop of green vegetables to this dish – although I know this is not technically how it’s done in the restaurant. You can add a few cups of baby spinach or chopped asparagus to the skillet and cook them with the mushrooms.
- Other uses for the sauce: You can use the marinade as a dressing on salads, as a dip for fries, on sandwiches, and more.
Serving Suggestions
Outback Alice Springs Chicken goes well with many dishes, including baked potatoes, a fluffy pile of Classic Mashed Potatoes, or Baked Mashed Potatoes. Don’t forget a side of Parmesan Roasted Potatoes or simple Oven Roasted Potatoes. Or, make Garlic Fries! For a lighter touch, add an Avocado Tomato Salad or make a crunchy Mexican Street Corn Salad. Try Roasted Sweet Potatoes with a touch of honey, Roasted Brussels Sprouts, or Garlic Butter Roasted Asparagus, too.
How to Store & Reheat Leftovers
Place leftovers in an airtight container and store them in the fridge for up to 3 days. To reheat, transfer the chicken to an oven-safe dish and warm it at 325°F until it’s heated through and the cheese is melted. Or, place portions of chicken and sauce on a microwave-safe plate and reheat in the microwave at 1-minute intervals until hot.
Easy Chicken Recipes
Alice Springs Chicken
Ingredients
For marinade:
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ⅓ cup honey
- ½ cup Dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
For the chicken:
- 8 slices bacon, cut in half
- 8 ounces sliced mushrooms
- 1 medium yellow onion, thinly sliced
- 1½ teaspoons Kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- To prepare the marinade, combine mayonnaise, honey, Dijon mustard, and lemon juice in a bowl. Mix well until the marinade is smooth.
- Place the chicken breasts in a resealable plastic bag or a shallow dish. Pour half of the marinade over the chicken, making sure each piece is well coated.
- Allow the chicken to marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. You can marinate it longer for more flavor if time allows. Reserve the remaining sauce for later.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the bacon until crispy. Remove the bacon from the skillet and set it aside.
- Add sliced mushrooms and onions in the same skillet with the bacon grease, season with salt and pepper, and cook until the vegetables are tender and golden brown. Remove the mushrooms and onions from the skillet to the plate and set them aside.
- In the same skillet, add butter and melt it over medium-high heat. Remove the chicken from the marinade and season the chicken breasts on both sides with salt and pepper.
- Arrange the chicken breasts in the skillet in a single layer. Cook until they achieve a golden brown color on both sides, approximately 3 to 4 minutes per side.
- Transfer the chicken to an oven-safe baking dish.
- Place three bacon halves on each chicken breast.
- Top each chicken breast with a portion of sautéed mushrooms and onions.
- Sprinkle shredded cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese over the top.
- Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 15 to 20 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Remove the dish from the oven and garnish with chopped fresh parsley.
- Serve the Alice Springs Chicken hot with the reserved honey mustard sauce on the side.
Notes
- Skillet: Opt for a cast iron skillet for its versatility; it works well on the stovetop and in the oven, eliminating the need for a separate baking dish.
- Marinate the Chicken: For enhanced flavor, let the chicken marinate for at least 30 minutes or longer; the more time it spends in the marinade, the more flavorful it becomes.
- Check for Doneness with a Thermometer: Utilize an instant-read meat thermometer to ensure chicken or meat is cooked; it should register 165 °F when done.
- Tenderize for Juiciness: To achieve juicy and tender chicken breasts, use a meat tenderizer to pound them before cooking.
- Incorporate Vegetables: Although not traditional in restaurant recipes, adding green vegetables like baby spinach or chopped asparagus to the skillet with mushrooms can bring a fresh twist.
- Versatile Sauce: The marinade can also be repurposed as a dressing for salads, a dip for fries, a spread for sandwiches, and more.
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