Fiesta Lime Chicken Recipe (Applebee's Copycat)
User Reviews
5
Fiesta Lime Chicken Recipe (Applebee's Copycat)
Description
This recipe begins by tenderizing chicken breasts for even cooking and quick marinade absorption. The marinade includes avocado oil, lime juice, soy sauce, honey, taco seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, and salt, lending a sweet, sour, and savory profile with Mexican-inspired flavors. After a minimum marinating time to infuse flavor, the chicken is baked until cooked through.
Following baking, each piece is brushed with a mixed sauce combining ranch dressing, salsa, sour cream, cilantro, and lime juice to create a creamy, mildly spicy topping. A slice of Colby jack cheese tops each chicken breast before returning to the oven briefly to melt the cheese.
Serve this chicken alongside rice, tortilla chips, or a fresh salad for a balanced meal. Optional toppings like pico de gallo and tortilla chips add texture and freshness.
For preparations ahead, the chicken can be cut, tenderized, and marinated in advance. The ranch sauce can also be prepared early and stored separately. Leftovers store in the refrigerator for 3-4 days or can be frozen for up to 3 months with possible minor texture changes in the sauce. Reheat in the oven or microwave carefully to maintain moisture.
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ pounds chicken breast boneless, skinless
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil
- 2 ½ tablespoons lime juice from 2 limes
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce or tamari
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 tablespoons taco seasoning
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- 4 lices Colby jack cheese
- ¼ cup ranch dressing
- ¼ cup mild salsa
- 2 tablespoons sour cream
- 1 tablespoon cilantro plus more for serving, finely chopped
Optional Toppings:
- tortilla chips
- Pico de Gallo
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Cut chicken into four equal pieces. Cover with a piece of plastic wrap and pound with a meat mallet until 1-inch thick.
- Whisk together avocado oil, 2 tablespoons of lime juice, soy sauce, honey, taco seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, and ½ teaspoon salt in a large bowl. Add chicken, making sure it is well immersed, and marinate in the refrigerator for 15 minutes. Flip and continue marinating for 15-45 more minutes.
- Once chicken has marinated, let excess marinade drip off and place in a 13 x 9-inch baking dish, being careful to leave a little space between each piece. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until cooked through.
- Whisk together the ranch dressing, salsa, sour cream, cilantro, the remaining ½ tablespoon lime juice, and ¼ teaspoon salt in a medium bowl. Remove the chicken from the oven and brush each piece with 1-2 tablespoons of the sauce. Then, top each with 1 slice of cheese. Return to the oven for 3-5 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.
- Serve Fiesta Lime Chicken over crushed tortilla chips with any leftover salsa ranch, pico de gallo, cilantro and Mexican rice.
Notes
- Nutrition info excludes optional tortilla chips, pico de gallo, and extra cilantro.
- Use medium or spicy salsa for some heat in the ranch sauce.
- Grill chicken over medium heat for 4-5 minutes per side as an alternative to baking; add sauce and cheese to melt on the grill.
- Prep chicken and sauces up to 2 days ahead, storing separately in the refrigerator.
- Refrigerate leftovers up to 4 days or freeze for 3 months; sauces may change texture when frozen.
- Reheat in a 350°F oven or microwave until warmed through.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 4Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 591 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 591kcal | 30% |
| Carbohydrates | 12g | 4% |
| Protein | 62g | 124% |
| Fat | 32g | 49% |
| Saturated Fat | 10g | 50% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 8g | 47% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 11g | 55% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 199mg | 66% |
| Sodium | 1807mg | 75% |
| Potassium | 1095mg | 23% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 6g | 12% |
| Vitamin A | 1436IU | 29% |
| Vitamin C | 11mg | 12% |
| Calcium | 231mg | 23% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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