Applebee’s Fiesta Lime Chicken
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see our disclosure policy.
This Applebee’s Fiesta Lime Chicken copycat recipe is a celebration of flavor! Grilled chicken with a zippy lime sauce, salsa ranch and cheese – with a side of super flavorful Spanish Rice – it’s a delish dish!
🔍 COPYCAT SECRETS UNCOVERED!
Years ago, this Applebee’s dish was called Tequila Lime Chicken – if you want that version just add some tequila to your marinade! I also figured up your savings for this dish – by making this at home – you’ll save $9!
Applebee’s Fiesta Lime Chicken Recipe Ingredients
This Fiesta Lime chicken is so citrusy and the creamy cheesy topping makes it one of my favorite things! Here’s what you’ll need for the chicken:
- mojo criollo marinade
- This is my go-to chicken marinade – you can get a big bottle of it for $2 and it takes about 1/2 bottle for this recipe. These marinated chicken breasts are the most delicious thing about this dish and the marinade definitely gives you the most juicy chicken!
- boneless skinless chicken breasts
- Dukes mayonnaise – I always use Duke’s – once you try it – you will to!
- sour cream
- fresh pico de gallo (keep extra to serve on the side!)
- lime
- hot sauce – whatever kind you like!
- Seasonings: Slap Ya Mama cajun seasoning (or any cajun seasoning), cumin, garli powder
- colby jack cheese (you can also use mild cheddar cheese, spice it up with pepper jack or a Mexican cheese blend)
- crispy tortilla strips or crushed tortilla chips
Fiesta Lime Chicken is served with a side of Mexican Rice – I modified my Spanish Rice & Beans recipe for this dish. Adding a side of black beans would also be delicious and cilantro for garnish!
How do you make Applebee’s fiesta lime chicken?
This copycat recipe is easy to make – and you might as well go all in and make a bunch because the leftovers are so good! YOU can use the leftovers in burrito bowls or tacos!
Fiesta Lime Chicken
- Marinate chicken breast tenders for a minimum of 30 minutes
- I started the rice while the chicken was marinating
- Mix zesty lime sauce
- If you want a short cut – you could just use ranch dressing and squeeze in fresh lime juice from 1/2 lime
- Cook chicken – you can grill or air fry
- Pour dressing over grilled chicken and coat chicken with shredded cheese
- Broil cheese-covered chicken for 2-3 minutes
- Serve the chicken over a bed of crumbled chips with lime wedges, zesty lime ranch and pico
How to make Spanish Rice
- Saute onion and garlic until soft
- Add uncooked rice, tomatoes, chicken broth, water, smoked paprika and cumin.
- Stir everything together and simmer for 20 minutes.
This post contains affiliate links which I make a little money on purchases. Thanks in advance! I am an Amazon associate as well as a member of other affiliate programs.
How many calories are in Applebees Fiesta Lime Chicken?
The Applebees dinner has 1181 calories while my version is just 661 calories – and I promise – it tastes even better!
How do you store and reheat leftovers?
The rice makes enough for 4-6 and the chicken you can just make as much as you need. That said – you might have leftovers! Store in airtight containers (I like these glass storage ones) and refrigerate up to a week – or freeze up to three months. Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes.
More Applebee’s & Restaurant Copycat Recipes
If you like Applebee’s – secret restaurant recipes from their arsenal:
More Chicken Recipes
Get Heather’s NEW cookbook – Air Fryer Cooking for One today!
Applebee’s Fiesta Lime Chicken
Ingredients
Fiesta Lime Chicken
- 2 cups mojo criollo marinade
- 2 chicken breasts boneless, skinless
- 1/4 cup Duke's mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 2 tbsp pico de gallo
- 1 lime juice
- 5-10 dashes hot sauce
- 1 tbsp Slap Ya Mama cajun seasoning
- 1/4 tsp cumin
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1 cup colby jack cheese shredded
- 1-2 cups tortilla strips
Spanish Rice
- 1/4 onion diced
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 5 oz yellow saffron rice uncooked, package
- 8 oz fire roasted tomatoes 1/2 can
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup water
- 2 tbsp smoked paprika
- 1 tbsp cumin
Instructions
Fiesta Lime Chicken
- Place chicken breast tenders in ziploc bag and pour in 2 cups marinade and place in fridge for a minimum of 30 minutes2 cups mojo criollo marinade, 2 chicken breasts
- For zesty dressing – in a small bowl, whisk together the next 8 ingredients (Mayo thru garlic), cover, and chill until needed.1/4 cup Duke's mayonnaise, 1/4 cup sour cream, 2 tbsp pico de gallo, 1 lime, 5-10 dashes hot sauce, 1 tbsp Slap Ya Mama cajun seasoning, 1/4 tsp cumin, 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- Preheat oven on Broil – Low
- Saute marinated chicken breasts on grill pan for 3-5 minutes per side, or until cooked through. Discard marinade.
- Remove dressing from fridge and pour over grilled chicken, sprinkle with shredded cheese, and broil until cheese has melted (2-3 minutes).1 cup colby jack cheese
- Serve the chicken over a bed of crumbled chips.
Spanish Rice
- Heat a pot with a bit of oil over medium-high heat.1 tbsp olive oil
- Add onion and garlic and saute for 2 min until onions are soft1/4 onion, 1 tbsp minced garlic
- Add uncooked rice, tomatoes, chicken broth, water, smoked paprika and cumin.5 oz yellow saffron rice, 8 oz fire roasted tomatoes, 1 cup chicken broth, 1 cup water, 2 tbsp smoked paprika, 1 tbsp cumin
- Stir everything together and simmer on medium for 20 minutes. (While rice is cooking – you can make your chicken!)
I will try some of these recipes. Something different.
great! hope you like it!
Girrllllll this was good! I made it tonight and I loved it. I think hubby will too. I did add a little Dijon mustard to it and I seasoned it with the blackened Cajun spice before I sautéd the chicken.
The chicken was good, but 1 Tablespoon of slap ya mama was way too salty. It ruined the dish for us. Will make again with just 1 teaspoon. I think it would be good to add that comment to your recipe.
Everybody has their own spice level that they like. Thanks for the comment.
Yes! I had to completely redo my sauce today because it was inedible due to saltiness. I LOVE this recipe but definitely will cut waaaay down on Cajun seasoning.
Are you using TABLE SALT or KOSHER SALT? Table salt (very fine) is far saltier – I use Kosher salt that is chunkier.
I had the same issue with the saltiness because of the amount of Slap Your Mamma otherwise it is a great recipe. I made my own mojo criollo…
https://asassyspoon.com/mojo-marinade/