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Outback Alice Springs Chicken

Featured in: Simple and Satisfying Dinners

The Outback Steakhouse Alice Springs Chicken is one of those restaurant favorites that's surprisingly easy to make at home. This recipe starts with a simple honey mustard marinade that does double duty as both a flavor infuser and dipping sauce. After a quick marinade, the chicken breasts get a perfect golden sear in a hot skillet before being topped with a savory layer of sautéed mushrooms, crispy bacon pieces, and a generous blanket of melted Colby Jack cheese. The whole dish finishes in the oven, allowing the flavors to meld together while the cheese gets bubbly and irresistible. Ready in just 30 minutes of active cooking time, this copycat recipe captures all the flavors of the restaurant version but with the satisfaction of making it yourself. It's perfect for a special dinner at home that feels restaurant-worthy.
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Updated on Sun, 02 Mar 2025 23:07:08 GMT
A bowl of chicken covered in cheese and mushrooms. Pin it
A bowl of chicken covered in cheese and mushrooms. | tastygusto.com

Succulent chicken breasts bathed in tangy honey mustard sauce transform into an extraordinary dish when topped with sautéed mushrooms, crispy bacon, and melted cheese that stretches with each delicious bite. This homemade version of Outback Steakhouse's famous Alice Springs Chicken delivers restaurant quality results with surprisingly simple preparation. The magic happens when the sweet and savory marinade infuses the chicken with flavor while tenderizing it to perfection. When everything comes together under a golden blanket of bubbling cheese, the result is a symphony of complementary flavors and textures that make this dish unforgettable. Even better, this recipe allows you to enjoy this beloved restaurant favorite without leaving home.

I first attempted to recreate this Outback classic after celebrating my anniversary at the restaurant. My husband ordered Alice Springs Chicken and couldn't stop raving about it. Through research and experimentation, I discovered the secrets to their addictive honey mustard sauce from a former employee who shared key proportions. After several test batches, this version perfectly captured the restaurant experience, becoming our special occasion dinner that costs a fraction of dining out.

Flavor Building Blocks

  • Chicken breasts: Select uniformly sized boneless skinless breasts approximately 6 ounces each and pound to even thickness, ensuring consistent cooking throughout while retaining moisture in this lean protein.
  • Dijon mustard: Choose authentic French Dijon with its distinctive pungent flavor that provides the perfect counterbalance to sweet honey in the signature sauce.
  • Honey: Select pure, unfiltered honey for its complex flavor notes that blend beautifully with mustard while adding natural sweetness and helping create caramelization during cooking.
  • Real mayonnaise: Use full fat mayonnaise made with cage free eggs for richness and emulsification that helps the sauce cling perfectly to the chicken during cooking.
  • Fresh lemon juice: Incorporate freshly squeezed juice rather than bottled for brightness that cuts through the richness of the other ingredients while activating flavor compounds.
  • Bacon: Choose thick cut bacon that maintains its texture and substance when cooked, providing satisfying chew and smoky flavor that complements the sweet honey mustard.
  • Colby Jack cheese: This perfect blend of colby and monterey jack offers ideal meltability with mild flavor that doesn't overpower the other components while turning beautifully golden when broiled.
  • Cremini mushrooms: These brown mushrooms provide deeper, earthier flavor than white button varieties, creating umami richness that elevates the entire dish.

Preparation Perfection

Masterful marinade:
Whisk mustard, honey, mayonnaise, and fresh lemon juice until completely smooth, setting aside a portion before contact with raw chicken for serving later as dipping sauce.
Proper marinating:
Place chicken in a sealed container or zip top bag with marinade, ensuring complete coverage and refrigerating for at least 30 minutes or ideally overnight for deepest flavor penetration.
Mushroom mastery:
Sauté mushrooms until they release their moisture and develop golden edges, indicating their flavors have concentrated and caramelized for maximum taste impact.
Perfect searing:
Cook marinated chicken in a hot ovenproof skillet until a beautiful golden crust forms before flipping, creating flavor through Maillard reaction while sealing in juices.
Strategic layering:
Top seared chicken with sautéed mushrooms, followed by crispy bacon strips and generous cheese, building flavors that will meld together during the final baking phase.
Precision finishing:
Transfer the entire skillet to a preheated oven, allowing chicken to finish cooking gently while cheese melts to perfection and all components merge into cohesive flavor harmony.
Temperature testing:
Use an instant read thermometer to verify chicken has reached exactly 165°F, ensuring food safety while preventing overcooking that would dry out the breast meat.
A plate of food with mushrooms and bacon. Pin it
A plate of food with mushrooms and bacon. | tastygusto.com

My grandmother always stressed the importance of patience when marinating chicken, explaining that proper marination requires time for the acid components to work their magic on proteins. When I first attempted this recipe, I rushed this step and while the dish was good, it lacked depth. The next time, I followed her wisdom and marinated overnight, discovering a transformation in tenderness and flavor penetration that elevated the dish from good to exceptional. This simple change made all the difference in creating truly restaurant quality results at home.

A plate of food with mushrooms and bacon. Pin it
A plate of food with mushrooms and bacon. | tastygusto.com

Australian Inspiration

Understanding the origins of this beloved dish adds dimension to its enjoyment. While Outback Steakhouse developed an Aussie themed menu, this particular creation takes its name from Alice Springs, a town in Australia's Northern Territory known as the gateway to the Outback. The combination of sweet honey mustard with savory bacon echoes the contrast between the lush oasis of Alice Springs and the surrounding arid landscape. Though not an authentic Australian recipe, the dish captures the spirit of hearty, satisfying meals that sustain travelers in remote regions, reimagined for American palates with ingredients readily available in home kitchens.

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Can I make the honey mustard marinade ahead of time?
Absolutely! The honey mustard marinade can be made up to three days ahead and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. This actually allows the flavors to blend even better. You can even make a double batch and use the extra as a salad dressing or dipping sauce for other meals during the week.
→ What can I substitute for Colby Jack cheese?
If you don't have Colby Jack on hand, cheddar cheese works wonderfully as a substitute. Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack (for a spicy kick), or even a cheddar-mozzarella blend would all work well. The key is using a good melting cheese that complements the honey mustard flavor without overpowering it.
→ What sides pair well with Alice Springs Chicken?
This chicken pairs beautifully with so many sides! For a true Outback experience, serve it with a baked potato or Aussie fries. Other great options include steamed asparagus, roasted Brussels sprouts, a simple green salad, or garlic mashed potatoes. The honey mustard sauce is also delicious drizzled over steamed vegetables.
→ Can I use chicken thighs instead of breasts?
Chicken thighs work wonderfully in this recipe and often stay juicier than breasts. If using boneless, skinless thighs, you may need to adjust the cooking time slightly – they typically cook a bit faster than breasts. Just make sure they reach an internal temperature of 165°F. The richer flavor of thighs actually pairs beautifully with the honey mustard and bacon.
→ How do I prevent the chicken from drying out?
The key to juicy chicken is not overcooking it. Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness (165°F) rather than relying solely on cooking time. The marinade also helps keep the chicken moist, so don't skimp on marinating time if possible. Finally, letting the chicken rest for a few minutes after cooking allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat instead of running out when cut.

Outback Alice Springs Chicken

Recreate Outback Steakhouse's Alice Springs Chicken at home - juicy chicken breasts marinated in honey mustard, topped with mushrooms, bacon and cheese.

Prep Time
15 Minutes
Cook Time
15 Minutes
Total Time
30 Minutes

Category: Dinner Ideas

Difficulty: Intermediate

Cuisine: American

Yield: 4 Servings

Dietary: Low-Carb, Gluten-Free

Ingredients

→ For the honey mustard marinade

01 ½ cup Dijon mustard (the good stuff, not the yellow squeeze bottle kind)
02 ½ cup honey (local if you've got it!)
03 ¼ cup mayo (full-fat works best here)
04 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice (gives it that perfect zing)

→ For the chicken

05 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1½ pounds total)
06 2 tablespoons butter
07 8 ounces fresh mushrooms, sliced
08 1 tablespoon olive oil
09 4 slices bacon, cooked until crispy and roughly chopped
10 2 cups Colby Jack cheese, freshly shredded (pre-shredded works in a pinch)
11 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (optional, but adds a nice pop of color)
12 Salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste

Instructions

Step 01

In a bowl, stir together the Dijon mustard, honey, mayo, and lemon juice until smooth. This sauce is like liquid gold! Set aside about ¼ cup in a small container and pop it in the fridge - we'll use this for dipping later.

Step 02

Grab a large zip-top bag and add your chicken breasts. Pour in the remaining honey mustard mixture, seal the bag, and give it a good squish to make sure every inch of chicken gets coated. Toss it in the fridge for at least 30 minutes, but overnight is even better if you've got the time - trust me, it's worth the wait!

Step 03

When you're ready to cook, preheat your oven to 400°F. Grab a large oven-safe skillet (cast iron is perfect for this) and melt the butter over medium-high heat. Once it's foaming, toss in your sliced mushrooms and let them do their thing until they're golden and a bit caramelized, about 5-7 minutes. Transfer the mushrooms to a plate - we'll need them in a bit.

Step 04

In the same skillet (no need to wash it - those mushroom bits add flavor!), heat the olive oil until it shimmers. Take your marinated chicken out of the bag, letting excess marinade drip off, and lay the breasts in the hot pan. Let them sizzle undisturbed for about 5 minutes until you've got a gorgeous golden crust, then flip and cook another 5 minutes on the other side.

Step 05

Here comes the fun part! Scatter your sautéed mushrooms evenly over the chicken breasts, sprinkle on your crispy bacon pieces, and cover the whole thing with a generous blanket of shredded Colby Jack. It might seem like a lot of cheese, but there's no such thing as too much, right?

Step 06

Cover your skillet (with a lid or foil if it doesn't have an oven-safe lid) and transfer it to the preheated oven. Let it bake until the chicken is fully cooked (165°F internal temp) and the cheese is bubbly and melted, about 10-15 minutes depending on how thick your chicken breasts are.

Step 07

Pull that skillet out of the oven (careful, it's hot!) and let it rest for a minute or two. Sprinkle with fresh parsley if you're feeling fancy, and add a crack of black pepper and a pinch of salt if needed. Plate it up with that reserved honey mustard sauce on the side for dipping. Get ready for the 'mmmmms' around the table!

Notes

  1. This copycat Outback Steakhouse recipe tastes even better than the restaurant version because it's made with love in your own kitchen!
  2. The honey mustard sauce does double duty as both marinade and dipping sauce, making this recipe extra efficient.
  3. If you're short on time, you can use pre-cooked bacon bits, but freshly cooked and chopped bacon adds so much more flavor.
  4. This dish pairs perfectly with a side of fries, steamed veggies, or a simple green salad to balance out the richness.

Tools You'll Need

  • Large oven-safe skillet (cast iron works great)
  • Mixing bowl
  • Zip-top plastic bag for marinating
  • Meat thermometer (helpful but not essential)

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Contains eggs (in mayonnaise)
  • Contains dairy (butter and cheese)

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 524
  • Total Fat: 32 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 18 g
  • Protein: 42 g