Alice Springs Chicken: What Cheese Melts The Best?

Alice Springs Chicken is a popular dish at Outback Steakhouse. It is a chicken dish marinated in honey mustard sauce and topped with mushrooms, bacon, and cheese. While the exact cheese used in the original recipe is unclear, Colby Jack cheese is a popular choice for this dish, as are Monterey Jack and cheddar cheeses.

Alice Springs Chicken is made with a honey mustard marinade

Alice Springs Chicken is a popular dish at Outback Steakhouse, and it's easy to see why. This mouth-watering dish consists of juicy chicken breasts coated in a honey mustard marinade and topped with mushrooms, melted cheese, and bacon. The key component of this dish is the honey mustard marinade, which sets it apart from other chicken recipes.

The marinade is what makes Alice Springs Chicken so special and gives it its unique flavour. To make the marinade, you'll need to whisk together Dijon mustard, honey, mayonnaise, and lemon juice. You can also add some garlic and onion powder for an extra kick of flavour. This marinade not only tenderises the chicken but also adds a delicious zesty taste. It's best to marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes, but if you have the time, leaving it overnight will result in even more flavourful chicken.

Once the chicken is done marinating, it's time to cook the bacon and mushrooms. You can cook the bacon in the oven or on the stovetop. For the mushrooms, heat some butter in a skillet over medium heat and sauté them until they're golden brown. Then, it's time to sear the chicken. You can do this in the same skillet as the mushrooms, but be sure to discard any remaining marinade. Sear the chicken for about 5 minutes on each side, or until it's golden brown.

Now for the fun part: assembling the dish! Place the seared chicken breasts in a baking dish and top each one with the sautéed mushrooms, crispy bacon, and shredded cheese. Colby-Jack cheese is a popular choice, but you can use any shredded cheese you like. Bake the chicken in the oven until the cheese is melted and bubbly, which should take around 10-15 minutes.

Alice Springs Chicken is a hearty and indulgent meal that's perfect for a family dinner or when you're looking for a restaurant-quality meal at home. It's a dish that's sure to impress and will have your family asking for seconds!

The chicken is topped with Monterey Jack and Cheddar cheese

The chicken is topped with a combination of Monterey Jack and Cheddar cheese. Monterey Jack is a mild, creamy cheese that melts well, while Cheddar adds a sharper, more distinct flavour. This combination of cheeses ensures a delicious, gooey topping for the Alice Springs Chicken.

Monterey Jack is a versatile cheese that can be substituted with Colby Jack, which is a similar blend of Colby and Monterey Jack cheeses. Colby Jack has a slightly more orange hue and a hint of additional sharpness from the Colby, but it still melts beautifully, making it an excellent alternative.

When preparing the Alice Springs Chicken, the chicken breasts are coated in a marinade, typically consisting of honey mustard, mayonnaise, and lemon juice. This marinade imparts a unique flavour to the chicken and tenderises it, resulting in juicy and flavourful meat. The chicken is then cooked, often in a skillet, until it develops a golden-brown crust.

Once the chicken is cooked, it's time to add the toppings. Sautéed mushrooms are a common addition, providing a savoury complement to the chicken. Crispy, cooked bacon is also a popular choice, adding a delightful crunch to the dish. Finally, the Monterey Jack and Cheddar cheese are sprinkled on top, creating a mouthwatering, gooey blanket that ties all the flavours together.

The dish is then baked in the oven until the cheese melts to perfection, forming a scrumptious blanket over the chicken. The chicken is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. This mouthwatering creation, with its combination of flavours and textures, is sure to be a crowd-pleaser and a regular on your dinner menu.

The chicken is cooked in a skillet

To cook the chicken in a skillet, you'll first need to heat some olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Place the chicken in the skillet and cook for 5-8 minutes on each side, or until the meat is cooked through and no longer pink in the centre. Season the chicken with salt and pepper.

Some recipes suggest searing the chicken first, by heating oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and adding the chicken without moving it until a golden-brown crust forms (about 5 minutes). Then, flip each piece and cook for another 5 minutes or so, until the other side is browned.

After cooking the chicken, you can add the toppings.

The chicken is served with a side of honey mustard sauce

The honey mustard sauce is easy to make and can be prepared ahead of time. It is made by whisking together Dijon mustard, honey, mayonnaise, and lemon juice. You can adjust the ingredients to your taste preferences—adding more honey for sweetness or increasing the Dijon mustard for a tangier sauce. This sauce is what makes the dish so special, and it is served as a dipping sauce on the side.

The chicken is marinated in the honey mustard sauce, giving it a unique flavour. The marinade also includes garlic and onion powder, enhancing the savoury notes of the dish. The chicken is then grilled to perfection, and the toppings are added. The bacon is cooked until crispy, and the mushrooms are sautéed to a golden brown. Finally, the cheese is added, and the entire dish is baked until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

The side of honey mustard sauce is the perfect complement to this chicken dish. It adds a tangy and sweet flavour that enhances the taste of the chicken and toppings. It is a versatile sauce that can be adjusted to your preference, and it is an essential part of the Alice Springs Chicken experience.

The chicken is topped with bacon

Alice Springs Chicken is a dish that's become famous thanks to the Outback Steakhouse, and it's easy to see why. This is a chicken dish with a difference, and it's topped with a variety of tasty ingredients.

The chicken is marinated in a honey mustard sauce, and then it's topped with mushrooms, cheese, and, of course, bacon. The bacon is cooked until crispy and then crumbled over the chicken to add a delicious crunch.

The bacon is an important part of the dish, adding a savoury, salty element to the chicken. It's a great contrast to the sweet honey mustard marinade and the juicy chicken.

The bacon is cooked separately from the chicken, usually in a pan, and then added to the chicken before it's baked in the oven. This ensures the bacon is cooked to crispy perfection and adds a great texture to the dish.

Some recipes suggest cooking the bacon in the oven on a baking sheet, which is lined with foil for easy cleanup. Others suggest frying the bacon in a pan and then using the same pan to cook the chicken, which saves on washing up!

The bacon is usually cooked until crispy, and then it's chopped or crumbled over the chicken. The chicken is then baked in the oven, allowing the flavours to meld together and the cheese to melt.

The bacon adds a savoury, smoky flavour to the dish and is an essential part of the Alice Springs Chicken experience. It's a simple step but adds a lot of flavour and texture to the meal.

Frequently asked questions