Outback Alice Springs Chicken Copycat Recipe

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Alice Springs Chicken Recipe – an Outback Copycat dish you can make right at home. Honey mustard marinated chicken piled with tender mushrooms, bacon, and lots of delicious cheese.

Alice Springs Chicken is one of those dishes that hits all the right notes—juicy chicken, crispy bacon, melty cheese, and a crave-worthy honey mustard sauce. It’s comfort food at its finest, and the best part? You can make it right in your own kitchen, saving time and money!

What is Alice Springs Chicken?

Alice Springs Chicken holds a special place in my family’s hearts (and stomachs!). Whenever we dine at Outback Steakhouse, this is the one dish that no one can resist ordering. Tender, marinated chicken breasts are topped with sautéed mushrooms (though the guys in my family always skip them—but that’s the beauty of making it at home; you can omit or replace them), crispy bacon, and gooey melted cheese, all drizzled with a sweet and tangy honey mustard sauce that ties everything together. It’s a perfect balance of rich, comforting flavors that feels indulgent yet simple to whip up in your own kitchen.

But as much as we love it, dining out isn’t always in the cards. That’s when I decided to recreate this restaurant favorite at home, using simple ingredients and techniques that anyone can follow. The result? A dish that delivers the same restaurant-quality flavors right to our dinner table, saving both time and money. Now, it’s a go-to recipe that makes weeknights feel a little more special—and trust me, it’s always a crowd-pleaser!

Why is it Called Alice Spring Chicken?

Alice Springs Chicken is named after Alice Springs, a remote town in the Northern Territory of Australia. This dish was made famous by Outback Steakhouse, which loves adding Australian-inspired names to its menu items.

While the connection to the town doesn’t go much deeper than the name, the dish itself is all about hearty, comforting flavors. It’s a standout meal whether you’re dining out or making it at home.

Alice Spring Chicken ingredients:

• Bacon: Crispy bacon adds a smoky, salty crunch that complements the tender chicken and creamy sauce. It’s one of those ingredients that takes this dish over the top.
• Mushrooms: Sautéed mushrooms bring depth and a savory, earthy flavor to the dish. Cooking them in bacon drippings enhances their richness and ensures no flavor goes to waste.
• Cheese: Colby Jack melts beautifully and adds a mild, creamy richness to the dish. It blends with the honey mustard sauce and bacon for that gooey, irresistible finish.
• Seasoning: The combination of seasoning salt, garlic powder, and pepper keeps the chicken flavorful and well-seasoned.
• Fresh Parsley (Optional): Adds a pop of color and freshness, but you can skip it if you’re short on time or ingredients.

It’s all about the marinade!

Honey mustard is one of those things that is so delicious to make fresh at home. It tastes so much better than store-bought and is so easy. All you need to do is combine a few ingredients and give it a good stir.

For this recipe, you need Dijon mustard, honey, mayo, and a little fresh lemon juice. I cut the honey down a little so there is a little more tang, but you can play with that flavor profile if you like it on the sweeter side.

Can I make Alice springs chicken on the Grill?

Actually Outback says theirs is cooked on a wood-fired grill. You can definitely adapt my pan-seared and finished-in-oven version. Once you marinate the chicken, I would recommend bringing it to room temperature before grilling. Then remove the chicken from the marinade and shake off excess honey mustard and grill for 4 to 7 minutes on each side depending on the thickness of your chicken.

Then move the chicken to an ovenproof skillet or baking dish to finish in the oven, but you could certainly finish on the grill in a skillet as well.

Variations and Substitutions

• Chicken Thighs: Swap chicken breasts for boneless, skinless thighs if you prefer dark meat. They stay extra juicy and work perfectly with the toppings.
• Cheese: While Colby Jack is classic, you can use Cheddar, Monterey Jack, or even Pepper Jack for a little kick. Smoked Gouda adds a unique, rich flavor.
• Mushrooms: If mushrooms aren’t your thing, try sautéed zucchini, bell peppers, or onions for a different twist. You can also leave them out entirely.
• Bacon: Turkey bacon is a lighter option that still adds a smoky crunch. For a unique spin, try crispy prosciutto.

Shortcut Ideas

• Store-Bought Sauce: Save time with your favorite honey mustard dressing instead of making it from scratch (though the homemade version is totally worth it!).
• Pre-Cooked Bacon: Pre-cooked bacon can speed things up, but keep in mind that cooking your own gives you flavorful bacon grease for sautéing the mushrooms. If you skip it, you’ll need butter or another fat to get that same richness.
• Shredded Cheese: Buy pre-shredded Colby Jack to make assembly quicker.

What to serve with Copycat Alice Springs Chicken

Outback serves theirs with french fries and that is certainly easy. My family’s favorite is mashed potatoes. I usually make Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes or a Crock Pot version of Mashed Potatoes – both are super creamy and delicious. We also like steamed broccoli with it as well!

How to Store leftover Chicken.

Place the chicken in an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for 3 or 4 days. (If you are lucky enough to have leftovers ?!)

Ideas for leftover Alice Springs Chicken recipe

• Honey Mustard Chicken Salad – chop up the chicken and toppings add in mayo and serve on a croissant or toast for loaded chicken salad amazingness.
• Chicken Quesadilla – chop up the leftover chicken and toppings and place on top of a tortilla. Drizzle some of the reserved honey mustard. Heat on a skillet until warm and delicious. (They have this on the menu at Outback too)
• Alice Springs Chicken on a Bed of Greens – Chop into bite-sized pieces. Fill a bowl with chopped lettuce greens. Top the greens with a spoonful of chicken, and add in tomatoes, croutons, and maybe some green onion. Serve with honey mustard or ranch to change it up a bit.
• Alice Springs Chicken Wrap – Grab a wrap and layer chicken, fresh lettuce, and tomatoes, and drizzle with honey mustard or ranch.

Outback Alice Springs Chicken FAQs

Other delicious chicken recipes to try

• Broccoli Cheddar Chicken Casserole
• Easy Chicken and Rice Casserole
• Oven Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks
• Oven Fried Panko Crusted Chicken

Recipe

5 from 14 votes

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Alice Spring Chicken

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes minutes

Marinade Time: 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 20 minutes minutes

Servings: 4

Author: Nikki Lee

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Alice Springs Chicken Recipe – an Outback Copycat dish you can make right at home. Honey mustard marinated chicken piled with tender mushrooms, bacon, and lots of delicious cheese.

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Ingredients 

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For the marinade / dressing:

• ▢ ½ cup Dijon mustard
• ▢ ¼ cup honey
• ▢ ¼ cup mayonnaise
• ▢ 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

For the Chicken:

• ▢ 6 slices of bacon, cut in half
• ▢ 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, about 1 1/2 pounds
• ▢ ½ teaspoon seasoning salt, (or to taste)
• ▢ ½ to 1 teaspoon black pepper
• ▢ ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ▢ 8 ounces mushrooms sliced
• ▢ 2 cups Colby Jack cheese, shredded or grated
• ▢ 2 Tablespoons fresh parsley for garnish, optional

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Instructions

To make the honey mustard marinade / dressing:

• In a small bowl, whisk together mustard, honey, mayonnaise, and lemon juice. Reserve 1/2 cup sauce in an airtight or covered container and place in refrigerator until serving.
• Place chicken breasts in bowl and toss in the marinade until coated. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes or overnight.

To make the chicken:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Cut bacon in half and cook, in a large ovenproof skillet (if available), over medium high heat until done. Remove bacon to paper towel lined plate and set aside. Discard all but 2 Tablespoons of bacon grease from skillet.
• Add mushrooms and saute until they have released most of their liquid. As they start to release water scrape the bottom of the pan with a wooden spatula to get up the browned bits from the bacon. This adds a lot of flavor to the mushrooms. Cook until they start to turn brown. This will take about 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer to a bowl.
• Season chicken with seasoning salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
• Place 1 Tablespoons butter in skillet and melt . Then add chicken breasts to the skillet. Cook over medium high heat for about 4 to 5 minutes. Turn to brown and cook the other side for about 4 to 5 minutes. (If you do not have an ovenproof skillet, move chicken to a casserole or 9 X 13 baking dish for cooking).
• Divide the mushrooms evenly over the chicken. Top with bacon and cheese. Bake until chicken is done or reaches 165 degrees, about 10 to 15 minutes.
• Remove and garnish with parsley, if desired. Serve with reserved honey mustard sauce on the side for dipping.

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Notes

If you like your honey mustard more sweet you can use 1/2 cup honey. I like mine a with a little tang.

For a little more heat add cayenne pepper to the 1/2 honey mustard that you use for marinade or sprinkle directly on the chicken with other seasonings. I like to use 1/4 to 1/2 tsp, but use to your taste.

Adapted from Aunt Bee’s Recipes

Nutrition Information

Serving: 11 serving Calories: 765kcal (38%)

Nutritional Disclaimer

Soulfully Made is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.

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