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Fiesta Lime Chicken – A copycat Applebee’s Fiesta Lime Chicken that is topped with a Mexican ranch sauce, melted cheese and fresh pico de gallo.
I have ordered this Fiesta Lime Chicken at Applebee’s more times than I can count. Years ago it was called Tequila Lime Chicken and that is when I first fell in love with it. Now I love making it at home any night of the week.
Copycat recipes are one of my favorite things to make. This Panera Macaroni and Cheese is a staple for quick and easy dinners. There is just something about getting to make restaurant favorites at home!
Grilled chicken is a staple in the summer. Grilled Chicken Thighs with a chili sauce that makes them absolutely delicious is on repeat all summer long. Chicken can be boring, so you need to mix it up and make it special! And the Mexi-Ranch sauce on this chicken is going to become a quick favorite.
Fiesta Lime Chicken Ingredients
- Chicken Breasts
- Lime Juice
- Soy Sauce
- Worcestershire Sauce
- Garlic
- Ground Cumin
- Salt & Black Pepper
- Ranch Dressing
- Sour Cream
- Salsa
- Cilantro
- Diced Tomatoes
- Onion
- Jalapeno
This fiesta chicken is marinaded in soy sauce, lime juice and other spices for hours so it gets tender and delicious. Then you top it with a Mexican ranch sauce and melted cheese. It gets saucy and delicious. The fresh pico takes it over the top make makes it bright, fresh, and great for summer. You can mix up the marinade in the morning before going to work, or even the night before and let it sit overnight and all the next day.
How To Make Fiesta Lime Chicken
Be sure to scroll to the bottom of the post for the FULL PRINTABLE recipe card.
I understand the ingredient list looks long, but this is a super simple recipe you will make over and over again!
- Combine all of the ingredient for the marinade in a food storage bag. Add the chicken, seal and store in the fridge for 8-24 hours.
- Next you can make the Mexican Ranch sauce. This can be made up to 24 hours in advance. Just mix all of the ingredients together until smooth, cover and place in the fridge until ready to use.
- Then you assemble the pico de gallo. This can be done a few hours ahead, or you can take a shortcut and use store bought. Just toss all of those ingredients together and store in the fridge until you are ready to use it.
- Heat the grill to high heat.
- Discard the marinade the chicken was in and place pieces of chicken on the grill. Cook for 6-7 minutes per side until they reach an internal temperature of 160º F.
- Once they are mostly cooked, top with a spoonful of the Mexican ranch dressing and sprinkle on the cheese. Cover the grill to melt the cheese.
- Remove the chicken and top with the fresh pico to serve.
Recipe Tips
- If you are in a hurry or don’t have all of the ingredients, you can make quick shortcut to the Mexi-Ranch by just mixing about equal parts of ranch dressing and salsa together. I have heard from Applebee’s employees that when they run out, they do this sometimes.
- Homemade Pico de Gallo is listed in the recipe card, but if you wanted a shortcut or tomatoes are not looking very good, you can use your favorite store bought salsa, or even make a Homemade Salsa that uses canned tomatoes.
- You can make your pico de gallo and Mexi-Ranch sauce ahead of time and store in the fridge. So the day you want to make this, you really just have to cook the chicken. Super easy to meal prep and make the week easy.
Applebee’s chicken is always served with rice and crispy tortilla strips. I make my favorite Instant Pot Spanish Rice, and buy tortilla strips in the salad aisle to sprinkle over the top. You have to have all the elements of the restaurant to really enjoy it right? Right down to the Frozen Strawberry Margarita.
More Copycat Recipes to Try
- Red Lobster Tartar Sauce
- Pasta Milano (Macaraoni Grill)
- Pesto Cavatappi (Noodles & Company)
- Chili’s Salsa
- Cafe Rio Pork
- Cheddar Bay Biscuits (Red Lobster)
- Olive Garden Breadsticks
- Minestrone Soup (Olive Garden)
Fiesta Lime Chicken
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts
- 1/2 cup Colby Jack Cheese
Marinade
- 1/2 cup water
- 3 Tablespoons lime juice
- 2 Tablespoons soy sauce
- 1/2 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Mexican Ranch
- 1/4 cup ranch dressing
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup salsa
- 1 Tablespoon lime juice
- 2 Tablespoons cilantro, finely chopped
- 1 clove garlic, minced
Pico de Gallo
- 1 cup tomato, chopped
- 2 Tablespoons onion, finely chopped
- 1 Tablespoon lime juice
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 Tablespoon chopped cilantro
- 1/2 jalapeno, seeded and chopped
Instructions
- In a resealable plastic bag combine all of the ingredients for the marinade.
- Add chicken and toss to coat. Place in fridge for 8-24 hours.
- Meanwhile prepare the Mexican ranch by combining all of the ingredients and mixing until smooth. Store in fridge until ready to use.
- To prepare the pico de gallo toss all of the ingredients together in a bowl. Store in fridge until ready to use.
- Preheat grill to high heat.
- Place chicken in the grill, discarding the remaining marinade. Cook for 6-7 minutes per side, until the chicken is fully cooked.
- Top each piece of chicken with a spoonful of the ranch and sprinkle evenly with the cheese. Cover the grill to melt the cheese.
- Once the cheese has melted serve topped with pico de gallo.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Made this for dinner yesterday and it was SO delicious! Just as good as Applebees! I also found it versatile as I have 3 picky eater children, one had just chicken and rice, one had just chicken with cheese, my vegan ate just the pico and my husband and I enjoyed everything! The only change I made was to leave out all onion and garlic (due to food sensitivity) and to add avocado chunks to the Pico (to make it more sustantial for my vegan). This recipe will definitely be made many times, thank-you!
I’ve made this 3 times now and love it more each time! Tonight I made it for my mother in law and she said it’s her new favorite dish! Perfect exactly as written! I make a Mexican rice to go with !
Delicious!!!! One of my new favorites!!! My whole family enjoyed it! We will definitely make this again!! All the different parts were amazing!!
Loved this chicken! Doubled the recipe for extra leftovers!!
Can This recipe be baked in the oven? If so how long?
Yes, you can or you can cook the chicken in a skillet on the stove. How long will depend on how thick your chicken is. Cook at 350º F for probably 20-25 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through.
Any suggestions for cooking in an air fryer??? Time and temperature??? I love this dish at Applebee’s and can’t wait to try your recipe!
I would follow the instructions using my Air Fryer Chicken Breast Recipe for cooking them, just season using this recipe https://dinnersdishesanddesserts.com/air-fryer-chicken-breast/
I love chicken. This is so easy and tasty recipe you shared with us. I alwasy love to read your blog. Thank you for sharing it.
I made this and it was a hit. It seems like a lot when you look at the ingredients but it’s so simple and it’s amazingly delicious!!!
I worked at Applebee’s for 6 years and I’ll say that whenever we ran out of pre packaged mexi-ranch, we just mixed together ranch and salsa and I never had or heard of anyone noticing. So, shortcut.
I worked there for six years too lol and yes, that was definitely what we did when we ran out too!
How much of each?
VERY DELICIOUS!!! This is my fave dish af Applebees and the first time I made it it was a HUGE HIT!! I no have it cooking right now again for the second time and I can’t wait!! It taste exactly like Applebees!!!!
I worked at Applebee’s for six years and this was my go to entree! I ate so much of it when I was pregnant. This recipe is AMAZING! Any time I crave it and don’t want to pay the $18, I use this recipe. So thank you!