Applebee’s Fiesta Lime Chicken

Applebee’s Fiesta Lime Chicken is a tasty baked chicken dish that’s great for any day and perfect for Cinco de Mayo. Serve it with Mexican rice, black beans, and Pico de Gallo for a delicious dinner.

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What Makes Applebees Fiesta Lime Chicken So Good?

Say goodbye to boring chicken dinners, and say ‘hola’ to Applebees Fiesta Lime Chicken! Think of this popular menu item as a South-of-the-Border version of Chicken Parmesan.

You and your family will love the taste of this recipe featuring tender baked chicken breasts covered in a lime ranch dressing and smothered in mild Colby Jack cheese.

Why You Should Try This Recipe 

This easy-to-make, no-fail oven-baked fiesta lime chicken recipe will become your new go-to meal for those nights when you want to serve something special without spending a lot of time in the kitchen.

Just make the sides the day before, and you can have a homemade, fresh-from-the-oven dinner on your table in less time than it takes to get delivery. 

Copycat Fiesta Lime Chicken Ingredients

For the cooking the chicken, you’ll need:

• Chicken breasts
• Lime juice
• Soy sauce
• Honey
• Water
• Cumin
• Garlic powder
• Salt
• Fresh ground black pepper

For the Fiesta Lime Chicken sauce, you’ll need:

• Ranch dressing
• Salsa
• Sour cream
• Fresh cilantro, chopped
• Lime
• Zest from lime
• Worcestershire sauce

Try to use fresh lime juice here since it makes a tremendous difference in the taste. However, if you only have lime juice and no lime zest, you can still make the recipe. 

To finish the Fiesta Lime Chicken Applebees style, you’ll need:

• Colby Jack cheese, sliced

Swap Colby Jack for Cheddar cheese or another kind of cheese if you prefer. You can also use shredded cheese instead of slices.

How to Make Copycat Fiesta Lime Chicken 

To make to prepare the chicken:

1. In a medium mixing bowl, stir together all the ingredients for the chicken marinade. Place the marinade aside for later. 
2. Split a chicken breast in half horizontally.
3. Place one-half of the chicken breast between two pieces of plastic wrap. Gently pound the chicken into an even thickness using the flat side of a meat tenderizer.
4. Put the pounded chicken into the bowl with the marinade. 
5. Repeat with the remaining pieces of chicken.
6. Cover the bowl and put it in the fridge. Marinade the chicken for a minimum of one hour and no more than 12 hours.
7. Lightly grease a 9 x 13 baking dish.
8. Dry the chicken pieces with a paper towel and place them in a single layer on the bottom of the baking dish.

To prepare the Fiesta lime ranch sauce:

1. Place all the sauce ingredients in a small bowl.
2. Stir until the Mexi-ranch sauce is well combined.

To bake the chicken:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. 
2. Bake the chicken for 20 minutes. 
3. Remove the baking dish from the oven. Juices from the chicken will be in the bottom of the dish. Do not pour off the juices.
4. Spoon the Fiesta Lime Chicken sauce on top of the chicken.

5. Cover the chicken with a slice of cheese. 
6. Return the baking dish to the oven until the cheese bubbles. 
7. Use an instant-read thermometer to double-check that the internal temperature of the chicken is at least 165°F. 
8. Plate the chicken and serve it topped with Pico de Gallo or chopped tomatoes and with your favorite Mexican sides. 

Recipe Variation

Instead of baked chicken you can make grilled chicken.

1. Marinate the chicken per the recipe instructions.
2. Heat a grill pan or skillet over medium-high heat on the stove.
3. Add a tablespoon of cooking oil to the pan.
4. Cook the chicken until it is done, about 4 minutes per side, turning halfway through cooking. Chicken is done when it has an internal temp is 165°F.
5. Place the grilled chicken in a baking dish and top it with the sauce and cheese.
6. Broil it until the cheese is melted.

What to Serve Applebees Fiesta Lime Chicken

Fiesta Lime Chicken is a good lower-carb dinner on its own, but if you are really hungry, try adding a few carbs to help fill out the meal.

The chain serves the dish on top of tortilla strips, along with a side of Mexican Rice and black beans. A scoop of homemade Pico de Gallo on top of the chicken adds a lot of freshness and color to the dish. Chopped or sliced jalapeno peppers or hot sauce would give it an extra kick of heat.

Or instead of Mexican rice, you could make Spanish rice or Cilantro rice.

How to Store the Leftovers 

Allow any leftovers to cool to room temperature before putting them in an airtight container or a plastic zip top bag. Seal the bag and keep it fresh in the fridge for about three days.

If you want to save the Fiesta Lime Chicken Applebees style for longer than a few days, you can freeze it in a freezer-safe container for up to two months.

What’s the Best Way to Reheat Fiesta Lime Chicken?

The most convenient method for reheating thawed chicken is in the oven:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. While the oven is preheating, put the thawed chicken on the counter to help shake off the chill of the fridge.
3. Put the chicken in a baking dish along with a few tablespoons of water.
4. Cover the top of the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake for about 10 minutes. 
5. Remove the aluminum foil and continue to cook the chicken until the cheese melts and the interior reaches at least 165°F. 

More Applebee’s Copycat Recipes

• Applebee’s French Onion Soup
• Bourbon Street Chicken
• Hamburger Quesadilla
• Oriental Dressing

Favorite Chicken Dinner Recipes

• Chicken Katsu
• Chicken Limone
• Chicken Parmigiana
• Cream Cheese Chicken
• Easy Chicken Noodle Casserole
• KFC Chicken
• Monterey Chicken
• Panda Express Orange Chicken
• Ritz Cracker Chicken

Check out more of my easy recipes for chicken and the best copycat homemade restaurant dishes on CopyKat!