Outback Steakhouse Alice Springs Chicken (Copycat Recipe)

This famous dish features juicy chicken breasts topped with mushrooms, crispy bacon, melted cheese, and a honey mustard sauce. It’s surprisingly easy to recreate at home!

Ingredients

For the Chicken and Marinade:

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

• 1 cup Italian dressing (like Wish-Bone)

• 1 teaspoon garlic powder

• 1 teaspoon onion powder

• Salt and black pepper to taste

For the Toppings:

• 8 slices bacon, cooked crispy

• 8 oz mushrooms, sliced

• 2 cups shredded Colby-Jack cheese (or Monterey Jack)

• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (for garnish)

For the Honey Mustard Sauce:

• ½ cup mayonnaise

• 3 tablespoons honey

• 2 tablespoons yellow mustard

• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

• 1 teaspoon onion powder

• ½ teaspoon paprika

• 1-2 tablespoons milk (to thin if needed)

Instructions

1. Marinate Chicken:

   • Pound chicken breasts to even ½-inch thickness

   • Whisk together Italian dressing, garlic powder, and onion powder

   • Place chicken in marinade, cover, and refrigerate 2-4 hours (or overnight)

2. Cook Bacon and Mushrooms:

   • Cook bacon in skillet until crispy; drain on paper towels

   • In same skillet, sauté mushrooms in bacon drippings until golden brown

   • Set aside

3. Make Honey Mustard Sauce:

   • Whisk together all sauce ingredients until smooth

   • Refrigerate until ready to use

4. Cook Chicken:

   • Preheat oven to 400°F (175°C)

   • Remove chicken from marinade; discard marinade

   • Season chicken with salt and pepper

   • In large oven-safe skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat

   • Cook chicken 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown

5. Assemble and Bake:

   • Spread 2 tablespoons honey mustard sauce over each chicken breast

   • Top with mushrooms, then bacon slices

   • Sprinkle cheese evenly over top

   • Transfer skillet to oven; bake 10-15 minutes until cheese melts and chicken reaches 165°F

6. Serve:

   • Garnish with fresh parsley

   • Serve with extra honey mustard sauce on the side

Serving Suggestions

• Mashed potatoes (classic Outback style)

• Steamed vegetables (broccoli or asparagus)

• Side salad with ranch dressing

• Garlic bread or toast

Tips for Success

• Pound chicken evenly for consistent cooking

• Don’t skip marinating – it adds flavor and tenderness

• Use oven-safe skillet for easy transfer from stove to oven

• Make extra sauce for dipping potatoes and vegetables

• Cook bacon until crispy so it doesn’t become soggy when baked

Time-Saving Shortcuts

• Use pre-cooked bacon

• Buy pre-sliced mushrooms

• Use bottled honey mustard dressing (though homemade is better!)

• Skip marinating if short on time (just season generously)

This copycat recipe tastes even better than the restaurant version! The combination of savory chicken, smoky bacon, melted cheese, and sweet-tangy sauce is absolutely irresistible.