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–+ servings
fiesta lime chicken with rice on plate
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4.56 from 9 votes

Fiesta Lime Chicken Recipe (Applebee's Copycat)

Inspired by Applebee's Fiesta Lime Chicken, my copycat grilled tequila lime chicken breasts are quick, easy, and perfectly cheesy. Plus this dish is lower calorie than the original!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Marinating Time6 hours
Total Time6 hours 30 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 484kcal
Author: Becky Hardin

Equipment

  • Grill or Indoor Grill Pan

Ingredients

  • 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts *
  • 4 slices ultra-thin Colby Jack cheese
  • ½ cup Kraft Lite Three Cheese Ranch Salad Dressing **

For the Tequila Lime Marinade:

  • ½ cup tequila
  • ¾ cup lime juice from 6 limes
  • ½ cup orange juice from 2 oranges
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tablespoon Mrs. Dash Fiesta Lime Seasoning Blend ***
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, mix tequila, lime juice, orange juice, garlic, fiesta lime seasoning blend, pepper, and cilantro.
    ½ cup tequila, ¾ cup lime juice, ½ cup orange juice, 2 cloves garlic , 1 tablespoon Mrs. Dash Fiesta Lime Seasoning Blend, 1 teaspoon ground black pepper, ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
    Combining tequila fiesta lime marinade in a glass bowl.
  • Place the chicken into 2 gallon-sized resealable bags (2 per bag) and pour the marinade over the chicken. Seal and marinate in the fridge for 6-8 hours.
    4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
    Pouring marinade into a bag of raw chicken breasts.
  • After marinating, take the chicken out of the bags and discard excess marinade. Grill chicken on medium-high heat for 8-10 minutes on each side, or until chicken is cooked through.
    Flipping chicken breasts on a grill pan as they cook.
  • Brush each chicken breast liberally with the ranch.
    ½ cup Kraft Lite Three Cheese Ranch Salad Dressing
    Brushing ranch onto a chicken breast as it grills.
  • Then top each with a slice of cheese. Allow the cheese to melt over the chicken before taking off the grill.
    4 slices ultra-thin Colby Jack cheese
    Slices of cheese melting on grilled chicken breasts.
  • Serve with rice, fresh pico de gallo, and lime slices.
    mexican chicken breast on a plate with rice and tomatoes.

Video

Notes

*I prefer lean boneless, skinless chicken breasts for this recipe. Thinly-sliced breasts can be used if you'd like to cut down on portion size and cooking time.
**Another brand of 3-cheese ranch, another lite ranch, or a classic ranch can be used instead.
***If you don't have access to Mrs. Dash seasoning or another fiesta lime blend; combine 1 teaspoon of paprika, 1 teaspoon of cumin, and 1 teaspoon of salt for a simplified substitute. 
Tips:
  • I recommend marinating tequila lime chicken in the fridge for 6-8 hours for maximum benefit. You can marinate overnight for convenience. Or if you're short on time, a quick 30 minutes will give it a flavor boost.
  • I like to make this using a grill pan on my stovetop, but it works on an outdoor grill too. You can also follow the same instructions using a skillet on the stovetop.
  • After marinating, let chicken come to room temp before grilling. I set it on the counter top while the grill preheats.
  • Cooked chicken breasts should reach an internal temp of 165°F.
Storage: Store leftover fiesta lime chicken breasts in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 days, or freeze for 3 months.

Nutrition

Calories: 484kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 112mg | Sodium: 635mg | Potassium: 579mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 399IU | Vitamin C: 32mg | Calcium: 229mg | Iron: 1mg