Copycat Applebee’s Fiesta Lime Chicken
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“Yeah, we fancy like Applebee’s on a date night…” except instead of that Bourbon Street steak we got FIESTA. LIME. CHICKEN! If you’ve never had it, then let me tell you…you’ve been missing out!
A thin, perfectly grilled chicken breast packed with lime flavor, cheese, Mexi-ranch, and Spanish rice. My mouth is drooling just thinking about it. But like many other of my fast food favorites, Fiesta Lime Chicken was nowhere near paleo friendly.
Then one day, I saw a new product being advertised by a reliable, paleo friendly brand. Sir Kensington had released a chile lime crema everything sauce and I just had to give it a try. To my amazement, it tasted just like the Mexi-ranch on Applebee’s Fiesta Lime Chicken.
My mad scientist wheels started turning…”What if I could replicate my Applebee’s favorite in a way where it wasn’t considered a food cheat?” And friends, that’s exactly what I did. LOL!
The Chicken
This recipe is by far one of the easier recipes on my blog. For the chicken, I simply sliced my chicken breast horizontally into two thin pieces. I sprinkled both sides with taco seasoning, salt, pepper, and topped it with a squeeze of fresh lime juice. Then I popped them on the grill for that nice seared flavor.
Mexican Cauliflower Rice
The recipe for my rice was inspired by this recipe from the Low Carb Nomad. The key to the best cauliflower rice is to use fresh cauliflower, not frozen. Just chop a head of cauliflower into smaller pieces and pulse it in a food processor or blender until it reaches your desired consistency. From there, toss your cauliflower and remaining Mexican rice ingredients into a pan of heated oil. Cook until tender.
I like to spice up my rice with some chopped poblano pepper. If you’re not a fan of spicy food, feel free to leave your rice as is. If your not strictly paleo, you could also add in other ingredients such as corn, beans, or cheese.
The Secret Ingredient
Your chicken is grilled to perfection and your rice is ready to go. Now it’s time to plate your meal and add the Mexi-sauce magic. Sir Kensington’s chile lime crema is dairy free, gluten free, keto, and paleo certified. It lacks the garbage while still being packed with tasty flavor.
To plate, place the rice down first, followed by the chicken. Then, generously drizzle with the chili lime crema. If desired, garnish with extra cilantro and fresh lime slices. Serve with a side of pico de gallo and Siete tortilla chips.
Conclusion
Between emotional eating, sweet cravings, and special occasions…clean eating can already leave you feeling deprived and defeated. You shouldn’t require a cheat day to enjoy some of your restaurant favorites. Having an arsenal of quick and easy copycat recipes is just one way to win the war against bad food. Give this Fiesta Lime Chicken recipe a try! It might become a weekly menu staple. Wink!
Looking for other copycat recipes to add to your arsenal? Then you won’t want to miss the MMB favorite Homemade Sweet and Sour Chicken.
Copycat Applebee’s Fiesta Lime Chicken
Course: MainCuisine: MexicanDifficulty: Easy6
servings20
minutes20
minutesIngredients
3 large chicken breasts
3 tbsp oil
1 small head cauliflower, riced
1 onion, chopped
1 small poblano pepper, diced (optional for added heat)
taco seasoning
4 limes
1-2 tbsp chopped cilantro
salt and pepper to taste
Sir Kensington’s Chile Lime Crema Everything Sauce
Directions
- Cut each chicken breast in half horizontally. Season chicken generously with taco seasoning, salt, and pepper. Cut one or two limes in half and squeeze over seasoned chicken. Grill chicken until fully cooked.
- Heat oil in a sauce pan. Add riced cauliflower, onion, pepper, and cilantro. Then squeeze 1-2 limes over the top. Generously season with taco seasoning until rice is a nice color and flavor is to your taste. Cook until tender, stirring occasionally.
- Plate cooked rice on a plate and top with grilled chicken. Top with a generous drizzle of Sir Kensington’s chile lime crema everything sauce.
- Garnish with extra cilantro and extra lime slices. Serve with pico de gallo and Siete tortilla chips.