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This Alice Springs Chicken recipe is based on the Outback Steakhouse favorite. To make this copycat recipe, marinate chicken breast in honey mustard sauce, then top with mushrooms, bacon, and a pile of cheese! So delicious!

With a name like Outback Steakhouse, you can guess what most people are going to order when they walk through the door: steak.
But it’s always wise to have chicken on the menu, right? People are obsessed with chicken. However, in steak vs. chicken battle at a steakhouse, chicken better have a plan.
Alice Springs Chicken has a plan, and it’s amazing.
Table of Contents
Recipe ingredients

At a Glance: Here is a quick snapshot of what ingredients are in this recipe.
Please see the recipe card below for specific quantities.
Ingredient notes
- Chicken: Outback uses chicken breast, but you could choose quick-cooking cutlets or even juicy thighs if you prefer. Just plan on 1 ½ pounds total per 4 servings.
- Mushrooms: You either love ’em or you hate ’em. If you’re in the latter category, feel free to leave them out. Alice won’t mind!
- Colby jack cheese: Any shredded cheese will do here.
Step-by-step instructions
To make the marinade:
- In a small bowl, whisk together mustard, honey, mayonnaise, and lemon juice. Reserve ¼ cup sauce in a covered container and refrigerate until serving time.

- Meanwhile, place the chicken breast in a large plastic zipper-top bag. Pour in remaining sauce and turn in bag until evenly coated. Refrigerate 30 minutes or overnight.

To make the chicken:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a large oven-proof skillet over medium-high heat, heat butter until the foaming. Add mushrooms and sauté until they have released most of their liquid and have started to turn brown, about 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and wipe out skillet.

- To the same skillet, heat oil until shimmering. Add chicken (discarding any remaining marinade) in a single layer and do not move until a golden-brown crust forms, about 5 minutes. Flip each piece and continue to cook until the second side is browned, about 5 minutes longer.

- Divide the mushrooms evenly over the chicken. Top with bacon and cheese.

- Cover the skillet and place in the oven. Bake until the chicken reaches 165°F when tested with an internal thermometer at the thickest part, about 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from oven and garnish with parsley if desired.

- Serve with reserved sauce on the side for dipping.

Recipe tips and variations
- Yield: This recipe makes 4 servings, 1 chicken breast with sauce and all the toppings per person.
- Storage: Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Make ahead: The chicken can be marinated in the refrigerator up to 1 day in advance.
- Aussie Appetizers: Start your Outback feast with restaurant-inspired apps like Grilled Shrimp [on the Barbie], Air Fryer Chicken Wings, seared Ahi Tuna, or Coconut Shrimp.
- Soups and Side Salads: To continue your Outback-inspired dining, try Loaded Baked Potato Soup, French Onion Soup, a chilled Wedge Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing or Ranch Dressing, or a fresh Caesar Salad.
- Steakhouse Potatoes and Sides: Round out your Outback menu with all the classic sides. Try homestyle Mashed Potatoes, a Baked Potato (with our without cheese and cooked bacon), Lemon Rice Pilaf, Roasted Broccoli, Roasted Asparagus, Roasted Brussels Sprouts, or Steakhouse Mac and Cheese.
Frequently Asked Questions
This chicken recipe is named after Alice Springs in Australia, a large town in the Northern Territory. You can read about it on Wikipedia if you want to know more!
Readers go back and forth on this with some saying it’s barbecue sauce, but the menu is very clear: Alice Springs Chicken is marinated in, and served with, honey mustard sauce.
More steakhouse inspiration
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Surf and Turf
Beef Recipes
Grilled New York Strip Steak
Fish and Seafood Recipes
Baked Salmon
Appetizer Recipes
Coconut Shrimp
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Alice Springs Chicken (Outback Copycat)
Ingredients
For the marinade:
- 1/2 cup Dijon mustard (I prefer this French brand!)
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
For the chicken:
- 4 boneless, skinless, chicken breasts (about 1 ½ pounds, see note 1)
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 8 ounces white button mushrooms or cremini mushrooms, trimmed and sliced (see note 2)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 slices bacon cooked and chopped into 2-inch pieces (I use uncured)
- 2 cups Colby Jack cheese shredded (see note 3)
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley for garnish, optional
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
To make the marinade:
- In a small bowl, whisk together mustard, honey, mayonnaise, and lemon juice. Reserve ¼ cup sauce in a covered container and refrigerate until serving time.
- Meanwhile, place the chicken breast in a large plastic zipper-top bag. Pour in remaining sauce and turn in bag until evenly coated. Refrigerate 30 minutes or overnight.
To make the chicken:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a large oven-proof skillet over medium-high heat, heat butter until the foaming.
- Add mushrooms and sauté until they have released most of their liquid and have started to turn brown, about 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and wipe out skillet.
- To the same skillet, heat oil until shimmering. Add chicken (discarding any remaining marinade) in a single layer and do not move until a golden-brown crust forms, about 5 minutes.
- Flip each piece and continue to cook until the second side is browned, about 5 minutes longer.
- Divide the mushrooms evenly over the chicken. Top with bacon and cheese. Cover the skillet and place in the oven. Bake until the chicken reaches 165 degrees when tested with an internal thermometer at the thickest part, about 10 to 15 minutes.
- Remove from oven and garnish with parsley if desired. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Serve with reserved sauce on the side for dipping.
Recipe Video
Notes
- Chicken: Outback uses chicken breast, but you could choose quick-cooking cutlets or even juicy thighs if you prefer. Just plan on 1 ½ pounds total per 4 servings.
- Mushrooms: You either love ’em or you hate ’em. If you’re in the latter category, feel free to leave them out. Alice won’t mind!
- Colby jack cheese: Any shredded cheese will do here.
- Yield: This recipe makes 4 servings, 1 chicken breast with sauce and all the toppings per person.
- Storage: Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Make ahead: The chicken can be marinated in the refrigerator up to 1 day in advance.
Great copycat recipe, Made this tonight for dinner and it was so tasty – definitely closest recipe to Outback’s that I have seen! Will be making again and again! Thank you!
Thanks Sue, so glad you liked it! – Meggan
I cut back on the Dijon Mustard. Very tasty!
Glad you liked it Rene! – Meggan
OMGosh, this is the best meal ever. So easy peasy and tasty. I’ll make this again and again. Glad we have leftovers!
Thank you Phyllis, so glad you like it! – Meggan
Just made this right tonight, it was excellent!!
Thank you Hilary, so glad you liked it! – Meggan
This was a delicious version of the original recipe.
The whole family voted to have it again soon,
Thanks Chris, glad you all liked it! – Meggan
Quick question. Can I use canned mushrooms. I live in the middle of nowhere and cand get fresh.
Hi Deana, I don’t see why not! Hope you enjoy. – Meggan
love it
Thanks Dawn! – Meggan
Absolutely delicious! I leave off the mushrooms cause I’m not a fan but everything else is phenomenal. I’m not even a fan of honey mustard but the sauce is to die for! I’ve even made the sauce separately for fried chicken tenders.
This will be part of my regular rotation-thanks for sharing:)
The sauce is to die for, one of my favorites too Jennifer! So glad you enjoyed, thanks for sharing! – Meggan
This recipe is legit!
Thanks, glad you liked it! – Meggan
I made the recipe today for myself and my Dad. It was amazing! I cooked the entire thing on the Blackstone E-Series table top griddle. It has a hood that closes down and does an amazing job at keeping heat in during cooking and for melting the cheese. If I could only post an image here it looks pretty spot on with your image. Thank you ever so much for posting this recipe Meggan