Description
Alice Springs Chicken is a flavorful baked chicken dish featuring juicy, seasoned chicken breasts smothered in a creamy honey Dijon sauce, topped with sautéed mushrooms, crispy bacon, and melted Colby-Jack cheese. It’s a comforting meal perfect for a family dinner, served with optional baked potatoes and roasted broccoli for a complete hearty plate.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts (6 ounces each)
- 1 teaspoon seasoning salt (such as Lawry’s)
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
Sauce
- 1/2 cup Dijon mustard
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon dried onion flakes
Toppings
- 6 slices bacon, cut in half
- 2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms
- 2 cups freshly shredded Colby-Jack cheese
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Optional Sides
- Baked potato, for serving
- Roasted broccoli, for serving
Instructions
- Prepare chicken: Pound chicken breasts to an even thickness to ensure uniform cooking. Season both sides evenly with seasoning salt and garlic powder.
- Make sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk together Dijon mustard, honey, mayonnaise, Worcestershire sauce, and dried onion flakes until smooth. Reserve half of this sauce for serving later.
- Marinate chicken: Place the chicken breasts in a resealable plastic bag with the remaining half of the sauce. Seal the bag and toss the chicken to coat thoroughly. Refrigerate and marinate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 8 hours for deeper flavor.
- Cook bacon: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). In a skillet over medium heat, cook the bacon pieces until crisp. Transfer to paper towels to drain excess grease.
- Sauté mushrooms: Using 1 tablespoon of the bacon drippings left in the skillet, add the sliced mushrooms and sauté until they become softened and lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Cook chicken: Add another tablespoon of bacon drippings to the skillet. Place the marinated chicken breasts in the skillet and cook for approximately 5 minutes on each side until browned but not fully cooked through.
- Assemble and bake: Transfer the chicken to a baking dish. Spoon some of the reserved sauce over each piece. Top each breast with sautéed mushrooms, crispy bacon pieces, and shredded Colby-Jack cheese. Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serve: Remove from oven and let chicken rest for a few minutes. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and drizzle with the remaining reserved sauce. Serve with baked potato and roasted broccoli if desired for a complete meal.
Notes
- Ensure chicken breasts are pounded to an even thickness for uniform cooking.
- Marinate the chicken longer for more intense flavor, up to 8 hours.
- Use a meat thermometer to guarantee chicken is cooked to a safe internal temperature of 165°F.
- Bacon drippings add rich flavor; reserve them for sautéing mushrooms and chicken to enhance taste.
- Optional sides like baked potatoes and roasted broccoli complement the dish well.
