By: Becky Hardin
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Nothing screams Summer grilling season like Grilled Tequila Lime Chicken–tasty, cheesy, and simple. This copycat Applebee’s recipe is SO FLAVORFUL. Grill season here we come!
Table of Contents
Tequila Lime Chicken Recipe
This easy grilled chicken is a perfect main dish for summer but you can really eat it any time of the year by cooking it indoors.
The secret to Tequila Lime Chicken (besides the tequila marinade…can’t go wrong with that!) is the three-cheese ranch dressing that adds a blast of amazing flavor.
Oh yes, it’s a summer BBQ miracle!
Why you’ll love this Tequila Lime Grilled Chicken:
- Grilled: Succulent, perfectly grilled chicken…perfect for summer BBQs
- Citrusy: A delicious and fresh citrus lime marinade.
- Sauced: Brushed in an addictive three cheese ranch sauce.
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Ingredients
- Chicken breast – Boneless and skinless. Ideally, opt for organic or free-range.
- Tequila – I love Camarena– it’s smooth and adds a lovely, subtle smokiness.
- Fruit juice – fresh lime and orange juice.
- Garlic – minced.
- Lime seasoning blend – I like Mrs. Dash’s Fiesta Lime Seasoning Blend. But you can make your own with 1 tps. paprika, 1 tsp. cumin, and 1 tsp. salt.
- Cheese – I like ultra-thin Colby jack cheese.
- Ranch dressing – Three Cheese Ranch from Kraft is great.
Trademark note: In the spirit of transparency, please note that some of these ingredients are trademarked products. Applebee’s, Camarena, Mrs. Dash and Kraft are proprietary brands that I want to acknowledge and give credit to.
How to Make Tequila Lime Chicken
You can jump to the recipe card for full ingredients & instructions!
- Combine all of the marinade ingredients in a plastic bag and add the chicken pieces. Refrigerate.
- Remove the chicken from the marinade and grill for 8-10 minutes per side.
- Brush chicken with the ranch dressing and a slice of cheese; allow to melt.
- Serve and enjoy!
Why marinate chicken?
Marinating the chicken is super important and it’s what takes this chicken to the next level. Not only does it add a ton of flavor, but it helps keep the chicken juicy and tender!
If you have time, I always recommend marinating the chicken for 6-8 hours or overnight but you can leave it for 2 hours if you’re pushed for time. Even a short marinating time makes a difference!
How Do You Tell When the Chicken is Cooked?
If you are unsure the chicken is cooked through, then you can use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature.
Insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the breast and make sure it reaches 165F. If it doesn’t, cook it for a few minutes longer.
The Best meat thermometer!
I love using this meat thermometer for making sure the meat is at 165 degrees! Easy for beginners & totally worth the $10 cost!
What Do You Serve with Tequila Lime Chicken?
I love to serve this chicken dish with rice and Pico de Gallo or tomatillo avocado salsa. It’s simple, easy, and incredibly delicious.
Other sides that would work well are green beans, salad, noodles or grilled veggies.
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If you make this recipe be sure to upload a photo in the comment section below or leave a rating. Enjoy! You can also jump to recipe.
Recipe
Tequila Lime Chicken Recipe
4.74 from 15 votes
Author: the cookie rookie
Prep: 15 minutes minutes
Cook: 20 minutes minutes
Total: 35 minutes minutes
Serves4 servings
Print Rate
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Nothing rings in the Summer grilling season like Grilled Tequila Lime Chicken! Flavorful, cheesy, and simple. This copycat Applebee's recipe is SO FLAVORFUL. Grill season here we come!
Email This Recipe
Enter your email and we’ll send the recipe directly to you!
By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from The Cookie Rookie.
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts boneless and skinless
- 1/2 cup tequila I love Camarena
- 3/4 cup fresh lime juice
- 1/2 cup fresh orange juice
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 T. Mrs. Dash Fiesta Lime Seasoning Blend If you don't have access to this, use 1 tps. Paprika, 1 tsp. cumin, and 1 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. fresh black pepper
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 4 slices Colby Jack Cheese ultra-thin if possible
- 1/2 cup Lite Three-Cheese Ranch dressing I used Kraft
Instructions
In a large bowl, mix tequila, lime juice, orange juice, garlic, fiesta lime seasoning blend, pepper, and cilantro. Place the chicken into 2 gallon-sized ziplock bags (2 pieces per bag) and pour the marinade over the chicken. Seal and refrigerate for 6-8 hours.
After marinating, take the chicken out of the bags (discarding the marinade) and grill on medium-high heat for 8-10 minutes on each side, or until chicken is cooked through.
Brush each chicken liberally with the ranch dressing, and top with a slice of cheese. Allow the cheese to melt over the chicken before taking off the grill.
Serve with rice, fresh pico de gallo, and lime slices.
Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!
Becky’s tips
- Leave the chicken to marinate for as long as possible (overnight is best).
- Any good melting cheese will work with this recipe; you could also use Cheddar, Gruyere or mozzarella
- To be sure the chicken is cooked, use a meat thermometer and check it reaches 165 degrees F.
- Leftover chicken can be stored in the fridge for 2-3 days
Nutrition Information
Calories: 615kcal (31%) Carbohydrates: 11g (4%) Protein: 56g (112%) Fat: 31g (48%) Saturated Fat: 9g (56%) Cholesterol: 181mg (60%) Sodium: 763mg (33%) Potassium: 1045mg (30%) Fiber: 1g (4%) Sugar: 4g (4%) Vitamin A: 1360IU (27%) Vitamin C: 34mg (41%) Calcium: 229mg (23%) Iron: 2mg (11%)
Did You Make This?I want to see! Be sure to upload an image below & tag @thecookierookie on social media!
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