Claire Thompson
The Red Robin Ensenada Chicken Platter is a popular menu item at the restaurant chain Red Robin. The dish features spicy, juicy chicken breasts coated in a homemade spice blend, served with a simple southwest salad. The chicken is also brushed with a red ancho chile salsa and drizzled with salsa ranch dressing. The spice blend can be made at home and used to coat chicken breasts, which can then be pan-fried or grilled. The dish is often served with sides such as jalapeno ranch, spicy ranch, steak fries, and lime wedges.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of dish | Chicken platter |
| Chicken type | Juicy, spicy chicken breasts |
| Chicken coating | Homemade spice blend |
| Accompaniments | Simple southwest salad, salsa, ranch, lime wedges, mixed greens with cheddar, tomato, and tortilla strips |
| Sauce | Dark red ancho chili sauce, salsa ranch |
| Sauce characteristics | Bold lime and chili flavors, creamy |
| Recipe availability | Yes |
| Recipe popularity | #4 most popular in 2022 |
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What You'll Learn
The seasoning is a homemade spice blend
The Red Robin Ensenada Chicken Platter is a classic Red Robin dish featuring spicy, juicy chicken breasts coated with a homemade spice blend. The chicken is served with a simple southwest salad, salsa, ranch, and lime wedges. The spice blend can be made at home and used to coat the chicken before cooking. This blend can also be stored in an airtight container for future use.
One copycat recipe suggests using a combination of chili powder, lime juice, red wine vinegar, and water to create a wet marinade for the chicken. This recipe also recommends using pre-cooked breaded chicken tenders to save time, allowing home cooks to focus on perfecting the spice blend. The spice blend can be made in larger batches and stored for future use, ensuring that those who enjoy it can always have some on hand.
The spice blend is a key component of the dish, and while some may prefer to purchase pre-cooked chicken, the blend can also be used on chicken cooked from scratch. The chicken can be grilled, cooked on a flat grill, or sautéed, and the spice blend will add flavour to any of these preparation methods. The blend is versatile and can be used on other meats or even in vegetarian dishes, such as tacos or fajitas.
The homemade spice blend is what sets this dish apart, and it is a well-loved favourite among Red Robin patrons. The blend can be adjusted to suit various taste preferences, and its versatility extends beyond the Ensenada Chicken Platter, making it a valuable addition to any home cook's spice collection.
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It is a Mexican-style blend
The Red Robin Ensenada Chicken Platter is a classic dish from the restaurant chain that features spicy, juicy chicken breasts coated with a homemade Mexican-style spice blend. The blend is perfect for coating the chicken, and any extra can be stored and used for other dishes like tacos and fajitas. The dish is served with a simple southwest salad, salsa, ranch, and lime wedges, creating a quick and healthy dinner option.
The spice blend is key to the dish's appeal, and while Red Robin hasn't shared its official recipe, many have tried to recreate it at home. The blend is described as spicy, with a prominent presence of chili and lime flavors. The chicken is also said to be juicy and tender, achieved through brining and grilling, pan-frying, or baking.
The spice blend can be made by combining various spices, though specific recipes vary. One recipe suggests using chili powder, while another mentions using chipotle peppers, ranch dressing mix, lime juice, and cilantro to create a chipotle ranch dressing. The spice blend is then liberally rubbed onto the chicken breasts before cooking.
The cooking method for the chicken can vary, with some grilling, pan-frying, or baking the chicken. Grilling seems to be the most popular method, with some sources mentioning grill marks on the chicken. The chicken is often brined before cooking, ensuring it remains moist and tender.
The homemade spice blend is a key component of the Red Robin Ensenada Chicken Platter, and its Mexican-style flavors, combined with the accompanying sauces and sides, create a unique and popular dish. While the official recipe remains a secret, home cooks have been able to recreate a similar taste experience with their own spice blends.
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The chicken is coated in ancho chilli sauce
The Red Robin Ensenada Chicken Platter is a classic dish from the restaurant chain that features spicy, juicy chicken breasts coated with a homemade spice blend and served with a simple southwest salad. The chicken is brined and then cooked on an outdoor barbecue grill, a flat grill, or in a sauté pan. The dark red ancho chilli sauce is one of the two key sauces that make this dish so popular.
The ancho chilli sauce is made with bold lime and chilli flavours. The sauce is dark red in colour and is drizzled over the chicken, adding a burst of flavour to each bite. The sauce is made with ancho chillies, which are a type of dried chilli pepper with a mild, fruity flavour. They are often used in Mexican cuisine and are known for their slightly smoky taste. This sauce is a key component of the dish, providing a strong flavour that complements the chicken and other sauces.
The chicken is first brined, which involves soaking it in a salt solution to make it more tender and juicy. This step ensures that the chicken remains moist during cooking and enhances the flavour. After brining, the chicken is coated in the ancho chilli sauce. The sauce is brushed onto the chicken breasts, ensuring each piece is evenly coated. This step adds not only flavour but also a visually appealing dark red colour to the chicken.
The coated chicken is then cooked using one of several methods. It can be grilled on an outdoor barbecue or a flat grill, which creates attractive grill marks on the chicken. Alternatively, it can be cooked in a sauté pan, resulting in a slightly different appearance but equally delicious flavour. The cooking time varies depending on the method, but the goal is to cook the chicken thoroughly without drying it out, ensuring it remains juicy and tender.
The ancho chilli sauce plays a crucial role in the success of the Red Robin Ensenada Chicken Platter. Its unique flavour profile enhances the taste of the chicken, and its vibrant colour makes the dish visually appealing. By coating the chicken in this sauce, Red Robin has created a signature dish that has become a favourite among customers, showcasing the perfect combination of flavours and textures.
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The dish is served with salsa ranch dressing
The Red Robin Ensenada Chicken Platter is a popular dish at the restaurant chain. It features spicy, juicy chicken breasts coated with a homemade spice blend and served with a simple southwest salad. The dish is served with salsa ranch dressing, which adds a delicious, cooling layer of creaminess to the spicy chicken. The salsa ranch dressing is drizzled over the chicken, providing a perfect contrast to the bold lime and chili flavours of the ancho chili sauce.
The salsa ranch dressing is an essential component of the Ensenada Chicken Platter, contributing to its unique flavour profile. It is described as having a creamy texture and a mild, cooling taste that balances the spiciness of the chicken. The dressing is made in-house by Red Robin, but copycat recipes are available online for those who want to recreate the dish at home. These recipes allow individuals to replicate the flavours of the restaurant's dressing, although the exact ingredients and preparation methods may vary slightly.
The copycat recipes for the salsa ranch dressing typically involve blending or processing a combination of ingredients. These ingredients often include mayonnaise, milk, chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, ranch dressing mix, salt, lime juice, and cilantro. By adjusting the amounts of these ingredients, individuals can customise the dressing to their preferred taste. The dressing can be made spicier by adding more chipotle peppers or a dash of hot sauce, or it can be made milder by reducing the amount of spice and increasing the creamy elements.
Preparing the salsa ranch dressing typically involves mixing the ingredients until they are well combined and smooth. It is recommended to refrigerate the dressing for at least an hour before serving, allowing the flavours to meld and intensify. This dressing can be drizzled over the chicken, used as a dip, or even incorporated into other dishes. The versatility of the salsa ranch dressing makes it a popular choice for those seeking to replicate the flavours of Red Robin's Ensenada Chicken Platter at home.
The dish's popularity has led to various online recipes attempting to replicate its unique flavour profile. While some recipes focus on the spice blend used for the chicken, others emphasise the importance of the salsa ranch dressing. This dressing is a key element that sets the Ensenada Chicken Platter apart from similar dishes, and it has gained a following among those who enjoy the combination of creamy and spicy flavours. By serving the dish with salsa ranch dressing, Red Robin has created a signature offering that has become a favourite among its customers.
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The salad is southwest-style
The salad itself can be made with a variety of ingredients, such as jalapeno ranch, spicy ranch, or chipotle ranch dressing. The chipotle ranch dressing can be made by mixing mayonnaise, milk, chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, ranch dressing mix, salt, lime juice, and cilantro in a blender. The dressing is then refrigerated for at least an hour to allow the flavors to blend. The chicken breasts are trimmed and coated with the seasoning mix, then cooked in a pan with olive oil until no longer pink in the middle. The chicken can be sliced or served whole with the side salad and topped with the dressing.
The Red Robin Ensenada Chicken Platter is a popular dish that combines the flavors of spice-coated chicken with a simple southwest salad. The chicken is cooked until juicy and tender, and the salad provides a fresh and flavorful complement to the dish. The combination of the spice blend and the salad's dressing creates a unique and tasty experience. The dish is perfect for those seeking a quick, healthy, and flavorful meal option.
The southwest-style salad is a key component of the Red Robin Ensenada Chicken dish, providing a balance of flavors and textures that complement the spice-coated chicken. The salad's ingredients and dressing options offer a range of flavors that can be customized to suit individual tastes, ensuring a delightful culinary experience.
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Frequently asked questions
The seasoning on Red Robin Chicken Ensenada is a homemade spice blend. The exact blend is unknown, but it is thought to include chili powder.
The dish features two sauces: a dark red ancho chile sauce and salsa ranch.
The dish is served with a simple southwest salad, mixed greens with cheddar, tomato, and tortilla strips.
To make the dish at home, you can follow a copycat recipe. The chicken is brined and then cooked on an outdoor barbecue grill, a flat grill, or in a saute pan. The spice blend is made from a combination of spices, which may include chili powder. The chicken is then coated in the spice blend and cooked in olive oil for around 4-7 minutes on each side. The dish is served with salad, salsa, ranch, and lime wedges.
