Copycat Applebees Bourbon Street Chicken Shrimp Warm Satisfying Better Than Going Out

That smoky, savory smell from Applebee’s used to pull me straight to the table every time and now I don’t even have to leave the house. Copycat Applebee’s Bourbon Street Chicken and Shrimp hits every note: juicy chicken, seasoned shrimp, that deep Cajun-kissed sauce you want to soak into every bite.

Spring always makes me want something that feels like a real dinner without the full production and this skillet is exactly that. I first worked this one out a few winters back, burning through a handful of test batches until the sauce finally had that right smoky depth. The trick is building heat in layers, not rushing the sear. After ten years of copycat cooking, this one earned a permanent spot in the weeknight rotation fast.

Print

Why You’ll Love This

Bourbon Street Chicken and Shrimp checks every box for a night when you’re worn out but still want dinner to feel like something special. It’s cozy without being heavy exactly the kind of meal that brings everyone to the table without keeping you in the kitchen all evening.

• Done in 45 minutes, start to finish
• One skillet presentation means easy serving and minimal cleanup
• Smoky, buttery, and deeply savory the kind of sauce you’ll want to spoon over everything
• High protein, low carb, and genuinely satisfying

What You’ll Need

The magic lives in the homemade Cajun seasoning a blend of garlic powder, onion powder, celery seed, smoked paprika, black pepper, dried oregano, and dried parsley. Chances are you already have most of these in your spice drawer.

For the main dish, you’ll need boneless skinless chicken breasts, medium shrimp, baby bella mushrooms, a white onion, minced garlic, unsalted butter, chicken bone broth, extra virgin olive oil, and fresh parsley to finish. That butter-and-broth pan sauce at the end is the detail that ties everything together beautifully.

How to Make It

1. Mix all Cajun seasoning ingredients in a bowl, then divide in half one half for the chicken, one for the shrimp.
2. Rub seasoning firmly into both sides of the chicken breasts. Toss the shrimp with olive oil and the remaining seasoning.
3. In a large frying pan over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons of butter and cook the mushrooms and onions until softened, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a warm cast iron skillet.
4. Crank the heat to high, add a splash of olive oil, and sear the chicken 4 to 5 minutes per side until it reaches 165°F. Rest on top of the vegetables.
5. In the same pan, melt 1 tablespoon of butter and sear the shrimp 1 minute per side. Add to the skillet.
6. Lower heat to medium. Cook minced garlic for 1 minute, deglaze with chicken bone broth, add the remaining butter, stir in parsley, and cook 5 minutes. Pour everything over the chicken and shrimp.

Pro Tip: Don’t wipe that pan between steps. Every layer of fond scraped up into the sauce is flavor you’d otherwise leave behind.

Can You Make Bourbon Street Chicken and Shrimp Ahead of Time?

The chicken and vegetable components hold up well if you want to get a head start. Sear the chicken and cook the onions and mushrooms earlier in the day, then refrigerate them separately. When it’s time to eat, warm everything in the skillet, cook the shrimp fresh, and finish the pan sauce it all comes together in under 10 minutes from there.

Note: Shrimp are best cooked right before serving. They overcook quickly when reheated and won’t have that same tender bite.

Swaps, Storage, and Serving Ideas

This recipe is flexible without needing much adjustment. A few things worth knowing:

• Swap baby bella mushrooms for cremini or white button mushrooms if that’s what you have
• Chicken bone broth can be replaced with regular chicken broth in a pinch
• Dried parsley works in the sauce, but fresh parsley as the finishing touch makes a real difference in brightness
• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days
• Reheat gently in a skillet over low heat with a small splash of broth to loosen the sauce

Applebee’s serves this alongside mashed garlic red potatoes, and that pairing is hard to beat. A simple green salad or crusty bread to catch the sauce both work just as well on a weeknight.

FAQs ( Copycat Applebee’s Bourbon Street Chicken Shrimp )

This Bourbon Street Chicken and Shrimp comes together in 45 minutes and lands on the table smelling like something you’d drive across town for except you never had to leave.

Don’t skip the pan sauce. That moment when you deglaze with bone broth and scrape up every bit of fond from the bottom is where all the flavor lives. Serve it over mashed garlic red potatoes and you’ve got a full meal that feels like a real occasion, even on a Tuesday. Leftovers reheat beautifully in a skillet with just a small splash of broth, and the sauce comes right back to life.

If you make this one, I’d love to hear how it went drop a comment below or tag me in your skillet photos. Does your family have a favorite Applebee’s order you’ve always wanted to recreate at home? This recipe might just be the one that opens that door. Share it with someone who loves a great dinner without a lot of fuss, because some evenings, a warm skillet meal is exactly the reset you didn’t know you needed.