Chili’s Grill & Bar has been serving up delicious Tex-Mex inspired dishes for decades. Among its many mouthwatering menu items is the Mango Chili Chicken – a sweet and spicy grilled chicken dish that has been gaining popularity over the years. But what exactly is this colorful dish and what makes it so irresistible?
In this comprehensive guide we’ll uncover everything you need to know about Chili’s famous Mango Chili Chicken. We’ll explore its origins ingredients, flavor profile, how to order it to your liking, and why it stands out on the extensive Chili’s menu.
An Overview of Mango Chili Chicken
The Mango Chili Chicken is Chili’s take on Tex-Mex grilled chicken. It features a tender grilled chicken breast seasoned with a blend of spices and topped with a sweet, tangy and mildly spicy mango chili glaze. The chicken is served alongside cilantro-lime rice, black beans, and pico de gallo to create a meal packed with exciting flavors and textures.
This dish offers the perfect balance of sweet and heat. The mango in the glaze provides tropical fruity sweetness while the blend of chilies adds a nice kick of heat. It’s unique from other Chili’s chicken dishes thanks to this interplay of sweet and spicy.
The History and Origins
The Mango Chili Chicken was first introduced on the Chili’s menu about 15 years ago in the mid-2000s. It was developed as part of the chain’s initiative to add lighter, fresher menu options that went beyond classic Tex-Mex. The culinary team experimented with mango and chili flavors until they landed on the perfect sweet and spicy balance.
The dish was also intended to capitalize on America’s growing appreciation for bold, innovative flavors. By blending an unexpected fruit like mango with the heat of chili peppers, Chili’s created a dish unlike anything else on its menu. The Mango Chili Chicken quickly became popular for its stand-out flavors.
The Ingredients That Make It Special
So what exactly goes into making Chili’s famous Mango Chili Chicken? Here’s a breakdown of the key ingredients:
Chicken: Chili’s uses juicy, boneless chicken breast fillets that they marinate then grill until slightly charred. The grill-roasting adds great smoky flavor.
Mango Chili Glaze: A tangy, tropical glaze made with pureed mangoes, a blend of chilies, honey, lime juice, and seasonings. Chili’s keeps the exact recipe proprietary.
Rice: The chicken sits atop a bed of Chili’s signature cilantro-lime rice. The fresh rice balances the richness of the chicken.
Black Beans: Savory black beans add protein, fiber, and Mexican flair.
Pico de Gallo: A fresh salsa made with tomatoes, onions, cilantro, and lime juice that provides bright flavor and crunch.
Analyzing the Flavor Profile
When you take a bite of Mango Chili Chicken, your taste buds encounter a complex blend of sweet, spicy, savory, and tangy flavors all in one bite. Here’s an in-depth look at what you can expect:
Sweet: The ripe mangoes in the glaze contribute a delicious sweetness almost reminiscent of a tropical jam or preserve. There are additional sweeteners like honey in the glaze too.
Spicy: A blend of chili peppers brings a distinct heat that builds gradually. It’s spicy but won’t overwhelm more sensitive palates.
Savory: The bold seasonings and grilled chicken lend an umami, meaty flavor.
Tangy: Bright pops of tanginess come from fresh lime juice and tomatoes.
The overall effect is a dynamic flavor journey that keeps you coming back for more. It has complexity similar to fajitas or other Chili’s classics, but with its own uniqueness thanks to the mango and chili combo.
Helpful Tips for Ordering
Mango Chili Chicken is a versatile dish that you can customize to your preferences:
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For milder heat, ask for the glaze on the side and control how much you drizzle over your chicken.
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Substitute regular rice with cauliflower rice for a low carb option.
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Add an extra side of mango chili glaze for dipping if you love the sweet heat.
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Ask for sliced avocado or guacamole as an add-on to introduce more creaminess.
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For extra protein, replace the chicken breast with grilled shrimp.
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Pair it with a refreshing margarita or beer to balance the spiciness.
Don’t be afraid to ask your server how the dish can be tweaked to your liking! Chili’s is happy to accommodate requests.
Why People Love This Dish
There are several reasons the Mango Chili Chicken is a longtime Chili’s menu favorite:
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The innovative flavor combo you won’t find elsewhere. Sweet mango and spicy chili is unique.
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An enticing balance of tastes and textures in one dish. There’s something for everyone.
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It’s a lighter alternative to heavyweight dishes like fajitas.
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Fresh-tasting thanks to citrusy accents and lots of pico de gallo.
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Customizable based on your preferences for spice level and sides.
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Appealing marbling of colors from the mango glaze, rice, beans, and salsa.
Diners looking for an escape from standard chicken dishes are drawn to the tropical twist of Mango Chili Chicken. It manages to feel both adventurous and approachable.
How It Compares to Other Chili’s Chicken Dishes
Chili’s has an extensive menu with no shortage of tasty chicken options. So how does Mango Chili Chicken compare?
It’s quite different from Chili’s classics like Chicken Crispers, Chicken Fajitas, or Cajun Chicken Pasta. The most similar item is the Margarita Grilled Chicken which is also a marinated grilled chicken breast. But the Mango Chili glaze sets it distinctly apart.
Mango Chili Chicken is lighter fare than heavy comfort foods like Chicken Bacon Ranch Quesadillas. And it’s not as spicy as the bold Buffalo Chicken Sandwich or Spicy Shrimp Tacos.
So among Chili’s chicken dishes, Mango Chili Chicken occupies a unique position thanks to its tropical personality. It fills the niche for those seeking bolder flavors without too much heat or heaviness.
Is Mango Chili Chicken Worth Ordering?
For anyone bored with standard grilled chicken breast dishes, Mango Chili Chicken is definitely worth trying on your next Chili’s visit. It delivers an exciting flavor twist thanks to the sweet and spicy glaze. Just keep your taste preferences in mind and customize the spice level and sides to your liking.
Those who enjoy exploring bolder, more adventurous flavors will find it to be a menu highlight. It’s also nice for sharing since it offers diverse flavors to experience. However, more traditional eaters may prefer Chili’s classics like fajitas.
No matter your tastes, it’s hard to go wrong with this uniquely Chili’s dish. Mango Chili Chicken’s stand-out sweet and spicy personality has earned it a permanent place on the expansive menu. Just come ready to embrace the tropical heat!
So next time you’re dining at Chili’s, step out of your comfort zone and order the Mango Chili Chicken. Your taste buds will be delighted by the flavors. Does this in-depth guide have you eager to try this popular dish? Let us know in the comments if you’ve had it, and how you like to customize your order!
The Thai Chili Substitution
Lastly, as the title suggests, I substituted Thai peppers and Thai chili powder for the western version. If you dont know about Thai chilis they are available under the name Birds eye chilis or birds eye peppers as well as Thai peppers, depending on where you buy them. They are a little spicier I think that whatever Chilis uses so you might start with a little and you can always add more if it doesnt do it for you.
We have our own recipe you can use to make Thai chili powder if you cant find it at your local market. Here it is below. It is one of our most popular recipes, it is really delicious and easy to make and you save money making it yourself. You can also control what preservatives go into it which makes it healthier. Here is our recipe.
None of these changes really affect the appearance much. I think ours was actually slightly more appealing because I grilled mine on both sides so we liked our appearance better. Of course, taste is subjective so I like a bit more toppings as you can see in the difference in the photo of mine versus the restaurant version.
In their menu description, it called the mango chili a glaze but it was really less of a glaze and more of a topping in my opinion. You could find and make a glaze if thats disappointing to you. Id use stevia and or honey to make that glaze healthier. I didnt do that to ours, we made a marinade and I am guessing they did too but I dont know.
We also used sambal to make it a little more Thai for my Thai wife, she thought my substitutions were brilliant and used that word to describe me. Be brilliant and try this recipe and let me know any ideas you have. Here is our recipe.
- 2 chicken breasts, cut in half longitudinally to make for skinny breasts
- 1 tablespoon Thai chili powder (see above for recipe.)
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 tablespoon sambal
- ¼th teaspoon black pepper
- 3 tablespoon canola oil (If you want it to be like more traditional Thai yet healthier or you can just go in for olive oil.)
Garnish
- 1 avocado
- 1 mango cut into little cubes
- cilantro
- 3 diced Thai, (birds eye) peppers
- Mango Pico De Gallo 2 cups
- If you didnt buy pre-made mango pico, as I did, find a recipe and make it using Google.
- Add the main ingredients (dry spices and oil) except the chicken into a bowl and mix them all up.
- You may want to taste the spice mix at this point and see if its going to be too spicy or not spicy enough and adjust your pepper level accordingly.
- Cut little holes in the chicken breasts to absorb the rub and place the breasts in the bowl, mixing and rubbing the spices into the meat thoroughly.
- Place the meat in the rub in the now covered bowl in a refrigerator to marinate for at least an hour.
- Once the meat is marinated grill it for about 5 minutes on each side. You can use a meat thermometer to make sure it is at least 165 degrees if you want to be safe.
- Serve topped with as much or little of the garnish as you like. I bury that shit in mango pico de gallo because I love it but not too much Thai pepper because I cant handle it as much as my wife can. She can eat them by themselves.
Mango chili chicken is a common Thai dish. I took the best part of Chilis version and added a Thai twist to make my own delicious and healthy version.
The above is the one I did and the below one is the one I bought at Chilis last night.
Let me know what you think of the modifications I made and anything you would change in the comments section below. As always, our healthy Thai recipes are as healthy as we can figure out how to make them. Your health situation is fact dependent so if you have special health concerns check with an appropriate health care professional, like your doctor. Please share this recipe and rate it if you like it.
The printable version is below. Copycat Chili’s Mango-Chili Chicken with Thai Chili
- Main ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts, cut in half longitudinally to make for skinny breasts
- 1 tablespoon Thai chili powder (see above for recipe.)
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 tablespoon sambal
- ¼th teaspoon black pepper
- 3 tablespoon canola oil (If you want it to be like more traditional Thai yet healthier or you can just go in for olive oil.)
- Garnish
- 1 avocado
- 1 mango cut into little cubes
- cilantro
- 3 diced Thai, (birds eye) peppers
- Mango Pico De Gallo 2 cups
Instructions
- If you didnt buy pre-made mango pico, as I did, find a recipe and make it using Google.
- Add the main ingredients (dry spices and oil) except the chicken into a bowl and mix them all up.
- You may want to taste the spice mix at this point and see if its going to be too spicy or not spicy enough and adjust your pepper level accordingly.
- Cut little holes in the chicken breasts to absorb the rub and place the breasts in the bowl, mixing and rubbing the spices into the meat thoroughly.
- Place the meat in the rub in the now covered bowl in a refrigerator to marinate for at least an hour.
- Once the meat is marinated grill it for about 5 minutes on each side. You can use a meat thermometer to make sure it is at least 165 degrees if you want to be safe.
- Serve topped with as much or little of the garnish as you like. I bury that shit in mango pico de gallo because I love it but not too much Thai pepper because I cant handle it as much as my wife can. She can eat them by themselves.
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Chili’s Mango Chile Chicken
FAQ
What is mango chicken made of?
Our mango chicken curry uses fresh mangoes, full-fat coconut milk for richness, ginger, curry powder, cumin, and vinegar to offset the sweetness of the mango. Make the sauce first, and then add boneless chicken pieces and simmer until just cooked through.
What is a chili mango?
Chili mangoes are a small varietal, averaging 10 to 11 centimeters in length, and have a slender, straight to slightly curved, tapered shape with sloping shoulders ending in a point on the non-stem end. The fruit’s skin is thin, smooth, and taut, showcasing variegated green, maroon, bright red, and yellow-orange hues.
What goes with mango chilli chicken?
Serving Suggestions. Serve the chicken with a side of cooked rice, cauliflower rice, or quinoa, along with slices of fresh or grilled mango and a drizzle of extra sauce.
How many calories are in mango chile chicken chilis?
1 plato of Mango-Chile Chicken contains 510 calories (kcal), 20.0 g fat, 50.0 g carbs and 36.0 g protein.