Guy Fieri’s Red Rocker Margarita Chicken
If you’re a regular visitor to The Little Kitchen, do you notice the new digs? I’m really excited that Lindsay of Purr Design designed the new look for TLK! The Recipes section makes it a lot easier to find recipes here, the Cakes page looks a lot better and I have added more to the About page. I might still need to do some rearranging here but for the most part, we’re all moved into our new design. Would love to hear what you think and thank you for visiting The Little Kitchen!
Seriously, the most amazing grilled chicken sandwich ever!
I recently received Guy Fieri’s new cookbook in the mail, it’s called Guy Fieri Food: Cookin’ It, Livin’ It, Lovin’ It. I’m going to have to be honest with you, I flipped through it and then put it down. My husband however, picked it up, flipped through it and bookmarked the page for the Red Rocker Margarita Chicken recipe and then persuaded me over several weeks to make it. Well, I’m glad I did. This is one moment I can say, honey, you were right with a straight face.
The book is huge, it’s over 400 pages long with over 150 recipes. Guy laces different stories with each recipe, which makes it kind of neat. The Red Rocker Margarita Chicken is a sandwich inspired by Sammy Hagar, I think that’s really cool! I love the show Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives but I really thought this book wouldn’t be my kind of thing but I was wrong. There are some other dishes I want to try in the book including Chicken & Seafood Paella, Steak Diane and Fire-Roasted Shrimp Cocktail.
Dry Ingredients for Marinade
This tequila marinated chicken sandwich is an easy dish to make. Marinate the chicken in the seasonings, cilantro, roasted red bell peppers, tequila, etc. for 4-8 hours and you end up with a very moist grilled chicken.
Tequila Marinade
I placed the zippered plastic bag in a casserole dish before adding the marinade.
I put the bag in a casserole dish to be cautious, just in case the bag leaked or just in case I spilled the marinade.
Chicken Marinating
The chicken after marinating for 5 hours
The marinade smelled so good! This is the first time I cooked with tequila and it won’t be the last!
The chicken is very moist and the pop of flavor from the fried roasted red peppers makes this sandwich a winner!
I can’t wait to make this tequila-marinated grilled chicken sandwich again! The flavorful marinade and the fried roasted red peppers were so good! I got yelled at for eating too many of the fried roasted red peppers before we put our sandwiches together. They are addictive, the tequila flavor popped in your mouth when you bit into it.
Have you cooked with tequila before? I want to hear all about it if you have.
Red Rocker Margarita Chicken
Ingredients:
2 jalapenos, cut into thin rounds
3 Tbsp cilantro leaves
1/4 cup tequila
1 Tbsp minced garlic
1 tsp red chili flakes
1 tsp ground cumin
1 Tbsp dried oregano
Juice of 2 limes (about 1/4 cup)
2 tsp kosher salt
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 roasted red bell peppers, cut into thin strips
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp granulated garlic
2 cups canola oil
4 kaiser rolls
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 green cabbage head, very thinly sliced
4 oz. thinly sliced provolone
Directions:
- In a medium bowl, combine the jalapenos, cilantro, tequila, minced garlic, chili flakes, cumin, oregano, lime juice and 1 tsp of salt. Place the chicken and bell peppers in a resealable 1-gallon plastic bag and pour in the marinade. Marinate the chicken in the refrigerator for 4 to 8 hours.
- In a small mixing bowl, combine the flour, the remaining 1 tsp salt and the granulated garlic.
- Preheat a grill to high. In a medium heavy-bottomed pot, heat the canola oil to 350 degrees F.
- Remove the chicken from the marinade. (Leave the roasted red peppers in the marinade.) Grill the chicken until cooked through, turning several times to prevent burning, about 12 minutes in all. Cover the cooked chicken and let sit for 5 minutes. Thinly slice the chicken across the grain.
- Remove the roasted peppers from the marinade, dredge them in the flour mixture, and fry in the oil until crispy, 2 to 3 minutes, working in batches as needed. Drain on paper towels.
- Split and lightly toast the rolls. Spread mayonnaise on the bottom halves. Stack each roll evenly with the cabbage, onion, chicken breast, fried peppers and cheese.
*Roast bell peppers over an open flame or under the broiler, turning to char on all sides. Skin and seed them.
Notes:
- I cheated a little and used jarred roasted red bell peppers.
- I ended up using 3 limes
- We toasted the kaiser rolls on the grill just for a minute or two on each side so they didn't burn.
From Guy Fieri Food: Cookin' It, Livin' It, Lovin' It by Guy Fieri, 2011. Reprinted with permission from William Morrow (an Imprint of Harper Collins).
Please do not republish our recipes and images without prior permission. We ask that you do not copy & paste recipes and share them elsewhere. If you liked the recipe and would like to share it, we just ask that you REWRITE the instructions entirely and provide a link back to give us credit and be sure to use your own images when doing so. Here's a great article on how to properly attribute a recipe.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book from the publisher. I was not asked to post about it but after making this dish, I just had to! There are affiliate links in this post.
Sign up today to receive exclusive content and news from The Little Kitchen:
Hi, my name is Julie and I love to share the cooking and baking adventures from my little kitchen. Cooking and baking is in my blood, thanks to my Mom! 
Americone Dream Blondie Sandwiches
Florida Seafood Pasta in a White Wine Sauce
Recipe Girl Cookbook & KitchenAid Blender Giveaway
Gorgonzola Smashed Potatoes
Tempura Shrimp & Vegetables
Braised Beef Short Ribs with Tortelloni in a Marsala Cream Sauce (Slow Cooker Recipe)
Chicken & Biscuit Waffles from Breakfast for Dinner
Candy Stuffed Brownie Bites
Spiedies
The Best Chocolate Cake Ever with Pudding Frosting
kitchen newsletter:
Oh sweet lord! I love his recipes anyways but this looks insanely good. I have been wanting his cookbook. I may just have to go out and get it!
[Reply]
JulieD replied: June 2nd, 2011 @ 2:12 pm
Carrie, you are so sweet! Love you! If you made this recipe, I know you would love it.
[Reply]
This looks really great. I saw the cookbook at a bookstore and walked right by. Maybe I should have another look too!
[Reply]
LOVE IT! Looks fabulous! Lindsay did an awesome job as always!
And this sounds delicious, love the picture too!
[Reply]
JulieD replied: June 2nd, 2011 @ 8:32 am
Thank you, I’m so thrilled with it! Thank you, Jessica…I hope you enjoy it. Let me know what you think if you try it.
[Reply]
That looks so good – my husband would love this!
and I love the new look and new pages
[Reply]
JulieD replied: June 2nd, 2011 @ 8:33 am
I’m sure your husband would love it. My husband said he wants to add bacon next time.
[Reply]
Loving the new site! It is so clean and crisp and clutter free!
[Reply]
I’m loving the new site design Julie. Such a fabulous chicken recipe too, all the flavors I love!
[Reply]
O.M.G. That looks AMAZING!!! YUM!
[Reply]
Let’s get the first thing out of the way – the new site design – ROCKS! Pat on the back to you and Lidsay of Purr! WOW, love the new layout and the clean look.
Second.. I got the book as well and like you it did not interested me at all, but I did see this recipe and now that I read about it, I’m going to pay attention a bit more and bookmark a couple to try.
[Reply]
JulieD replied: June 4th, 2011 @ 1:11 am
Monica, you definitely need to try this sandwich! Believe me, the fried roasted red peppers are amazing. I keep dreaming about them. I foresee me making this sandwich again very soon!
[Reply]
I love Guy Fieri! I watch him on Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives all the time, but have to admit, am somewhat scared to try his recipes! This looks wonderful!
I too live in Florid and have just started a food blog…any advice would be welcomed! 
[Reply]
JulieD replied: June 2nd, 2011 @ 8:34 am
Hi Lindsay, welcome to food blogging and thank you for visiting my blog! My advice would be to have fun and try new things. Just let me know if you have any questions.
[Reply]
Oh wow that marinade looks amazing!! And the peppers on top. What an awesome sandwich!
[Reply]
Oh my freaking goodness; AMAZING. I want some of this! And fried roasted peppers?!?! Get outta town. Drool.
[Reply]
I love your new design! If all his recipes are like this I am getting the cookbook! Great job!
[Reply]
Love the new look! Lindsay did a great job.
[Reply]
JulieD replied: June 2nd, 2011 @ 8:38 am
Thank you, Gwen! I’m so happy with it!
[Reply]
Now that looks good!! I feel like Guy Fieri is my guilty pleasure
[Reply]
Oh wow! That looks soooo good!
[Reply]
OMG I LOVE Guy!!!!!!!!
[Reply]
This recipe is so simple and packed with flavors. I’ve never cooked with tequila before, and am now so curious.
BTW, love the new blog look
[Reply]
Wow, wow, wow. I could devour that sandwich!
I have not cooked with Tequila before…baked (and had a fiasco), but not cooked. The marinade looks and sounds amazing. I bet it would be fabulous on beef, too!
And, the new look? Love it!! So clean.
[Reply]
Now that looks delicious!
[Reply]
congrats again on the new site!
[Reply]
First i have to say the site looks fabulous!!! I love the clean look. Seconly Guy Fiera’s stuff always looks amazing. I have gone to his dinner recommendations and they are always very good. This recipe looks fabulous! Nice work!
[Reply]
Yum this sounds really good. I’m always looking for new sandwich recipes!
[Reply]
O.M.G. I need it.
[Reply]
ooooh Yummy!
Guy is my favorite Food Network star : )
[Reply]
I think my husband would love that – and I LOVE Guy Fieri. I’ll have to look into that book for him.
[Reply]
I love the new design. So cute!!
[Reply]
Emailed to DH so he could try this recipe next week when he’s home from his business trip – sounds good! Thanks for sharing the recipe.
[Reply]
YUM, this looks super delicious! Love the idea of breading and frying roasted red peppers, that sounds soooooooo good!
[Reply]
I know alcohol will burn off in a sauce, for example. What do you think about this? Will it burn off and be okay to give to a teenager, or will the meat soak it up and will it remain in there?
[Reply]
JulieD replied: June 7th, 2011 @ 3:24 pm
Hi there, I’m not 100% certain but I think the alcohol burns off. The grill heats the chicken at such a high heat and the alcohol even causes the grill to burn at a higher heat…I think it burns off, probably not 100% but your teenager should be fine.
[Reply]
Wow!!! This looks so good. Thanks for posting this. I need to give this a try some day.
[Reply]
This looks delicious!!
[Reply]
This looks so yummy, now I want chicken lol
[Reply]
Man that looks so good! I want that cookbook
I may make that tonight..
[Reply]
Oh girl how did I miss this recipe and you know O like anything fiery!! I am bookmarking to make this summer. Thx Julie!!
[Reply]
Fabulous pictures. This looks amazing!!!!
[Reply]
Pingback: Guy Fieri's Red Rocker Margarita Chicken | Family Kitchen
You know, I looked and looked and looked some more at this guys cookbook but really wasn’t diggin the recipes. This is one of like 5 total that I wanted to try. Your version looks delish!
[Reply]
This is a wonderful recipe, thanks so much for sharing. You did a great job with the images too.
[Reply]
omg yum!
[Reply]
This looks fantastic!!
[Reply]