Chicken Bryan (Carrabba’s Copycat)

Now you can enjoy the irresistible flavors of Carraba’s Chicken Bryan at home with this easy, one-pot copycat recipe! Simply sear chicken breasts, whisk up a lemon-garlic butter sauce, and serve with melted goat cheese and sun-dried tomatoes- all ready in under 30 minutes!

Carrabba’s Copycat Chicken Bryan Recipe

I’m a fan of Carrabba’s Grill! And if you had told me there was a chicken dish at Carrabba’s that was BETTER than their pasta, lasagna, or other wheat-laden dish I would have never believed you…

I had to taste this oh-so-famous Chicken Bryan for myself- and taste it, I did. Well, actually- DEVOURED it would be a better descriptor.

Bites of tangy goat cheese, hearty sun-dried tomatoes, and tender chicken… all doused in the most lick-your-plate-worthy lemon butter sauce.

For days I dreamed about that dish. Until I finally bucked up the courage and tried to make it at home.

The first few attempts either came out too lemony, too buttery, or a sauce that didn’t quite whisk together.

But about the fourth try in this recipe was born- and ya’ll… it’s an absolute PERFECT copycat recipe of the Carrabba’s dish you know and love!

This juicy chicken with the Carrabba’s lemon butter sauce is perfect for a special occasion dinner party, or just a normal weeknight. I guarantee it will become a family favorite.

Ingredients

• Oil. Both avocado oil and olive oil work due to their mild flavor and relatively high smoke point.
• Chicken. For the most authentic dish, stick with boneless skinless chicken breast. Be sure to pound them until their no more than 1-inch thick, then slice into 5 pieces.
• Sun-dried tomatoes. Grab a jar of these near the canned vegetables in the grocery store! You can get pre-cut in a julienne style, or you can cut whole sundried tomatoes yourself. Don’t skip these, they’re my favorite part.
• Goat cheese. A log of plain goat cheese is needed for this recipe. Stear clear of flavored cheeses, or it will affect the end result.
• Other ingredients. Salt, black pepper, butter, white or yellow onion, minced garlic, chicken broth, fresh lemon juice, and fresh basil round out this dish.

How to Make Carrabba’s Chicken Bryan

Please see the recipe card below for ingredient amounts and more detailed instructions.

1. Sear the Chicken

Be sure to take a few minutes to pound the chicken with a meat mallet until it is 1-inch thick. Cover it in plastic wrap or place it in a bag before pounding to stay cleaner.

Add the oil to a large skillet and set the stove to medium high heat.

Season the chicken breasts with ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper. When the oil is hot, carefully set the chicken in a single layer across the bottom of the pan. 

Cook the chicken for 7 to 8 minutes, flipping halfway through. The chicken should be nearly fully cooked but seared on each side. Set the chicken on a plate to the side.

2. Sauté the Vegetables

Reduce the heat to medium, then add 2 tablespoons of butter to the pot. Stir in the garlic and onion into the melted butter.

Sauté for 2 minutes, just until the onion is tender.

3. Make the Lemon Butter Sauce

Pour the broth and the lemon juice into the pot. Whisk well, being sure to scrape any burned-on bits on the bottom of the skillet.

Allow the mixture to simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally. The sauce should be reduced by half in about 5 to 7 minutes.

Once it’s reduced, turn the heat to low. Slowly stir in the remaining 6 tablespoons of butter, 1 tablespoon at a time.

Finally, mix in ½ teaspoon salt and the drained sun-dried tomatoes.

4. Finish the Dish

Place the pieces of chicken back into the skillet with the sauce, then top each breast with equal amounts of goat cheese. 

Cover the skillet and let everything simmer over low heat for 4 to 5 minutes, or until the cheese is completely melted and the chicken is cooked through to an internal temperature of 165℉ on a meat thermometer.

Pour the creamy lemon butter sauce over the copycat Carrabba’s Chicken Bryan recipe before serving, then sprinkle with fresh basil leaves that have been finely chopped.

Why is it called Chicken Bryan?

Chicken Bryan is a dish made famous at Carrabba’s Italian Grill. The owner dedicated it to his grandfather and named it after Bryan, Texas, where the Carrabba family originally settled after coming from Italy.

What to Serve with Chicken Bryan?

Add a healthy side dish to this easy recipe for a complete (and delicious) meal!

Green veggies, like Air Fryer Broccoli, Chinese Green Beans, or Roasted Asparagus all go well with this recipe.

Or, choose Duchess Potatoes, Air Fryer Roasted Potatoes, or Hasselback Sweet Potatoes.

More Delicious Chicken Recipes

You can do just about anything with chicken! Put any of these recipes to the test soon.

If you love restaurant copycats, try Olive Garden Chicken Marsala, General Tso’s Chicken, Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets, or Chipotle Chicken.

Or, go with Glazed Balsamic Chicken, Spinach Artichoke Stuffed Chicken Breast, Thai Chicken Wings, Sheet Pan Chicken and Asparagus, Greek Chicken Kebabs, Balsamic Grilled Chicken, or Baked BBQ Chicken Breast.

Warm up with Chicken and Dumpling Soup.