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Last Updated on July 31, 2022 by Lisa Johnson

Are you a fan of Carrabba’s? We did not have one in Iowa, at least not that I know of, but it has become a family favorite since we got to Arizona. I usually order the Shrimp Scampi topped Filet Mignon, but sometimes you need to change things up a bit and go with chicken. This Chicken Bryan recipe is guaranteed to impress!

Butterflied chicken breast, goat cheese, lemon-butter sauce, sun-dried tomatoes and fresh basil served with a side of curly pasta mixed with red sauce.

Are you wondering what exactly I am talking about? Chicken Bryan is a grilled, butterflied chicken breast topped with goat cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, fresh basil and a velvety lemon butter sauce that is mind blowingly delicious!!

looking down on Chicken Bryan Recipe Ingredients on a marble counter top. Four butterflied chicken breasts on a parchment lined baking sheet, a plate of goat cheese rounds, minced garlic and onions in small bowls next to bowls of sun-dried tomato strips and fresh basil with a small bottle of white wine wedged between them and half a lemon next to a bowl of dried seasonings.

Be sure to check out the detailed printable recipe card below

Now that you know what is in it, how about we make it! I was originally planning to make this a dinner for two meal, but didn’t want to be stuck with half a package of goat cheese and almost full jar of sun-dried tomatoes. Making a meal for four just makes more sense, and you get leftovers!!

Looking down on two plates with Chicken Bryan, pasta and red wine.

How to make Chicken Bryan like Carrabba’s

How to butterfly chicken breasts:

Place your chicken breast on a cutting mat/board.

a raw chicken breast laying on a white plastic cutting mat with a chef knife on the right and a baking sheet with a butterflied chicken breast on a sheet of parchment paper.

Slice the chicken horizontally through the center of the thickest part of the breast.

a chef knife slicing through the center of a chicken breast on a white cutting mat with a second breast in the background.

Do not go all the way through, stop just before you slice the chicken in half. Unfold the chicken and place on a baking sheet.

a butterflied chicken breast laying on a white cutting mat next to a chefs knife and second piece of chicken.

Brush both sides of the chicken breasts with olive oil and sprinkle with the seasoning mixture.

four butterflied chicken breasts seasoned with salt, pepper, garlic and onion powders on a parchment lined baking sheet with goat cheese and sun-dried tomatoes in the background.

Grill the chicken until cooked through, 165 degrees on a meat thermometer stuck into the thickest part of the chicken. Approximately 5 to 8 minutes per side.

While the chicken is grilling, melt two Tablespoons of butter in a large skillet. Add the onion and cook until softened. Add the garlic and cook for one additional minute.

diced onion cooking in olive oil in a skillet.

Pour in the wine and lemon juice.

minced garlic, onion and white wine in a skillet.

Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for about 10 minutes to reduce.

Go flip the chicken over while the sauce is reducing.

Add the butter 2 Tablespoons at a time whisking to combine. You want the sauce to be emulsified/blended together.

butter melting into the garlic wine mixture.

Check on the chicken. When it is just about ready, place the goat cheese on top so it can melt.

four grilled chicken breasts each topped with two circles of goat cheese on a gas grill.

Stir the tomato strips into the sauce. Remove from heat and set aside.

To serve, place a chicken breast on a plate and spoon the sauce over the top. Garnish with the fresh basil and serve immediately.

Chicken Bryan recipe served on a white plate with a side of pasta.

Carrabba’s serves their meals with pasta, garlic mashed potatoes or steamed broccoli…so I decided to make mine look like the picture on their menu.

Is this an exact copycat?

No, it is not. I have no idea what is in their grill seasoning, but this is my go-to combination that I use on everything! My chicken breasts were ginormous, so the scale is a bit off.

My version contains more sun-dried tomatoes, because I like them. I also chose to slice my basil leaves, they tear them for the official images and chop them in the restaurant. Do what feels right to you, these are all just guidelines.

Why is it called Chicken Bryan?

Founder Johnny Carrabba dedicated this dish to his grandfather and named it after Bryan, Texas – where the family first moved to from Sicily over one hundred years ago.

Recipe Note and Tips

Cooking time for the chicken will depend on how thick your chicken is, how cold your chicken is when you put it on the grill, and how hot your grill is.
If you do not want to use wine, substitute chicken stock.
Not a fan of goat cheese? It happens. Substitute your choice of cheese.
Sauces made with butter tend to break if you get them too hot, or sometimes when they start to cool. It may look different, but it will still taste delicious.

More delicious chicken recipes

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Enjoy!!