My mother-in-law and I had the most amazing Sun-Dried Tomato & Goat Cheese Chicken dish at a popular restaurant a few weeks ago. After a few attempts, this low-carb and gluten-free skillet chicken recipe was on our table for dinner!
There is normally a small sense of angst associated with eating at an Italian restaurant. As I watch platefuls of pasta and bread carried out, I cannot help but feel a wave of envy come over me.
A few weeks ago my mother-in-law, Loree, and I went to eat at Carrabba’s while our men were away for the weekend. After a few minutes of eyeing the waiters and waitresses go by, I could feel the green monster rearing its ugly head. When Loree made the suggestion to order for us I happily obliged.
“Doug and I always get the Chicken Bryan when we eat here,” she said.
Sun-Dried Tomato & Goat Cheese Chicken… hmmm. Sounds pretty good. “But it could never compare to those heaping piles of gluten I see on every table,” my inner monster declared.
I soon realized that if there was ever a dish that could not only compare to but could completely knock the socks off of a pasta dish… it was this Sun-Dried Tomato & Goat Cheese Chicken.
The first bite I took was full of juicy chicken, mild goat cheese, fresh basil and the most delightful lemon and butter sauce. There was complete silence at our table for at least five minutes. (If you have ever seen Loree and myself together you know this is quite an anomaly.)
As soon as I was back home I rushed to the grocery store to get the necessary ingredients. Sundried tomatoes… check. Chicken… check. The best goat cheese log ever… check! Fresh basil from our garden… check, check, check!
The Importance of Goat Cheese in this Sun-Dried Tomato & Goat Cheese Chicken:
Have you ever bought goat cheese that is in a container, already crumbled? Have you ever purchased fresh goat cheese in a log? There is a HUGE difference!!
Trust me when I say, buying the right kind of goat cheese for this dish is imperative. The type of goat cheese I use in this Sundried Tomato & Goat Cheese Chicken is the Montchevre Goat Cheese Log. I promise, you won’t be disappointed!!
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A Few More Pointers for this Sun-Dried Tomato & Goat Cheese Chicken
- Be sure to pound out your chicken for the most tender product.
- Follow the sauce directions carefully. Also, be sure not to bring the sauce to a boil after you add the butter at the end. Otherwise, the sauce will separate into an ugly mess.
- You can grill your chicken, if you prefer.
- This dish is best served immediately since the sauce has a tendency to separate when reheated.
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Ingredients
- 2-3 Tbsp olive oil
- 1.5 lbs chicken breast pounded to 1-inch thick and cut into 6 pieces
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp pepper
!Lemon Butter Sauce:
- 2 cloves garlic crushed
- 3 Tbsp sweet onion finely diced
- ½ c butter divided
- ½ c chicken broth
- ¼ c fresh lemon juice
- 4 Tbsp olive oil
- ½ tsp salt to taste
- 7 oz sundried tomatoes finely chopped
- 1/3 c fresh basil finely chopped
- 6-8 oz fresh goat cheese log I use Montchevre goat cheese log
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium heat add 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil and chicken breasts.
- Sprinkle salt and pepper over chicken. Cook chicken until one side has been seared, about 5-6 minutes.
- Flip chicken, cover skillet with a lid, and continue cooking for 6-8 more minutes or until chicken is cooked through.
- Remove chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- In the same skillet add garlic, onion and 2 tablespoons butter. Saute over medium heat for 2 minutes.
- Add broth and lemon juice. Continue cooking over medium heat until the sauce has reduced by half. Make sure to stir occasionally. This will take 5-7 minutes.
- Reduce heat to low and add 4 tablespoons of olive oil and remaining 6 tablespoons of butter one tablespoon at a time. Stir well after each addition.
- Once all oil and butter has been incorporated, add ½ teaspoon of salt, sundried tomatoes and fresh basil. Stir to combine.
- Add chicken back into the skillet. Top each chicken breast with 1-1 ½ ounces fresh goat cheese. Cover skillet and let cheese melt for 3-4 minutes.
- Pour sauce over chicken when serving and sprinkle with additional fresh basil. Enjoy!
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Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Had this at a restaurant this past week and I had to make it home. Thank you for putting this into a recipe for me!
Yay! So happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe, Karen! You’re so welcome. Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment!
Made this tonight. Husband said “you couldn’t get a better meal in a restaurant.” Thank you for sharing!
Woohoo!! That’s a HUGE win! Thanks so much for letting me know and for taking the time to leave a comment/rating, Sally! 🙂
This is SO flavorful holy moly! Meal prepped this for the week and I already can’t wait to have this for dinner again tomorrow!!
Yay, Warner! So happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe so much. Thanks for your comment and rating 🙂
Can I just say yummmm! This just became a family favorite and saved in our book of best recipes! Thank you so much for sharing ❤️
Yay!! So happy you and your family enjoyed it, Jamie. Thanks so much for your comment and rating 🙂
Excellent recipe. The recommendations on the goat cheese, etc. are very helpful. My family stopped short of licking their plates.
So happy you and your family enjoyed the recipe, Kim! Thanks so much for your comment!
What do you eat this with? What sides are best?
Hi Missie! Your options are endless! I would try a few of the Roasted Broccoli or Cauliflower recipes on the site for a lighter side or some Baked Potato Wedges.
After reading Alison Kifer’s comment, I decided to make this without any added salt. None on the chicken or in the sauce, because my sundried tomatoes, chicken stock, goat cheese, and butter were all already salted. I put extra lemon just in case to tamper down the salt. And since I had no fresh basil, I used the dried leaves all over the chicken and chopped spinach into the sauce just to get that beautiful fresh green look. It turned out great! Very decadent.
Yay!! So happy you enjoyed it and am happy the salt level came out to your preference. Thanks for your comment and rating!!
I made this yesterday and it was extremely salty. Couldnt eat it.. Cant figure out why. Double checked the recipe and my measurement tools and i was accurate
Not totally sure what happened either, Allison? My only guess is that the butter or goat cheese could have had an extra bit of salt that took it over the edge for you. Sorry for the saltiness!
This was amazing! We made it last week and have plans of making it again this week. Instead of butter we used coconut oil and it tasted amazing 🙂
Yay, Kelly!! So happy you enjoyed it. Coconut oil sounds incredible! Will definitely have to try that soon. Thanks for the comment and rating 🙂
This recipe was really good! Added spinach ravioli to it and it was perfect. Even my picky husband enjoyed it,
Yay!! So so happy you both enjoyed it! Thanks so much for the review and rating!