Italian Grilled Chicken (Carrabba Family Recipe)

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Mouth-watering Italian Grilled Chicken boasts a perfect level of tenderness with a sweet, tangy, and savory flavor all at once. This copycat recipe comes from Carrabba’s Italian Grill — a go-to spot for many who love Italian cuisine — and incorporates the restaurant’s unique signature seasoning and is basted with an incredible sauce made from fresh ingredients. Every single bite is enjoyable and appetizing!

For more copycat recipes, check out this BRAVO Grilled Salmon Salad and my Cracker Barrel Homestyle Chicken Pot Pie!

Ingredient Notes

• Chicken | For this recipe, use boneless skinless chicken breasts. If preferred, use boneless chicken thighs instead.

Seasoning Blend

• Salt and pepper | Season the chicken with a little kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.
• Garlic | Add subtle spice with granulated garlic. If necessary, garlic powder will also work.
• Onion powder | Onion powder brings a rich flavor to the seasoning mix.
• Oregano | Complete this copycat Carrabba’s Grill seasoning with a pinch of dried oregano.

Basting Sauce

• Butter | Use creamy unsalted butter to saute the onion and garlic.
• Onion and garlic | Add flavor to the recipe with a small yellow onion and minced fresh garlic cloves.
• Flour | Thicken the basting sauce with all-purpose flour.
• Oil | You’ll get the best taste with extra-virgin olive oil, but you can use standard olive oil if preferred.
• Red wine vinegar | Add red wine vinegar to bring tangy notes to the sauce. If you don’t have it on hand, white distilled vinegar also does the trick.
• Dijon mustard | For a richer and deeper flavor, add Dijon mustard to the mix. If necessary, replace it with regular or stone-ground mustard.
• Lemon | Brighten the sauce flavor with fresh lemon juice. Store-bought also works, but it will have a more subtle flavor.
• Sugar | Sprinkle in a little granulated sugar to sweeten the basting sauce.
• Italian parsley | As a final touch, add freshly chopped Italian Parsley to the blend, bringing refreshing herbaceous notes. Use dried parsley if needed.

Equipment needed

• Grill pan (if cooking indoors)
• Basting brush

How to make the Best Italian Grilled Chicken Breast Recipe

Enjoy the delicious flavors of classic Carrabba’s grilled chicken in just seven simple steps!

STEP 1 | Prepare the chicken breasts

Start by patting the boneless chicken breasts dry with paper towels, then place them on a tray. In a small bowl, combine the salt, pepper, garlic, onion powder, and oregano.

Next, sprinkle the spice mixture evenly on all sides of the chicken and let it rest for 30 minutes while you prepare the basting sauce.

STEP 2 | Saute the onions and garlic

Now, onto the sauce! In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, melt the butter and add the finely chopped onion, cooking them until they’re nice and tender, taking about 5 minutes.

Next, sprinkle in the garlic and continue cooking for just another 30 seconds until it’s fragrant.

STEP 3 | Combine sauce ingredients

Then, stir in the flour and cook for another minute, stirring constantly — be sure not to brown the ingredients.

Whisk in the olive oil, vinegar, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, and sugar, and bring the mixture to a boil. Then, reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes until the ingredients slightly thicken.

STEP 4 | Add the parsley and let cool

Next, remove the sauce from the heat and stir in the parsley. Before firing up the grill, let the mixture cool to room temperature. The grill will separate, so whisk again before using it.

STEP 5 | Start grilling!

Once the basting sauce has cooled, preheat the grill to medium-high heat and lightly oil the grates. Place the chicken on the grill, then baste with the sauce.

STEP 6 | Baste and check doneness

Cook the chicken for 4 to 5 minutes on the first side, then flip and baste it on the other side. Continue grilling and basting until just cooked through, about five more minutes.

Check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer inserted in the center reads 155 degrees. The exact cooking time will depend on the thickness of the chicken breasts.

STEP 7 | Rest and serve!

When done, transfer the chicken to a platter or cutting board and tent it with aluminum foil to rest for 5 minutes before serving so it retains all the tasty juices — ENJOY!

Variations and Substitutions

• For a gluten-free alternative, use cornstarch or arrowroot instead of flour as the thickener for the sauce.
• This basting sauce is also delicious on pork tenderloin!

Storage and Reheating Tips

Store leftovers tightly covered in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. To reheat, wrap in aluminum foil and warm in a 350-degree oven until heated through.

What to Serve with Italian Grilled Chicken

This grilled chicken recipe is great for serving over fettuccine alfredo or a Caesar salad with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese. Or. you can also make this chicken dish a delicious meal by serving it over my Cherry Tomato Pasta.

Try serving the dish with these Tortellini Skewers or Cucumber Tomato Feta Salad for something refreshing and nutritious. It’s also excellent with classic potatoes and veggies, like Lemon Garlic Smashed Potatoes, and a flavorful mix of Lemon Mustard Roasted Broccoli and Cauliflower.

Frequently Asked Questions

Beyond the Recipe

Carrabbas Italian Grill is the favorite restaurant for many people and for good reason! Two men from a family with Sicilian roots, Johnny Carrabba III and Damian Mandola came together to introduce America to a unique way of Italian cooking mixed with their family’s travels and influences. 

Carrabba’s menu differs from other Italian restaurants because it is a beautiful blend of many cultures that infused the Mandola-Carrabba family for centuries as they traveled from Sicily to the East Coast of America, then inland to Texas and other areas.

For this reason, some Italians criticize their recipes, like the Chicken Bryan, Chicken Marsala, and others, for being not authentic.

However, Carrabbas doesn’t try to stick to traditional Italian meals. Instead, they want to share their diverse family recipes impacted by their history and journey to who they are today.