Copycat Chicken Bryan Recipe

Chicken breasts: Boneless and skinless, these are the main protein of the dish.

Butter: Unsalted, used to create the rich lemon butter sauce.

Lemon juice: Freshly squeezed, adds a tangy flavor to the sauce.

White wine: Adds depth and complexity to the sauce.

Sun-dried tomatoes: Chopped, these add a sweet and tangy element to the dish.

Goat cheese: Crumbled, provides a creamy and tangy topping for the chicken.

Basil: Chopped, adds a fresh herbal note to the sauce.

Salt: To taste, used for seasoning the chicken.

Black pepper: Freshly ground, to taste, used for seasoning the chicken.

When grilling chicken breasts, ensure they are of uniform thickness to promote even cooking. If needed, use a meat mallet to pound them to an even thickness. This helps prevent overcooking the thinner parts while the thicker parts are still undercooked. Additionally, let the grilled chicken rest for a few minutes before topping with goat cheese and pouring the lemon butter sauce to allow the juices to redistribute, resulting in a more flavorful and juicy dish.

• boneless, skinless chicken breasts - Substitute with boneless, skinless turkey breasts: Turkey breasts have a similar texture and flavor profile, making them a suitable alternative for chicken.

• unsalted butter - Substitute with olive oil: Olive oil provides a rich flavor and is a healthier fat option compared to butter.

• freshly squeezed lemon juice - Substitute with lime juice: Lime juice offers a similar acidity and citrus flavor, making it a good replacement for lemon juice.

• white wine - Substitute with chicken broth: Chicken broth can mimic the depth of flavor that white wine adds to the dish without the alcohol content.

• chopped sun-dried tomatoes - Substitute with cherry tomatoes: Cherry tomatoes can provide a fresh, sweet flavor similar to sun-dried tomatoes when roasted.

• crumbled goat cheese - Substitute with feta cheese: Feta cheese has a similar tangy and creamy texture, making it a good alternative to goat cheese.

• chopped basil - Substitute with chopped parsley: Parsley offers a fresh, slightly peppery flavor that can stand in for basil in many recipes.

• salt - Substitute with soy sauce: Soy sauce can add a salty, umami flavor to the dish, though it will also add a bit of color.

• freshly ground black pepper - Substitute with white pepper: White pepper provides a similar heat and flavor but is less visually noticeable in the dish.

• Allow the chicken breasts to cool completely before storing. This prevents condensation, which can make the chicken soggy.
• Place the cooled chicken breasts in an airtight container. If you have multiple pieces, layer them with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
• Store the lemon butter sauce separately in a sealed container. This keeps the chicken from becoming too saturated and maintains the texture.
• For freezing, wrap each chicken breast individually in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. This helps to prevent freezer burn.
• Place the wrapped chicken breasts in a freezer-safe bag or container. Label with the date to keep track of freshness.
• Freeze the lemon butter sauce in ice cube trays. Once frozen, transfer the cubes to a freezer bag. This allows you to thaw only what you need.
• To reheat, thaw the chicken breasts and lemon butter sauce in the refrigerator overnight. This ensures even reheating.
• Reheat the chicken breasts in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 15-20 minutes, or until heated through. Cover with foil to prevent drying out.
• Warm the lemon butter sauce in a saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally until fully melted and heated.
• Assemble the dish by placing the reheated chicken breasts on a plate, topping with crumbled goat cheese, and drizzling with the warmed lemon butter sauce.

• Oven Method:

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Place the leftover chicken breasts in an oven-safe dish.
  3. Cover the dish with aluminum foil to retain moisture.
  4. Heat for about 20-25 minutes, or until the chicken is warmed through.
  5. For the last 5 minutes, remove the foil to allow the goat cheese to melt and slightly brown.

• Stovetop Method:

  1. Heat a skillet over medium heat.
  2. Add a small amount of butter or olive oil to the skillet.
  3. Place the chicken breasts in the skillet and cover with a lid.
  4. Heat for about 5-7 minutes on each side, or until thoroughly warmed.
  5. If the lemon butter sauce has thickened, add a splash of white wine or chicken broth to loosen it up.

• Microwave Method:

  1. Place the chicken breasts on a microwave-safe plate.
  2. Cover with a microwave-safe lid or another plate to prevent drying out.
  3. Heat on medium power for 2-3 minutes.
  4. Check the temperature and continue heating in 30-second intervals until warmed through.
  5. Be cautious not to overheat, as the chicken can become dry.

• Sous Vide Method:

  1. Preheat your sous vide machine to 140°F (60°C).
  2. Place the chicken breasts in a vacuum-sealed bag or a zip-lock bag using the water displacement method.
  3. Submerge the bag in the water bath and heat for about 45 minutes.
  4. Remove from the bag and serve immediately, enjoying the perfectly reheated chicken with goat cheese and lemon butter sauce.

• Air Fryer Method:

  1. Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Place the chicken breasts in the air fryer basket.
  3. Heat for about 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through.
  4. Check to ensure the chicken is heated through and the goat cheese is melty and delicious.

• Grill: used to cook the chicken breasts to perfection, giving them a nice char and smoky flavor.

• Tongs: essential for flipping the chicken breasts on the grill without piercing the meat and losing juices.

• Saucepan: used to melt the butter and prepare the lemon butter sauce with white wine, sun-dried tomatoes, and basil.

• Measuring cups: necessary for accurately measuring the butter, lemon juice, white wine, and sun-dried tomatoes.

• Knife: used for chopping the sun-dried tomatoes and basil.

• Cutting board: provides a safe surface for chopping the sun-dried tomatoes and basil.

• Serving plate: used to present the grilled chicken breasts topped with goat cheese and lemon butter sauce.

• Spoon: helpful for stirring the sauce ingredients together in the saucepan.

• Meat thermometer: optional but useful for ensuring the chicken breasts are fully cooked to a safe internal temperature.

• Small bowl: used to crumble the goat cheese before topping the chicken breasts.

Pre-marinating the chicken: Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper the night before and store them in the refrigerator. This allows the flavors to penetrate and saves time on prep day.

Using pre-chopped ingredients: Purchase pre-chopped sun-dried tomatoes and chopped basil to cut down on preparation time.

Simultaneous cooking: While the chicken is grilling, start making the lemon butter sauce to streamline the cooking process.

Pre-measuring ingredients: Measure out the butter, lemon juice, and white wine ahead of time to ensure a smooth cooking experience.