This Lemon Butter Sauce is so rich and creamy, decadent, but with a mild tang from the fresh lemon juice, it is insanely delicious and effortless to make.
I am completely in love with Lemon Butter Sauce (Copycat Carrabba’s recipe), and seriously, our entire family could drink this by the gallons. We always make this to serve with chicken and noodles, but this lemon butter sauce works well with fish, especially an excellent sauce for salmon.
This recipe for lemon butter sauce put Carrabba’s Italian Grill on the map for us. My husband is obsessed with this sauce. The first time we had it was the night we thought I was going into labor with our daughter Jordan. We were sitting in Carrabba’s with Jake’s cousin, and she ordered this dish; when it came out, she told us we had to try it because it was the best sauce ever; oh, was she right?
My Favorite Kitchen Tools To Make This Recipe
From trusty pots and pans to handy gadgets, I’ve curated a list of products I use and love.
I can only think of one sauce that gives it some competition: their Marsala sauce. Seriously, both of them are delicious, the main ingredient being butter.
This Lemon Butter Sauce is on Carrabba’s most famous dish, Chicken Bryan. I have the (Copycat Carrabba’s) Chicken Bryan recipe here. It is our special occasion meal.
My husband is a picky pasta eater, always searching for the most incredible pasta dish. He tends to lean towards sauces with big, robust flavors, so this combination of garlic and lemon is perfect. At first, Jake wasn’t willing to try this lemon butter sauce until he learned it was all over their shrimp scampi. He devoured their scampi, so he was ready to give their sauce a try.
More Carrabba’s Recipes
We love almost everything at Carrabba’s, but this Lemon Butter Sauce recipe has become a staple in our kitchen. Making it to grace pasta, chicken, shrimp, salmon or even a bunch of veggies, either way, this sauce of awesomeness will soon become a favorite of yours as well.
What is butter sauce?
A butter sauce contains butter, broth, wine, and seasonings. Sometimes, flour is added to thicken the sauce. It is a versatile sauce that can be used in many dishes. It can also be used as a base for other sauces by adding ingredients, such as lemon juice, in this Lemon Butter Sauce.
How to make Lemon Butter Sauce?
Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add butter and let it melt. Stir in onion and garlic, cooking until onion is translucent (about 3 minutes). Add wine and lemon juice, bringing it to a boil over high heat. Cook until liquid reduces to about 1/4 cup (3-5 minutes).
Reduce heat to low and gradually whisk in 3 tablespoons of butter until completely melted. The goal is to create a slowly emulsified sauce, not rapid melting. Repeat this process with the remaining butter, adding 3 tablespoons at a time, except for the last addition which will be just 2 tablespoons. Season the sauce with salt and pepper, then remove from heat.
Serve the sauce immediately or store it at room temperature for 2 hours. When reheating, use a low setting to prevent separation.
Lemon Butter Sauce Recipe Tips
pin to Pinterest.
Lemon Butter Sauce
Ingredients
- 12 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, sliced into 1/2 inch pieces, divided
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped yellow onion
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/3 cup dry white wine
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- Kosher salt and ground white pepper
Instructions
- Place a medium non-stick skillet over medium heat, add 1 tablespoon of butter. Allow the butter to melt, add onion and garlic and cook stirring frequently. Cook until onion is translucent, about 3 minutes. Add the wine and lemon juice and bring to a boil over high heat. Continue to cook until the liquid is reduced to about 1/4 cup, about 3-5 minutes.
- Reduce the heat to low, add 3 tablespoons of butter at a time and whisk the butter in until it is completely melted. You want the butter to slowly soften into an emulsified sauce, not quickly melting; it is a process. Add the remaining butter 3 tablespoons at a time until all the butter has been added into the sauce. The last addition will be just 2 tbsp. Season the sauce with salt and pepper, then remove from heat.
- Serve immediately or store sauce up to 2 hours at room temperature. If you are to reheat the sauce, do it over a low setting otherwise the sauce will separate.
- If it does separate remember the sauce will still taste the same, just not have the same look, it will look more like melted butter. After a few times of making the sauce, you will get the hang of it.
- Cooking this sauce on low heat is key.
Notes
Oh my goodness this SAUCE!! It is incredibly delicious and I find myself wanting to put it on everything. I’m pregnant right now, which led me to cut the garlic in half because it hasn’t been my friend lately, but otherwise I followed the recipe as directed. It’s perfect! I’ve never even been to Carrabba’s because they don’t have them where I’m from, but now I don’t need to. Thank you!
This makes my day! I love it as well and the first time I had it I was pregnant so this totally touches me. xo
We loved this! It was creamy, rich, and just the right amount of tang! Can’t wait to enjoy this again over my next salad.
So glad to hear that!
I can’t believe how easy this is to whip together! I can’t wait to enjoy this tangy taste this summer.
I hope you like it!
I made this meal tonight for our 25th Anniversary. It was easy and absolutely delicious. Your lemon beurre blanc was spot on. Husband said this is one of the best meals I ever made. Thanks for posting.
I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed it! Thank you!
What wine did you use?
Hi! We usually use dry white cooking wine for these recipes, but you can use any kind of dry white wine you have on hand! In the past, I’ve used a Pinot Grigio. Hope this helps!
it very good
Thank you!
Precisely what I needed! Thank you!
Glad to hear that!
Thank you so much for this delicious recipe. I love all of the recipes that i’ve try and will continue to try some other ones you have posted. Keep up the good work.
Thank you so much!
Funny thing about this sauces…tasted lemony in the sauce pan but lost its lemon flavor over a piece of salmon. Any ideas? The sauce was freshly made. I am puzzled
Oh, your salmon must have been really fishy, I would add more zest next time and a pinch of salt.
First time ever leaving a comment on a recipe . This is my favorite new way to make fish, my mom loved it. Used it with flounder and melted the butter by color. Yum making some more today.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for the review!
Easy recipe is great! I made it according to your recipe and the taste is great! Everyone in the family likes it, it makes me happy. thank you
So glad to hear that!
So good. Would be great on any seafood. I had it on salmon.
I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed it!
I wanted a quick, yummy and lemony sauce for sauteed chicken. This was easy and delicious!
So glad to hear that!
This Lemon Butter Sauce is looks absolutely delicious! Yummy!
Thank you!
This was so easy and really tasted like restaurant quality sauce! Thanks for helping to make me look like a rockstar in front of my family for dinner.
I’m so glad you enjoyed making it!
This is the perfect sauce for so many dishes!
It really is! Thank you!
This butter sauce is a must have for my family! Looks amazing!
I hope you enjoy it!
So delicious and tasty! My family loves this recipe! Can’t wait to make this again!
So glad to hear that! Thank you!
Great recipe and super easy. I made whiting in the oven, seasoned lightly with cajun seasoning. Added a little coriander and black pepper in the sauce which was good, but was also good without.
That sounds delicious! So glad you enjoyed it.
This is such a great way to spruce up chicken or fish! We love it!
Thank you!
I have to make this today! I love anything lemon!
Let us know what you think!
This looks amazing! Do you possibly have a Copycat Recipe for their Fettuccine Weesie?
I don’t but we should get to that, right?
This sauce is literally good on everything!
I love grilled chicken and this lemon butter sauce would be perfect for it! Must make it!
Yes that is the best combo + maybe add some goat cheese.
I’ve made this sauce and my whole family loves it. Now it’s our favorite!
This is so easy to make yet yields so much flavor! Totally upgrades any dish!