How to Make Scotty Thompson [a Carrabba’s Copycat Recipe]

Written by on in Appetizer, Browse Recipes, Cast Iron Skillet, Copycat, Fast - 30 or less, Vegetarian
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Scotty Thompson is an appetizer from Carrabba’s Italian Grill that has been on & off the menu since they first opened. This copy cat version only requires 3 ingredients (that you can tweak to your liking). And it’s incredibly easy to make!

What 3 Ingredients do I need to make Scotty Thompson?

The basic three ingredients you need are:

  • Garlic Bread
  • Marinara
  • Goat Cheese

This appetizer has changed over the years & I prefer the original version the most. It was served with garlic bread & generous goat cheese dip. The current rendition has toasted bread (just bread, not garlic bread) & a smaller amount of goat cheese dip.

If you are a garlic lover (like me!), then get your favorite kind of garlic bread. Could be from the bakery or frozen, could be a baguette style or Texas Toast style. And I highly recommend adding a little extra garlic powder to your marinara sauce too!

If you are sensitive to garlic, you could opt to use a baguette or plain Italian bread rather than garlic bread. Just brush the bread with olive oil on both sides & bake at 400 until it is golden brown & done to your liking. You could also opt to use breadsticks if you prefer – it’s really up to you!

How is Scotty Thompson prepared?

This appetizer couldn’t be easier. It’s basically a “dump & go” recipe. To get started, grab one jar of marinara, 8 ounces of goat cheese (in a log form), & frozen garlic bread.

The garlic bread is simply cooked according to the package directions. You can put it in the oven (be sure to leave room for your dip) or try using your air fryer or toaster oven.

To make the dip, you’ll start with the sauce on the stove in a pan, simply warming it throughout. Then the goat cheese is added to the sauce & the dish is put in the oven to let the goat cheese soften & cook a little bit.

I like to use my 10″ Lodge cast iron skillet for this since it can go from stove top to oven without an issue. It’s a good size for a small family & it’s great for first time cast iron owners because it’s pre-seasoned & inexpensive.

If you don’t have an oven proof skillet, you can use a regular skillet & transfer the dip to an oven proof dish. The oven proof dish you choose should preheat in the oven so the heat isn’t lost when you transfer the sauce from the skillet.

What to serve with Scotty Thompson?

As usual, I’m thinking about the Plate Method. So when we think about how this appetizer fits in with the overall meal… it would fill your carb portion right up, of course. It also has a decent dairy portion. To balance the meal out well, you will want to add more non-starchy vegetables & a protein.

For the protein, you could try these Air Fryer Cornish Hens or Air Fryer Blackened Salmon. A side salad with an oil based dressing or some broccoli or green beans, or even brussel sprouts, would be great options to fill your non-starchy vegetable portion up.

If you love goat cheese – check these recipes out!

If you try this recipe, please let me know what you think!  I really appreciate all of your feedback. And I love to eat vicariously with you! Please share a picture of your meal & tag A Little Bite of This & That on Instagram or Facebook.

Scotty Thompson Bruschetta (Carrabba’s Copycat)

Stephanie Ralya
Easy 3 ingredient recipe that takes less than 20 minutes from start to finish. Great to share as an appetizer & it's very kid friendly.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Appetizer, Side Dish
Cuisine Italian, Mediterranean
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pkg Garlic Bread frozen*
  • 24 oz Marinara
  • 8 oz Goat Cheese log*

Instructions
 

  • Bake bread according to package directions.
  • While bread bakes, prepare the dip. Pour marinara into an oven safe skillet* & heat over low-medium heat until evenly warm throughout, about 3 minutes. Stir as needed.
  • While the marinara heats up, cut the goat cheese into thick coins using floss (you should end up with about 8-10 "coins"). You can crumble the goat cheese instead of cutting if you prefer.
  • Lay the goat cheese coins flat in the marinara, evenly spread around the skillet. Put the skillet in the oven (with the bread) for 5-7 minutes, until the goat cheese is softened & spreads easily.
  • Serve bread & dip immediately. Optional: stir the goat cheese around to evenly mix it with the marinara.
  • Enjoy!

Notes

  • Garlic Bread choice is up to you!  Grab  your favorite style & brand.  If you’re not a fan of garlic bread, a baguette or Italian bread would work well.  Brush the slices with olive oil & toast at 400 until done to your liking.
  • Taste test your marinara before adding the goat cheese!  I often add a little bit of garlic powder to the marinara but it all depends on the kind you buy & your own personal tastes.
  • Plain goat cheese is most similar to the original Scotty Thompson recipe, but feel free to experiment with flavored goat cheese if you want!  I’ve used an herbed option that was delicious.
  • If you do not have an oven proof skillet, you can use a regular skillet to heat up the marinara & then transfer it to an oven proof dish before adding the goat cheese.  Be sure to preheat the dish in the oven so that all of the heat isn’t lost when you transfer the marinara.  Another option would be to heat the marinara in the microwave instead of the stovetop (that way you could use just one dish instead of two).
Keyword 20 Minutes, 3 ingredients, 30 minutes, carrabbas, cast iron, copycat, dip, easy, fast, kid-friendly, Mediterranean diet, skillet dip

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