Description
Lemon Chicken Piccata is a quick and easy dish featuring tender chicken breasts cooked to a golden perfection and served with a bright, tangy lemon sauce with capers. This vibrant, flavorful meal provides a perfect balance of savory and citrusy notes, making it an elegant yet comforting choice for weeknight dinners or special occasions.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, pounded to even thickness
- ½ cup all-purpose flour (or almond/gluten-free flour for gluten-free option)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
For the Sauce
- ⅓ cup fresh lemon juice (about 2 lemons)
- ½ cup chicken broth or white wine
- 2 tablespoons capers, drained
- 2 tablespoons butter (optional, for finishing)
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness for uniform cooking. Season both sides with salt and pepper. Dredge each piece lightly in flour, shaking off any excess to ensure a thin, even coating.
- Cook the Chicken: Heat olive oil and butter together in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken breasts and cook for 3-4 minutes per side, or until golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Make the Sauce: In the same skillet, add the fresh lemon juice, chicken broth (or white wine), and capers. Bring to a simmer, scraping up any browned bits from the pan to incorporate flavor. Allow the sauce to reduce slightly until it thickens.
- Finish the Dish: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet and spoon the sauce over the top, coating the chicken evenly. Sprinkle with fresh parsley and add additional butter if desired for a richer sauce. Remove from heat just before serving.
Notes
- Use fresh lemons for the best vibrant flavor.
- Ensure chicken breasts are pounded evenly to cook quickly and stay juicy.
- Reduce the sauce until it coats the chicken but avoid over-reducing to prevent saltiness.
- Rinse capers if too salty but do not omit as they are essential flavor components.
- Cook on medium heat to avoid burning butter and maintain balanced flavors.
- For gluten-free, replace all-purpose flour with almond or rice flour.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days; reheat gently adding broth or water if needed.
- For freezing, store chicken and sauce separately and consume within 2 months.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Pan-frying
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg