Description
A quick and flavorful Lemon Chicken Piccata featuring tender chicken breasts in a bright lemon-caper sauce, perfect for easy weeknight dinners or entertaining guests with a fresh, zesty, and elegant dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2 large chicken breasts, thinly sliced or pounded flat
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour (or almond/rice flour for gluten-free)
Sauce
- 3 tablespoons butter (or vegan margarine/extra olive oil for dairy-free)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup chicken broth (or replace part with dry white wine)
- 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 1–2 lemons)
- 2 tablespoons capers, drained
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Season the thinly sliced chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Lightly dredge each piece in all-purpose flour, shaking off any excess for a thin, even coating.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook about 3 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Remove from skillet and set aside.
- Make the Sauce: In the same skillet, add the minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Pour in chicken broth and lemon juice, scraping the bottom to release browned bits. Add capers and bring to a gentle simmer.
- Finish the Sauce and Chicken: Return chicken to the pan and spoon sauce over it. Let simmer for a couple of minutes to absorb flavors. Stir in a pat of butter for richness and sprinkle with chopped parsley before serving.
Notes
- Pound chicken breasts to an even thickness for uniform cooking and tenderness.
- Cook chicken in batches to avoid overcrowding and steaming.
- Always use fresh lemon juice for the best bright, zesty flavor.
- Simmer sauce gently to meld flavors and keep chicken tender.
- Reserve some sauce liquid before thickening to adjust consistency as needed.
- Gluten-Free Variation: Substitute flour with almond or rice flour.
- Dairy-Free Option: Use vegan margarine or extra olive oil instead of butter.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Searing and Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast with sauce
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg
Keywords: lemon chicken piccata, quick chicken recipes, Italian chicken, lemon caper sauce, gluten-free chicken recipes
