Zingy Lemon-Kissed Chicken Piccata Recipe to Wow Dinner Guests

Crafting a delectable chicken piccata brings zesty Mediterranean flavors straight to your kitchen.

Tender chicken breasts meet a bright, tangy sauce that dances with capers and lemon.

Delicate pan-seared medallions absorb rich buttery notes while maintaining a golden crispness.

Italy’s classic comfort dish promises an elegant meal without complicated techniques.

Each bite delivers a perfect balance of sharp and smooth textures.

Professional chefs adore this simple yet sophisticated recipe for its quick preparation and impressive presentation.

Dive into this culinary adventure and impress everyone at your table.

Why Chicken Piccata Recipe Is So Easy To Love

• Masterfully Simplify Cooking: Transform complex chicken recipes into a straightforward, stress-free culinary adventure that even beginner cooks can confidently tackle.
• Create Restaurant-Quality Meal at Home: Craft a sophisticated dish that rivals professional chef preparations, impressing family and guests with minimal kitchen skills required.
• Customize for Dietary Preferences: Adapt the recipe easily by substituting ingredients or adjusting seasonings to suit various taste preferences and nutritional needs.
• Quick Weeknight Dinner Solution: Prepare a delectable meal in minimal time, perfect for busy households seeking delicious, satisfying dinners without extensive cooking processes.

What You’ll Need For Chicken Piccata Recipe

• Chicken Breasts: Tender and lean meat that serves as the primary protein in this classic Italian-inspired dish.

• All-Purpose Flour: Creates a golden crispy exterior for the chicken and helps thicken the sauce.
• Salt, Black Pepper: Enhance the overall flavor and season the chicken before cooking.

• Chicken Broth: Provides a rich liquid base for the piccata sauce.
• Lemon Juice: Adds bright, tangy citrus flavor characteristic of piccata dishes.
• Capers: Bring a briny, salty punch that complements the chicken.
• Butter: Creates a smooth, rich texture and adds depth to the sauce.
• Olive Oil: Helps with initial chicken searing and adds a subtle background flavor.

• Fresh Parsley: Adds a fresh, green color and a light herbal note to the finished dish.

How To Make Chicken Piccata Recipe Quickly

Step 1: Prep Chicken for Cooking

Remove chicken breasts from refrigerator. Pat them dry using paper towels. Sprinkle salt and black pepper across both sides of each chicken breast. The seasoning will enhance the overall flavor profile.

Step 2: Coat Chicken in Flour

Spread flour on a flat plate. Gently press each chicken breast into the flour, ensuring complete coverage. Carefully shake off excess flour to create a light, even coating that will help develop a beautiful golden crust during cooking.

Step 3: Heat Cooking Pan

Place large skillet over medium-high heat. Add olive oil and butter. Allow the mixture to heat until butter becomes slightly foamy and oil shimmers. This indicates the pan is perfectly ready for cooking.

Step 4: Cook Chicken to Golden Perfection

• Exterior turns golden brown
• Center reaches safe internal temperature
• Edges look crispy and delectable

Step 5: Create Tangy Sauce

• Chicken broth
• Fresh lemon juice
• Capers

Scrape pan’s bottom to incorporate delicious browned bits. Simmer sauce for 2-3 minutes, allowing flavors to blend beautifully.

Step 6: Finalize Sauce and Combine

Drop remaining butter into sauce. Stir until butter melts and sauce slightly thickens. Return cooked chicken to skillet, coating each piece with zesty sauce.

Step 7: Serve and Garnish

Transfer chicken to serving plates. Generously spoon sauce over chicken. Sprinkle fresh chopped parsley on top. Pair with roasted vegetables or creamy mashed potatoes for a complete meal.

Pro Tips For Chicken Piccata Recipe

• Flour Finesse: Shake off excess flour to prevent a heavy, pasty coating and ensure a light, crispy texture on the chicken.
• Heat Harmony: Use medium-high heat for perfectly golden-brown chicken that's crispy outside and juicy inside without burning.
• Sauce Rescue: Scrape those delicious browned bits from the pan to build deep, rich flavor in your piccata sauce.
• Capers Care: Drain capers thoroughly to prevent watery sauce and maintain the perfect tangy punch in your dish.
• Butter Brilliance: Add butter at the end to create a silky, glossy sauce that coats the chicken beautifully without separating.

Swaps To Try In Chicken Piccata Recipe

• Gluten-Free Crispy Chicken: Replace wheat flour with almond flour or cornstarch for a crispy coating that's gluten-free and adds a nutty flavor to the chicken.
• Mediterranean Herb Chicken: Swap capers with chopped Kalamata olives and add fresh oregano and thyme to create a Greek-inspired version of the classic recipe.
• Dairy-Free Light Piccata: Use olive oil instead of butter and replace chicken broth with vegetable broth for a lighter, dairy-free alternative that maintains the dish's signature tangy flavor.
• Vegetarian Piccata Option: Substitute chicken with thick slices of breaded portobello mushrooms or firm tofu, keeping the signature lemon-caper sauce intact for a plant-based protein alternative.

Pairing Ideas For Chicken Piccata Recipe

• Pair Zesty White Wine: Select a crisp, acidic Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio that matches the lemony brightness of the chicken piccata sauce, cutting through the richness and complementing the tangy capers.
• Serve Creamy Carbohydrate Sides: Choose buttery mashed potatoes or herbed risotto to balance the sharp sauce, providing a smooth textural contrast that absorbs the piccata's vibrant flavors.
• Recommend Fresh Green Accompaniments: Add steamed asparagus or sautéed green beans with light garlic seasoning, which will provide a clean, fresh counterpoint to the rich, lemony chicken dish.

How To Store Chicken Piccata Recipe Properly

• Store leftovers in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Keep in the refrigerator for 3-4 days to maintain freshness and prevent bacterial growth.
• Wrap individual chicken pieces tightly in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe container. Chicken piccata can be frozen for up to 2 months without losing flavor or texture.
• Place chicken on a microwave-safe plate, sprinkle a few drops of water to prevent drying, and heat at 50% power for 1-2 minutes. Check internal temperature reaches 165°F for food safety.
• Warm chicken in a skillet over medium-low heat with a splash of broth or water.

Chicken Piccata Recipe Q&A

• What is the purpose of dredging chicken in flour?

Dredging chicken in flour creates a thin, crispy coating that helps seal in moisture and provides a golden-brown exterior when cooked.

• Can I use chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts?

Yes, chicken thighs work well in this recipe. They are typically more flavorful and juicy, though cooking time might need slight adjustment.

• Why are capers important in Chicken Piccata?

Capers add a tangy, briny flavor that complements the lemon and butter sauce, creating the signature taste of this classic Italian-American dish.

• Is Chicken Piccata considered a healthy dish?

While delicious, Chicken Piccata is moderately high in calories due to butter and flour coating. For a lighter version, you can use less butter and opt for whole wheat flour.

Chicken Piccata Recipe

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4.5 from 22 reviews

• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Yield: 2 1x

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Description

Succulent chicken piccata delivers a zesty Italian classic with tangy lemon and buttery capers dancing across perfectly seared chicken. Crisp flavors and elegant simplicity make this dish a perfect weeknight dinner you’ll savor from first bite to last.

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Ingredients

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Chicken:

• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• Salt and pepper
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

Sauce Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 cup capers
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley

Serving Accompaniments:

• Mashed potatoes
• Asparagus

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Instructions

1. Prepare chicken by generously seasoning both surfaces with salt and pepper, creating a flavor foundation for the dish.
2. Spread flour on a flat surface and delicately coat each chicken breast, ensuring excess flour is gently shaken off to achieve a light, crispy exterior.
3. Warm olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat until the mixture becomes shimmering and fragrant, approximately 2 minutes.
4. Carefully place floured chicken breasts into the hot skillet, cooking for 3-4 minutes per side until a golden-brown crust develops and internal temperature reaches 165°F.
5. Transfer cooked chicken to a separate plate, maintaining its warmth and crispness while preparing the sauce.
6. Utilize the same skillet to create the sauce, pouring in chicken broth, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and drained capers while scraping accumulated browned bits from the pan.
7. Simmer sauce ingredients for 2-3 minutes, allowing flavors to meld and reduce slightly, creating a vibrant and tangy liquid.
8. Incorporate remaining butter into the sauce, stirring until it melts completely and the sauce develops a slightly thickened consistency.
9. Gently return chicken breasts to the skillet, allowing them to absorb the sauce’s flavors for approximately one minute.
10. Plate the chicken, generously drizzling the sauce over the top and garnishing with finely chopped fresh parsley for a bright, elegant presentation.

Notes

• Ensure chicken is pounded evenly to about 1/2-inch thickness for consistent cooking and tender texture.
• Use fresh lemon juice for brighter, more vibrant flavor compared to bottled alternatives.
• Pat chicken completely dry before flouring to achieve maximum golden-brown crispy exterior.
• Avoid overcrowding the skillet when cooking chicken to maintain proper heat and prevent steaming instead of browning.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Lunch
• Method: Sautéing
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 2
• Calories: 500
• Sugar: 1 g
• Sodium: 800 mg
• Fat: 30 g
• Saturated Fat: 10 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 38 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 27 g
• Cholesterol: 100 mg