Chicken Piccata Recipe

Chicken Piccata is a classic Italian American dish that combines tangy and savory flavors, making it a family favorite dinner. It consists of thin chicken breasts lightly coated in flour and cooked in a delicious lemon butter sauce with capers, which give it a distinctive salty flavor. The sauce is smooth and flavorful, perfect for serving with pasta, rice, or vegetables. Although it sounds fancy, making chicken piccata at home is incredibly easy and takes less than 30 minutes!

Chicken Piccata Recipe

Piccata is tender and juicy chicken with a perfect golden crust that soaks up the lemony sauce beautifully. Whether you’re cooking for your family or friends, this dish is sure to impress everyone at the table.

Try this Chicken Piccata Recipe

If you’ve never tried chicken piccata before, now is the perfect time! It’s an ideal recipe for a weeknight dinner, a special occasion, or simply when you’re craving a delicious and comforting meal. The combination of the rich butter sauce, bright lemon flavor, and tender chicken is irresistible. Plus, it’s easy enough for even novice cooks and doesn’t require any complicated ingredients.

This chicken piccata recipe will guide you step by step, showing you how to make the dish just like your favorite Italian restaurant. Once you try it, you’ll be coming back to this recipe again and again it’s that good!

Ingredients for Chicken Piccata Recipe

Here’s everything you’ll need to make this Chicken Piccata Recipe

For the Chicken:
  • 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour for coatig
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons butter
For the Sauce:
  • 2 tablespoons butter for sauce
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • ½ cup chicken broth
  • ¼ cup fresh lemon juice about 1 large lemon
  • ¼ cup capers, drained
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

How to Make Chicken Piccata Recipe

Step One

First, prepare the chicken: Cut each chicken breast in half horizontally to create two thinner pieces. Place them between two sheets of plastic wrap or parchment paper and gently pound them with a meat mallet until they are about half an inch thick. Season both sides with salt and pepper.

How to Make Chicken Piccata Recipe

Step Two

Next, coat the chicken: Dredge each piece of chicken in flour, shaking off any excess. This helps give the chicken a golden crust and helps the sauce adhere better later.

Step Three

Then, cook the chicken: Heat the olive oil and two tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the chicken pieces and cook for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside on a plate.

How to Make Chicken Piccata Recipe

Step Four

Make the sauce: In the same skillet, melt two more tablespoons of butter. Add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Pour in the chicken broth and lemon juice, stirring to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Add the capers and simmer for 2-3 minutes.

Step Five

Combine the ingredients: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet and pour the sauce over it. Let it simmer for another two minutes to allow the chicken to absorb the delicious lemon flavor. Sprinkle with chopped parsley before serving.

Step Six

Finally, serve and enjoy: Place the chicken piccata on a serving dish with some of the sauce spooned over it. It’s best served hot and fresh, straight from the pan!

Chicken Piccata Recipe

Kitchen Equipment Needed :

To make these Chicken Piccata Recipe, you’ll need:

  • A large skillet or frying pan
  • A meat mallet or rolling pin for pounding the chicken
  • Two bowls for flour and seasoning
  • Tongs or a spatula
  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • A cutting board and sharp knife
  • A small whisk or spoon for mixing the sauce

Tips for Perfect Chicken Piccata

Use thin chicken: Pounding the chicken thin helps it cook evenly and stay tender.

Don’t overcrowd the pan: Cook in batches if needed so the chicken browns nicely.

Fresh lemon juice matters: Bottled juice can taste bitter, so always use fresh lemons.

Add extra flavor: Try adding a splash of white wine to the sauce for a deeper flavor.

Serving Suggestion

I like to serve this dish with pasta or rice and salad, and some delicious drinks like a smoothie. We also usually serve some desserts like cake or cheesecake right after we finish eating this dish.

Chicken Piccata Recipe

Frequently Asked Question

Can I use chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts ?

Absolutely! Boneless, skinless chicken thighs work just as well, though they may take a few more minutes to cook.

Can I use fish instead of chicken ?

Yes, this recipe works beautifully with white fish like tilapia or cod. That version is called Fish Piccata.

Can I freeze Chicken Piccata ?

Yes! Place cooled chicken and sauce in a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge before reheating.

How do I make the sauce thicker ?

If you prefer a thicker sauce, mix 1 teaspoon of cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of water and stir it into the sauce while simmering.

Chicken Piccata Recipe

Recipe by Emily Rice
0.0 from 0 votes
Course: Main CourseCuisine: Italian, AmericanDifficulty: Easy
Servings

4

servings
Prep time

10

minutes
Cooking time

20

minutes
Calories

380

kcal
Total time

30

minutes

This easy Chicken Piccata Recipe features tender chicken breasts cooked in a zesty lemon butter sauce with capers. It’s a flavorful, restaurant-quality dish that you can make in just 30 minutes perfect for family dinners or weeknight meals!

Ingredients

  • 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts

  • ½ cup all purpose flour for coatig

  • Salt and black pepper to taste

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

  • 2 tablespoons butter

  • 2 tablespoons butter for sauce

  • 2 cloves garlic, minced

  • ½ cup chicken broth

  • ¼ cup fresh lemon juice about 1 large lemon

  • ¼ cup capers, drained

  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Directions

  • First, prepare the chicken: Cut each chicken breast in half horizontally to create two thinner pieces. Place them between two sheets of plastic wrap or parchment paper and gently pound them with a meat mallet until they are about half an inch thick. Season both sides with salt and pepper.
  • Next, coat the chicken: Dredge each piece of chicken in flour, shaking off any excess. This helps give the chicken a golden crust and helps the sauce adhere better later.
  • Then, cook the chicken: Heat the olive oil and two tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the chicken pieces and cook for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside on a plate.
  • Make the sauce: In the same skillet, melt two more tablespoons of butter. Add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Pour in the chicken broth and lemon juice, stirring to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Add the capers and simmer for 2-3 minutes.
  • Combine the ingredients: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet and pour the sauce over it. Let it simmer for another two minutes to allow the chicken to absorb the delicious lemon flavor. Sprinkle with chopped parsley before serving.
  • Finally, serve and enjoy: Place the chicken piccata on a serving dish with some of the sauce spooned over it. It's best served hot and fresh, straight from the pan!

Notes

  • Don’t skip the flour coating A light coating of flour helps the chicken brown beautifully and makes the sauce cling better.
  • Use fresh lemon juice Freshly squeezed lemons taste brighter and fresher than bottled juice.
  • Don’t overcook the chicken. Once the chicken is golden brown and cooked through, remove it right away to keep it tende
  • Don’t crowd the pan. Cook chicken in batches if needed so it browns properly instead of steaming.

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