Description
Easy Chicken Piccata is a flavorful and quick Italian-inspired dish featuring tender chicken breasts in a tangy lemon-caper sauce. This recipe is perfect for a weeknight dinner, delivering bright, zesty flavors with a buttery finish and a hint of brininess from capers.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Coating
- 4 pieces Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
- 0.5 cup All-Purpose Flour (for dredging)
- to taste Salt
- to taste Black Pepper
Cooking Fats
- 2 tablespoons Olive Oil
- 4 tablespoons Unsalted Butter
Sauce
- 1-2 large Fresh Lemons (juice only)
- 2 tablespoons Capers
- 0.5 cup Low-Sodium Chicken Broth
Garnish
- 2 tablespoons Chopped Fresh Parsley
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken: Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels and season them generously on both sides with salt and black pepper to enhance flavor.
- Dredge the chicken: Coat each chicken breast in all-purpose flour, shaking off any excess to ensure a light, even crust that crisps up during cooking.
- Cook the chicken: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Place the chicken breasts in the skillet and cook for 4-5 minutes on each side, or until golden brown and cooked through with an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Rest the chicken: Transfer the cooked chicken to a plate and cover loosely with foil to keep warm while you prepare the sauce.
- Prepare the sauce base: In the same skillet, add the unsalted butter and melt it over medium heat, scraping up any browned bits stuck to the pan for extra flavor.
- Add liquids and simmer: Pour in lemon juice and low-sodium chicken broth, stirring to combine. Let the mixture simmer for 3-4 minutes to reduce slightly and develop flavor.
- Add capers and return chicken: Stir in capers, then nestle the chicken breasts back into the skillet. Spoon the sauce over the chicken to coat.
- Finish cooking: Cook the chicken in the sauce for an additional minute to meld the flavors and heat through, then remove the skillet from the heat.
- Garnish and serve: Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley over the chicken and sauce. Serve immediately with your choice of sides.
Notes
- Use fresh lemon juice for the best bright and tangy flavor.
- Ensure chicken is cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F for food safety.
- Low-sodium chicken broth controls saltiness and lets you adjust seasoning as needed.
- Serve with pasta, rice, or steamed vegetables to complement the rich sauce.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour with gluten-free flour or cornstarch for dredging.
