Description
Chicken Piccata with Lemon Sauce is a classic Italian-American dish featuring tender chicken cutlets in a tangy lemon sauce with capers. Quick, elegant, and flavorful, it pairs beautifully with pasta, rice, or vegetables for a complete meal.
Ingredients
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Salt and black pepper, to taste
½ cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup chicken broth
⅓ cup fresh lemon juice (about 2 lemons)
¼ cup capers, drained
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Lemon slices (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken: Place chicken breasts between two sheets of plastic wrap or parchment and pound to ½-inch thickness. Season both sides with salt and pepper. Dredge in flour, shaking off excess.
- Cook the chicken: Heat olive oil and 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chicken for 3–4 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
- Make the lemon sauce: Reduce heat to medium. Add remaining butter and garlic, sautéing for 1 minute. Pour in chicken broth and lemon juice, scraping the pan to release browned bits. Simmer for 5 minutes until slightly reduced.
- Add capers and finish: Stir in capers. Return chicken to skillet and spoon sauce over the top. Let simmer 2–3 minutes.
- Serve: Plate the chicken, drizzle with sauce, and garnish with parsley and lemon slices if desired.
Notes
Use chicken thighs instead of breasts for a juicier version.
Substitute gluten-free flour to make the recipe gluten-free.
Swap capers for chopped green olives for a milder briny flavor.
Toss the sauce with cooked pasta before adding chicken for a one-pan meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast with sauce
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 6g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 44g
- Cholesterol: 120mg
