Description
Chicken Piccata is a classic Italian-American dish featuring tender, pan-seared chicken breasts in a tangy lemon, caper, and butter sauce. Perfectly golden and bursting with bright, savory flavors, this quick and easy recipe makes a delicious weeknight meal that pairs beautifully with pasta or steamed vegetables.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
Sauce and Cooking
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup chicken broth
- ½ cup fresh lemon juice (about 2 lemons)
- ¼ cup capers, rinsed and drained
- Chopped fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare Chicken: Season the chicken breasts evenly with salt and pepper. Dredge each piece in all-purpose flour, shaking off any excess to ensure a light coating.
- Brown Chicken: Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and melt the butter together with the olive oil. Add the floured chicken breasts and cook them for 3 to 4 minutes per side until they develop a golden brown crust. Remove the chicken from the skillet and keep it warm.
- Make Sauce: In the same skillet, pour in the chicken broth, lemon juice, and capers. Bring the mixture to a boil, scraping the bottom of the pan to release any browned bits that add flavor to the sauce.
- Simmer Sauce and Reheat Chicken: Reduce the heat and let the sauce simmer gently for about 5 minutes to thicken slightly. Return the chicken breasts to the skillet, allowing them to soak in the sauce for an additional minute to absorb the flavors.
- Serve: Transfer the chicken to serving plates, spoon the sauce over the top, and garnish with chopped fresh parsley. Serve immediately while hot.
Notes
- Dredging the chicken in flour helps create a nice crust and thickens the sauce slightly.
- For extra flavor, use fresh lemon juice instead of bottled.
- If chicken breasts are very thick, consider pounding them to an even thickness for uniform cooking.
- Serve with pasta, rice, or steamed vegetables for a complete meal.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated and reheated gently on the stovetop.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Italian-American
