Description
Lemon Chicken Piccata is a quick and easy 30-minute skillet dinner bursting with bright citrus flavors, tender chicken, and a buttery sauce enhanced by savory capers. Perfect for busy weeknights, this one-pan meal combines tangy lemon, garlic, and fresh parsley for a satisfying yet simple gourmet experience with minimal cleanup.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Coating
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, thinly sliced or pounded to about ½ inch thickness
- ½ cup all-purpose flour (or almond flour/gluten-free flour for gluten-free variation)
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Cooking Fats
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter (or plant-based alternative for dairy-free option)
Sauce Ingredients
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup chicken broth or white wine
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice (about 1–2 lemons)
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons capers, drained
Finishing Touches
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness of about half an inch to ensure quick, even cooking. Season both sides generously with salt and black pepper, then dredge lightly in all-purpose flour, shaking off any excess to prevent a gummy coating.
- Cook the Chicken: Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Add the chicken pieces and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side until golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside, keeping the skillet ready for the sauce.
- Make the Sauce: In the same skillet, add a little more butter if needed, then sauté the minced garlic for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Pour in chicken broth or white wine to deglaze the pan, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom for extra flavor. Stir in fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, and capers, bringing the mixture to a gentle simmer.
- Finish and Serve: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet, spoon the sauce over each piece, and simmer together for a few minutes to meld flavors and warm the chicken through. Sprinkle freshly chopped parsley over the top before plating. Optionally garnish with extra lemon slices for added zest and presentation.
Notes
- Even Thickness: Pounding the chicken ensures it cooks evenly and remains juicy.
- Don’t Skip the Dredge: Coating the chicken in flour helps with a golden crust and thickens the sauce.
- Use Fresh Lemon: Fresh lemon juice and zest provide the best bright citrus flavor.
- Deglaze Thoroughly: Scrape the pan well after cooking the chicken to capture all flavorful browned bits.
- Avoid Overcooking: Remove chicken as soon as it is no longer pink inside to keep it tender.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Skillet
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast with sauce
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg
Keywords: lemon chicken piccata, quick dinner, skillet dinner, easy chicken recipe, lemon caper sauce, weeknight meal