Description
Lemon Chicken Piccata is a quick and flavorful Italian-inspired dish featuring tender chicken fillets sautéed to golden perfection and served in a tangy lemon-caper butter sauce. This recipe combines the bright acidity of fresh lemon juice and zest with savory capers and a buttery sauce, making it an elegant yet easy meal perfect for weeknight dinners or special occasions.
Ingredients
Chicken
- 3 large chicken breasts (sliced in half to make 6 thin fillets)
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- Salt and pepper to taste
Cooking
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 tablespoons butter (divided)
- 3 tablespoons shallot or yellow onion (finely minced)
- 3 garlic cloves (minced)
- 1/2 cup low sodium chicken broth
- 1 lemon (zested and juiced)
- 3 tablespoons capers (drained)
Instructions
- Prep the chicken: Slice the chicken breasts in half horizontally to create 6 thin fillets. Season each fillet evenly with salt and pepper.
- Dredge in flour: Place the all-purpose flour in a shallow dish. Lightly dredge each seasoned chicken fillet in the flour, shaking off any excess to ensure a light coating.
- Cook the chicken: Heat a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil and 2 tablespoons butter. Once the butter has melted and is sizzling, add 3 chicken fillets and sauté each side for about 3 minutes until golden brown and cooked through. Remove the cooked chicken to a plate. Add more oil if necessary and repeat with the remaining fillets. Adjust heat to medium if the chicken browns too quickly.
- Make the sauce: Carefully pour out any excess oil from the pan, but do not clean it. Reduce heat to medium and add the minced shallots or yellow onion along with garlic. Sauté until translucent, about 2 minutes. Pour in the low sodium chicken broth, lemon juice, lemon zest, 2 tablespoons butter, and drained capers. Bring the sauce to a boil.
- Simmer the chicken in sauce: Return the cooked chicken fillets to the pan with the sauce. Simmer gently for about 5 minutes until the chicken is fully cooked through and the sauce has thickened, occasionally spooning the sauce over the chicken. If the sauce thickens too quickly, add a splash of chicken broth to loosen it.
- Serve: Taste the sauce and season with additional salt and pepper as needed. Serve immediately, garnished with freshly chopped parsley and lemon slices if desired.
Notes
- For best results, slice the chicken breasts evenly to ensure uniform cooking.
- If you like a thicker sauce, you can reduce the broth slightly before adding the chicken back into the pan.
- Use low sodium chicken broth to better control the salt level of the dish.
- Serve alongside pasta, rice, or sautéed vegetables to complete the meal.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Italian
