Description
A classic Italian-American dish featuring tender chicken breasts cooked to golden perfection in a tangy, buttery lemon-caper sauce, garnished with fresh parsley. Ready in just 30 minutes, Chicken Piccata is a flavorful and elegant meal perfect for weeknight dinners or special occasions.
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
- Season and Dredge: Season both sides of the chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Dredge each breast evenly in the all-purpose flour, shaking off any excess to ensure a light coating.
- Sear Chicken: Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and melt 2 tablespoons of butter with the olive oil. Add the floured chicken breasts and cook each side for 3 to 4 minutes until they develop a beautiful golden brown crust. Remove the chicken from the skillet and keep warm.
- Make Sauce: In the same skillet, pour in the chicken broth, fresh lemon juice, and capers. Bring the mixture to a boil while scraping the bottom of the pan to loosen any browned bits for added flavor.
- Simmer and Finish: Lower the heat and let the sauce simmer gently for about 5 minutes to reduce slightly. Return the chicken breasts to the skillet and spoon the sauce over them, allowing them to soak up the flavors for an additional minute.
- Serve: Plate the chicken breasts and spoon the lemon-caper sauce on top. Garnish generously with chopped fresh parsley and serve hot.
Notes
- For a thicker sauce, you can add a tablespoon of flour or cornstarch mixed with water at step 4 and simmer until thickened.
- Chicken breasts can be butterflied or pounded thin for quicker cooking and more even browning.
- Use fresh lemon juice for the best bright and vibrant flavor.
- Adjust salt accordingly since capers add saltiness.
- Serve over pasta, rice, or alongside steamed vegetables for a complete meal.
