Chicken Piccata Recipe Easy 15-Minute Homemade Dinner You’ll Love
A quick and easy chicken piccata recipe featuring tender chicken breasts in a buttery lemon-caper sauce, perfect for a flavorful homemade dinner in just 15 minutes.
- Prep Time: 7 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 pound / 450 grams), pounded to even thickness
- ½ cup (60 grams) all-purpose flour (can substitute gluten-free flour)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to season
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (extra virgin preferred)
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Juice of 2 medium fresh lemons (about ¼ cup or 60 ml)
- ½ cup (120 ml) chicken broth (low sodium preferred)
- 2 tablespoons drained capers
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped for garnish
Instructions
- Place chicken breasts between two sheets of parchment or plastic wrap and gently pound to about ½-inch thickness. Season both sides with salt and pepper.
- Spread flour on a large plate and lightly dredge each chicken breast, shaking off excess flour.
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add chicken and cook undisturbed for 3 minutes until golden crust forms. Flip and cook 2 more minutes until cooked through (internal temperature 165°F / 74°C). Remove chicken and tent with foil to keep warm.
- Reduce heat to medium. Add remaining olive oil and butter to the pan. Add minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant, not browned.
- Pour in chicken broth and lemon juice, scraping up browned bits from the pan bottom.
- Stir in capers and simmer gently for 1-2 minutes to reduce and thicken sauce. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.
- Return chicken to the pan and spoon sauce over to coat. Warm through for 1 minute.
- Serve chicken on plates, pour over extra sauce, and sprinkle with chopped parsley. Serve immediately.
Notes
Use fresh lemon juice for best flavor. Lightly dredge chicken in flour to avoid gummy texture. Do not brown garlic to prevent bitterness. Tent chicken after cooking to keep it juicy. Sauce can be made with white wine instead of chicken broth for more complex flavor. For gluten-free, use gluten-free or almond flour. For dairy-free, substitute butter with olive oil or dairy-free margarine.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast wit
- Calories: 375
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 400
- Fat: 15
- Saturated Fat: 7
- Carbohydrates: 8
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 40
Keywords: chicken piccata, lemon chicken, quick dinner, easy chicken recipe, lemon caper sauce, weeknight dinner, Italian chicken