Creamy Lemon Garlic Chicken Piccata
A quick and easy creamy lemon garlic chicken piccata recipe with a zesty, comforting flavor perfect for weeknight dinners or dinner parties.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.5 lbs / 680 g), pounded to even thickness
- ½ cup all-purpose flour (60 g) for dredging (use almond flour for gluten-free)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (extra virgin preferred)
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- ¾ cup chicken broth (180 ml), homemade or low-sodium store-bought
- Juice of 2 large lemons (about ¼ cup / 60 ml), fresh-squeezed
- 2 tablespoons capers, drained
- ½ cup heavy cream (120 ml)
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Place each chicken breast between two sheets of plastic wrap or parchment paper. Using a meat mallet or rolling pin, gently pound to about ½ inch (1.3 cm) thickness. Season both sides with salt and pepper.
- Spread the flour on a large plate. Lightly coat each chicken piece, shaking off excess.
- Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add chicken breasts and cook about 4-5 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through (internal temp 165°F / 74°C). Remove chicken and set aside on a warm plate.
- Reduce heat to medium. Add remaining 2 tablespoons butter to the pan. Once melted, add minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant but not browned.
- Pour in ¾ cup chicken broth and use a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits on the pan bottom. Stir in lemon juice and capers. Let simmer for 3-4 minutes to reduce slightly.
- Lower the heat and stir in ½ cup heavy cream. Simmer gently for another 2-3 minutes until sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon. Taste and adjust salt and pepper.
- Nestle the cooked chicken breasts back into the sauce. Spoon sauce over the top and warm for 1-2 minutes to meld the flavors.
- Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley over the dish before serving.
Notes
Use freshly squeezed lemon juice for best flavor. Avoid burning garlic to prevent bitterness. If sauce is too thin, simmer longer uncovered; if too thick, add broth or water. For dairy-free, substitute heavy cream with coconut cream and butter with olive oil. For gluten-free, use almond flour instead of all-purpose flour.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast wit
- Calories: 425
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 25
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 9
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 35
Keywords: chicken piccata, creamy chicken, lemon garlic chicken, easy dinner, weeknight meal, zesty chicken, chicken recipe