Chicken Piccata : Easy Lemon Butter Chicken in 30 Minutes

Name: Chicken Piccata: Easy Lemon Butter Chicken in 30 Minutes
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients: 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts; 1/4 cup arrowroot flour or another flour; 1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese; 1 teaspoon kosher salt; 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper; 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil; 1 tablespoon unsalted butter; 1/2 cup dry white wine or chicken broth; 4 garlic cloves, minced; 1 cup chicken broth; 3 tablespoons lemon juice, about 1 lemon; 2 tablespoons capers, drained; 2 tablespoons unsalted butter; 2 tablespoons roughly chopped fresh parsley

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Chicken Piccata fits those evenings when I want something bright and comforting without spending hours in the kitchen. Thin chicken turns golden in a hot skillet, while lemon, garlic, butter, and capers create a rich, tangy sauce. Better yet, the whole dinner comes together in about 30 minutes.

What Is Chicken Piccata?

Chicken Piccata is an Italian-American chicken dish with thin, golden cutlets and a buttery lemon caper sauce. First, you lightly coat the chicken with flour, Parmesan, salt, and pepper.

Then, you sear the chicken until golden. Meanwhile, garlic, white wine, chicken broth, lemon juice, butter, and capers create a bright pan sauce.

The result tastes buttery, savory, fresh, and pleasantly tangy. Also, fresh parsley adds a clean finish that balances the richer flavors.

This recipe serves 4. Prep takes 10 minutes, while cooking takes about 20 minutes.

Why You’ll Love This Chicken Piccata Recipe

First, Chicken Piccata gives you plenty of flavor without a long ingredient list. Lemon, capers, garlic, Parmesan, and butter do most of the work.

Also, thin chicken pieces cook quickly. Therefore, you can put dinner on the table in about 30 minutes.

The texture makes this dish especially satisfying. You get juicy chicken inside with a lightly golden coating outside.

Meanwhile, the sauce stays rich without tasting too heavy. Lemon cuts through the butter, while capers add a salty bite.

Chicken Piccata Ingredients

You only need familiar ingredients for this Chicken Piccata recipe. However, preparing everything before heating the skillet makes cooking much easier.

Ingredients for the Chicken

You will need:

2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/4 cup arrowroot flour or another flour
1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon unsalted butter

Ingredients for the Lemon Caper Sauce

For the sauce, gather:

1/2 cup dry white wine or chicken broth
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup chicken broth
3 tablespoons lemon juice, about 1 lemon
2 tablespoons capers, drained
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons roughly chopped fresh parsley

Ingredient Substitutions and Helpful Notes

Arrowroot flour gives Chicken Piccata a gluten-free coating. However, you can use another flour that suits your kitchen.

Also, you can replace the dry white wine with chicken broth. The sauce will still have plenty of savory lemon and garlic flavor.

If you have 4 smaller chicken breasts, pound them thin with a kitchen mallet instead of slicing 2 large breasts horizontally.

Chicken Piccata ingredients with chicken, lemon, capers, Parmesan, garlic, butter, parsley, and broth — Fresh Chicken Piccata ingredients ready for a bright lemon butter caper sauce.

How to Make Chicken Piccata

Chicken Piccata cooks quickly once you start. Therefore, measure your ingredients and keep them close to the stove.

Prepare and Slice the Chicken

First, place each chicken breast on a cutting board. Then, carefully slice it horizontally to create thin pieces.

Try to keep each piece close to the same thickness. As a result, the chicken will cook more evenly.

Coat the Chicken

Next, combine the arrowroot flour, Parmesan, kosher salt, and black pepper in a shallow dish.

Then, coat both sides of each chicken piece. Shake away any extra coating before moving to the skillet.

Sear the Chicken Until Golden

Heat the olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.

Next, add the chicken. Cook each side for 3 to 4 minutes until golden and cooked through.

Then, transfer the chicken to a plate while you prepare the sauce.

Make the Lemon Butter Caper Sauce

Add the white wine and minced garlic to the same skillet. Then, simmer for 3 to 4 minutes.

The liquid should reduce by roughly half. Next, stir in the chicken broth, lemon juice, capers, and remaining 2 tablespoons butter.

Bring the sauce back to a gentle simmer. Meanwhile, stir so the butter blends into the lemony pan juices.

Return the Chicken to the Sauce

Return the golden chicken pieces to the skillet. Then, spoon plenty of sauce over each piece.

Simmer the Chicken Piccata for another 1 to 2 minutes. As a result, the chicken warms through and picks up even more lemon caper flavor.

Garnish and Serve

Finally, scatter the chopped fresh parsley over the skillet.

Serve immediately while the sauce stays warm and glossy. Also, spoon extra capers and lemon butter sauce over every serving.

Chicken Piccata in a skillet with lemon butter sauce, capers, parsley, and lemon slices — Golden Chicken Piccata simmered in a bright lemon butter sauce with capers and fresh parsley.

Tips for the Best Chicken Piccata

A few simple details can make a noticeable difference. Most importantly, pay attention to chicken thickness and cooking time.

Make Sure the Chicken Is Thin and Even

Thin chicken cooks quickly. Therefore, slice large breasts horizontally or pound smaller pieces until they reach a similar thickness.

Also, even chicken pieces cook at roughly the same speed. That makes the entire recipe easier to manage.

Get a Golden, Flavorful Crust

Heat your skillet before adding the chicken. Then, let each piece make good contact with the hot pan.

Also, avoid constantly moving the chicken. Give it time to develop that appetizing golden surface before turning it.

Don’t Overcook the Chicken

Thin chicken breasts cook faster than thick ones. Therefore, watch them carefully.

Remember, you will return the chicken to the sauce for another 1 to 2 minutes. So, avoid giving it unnecessary extra cooking time during the first sear.

Balance the Lemon Butter Sauce

Lemon gives Chicken Piccata its bright character. Meanwhile, butter brings richness and capers add salty, briny flavor.

Therefore, spoon some sauce over each chicken piece before serving. Every bite should carry a little lemon, butter, and caper flavor.

What to Serve With Chicken Piccata

Chicken Piccata works well with simple sides because its sauce already carries plenty of flavor.

Pasta and Grain Pairings

Serve the chicken with pasta, rice, or another mild grain. Then, spoon the extra lemon butter sauce over everything.

Pasta works especially well because it catches the garlic, capers, and buttery pan sauce.

Vegetable and Salad Sides

Roasted asparagus, green beans, broccoli, or a crisp green salad can balance the buttery sauce.

Also, lightly seasoned vegetables keep the focus on the bright lemon flavor of the chicken.

How to Store and Reheat Chicken Piccata

Chicken Piccata can make useful leftovers. However, store the chicken with its sauce so it stays moist.

How to Store Leftovers

Place leftover chicken and sauce in an airtight container.

Then, refrigerate it for 3 to 4 days. Keep plenty of sauce around the chicken for easier reheating later.

How to Freeze Chicken Piccata

You can also freeze Chicken Piccata for up to 3 months.

First, place the cooled chicken and sauce in a freezer-safe container. Then, seal the container tightly and freeze it.

How to Reheat Without Drying Out the Chicken

Reheat Chicken Piccata gently with its sauce.

Also, spoon sauce over the chicken while it warms. Because the chicken pieces stay thin, they should heat quickly.

More Such Recipes

You can also find more recipe inspiration from Kai Recipes on Pinterest and Kai Recipes on Facebook.

Chicken Piccata FAQs

What is chicken piccata made of?

Chicken Piccata combines thin chicken breasts with a light flour and Parmesan coating. Then, lemon juice, butter, garlic, capers, chicken broth, and white wine create the sauce. Fresh parsley finishes the dish.

What does chicken piccata mean?

Piccata refers to a preparation that uses thin pieces of meat with a bright sauce. In Chicken Piccata, lemon, butter, and capers create the familiar tangy and savory flavor.

What is the secret to a good chicken piccata?

Keep the chicken thin and even. Also, let the skillet get hot enough to create a golden crust. Finally, balance the sharp lemon juice with butter, broth, and salty capers.

Is chicken piccata from Italy?

The familiar Chicken Piccata served across the United States has Italian-American roots. Italian cooking includes piccata-style preparations, while Italian-American cooks made the chicken version especially popular.

Final Thoughts

Chicken Piccata brings bright, savory flavor to the table without demanding hours in the kitchen. The chicken stays juicy, while its golden coating catches that buttery lemon, garlic, and caper sauce.

Serve it with pasta, rice, vegetables, or a fresh salad. Then, spoon that extra sauce over the plate because leaving those lemony pan juices behind would feel like a missed opportunity.

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