The BEST Chicken Piccata Recipe: Zesty Italian Elegance at Home
Mastering this delectable chicken piccata transforms ordinary weeknight dinners into something extraordinary.
Zesty lemons and briny capers dance across tender chicken breasts, creating a symphony of flavors.
Classic Italian-inspired dishes rarely feel this accessible and delightful.
Each bite promises a perfect balance between tangy and rich sensations.
Mediterranean influences shine through in this simple yet elegant meal.
Home cooks can easily replicate restaurant-quality results with minimal ingredients.
You’ll fall in love with how quickly this recipe comes together, making dinner both impressive and stress-free.
Flavor Variations For Chicken Piccata Dish
Pairing Suggestions For Chicken Piccata
Storage Advice For Chicken Piccata
FAQs
Dredging helps create a crispy, golden exterior on the chicken. The flour and parmesan mixture forms a protective coating that seals in moisture and adds a delicious flavor and texture to the chicken.
Brown bits (called fond) contain concentrated flavor from caramelized chicken and are packed with delicious taste. By scraping these bits into the sauce, you’re adding depth and richness to the overall dish.
Dry white wines like sauvignon blanc or pinot grigio work best. Avoid sweet wines as they can make the sauce too sugary and disrupt the balance of flavors in chicken piccata.
Best Chicken Piccata Flavors And Ingredients
Ingredients For The Best Chicken Piccata
Protein:Coating:Sauce and Flavor Enhancers:Step-By-Step Chicken Piccata Cooking
Step 1: Prepare Chicken Coating
Mix flour and parmesan cheese in a shallow bowl.
Season chicken with salt and pepper.
Dredge each chicken piece in the flour mixture, shaking off excess coating.
Let the chicken rest momentarily.
Step 2: First Batch Chicken Frying
Heat butter and oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Carefully place two chicken pieces into the hot pan.
Cook until golden brown on each side, ensuring the chicken is fully cooked through.
This typically takes 3-4 minutes per side depending on chicken thickness.
Transfer cooked chicken to a warm plate.
Step 3: Complete Chicken Frying
Melt additional butter and olive oil in the same skillet.
Fry remaining chicken pieces until beautifully browned on both sides.
Move these pieces to the plate with the first batch.
Step 4: Create Flavor Base
In the same pan, melt another tablespoon of butter.
Sauté garlic until wonderfully fragrant, about 30 seconds.
Pour in wine and bring to a boil.
Scrape up delicious browned bits from the pan bottom to enhance sauce flavor.
Continue cooking until wine reduces significantly.
Step 5: Build Sauce Complexity
Add chicken stock, lemon juice, and capers to the pan.
Let the mixture boil and reduce slightly, approximately 6 minutes.
Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.
Step 6: Reunite Chicken with Sauce
Drop remaining butter into the pan, allowing it to melt completely.
Return chicken pieces to the skillet, including any accumulated juices.
Simmer for 5 minutes to warm chicken thoroughly and marry flavors.
Step 7: Final Presentation
Sprinkle fresh parsley over the chicken.
Serve immediately, offering extra parmesan cheese on the side for guests who desire additional flavor.
Bonus Sauce Rescue Tip:
If sauce seems thin, create a quick cornstarch slurry.
Mix cornstarch with water until smooth.
During sauce reduction, whisk the slurry into the center of the pan.
This will help thicken the sauce quickly and seamlessly.
Tips For Perfect Chicken Piccata Every Time
Print
The BEST Chicken Piccata Recipe
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Description
Succulent chicken piccata dances with zesty lemon and capers, creating a Mediterranean melody of flavor. Crisp, golden-brown chicken bathes in a silky sauce that whisks you straight to an Italian kitchen.
Ingredients
Protein:
- 2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts (halved horizontally to make 4)
Seasoning and Coating:
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons fresh parmesan cheese (finely grated)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon cracked pepper
Cooking and Sauce Ingredients:
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (divided)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (divided)
- 4 large garlic cloves (minced)
- 1/4 cup dry white wine
- 3/4 cup chicken stock
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1/4 cup brined capers (rinsed)
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley (chopped)
- 1 pinch parmesan cheese (to serve)
Instructions
- Prepare a seasoned flour coating by mixing flour and parmesan cheese in a shallow dish. Generously season chicken with salt and pepper, then carefully coat each piece in the flour mixture, shaking off excess.
- Heat butter and oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat (375°F). Carefully place two chicken pieces in the pan, cooking until golden brown and fully cooked, approximately 3-4 minutes per side. Transfer to a warm plate.
- Add additional butter and oil to the skillet, then cook remaining chicken pieces until evenly browned. Remove and set aside with the first batch.
- Reduce heat and sauté minced garlic for 30 seconds until fragrant. Pour in white wine, scraping pan to release caramelized bits, and simmer until wine nearly evaporates.
- Add chicken stock, lemon juice, and capers to the skillet. Boil for 6 minutes, reducing liquid and concentrating flavors. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
- If sauce appears thin, quickly whisk cornstarch with water and stir into the simmering liquid to thicken. Gently return chicken to the pan, spooning sauce over each piece.
- Simmer for 5 minutes to reheat chicken and allow flavors to meld. Garnish with fresh parsley and optional parmesan cheese before serving immediately.
Notes
- Ensure chicken pieces are uniform thickness by gently pounding them between plastic wrap for even cooking and tender results.
- Select a dry white wine like Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio for authentic flavor without overpowering the delicate sauce.
- Slice capers finely to distribute their briny taste more evenly throughout the dish, enhancing each bite with a tangy punch.
- Use fresh lemon juice instead of bottled for a vibrant, bright citrus flavor that elevates the entire chicken piccata experience.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 23 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 5 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg
Natalie Brooks
Co-Founder & Content Strategist
Expertise
Education
eCornell
Natalie brings the vibrant, plant-powered side to Culinary Duo. After earning her Plant-Based Nutrition Certificate from eCornell, she combined her love for fresh ingredients with a passion for storytelling, aiming to make healthy cooking simple and satisfying.
Her kitchen motto: good food doesn’t need a fancy label, it just needs fresh ideas and a little creativity. Outside of writing and recipe testing, Natalie’s happiest in her garden, exploring farmers’ markets, or mixing global flavors into new kitchen experiments.