Description
Chicken Piccata is a classic Italian-American dish featuring tender, pan-seared chicken breasts in a bright and tangy lemon-caper sauce. This quick and flavorful recipe, ready in just 30 minutes, is perfect for a satisfying weeknight dinner that tastes gourmet but requires minimal effort.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Cooking
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Sauce
- 1 cup chicken broth
- ½ cup fresh lemon juice (about 2 lemons)
- ¼ cup capers, rinsed and drained
Garnish
- Chopped fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Season the chicken breasts evenly with salt and pepper. Dredge each breast in the all-purpose flour, shaking off any excess flour to ensure a light coating.
- Sear the Chicken: In a skillet over medium-high heat, melt the butter together with the olive oil. Once hot, add the chicken breasts and cook for 3 to 4 minutes on each side, or until they turn a beautiful golden brown. Remove the chicken from the skillet and keep warm while you prepare the sauce.
- Make the Sauce: In the same skillet, pour in the chicken broth, fresh lemon juice, and add the rinsed capers. Bring the mixture to a boil, scraping up any flavorful browned bits stuck to the pan.
- Simmer the Sauce: Reduce the heat and let the sauce simmer gently for about 5 minutes to allow the flavors to meld and the sauce to reduce slightly.
- Reheat the Chicken: Return the seared chicken breasts to the skillet, allowing them to soak in the tangy lemon-caper sauce for an additional minute to absorb the flavors fully.
- Serve: Plate the chicken and spoon the sauce over the top. Garnish generously with chopped fresh parsley and serve hot.
Notes
- Use fresh lemon juice for the best bright flavor.
- Do not overcook the chicken to keep it tender and juicy.
- Capers add essential briny tang; rinse them well to reduce excess saltiness.
- For a thicker sauce, you can add a slurry of flour and water before simmering.
- This dish pairs beautifully with pasta, rice, or steamed vegetables.
