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Easy Chicken Piccata Recipe

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★★★★★

4.5 from 107 reviews

This Easy Chicken Piccata recipe features tender chicken cutlets cooked in a flavorful lemon, caper, and creamy sauce. Perfect for a quick and elegant weeknight dinner, it combines simple ingredients for a bright and savory Italian-inspired dish.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken and Seasoning

  • 2 large chicken breasts
  • Salt & pepper, to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • Flour, for dredging

Cooking Fats

  • 4 tablespoons butter, divided
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

Sauce

  • 1/4 cup chicken broth (or dry white wine)
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • Zest of 1 lemon
  • 1 tablespoon brined capers, drained
  • 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

Garnish (Optional)

  • Chopped parsley
  • Freshly grated parmesan cheese

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Chicken: Slice the chicken breasts lengthwise by butterflying them and then cutting each in half, creating 4 thinner cutlets. Trim off any excess fat. Season each piece generously with salt, pepper, and sprinkle with garlic powder. Dredge each cutlet in flour, shaking off any excess.
  2. Heat the Pan and Fat: Add 2 tablespoons of butter and 1 tablespoon of olive oil to a skillet over medium-high heat. Allow the butter to melt and the pan to get hot but not smoking.
  3. Cook the Chicken: Carefully place the floured chicken cutlets in the hot skillet. Cook for 4-5 minutes on each side, until they develop a golden-brown crust. Remove the chicken from the skillet and transfer to a plate.
  4. Prepare the Sauce Base: Remove the pan from heat. Add the chicken broth (or dry white wine), lemon juice, lemon zest, the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter, and drained capers to the skillet. Use a wooden spoon or spatula to scrape up any browned bits stuck to the bottom of the pan to add flavor.
  5. Add Cream and Heat Sauce: Stir in the heavy whipping cream. Return the pan to medium heat and bring the sauce to a gentle bubble. This will thicken the sauce as it heats.
  6. Finish Cooking Chicken in Sauce: Return the cooked chicken cutlets to the skillet, nestling them into the sauce. Simmer for about 5 minutes or until the chicken is fully cooked through and the sauce has reduced and thickened to your liking. Adjust heat as necessary if the sauce bubbles too vigorously, and add more broth if the sauce becomes too thick.
  7. Garnish and Serve: Remove from heat and garnish with freshly chopped parsley and/or grated parmesan cheese if desired. Serve immediately for a rich and tender chicken piccata experience.

Notes

  • Butterflying and slicing the chicken breasts into thinner cutlets ensures they cook quickly and evenly.
  • If you prefer a lighter sauce, you can omit the cream and increase the chicken broth to 3/4 cup.
  • Adjust seasoning at the end after cooking to taste.
  • Use dry white wine instead of chicken broth for a more authentic piccata flavor.
  • Make sure to scrape up all browned bits from the pan to enhance the depth of the sauce.

Keywords: Chicken Piccata, Easy Chicken Recipe, Italian Chicken, Lemon Chicken, Creamy Chicken, Chicken Cutlets, Chicken with Capers, Weeknight Dinner

Find it online: https://delishfamilyrecipe.com/easy-chicken-piccata-recipe/