This Chicken Piccata recipe is quick and easy to make and will absolutely WOW your taste buds! Featuring a lemon-wine-butter-caper sauce that is absolutely mouthwatering!
Chicken Piccata is a prime example of a dish that’s quick and easy to make but will leave your guests thinking you’re a gourmet cook. While it may be quick and easy, it tastes tantalizingly delicious! Chicken breast is sliced very thinly then seasoned, dredged in flour, fried crispy golden and served with a tangy lemon-wine-butter-caper sauce made from the pan drippings. This Chicken Piccata recipe is something that belongs in everyone’s cooking repertoire!
Piccata originated in Italy where it is traditionally made with veal. Here in the U.S. chicken has replaced veal as the more popular choice. The delicateness of chicken lends itself perfectly to piccata but you can also make it with pork or stay true to Italian tradition and use veal.
Chicken piccata is best served immediately so that some of the crispiness remains after its dredged in the sauce. And once the chicken is breaded and fried don’t let it wait around too long or it will likewise lose its crisp texture.
How to Make Chicken Piccata
Let’s get started!
You want thin slices of chicken. If you have a really good knife, you can get about three 1/4 inch slices out of a large chicken breast. If to, simply cut the chicken breast in half and pound it between two sheets of plastic wrap until it’s 1/4 inch thick or less. You want thin slices that can be fried quickly.
Sprinkle each side with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Place the flour on a plate and dredge the chicken pieces in it, thoroughly coating each side. Shake off the excess flour.
Heat the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Place the chicken pieces in the pan.
Fry until golden brown, about 4 minutes on each side. Transfer the chicken to a warmed oven.
Add the garlic and shallots and cook for a minute, adding a little extra butter if needed. Add the white wine and boil until reduced in half.
Stir together the broth, lemon juice and flour and add it to the pan, whisking to combine. Let the sauce simmer until thickened, a minute or two.
Add the capers, parsley and butter.
Add salt and pepper to taste. This sauce is seriously amazing!!
Return the chicken to the pan and spoon some sauce over. Serve immediately.
Enjoy!
*** Be sure to also try our German Pork Schnitzel and Jaegerschnitzel! ***
PIN ME!
Chicken Piccata
Ingredients
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts ,cut in half and pounded to an even 1/4 inch thickness
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 clove garlic ,minced
- 1 shallot ,minced
- 1/2 cup dry white wine
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup capers ,rinsed and drained
- 2 tablespoons parsley
- 2 tablespoons butter
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Sprinkle both sides of each chicken cutlet with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Spread the flour out on a plate and dredge each piece of chicken in the flour to thoroughly coat all sides. Shake to remove excess flour.
- Heat the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Fry the chicken until golden brown, about 4 minutes on each side. Transfer to a plate and keep warm in the oven.
- Add the garlic and shallot to the pan and fry for a minute, adding a little extra butter if needed. Add the wine and boil steadily, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan, until it is reduced by half.
- Combine the chicken broth, lemon juice and flour, stirring until dissolved. Add this mixture to the pan and simmer until thickened. Add the capers, parsley and butter.
- Return the chicken to the pan, coating with the sauce, and heat through for a minute. Serve immediately.
Nutrition
Samantha says
This looks is incredible recipe…..and it looks soo cheesy and spicy as well…i will try to make them…Thanks for sharing….!
Deseree says
This sounds like a delicious dinner idea! I have added this to our menu for next week and can’t wait to taste that sauce.
Jacque Hastert says
I love trying new chicken dinners! The lemon-wine-butter-caper sauce has me drooling and craving this dinner all together!
Amanda says
One of my favorites for a dinner party! It’s simple but still impressive.
Cocoa says
Thanks for this healthy and yummy dish.Keep posting.
Toni says
I love how easy this is to make! Such a perfect meal for weeknights!
Olivia says
I didn’t know this dish was traditionally made with veal! That would be delicious but I think I would still prefer the chicken. Thank you for the recipe and tips! I can’t wait to make this at home.
Melissa says
Oh my goodness – the sauce was amazing! Definitely making this again soon!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Melissa, thank you!
katerina says
I LOVE this! It looks incredibly delicious!! YUM!
April says
this was an incredible recipe – tons of flavor! The whole family loved it.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
I’m so glad everyone enjoyed it, April, thank you!
Kim says
Your chicken piccata recipe is the one that i’ve used for 3 or 4 years – it’s fool proof!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
That’s wonderful, Kim, thank you so much! :)
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Piccata refers to a method of cooking and is indeed “classic Italian”, originally made with veal. And vermouth is a standard wine pairing for chicken. Do an online search for these questions to confirm for yourself.
Dan says
This recipe looks so delicious I can almost smell the aroma!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Thanks so much, Dan! :)
Sylvia Gibson says
One of my favorites! I’ll be trying yours. For those who asked about using red vs white wines; Julia Child would tell you to use a good dry vermouth. That was in the days before most Americans knew anything about wines and/or the affordability of them. Red will change the color and flavor. I’ve used it and while it was ok, I prefer using a good dry white or vermouth.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Thanks for your insights on this, Sylvia, and hope you enjoy this!
Susan says
One of my favorite meals and it’s been way to long! This looks delish!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Thanks, Susan! I know, I really should make it more often, too!
Brandon @ Kitchen Konfidence says
Mmmm, chicken piccata is an old favorite! You can’t go wrong with butter, lemon and capers. (and all those other tasty flavors)
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Really truly hard to go wrong with those ingredients, Brandon :)
Colleen (Souffle Bombay) says
Wow does that sauce ever look rich & delicious! Gimmie a spoon (and a fork)! Yummo!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Thanks, Colleen! :)
Rose | The Clean Dish says
Skipping the middle man seems to be a popular thing these days (Trader Joe’s is having a lot of success with it!) Thanks for introducing me to this company, we love to support smaller businesses!! (Relatively speaking, of course!) This Chicken Piccata is a dream!! YUM!!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Thanks, Rose! :)
Aly ~ Cooking In Stilettos says
I have only had Chicken Piccata in restaurants and your recipe breaks the process down so easy that I now can make it at home. My stiletto fund thanks you :)
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Thanks, Aly, glad I could help! :) I agree, so many of our restaurant favorites really are very simple to make – much cheaper and usually taste even better!
Steph @ Steph in Thyme says
Such a classic, a lovely Sunday night meal or even a weeknight meal. Anything with wine sauce is okay by me :)
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
The perfect Sunday night meal, Steph, and it’s definitely quick enough for a weeknight meal, too!
Ginny McMeans says
Zacon Foods looks like a shopping heaven. I will have to get over there and check it out. Thanks for the great photos too!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
That’s the great part of Zaycon, Ginny, is they come to YOU. You can just sit in the comfort of your car while they load up the goods :)
[email protected] says
I’ve never made chicken piccata, and it looks so easy to make. Totally doing this!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
It’s super easy, Fabiola, and super good!
Brandy M says
We LOVE Zaycon! I have never heard of Chicken Piccata, but it looks SOO good! I can’t believe I never heard of it before! Thanks for sharing.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Thanks, Brandy, it’s such a yummy dish, you’ll love it!
Lauren @ Healthy Delicious says
The sauce on the chicken looks glorious! That sheen!! <3
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Thanks, Lauren! :)
Lauren Kelly Nutrition says
Chicken piccata is my all time favorite! This looks delicious!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Thanks, Lauren, it’s one of our favorites, too!
Carolyn says
That looks like such a beautiful version of chicken piccata!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Thanks, Carolyn, it’s always a big hit around here!
Annie @ Annie's Noms says
I’ve still not got round to making Piccata, but I really need to as this looks fabulous!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Thanks, Annie! Such a delicious, easy dish!
Michele says
Excellent! Very delicious and easy to make. Can’t wait to make it again.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Awesome! So glad you enjoyed it, Michele, thank you!
Behroze says
Hi Kimberly I love receiving your recipes but the problem is white wine. Will it make a difference if I use red wine instead of white since red wine is always there at my home. thanks, Behroze
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Hi Behroze, it will definitely change the flavor profile. I recommend going with white if you have a store nearby, but I have heard of some people using red wine in this dish. If you decide to use red let us know how the combination works!
Corinne says
This looks and sounds absolutely wonderful! I have it bookmarked to make very soon :)
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Thanks, Corinne! Happy cooking!
Sandra J. says
One of my absolute faves but I’ve only ever had it in restaurants. This DOES look easy! I’m so making it this weekend, thank you, thank you!!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
It’s crazy easy, Sandra, and you’re going to love it! :)