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Quick Chicken Piccata

Quick Chicken Piccata
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Quick Chicken Piccata is a vibrant and flavorful dish featuring tender chicken breasts cooked in a tangy lemon and caper sauce. Ready in under 30 minutes, it combines bright, fresh flavors with a rich buttery finish, perfect for busy weeknights or special dinners. This recipe is simple, uses common pantry ingredients, and pairs wonderfully with pasta, rice, or vegetables.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken

  • 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, thinly sliced or pounded to ½ inch thickness
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour (or almond flour for gluten-free option)
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Cooking Fats

  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

Sauce

  • ½ cup chicken broth (use vegetable broth for vegan option)
  • ¼ cup fresh lemon juice (about 1–2 lemons)
  • 2 tablespoons capers, rinsed if desired

Garnish

  • Fresh chopped parsley, for finishing
  • Optional: Thin lemon slices or wedges

Instructions

  1. Prep the chicken: Pound the chicken breasts until about ½ inch thick to ensure even cooking and tenderness. Lightly season both sides with salt and pepper, then coat evenly with flour, shaking off any excess.
  2. Sauté the chicken: Heat butter and olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the floured chicken breasts and cook for 3 to 4 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
  3. Make the sauce: In the same skillet, add chicken broth, fresh lemon juice, and capers. Simmer gently, scraping up any browned bits from the pan to create a flavorful sauce base.
  4. Finish and combine: Return the chicken to the skillet, spoon sauce over the top, and let it warm for about one minute. Stir in an additional tablespoon of butter for richness and sprinkle with fresh parsley before serving.

Notes

  • Pound chicken evenly for quick, uniform cooking and juiciness.
  • Cook chicken in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding and retain crispiness.
  • Use fresh lemon juice for the brightest flavor; bottled juice may lack freshness.
  • Deglaze the pan well to capture flavorful browned bits in the sauce.
  • Rinse capers before use to control saltiness if preferred.
  • Let the cooked chicken rest briefly to retain moisture and juiciness.

Nutrition

Keywords: chicken piccata, quick chicken recipe, lemon caper chicken, easy dinner, weeknight meal, gluten free chicken piccata

Find it online: https://ninagourmet.com/quick-chicken-piccata/