Classic Chicken Piccata with Lemon Butter Caper Sauce
Description
Chicken Piccata is a classic Italian-American dish made with tender pan-seared chicken breasts in a bright lemon butter sauce with briny capers. This easy chicken dinner is perfect for busy weeknights yet elegant enough for entertaining guests. Lightly coated chicken is cooked until golden, then simmered in a flavourful sauce that pairs beautifully with pasta, mashed potatoes, or roasted vegetables. Ready in under 40 minutes, this homemade Chicken Piccata recipe delivers restaurant-quality flavour with simple pantry ingredients. If you’re looking for a quick, delicious, and family-friendly meal, this lemon chicken recipe is sure to become a favourite.
Prep Time
15 minutes
Cook Time
20 minutes
Serving Number
4 servings
Classic Chicken Piccata
Chicken Piccata is a classic Italian-American dish made with tenderpan-seared chicken breasts in a bright lemon butter sauce with briny capers.
Ingredients
Method
- Slice each chicken breast horizontally to create 4 thin cutlets. Season both sides with salt and black pepper.
- Place flour in a shallow bowl and lightly dredge each chicken cutlet, shaking off excess flour.
- Heat olive oil and 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add chicken cutlets and cook for 3–4 minutes per side until golden brown and fully cooked. Transfer to a plate.
- In the same skillet, add garlic and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour in chicken broth and lemon juice, scraping up browned bits from the pan. Bring to a simmer.
- Stir in capers and cook for 2–3 minutes until sauce slightly reduces.
- Whisk in remaining 2 tablespoons butter until sauce becomes glossy and smooth.
- Return chicken to the skillet and spoon sauce over each piece. Simmer for 2 minutes.
- Garnish with fresh parsley and lemon slices before serving.
Notes
Chef’s Tips
- Pound chicken cutlets evenly for faster, more even cooking.
- Use freshly squeezed lemon juice for the brightest flavour.
- Don’t skip scraping the browned bits from the pan—they add depth to the sauce.
- Serve Chicken Piccata over angel hair pasta, rice, or alongside steamed asparagus for a complete meal.
- For extra richness, add a splash of heavy cream to the sauce.
