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    Home » Recipes » Main Dishes » Chicken » Lemon Chicken Piccata Recipe with Capers

    Lemon Chicken Piccata Recipe with Capers

    Published: May 11, 2019 · Modified: Mar 28, 2021 by Barbara Curry · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe
    5 from 4 votes

    Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links.

    Chicken Piccata on a plate with lemons in the background.
    A platter of chicken piccata and an individual serving over pasta
    A platter of chicken piccata and an individual serving over pasta

    In less than 30 minutes, whip up a simple chicken dinner perfect for any season. This Easy Chicken Piccata combines the extravagant flavors of lemon and caper on top of fresh cooked pasta. Even the kids will love this weeknight meal.

    While a great weeknight meal, it’s so delicious you’ll want to serve for guests

    A plate of pasta with chicken piccata on top

    Spring is here and you don’t want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen when you could be enjoying the beautiful weather. Around here, we only get this perfect weather for a couple of weeks, so we try to be outside as much as possible.

    Chicken Piccata is one of those really simple dishes that takes minimal effort with amazing results, and it will keep you out of the kitchen. You can make this in about the amount of time it takes for the pasta to cook.

    Why you’ll love this recipe for Chicken Piccata

    • You can have it on the table in under 30 minutes.
    • While simple, it’s elegant
    • It’s a one pan dinner (except for the pasta pot)
    • It takes just a few ingredients
    • You can re-heat the leftovers for lunch

    What is chicken piccata?

    It’s a classic Italian dish where the chicken is dredged in flour and served with a lemon and caper sauce. Some recipes add flour to the sauce, but in this version, the sauce is slightly thickened from the flour that you dredge the chicken in. This keeps it a bit lighter. You don’t have to use capers to still have a wonderful dish, but adding capers combined with the lemon, adds a more flavorful punch.

    Easy Chicken Piccata Recipe Ingredients

    ingredients for chicken piccata
    • Chicken breasts – no bones or skin. You’ll be pounding this into thin cutlets.
    • Lemons – you ned two, one will be cut into slices and the other is used for the juice.
    • Capers – these little guys have so much flavor
    • Pantry staples – flour, oil, shallot, garlic, butter and chicken broth.

    Pro Tip: Get the most juice from a lemon with these helpful tips.

    Lemon Chicken Piccata Recipe Substitutions

    Substitute for Capers in Piccata

    Capers are the pickled bud of a caper bush that adds that tangy lemony flavor to this chicken piccata recipe. They last indefinitely in brine they’re packaged in. But if you find that you’re all out, you could use chopped up green olives and get a similar flavor. Since the recipe has lemons, it will still be great without them.

    Easy Chicken Piccata Recipe Tips

    • To get the most tender chicken, soak it in buttermilk overnight or for at least 30 minutes. This isn’t essential in this chicken piccata recipe, but it doesn’t hurt.
    • Rinse the buttermilk and pat dry with a paper towel.
    • Most chicken breasts have one half that is thicker than the other. So first cut the chicken in half and then take the thicker piece and slice it in half horizontally so that you end up with three pieces that are close to the same size.
    • Place the pieces between two pieces of plastic wrap and pound until thin and uniform in thickness.
    Chicken breasts pounded between plastic wrap

    How to make Chicken Piccata

    Step 1: Lightly dredge the chicken pieces in flour and place in a a hot skillet. Cook until golden brown, then flip and cook until a meat thermometer has reached 160º. Remove to a rack.

    Chicken on a wire rack after it has been browned

    Step 2: Half one of the lemons and cut into ¼ inch slices.

    A lemon being sliced into thin slices on a cutting board

    Step 3: Add shallots to the skillet and cook until softened then add garlic. Add the chicken broth and lemon slices and bring to a simmer.

    Chicken broth, shallots and lemon slices in a skillet

    Step 4: Add the chicken back to the pan and simmer for about 4 minutes. Remove to a platter. Add butter and capers to the sauce and pour over the chicken. Serve over pasta.

    A white platter of chicken piccata

    What to serve with Chicken Piccata

    Angel hair pasta is my favorite for creamy chicken piccata. You just want something to absorb some of the lemon caper sauce and a heavy pasta is better for a tomato or cream sauce. Of course, any will work, so use what’s in your pantry, but if purchasing just for this dish, I would pick angel hair.  If you’re more of a potato person, then try it over mashed potatoes.

    Not only is Chicken Piccata delicious, quick and easy to prepare, but it’s pretty healthy. Win win for everyone!

    Chicken piccata being served over angel hair pasta

    If you find yourself cooking with chicken a lot and want to know for sure that your chicken is cooked thoroughly, head to my informational page on ways to make sure your chicken is cooked all the way but still remains juicy and delicious.

    Storing Easy Chicken Piccata

    To store lemon piccata chicken, let it come to room temperature and then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, or you can freeze it for up to 3 months. To re-heat, let it come to room temperature, cover with aluminum foil and heat at 350º for 5 minutes.

    Can you freeze chicken piccata?

    Yes, then just warm it in the microwave.

    Lemon Chicken Piccata Recipe FAQs

    What is piccata sauce made of?

    It’s mostly chicken broth and lemons and is thickened by the flour that the chicken is dredge in. No cream needed to make this delicious sauce.

    How do you get tender chicken breasts?

    Soaking them in buttermilk before hand and then pounding them so that they are the same thickness will keep them from being overcooked and dry.

    What does piccata mean in Italian?

    Piccata is a method of preparing chicken or fish where it is cooked in a lemon and wine sauce.

    What wine is best for piccata?

    When making chicken piccata, the best wine to use is a dry white wine like a sauvignon blanc or pinot grigio, these will compliment the lemons and capers in the dish.

    Why is my chicken piccata bitter?

    Chicken piccata can taste bitter from the rind of the lemons. You can remove the lemons before adding the chicken back to the pan to avoid this.

    If you love Italian Classics, you have to try these

    • Lasagna
    • Stuffed shells
    • Pancetta Carbonara
    • Baked pasta alla vodka

    More lemon recipes

    • Lemon Mustard Chicken with Potatoes
    • Salmon with Citrus and Olive Oil
    • Lemon and Blueberry Pancakes
    • Lemon Chess Pie.

    If you loved this recipe, give it a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating! Also, snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #butterandbaggage and tagging me @butterandbaggage.

    A plate of pasta with chicken piccata on top

    Lemon Piccata Chicken

    Author: Barbara Curry
    Chicken Piccata is an easy classic dish you can put on the table in less than 30 minutes. With vibrant flavors from lemon and capers, all you need is a little pasta and you have a wonderful meal that all will love. 
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Pin
    PREP: 15 minutes minutes
    COOK: 15 minutes minutes
    Servings: 6

    Ingredients
     

    • 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
    • salt and pepper
    • 2 lemons
    • ¾ cup flour
    • ¼ cup vegetable oil
    • 1 shallot minced
    • 1 clove garlic minced
    • 1 cup chicken broth
    • 3 tablespoons butter
    • 2 tablespoons capers

    Equipment

    • Skillet
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Cut chicken breast in half crosswise, then cut the thick half in half again horizontally so that you have 3 equal pieces. Repeat for all four breasts. Place between plastic wrap and pound to ½ inch thickness. Season with salt and pepper.
    • Half lemon lengthwise. Trim off the ends of 1 half and cut it again lengthwise, then cut crosswise into thin ¼ inch slices. Set aside and juice remaining lemon.
    • Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Place flour in a pie plate and dredge chicken in flour, shake off excess and place in hot skillet. Place 6 pieces in the skillet and turn down the heat to medium. Cook until brown, 2-3 minutes and flip and cook the other side. Remove to wire rack. Add 2 tablespoons oil and once heated, add the rest of the chicken. Remove to wire rack.
    • If needed add 1 teaspoon of oil to the skillet and add shallots. Cook until softened and add garlic, cook an additional minute. Add broth, lemon juice and lemon slices and bring to simmer, scraping up any browned bits. Add chicken to the pan and simmer for about 4 minutes, flipping half way through. Remove chicken to a platter.
    • If sauce is not thickened, cook an additional minute. Then remove from heat and add butter and capers. Salt and pepper to taste. Spoon over chicken.
    Barbara’s Tips + Notes
    • If the sauce has not thickened, let it simmer for a few more minutes before adding the butter and capers.
    • Try serving this over angel hair pasta or mashed potatoes.
    • The capers are not essential, you can leave them out.
    • For even more tender chicken, soak it in buttermilk for 3o minutes or overnight. Rinse and pat dry. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1g | Calories: 288kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 63mg | Sodium: 356mg | Potassium: 390mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 195IU | Vitamin C: 23.2mg | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 1.4mg
    Follow Me On SocialDid you make this recipe? Mention @ButterandBaggage or tag #ButterandBaggage on Instagram!

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    Comments

    1. Laura says

      May 19, 2019 at 8:35 pm

      5 stars
      This recipe looks amazing! I love classic Chicken Piccata. I can’t wait to give it a try.

      Reply
      • Barbara Curry says

        May 22, 2019 at 4:11 pm

        I love this version hope you do too.

        Reply

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    Barbara Curry is the culinary adventurer of Butter & Baggage. With a dedicated enthusiasm for real butter made from happy cows she is in constant pursuit of delicious recipes and tasty dishes. She shares her experiences, ventures, and occasional misadventures because let’s face it things can get messy in any kitchen.

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