Bright, Buttery, and Elegant in Minutes 🍋✨
Turn an ordinary chicken dinner into something special with this Chicken Piccata with Lemon Sauce a timeless Italian-inspired classic that’s fresh, tangy, and ready in under 30 minutes! 🍋🥂 Lightly breaded chicken breasts are pan-seared to golden perfection, then finished in a buttery lemon and caper sauce that’s both comforting and refreshing. This quick stovetop recipe brings big restaurant flavor to your home kitchen — no fancy skills required! Serve it with angel hair pasta, mashed potatoes, or roasted vegetables for a meal that’s bright, balanced, and beautifully simple. Perfect for busy weeknights and date-night dinners alike. ❤️
Time Breakdown
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Servings: 4
Ingredients List
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (pounded to ½ inch thick)
- ½ cup all-purpose flour (for dredging)
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp butter
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ cup chicken broth
- ⅓ cup fresh lemon juice (about 2 lemons)
- ¼ cup capers, drained and rinsed
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
- Optional: Lemon slices for presentation
Kitchen Tools You’ll Need
This recipe doesn’t require fancy gadgets, just a few reliable kitchen basics to keep everything simple and stress-free.
- Large skillet or sauté pan
- Tongs
- Sharp knife
- Cutting board
- Measuring cups & spoons
- Mixing bowls
- Citrus juicer (optional)
Step-by-Step Beginner-Friendly Instructions
- Prep the chicken: Pat chicken dry with paper towels. Season both sides with salt and pepper, then dredge lightly in flour. Shake off excess.
- Sear to golden perfection: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook 3–4 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Remove and set aside. 🍗
- Make the sauce: In the same pan, melt butter and sauté minced garlic for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Deglaze: Pour in chicken broth and lemon juice, scraping up any browned bits from the pan.
- Add the magic: Stir in capers and simmer for 2–3 minutes, until sauce slightly thickens and smells amazing.
- Return the chicken: Add chicken back to the pan and spoon sauce over it. Cook 2 more minutes, letting flavors soak in.
- Serve: Garnish with parsley and lemon slices. Serve immediately over pasta, rice, or with roasted veggies. 😍
Pro Tips
- Thinner = quicker: Pound chicken evenly for faster, even cooking.
- Extra creamy: Whisk in 1 tablespoon heavy cream at the end for a silky sauce.
- Capers optional: If you don’t like capers, try chopped green olives for a similar briny kick.
- Storage: Keeps up to 3 days in the fridge. Reheat gently with a splash of broth or lemon juice.
Nutrition Table
| Serving Size | Calories | Protein | Carbs | Fat | Fiber | Sugar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 plate | 380 | 32g | 8g | 22g | 1g | 1g |