Chicken Piccata for An Easy 20-Min Dinner Recipe!

Chicken piccata is a classic Italian-American dish, perfect for a quick weeknight meal.

Thinly sliced chicken breasts are dredged in a flavorful flour mixture, seared to golden perfection, and then simmered in a bright lemon–butter sauce with capers and parsley.

This recipe delivers restaurant-quality flavor in just 20 minutes.

Ingredients

• 2 large chicken breasts
• 1/4 cup flour (or arrowroot powder)
• 1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup white wine (or chicken broth)
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup low sodium chicken broth
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons capers, drained
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• Fresh parsley, chopped
• Lemon slices (optional, for garnish)

Preparation Time

• Total Time: 20 minutes
• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Servings: 2-4 servings

Step 1: Prepare the Chicken

Slice the chicken breasts in half horizontally to create thin cutlets.

Alternatively, use four small chicken breasts and pound them thin.

Step 2: Dredge the Chicken

In a shallow dish, combine flour, Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper.

Dredge each chicken cutlet in the flour mixture, pressing to coat both sides.

Set the coated chicken aside on a separate plate.

Step 3: Prep the Sauce Ingredients

Open the white wine (or have extra chicken broth ready).

Juice one lemon to yield approximately 3 tablespoons of lemon juice.

Mince the garlic cloves.

Step 4: Sear the Chicken

Heat olive oil and 1 tablespoon of butter in a large pan over medium-high heat.

Add the chicken cutlets to the hot pan and cook for 3-4 minutes per side, until golden brown and cooked through.

Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.

Step 5: Make the Piccata Sauce

Pour white wine into the pan and deglaze, scraping up any browned bits.

Add minced garlic to the pan and cook until fragrant and the wine is reduced by half.

Add chicken broth, lemon juice, capers, and 2 tablespoons of butter to the pan.

Bring the sauce to a simmer.

Step 6: Simmer Chicken in Sauce

Return the chicken to the pan and spoon the sauce over the top.

Simmer for 1-2 minutes, or until heated through.

Step 7: Serve and Garnish

Transfer the chicken piccata to a serving plate.

Pour the remaining sauce from the pan over the chicken.

Garnish with fresh chopped parsley and lemon slices (optional).

Serve immediately over rice or mashed potatoes.