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Chicken Piccata with lemon butter sauce and capers

Chicken Piccata Recipe

This Chicken Piccata Recipe is a bright, tangy, and sophisticated Mediterranean classic that transitions perfectly from a quick weeknight dinner to an elegant weekend meal. Featuring thin, pan-seared chicken cutlets bathed in a silky lemon-garlic sauce and topped with briny capers, it offers a restaurant-quality experience in just 30 minutes. It is low-carb, high-protein, and follows the heart-healthy principles of the Mediterranean diet.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Greek, Italian
Calories: 340
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts (halved into thin cutlets)
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour or whole-grain
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 4-6 tbsp unsalted butter divided: 2 for searing, 2-4 cold for sauce
  • ½ cup chicken broth
  • ⅓ cup fresh lemon juice
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 3 tbsp drained capers
  • Fresh parsley and lemon slices for garnish

Method
 

  1. Prep: Season chicken with salt/pepper. Dredge in flour; shake off excess.
  2. Sear: Heat oil and 2 tbsp butter. Cook chicken 3-4 mins per side until golden. Remove and set aside.
  3. Aromatics: Sauté garlic in the same pan for 60 seconds.
  4. Reduce: Add broth and lemon juice. Scrape the pan and simmer until reduced by half.
  5. Finish: Stir in capers. Whisk in cold butter on low heat until glossy.
  6. Serve: Return chicken to pan to coat. Garnish with parsley and lemon.

Notes

  • Prep Tip: If your chicken breasts are very thick, place them between two sheets of parchment paper and pound them to a 1/2-inch thickness. This ensures they cook evenly and stay juicy.
  • Sauce Consistency: If the sauce is too thin, let it simmer for an extra 2 minutes before adding the butter. If it’s too thick, whisk in a tablespoon of warm water or broth.
  • Caper Prep: Rinse the capers before adding them if you prefer a less salty flavor profile.
  • Mediterranean Swap: For a heart-healthier version, replace the final butter emulsion with 2 tablespoons of high-quality cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil whisked in off the heat.