Ciao, friends! I’ve got an easy Chicken Piccata recipe that I know you will love. This recipe is perfect for a refreshing, light dinner that can be made in about 30 minutes.
Every time I make this classic Italian chicken dish for my husband and me, I wonder why I don’t make it more often!
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This recipe is full of delicious Italian flavors and it’s so easy to make. I’ll show you how!
Recipe Summary
This recipe uses a just a handful of ingredients that are easy to find at the grocery store. With chicken piccata, you don’t have to bread the chicken like regular cutlets. The chicken is partially cooked in a pan, then simmered in a flavorful sauce until perfectly tender.
If that sounds easy, it’s because it is!
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- More Recipes to Try
Ingredients
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- White flour
- Salt and cracked black pepper
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Water
- Fresh lemon juice (or from concentrate)
- White wine (optional)
- Capers
- Garlic cloves
Step by Step Instructions
Here is what’s involved in making chicken piccata Italian-style. Use my recipe card below for the exact measurements.
Step 1. Slice the chicken breasts to about 1/4 inch thick.
Step 2. Gently pound them with a meat mallet or something similar (like the side of a rolling pin) to even out thicker parts and help tenderize the meat. Keep the thickness to 1/4 inch thick.
Pro Tip: I like to place the chicken breasts in a plastic zip lock bag, unsealed, and pound it that way. Or between two pieces of plastic wrap. This helps keep the chicken juices from splattering and making a mess.
Step 3. Next, season both sides of the chicken breasts with a dash of salt and cracked black pepper.
Step 4. Lightly dredge the chicken in the flour so it is evenly coated. Shake off any excess and place on a plate.
Step 5. Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat.
Step 6. Add in the sliced chicken and cook for 1 minutes on the first side and another minute or two on the second side. You will want them slightly golden brown.
Remove the chicken from the pan and place off to the side on a plate.
Pro Tip: We are not cooking them all the way through yet, as we will be finishing the cooking process in the sauce later on.
Step 7. Lower the heat to medium if it is very high. Add in the remaining ingredients – water, lemon juice, garlic, capers, and wine (if using).
Stir and scrape any hard chicken bits from the bottom of the pan.
This is called de glazing. You want those chicken pieces in the sauce!
Step 8. Bring the sauce to a boil over medium high heat- it will thicken just slightly.
Step 9. Reduce heat to low, and add in the chicken slices back into the pan.
Step 10. Cover with a lid and let it cook for 10 minutes more on low/simmer.
Step 11. When ready, serve the piccata on dinner plates, using any leftover sauce in the pan to pour or spread on top.
See suggestions further below for what to serve with your chicken piccata.
Recipe Video
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What to Serve with Chicken Piccata
For a full list of options, check out this post here. But here are a few side dishes that would go great with your piccata!
Enjoy these zucchini half moons sauteed in butter! Quick, delicious and wonderful!
These Italian green beans are delicious, also known as Roma beans. You can find them in your local freezer or grow them in your own garden.
These Italian roasted potatoes are easy and simple to make. They take about 40 minutes to make but are worth the wait!
Similar Chicken Recipes
If you love chicken recipes with Italian flavors, you’ve got to try these out as well!
This chicken Parmesan recipe is so crazy easy you won’t believe it! Try it today!
Try these Italian breaded chicken breasts that are crispy and baked in the oven – not fried!
These Italian chicken breasts are seasoned with regular Italian seasoning from a jar. Super easy and quick!
I hope you’ve enjoyed this recipe – from my kitchen to yours. For more great recipes, subscribe to our recipe newsletter and get a free pasta recipe ebook!
Ciao Friend! I’d like to send you my FREE mini-digital cookbook featuring 5 Creative & Easy Italian Pasta Recipes. Plus, you’ll receive easy and delicious Italian recipes every week.
If you want in, just sign up using this form! I’d love to start sharing my recipes with you!
Recipe Card
Easy Chicken Piccata
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts cut in 1/4" thick slices
- 1/2 cup white flour
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp cracked black pepper
- 3 TBSP olive oil
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/4 cup dry white wine optional
- 2 TBSP lemon juice if using concentrate, use 1/4 tsp, then adjust to taste.
- 2 TBSP capers
- 2 garlic cloves finely chopped
Instructions
- Slice the chicken breasts to be 1/4 inch thick.4 chicken breasts
- Pound with a meat tenderizer mallet or something similar (like the side of a rolling pin) to gently even out thicker parts and help tenderize the meat. Keep the thickness to 1/4 inch thick.
- Next, season both sides of the chicken breasts with a dash of salt and cracked black pepper.1/8 tsp salt, 1/8 tsp cracked black pepper
- Lightly dredge the chicken in the flour so it is evenly coated. Shake off any excess and place on a plate.1/2 cup white flour
- Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat.3 TBSP olive oil
- Add in the sliced chicken and cook for 1 minute on the first side and another minute or two on the second side. You will want them slightly golden brown.
- Remove the chicken from the pan and place off to the side on a plate.Note: We are not cooking them all the way through yet, as we will be finishing the cooking process in the sauce later on.
- Lower the heat to medium if not already there. Add in the remaining ingredients – water, lemon juice, garlic, capers, and wine (if using).1/2 cup water, 2 TBSP lemon juice, 2 TBSP capers, 2 garlic cloves, 1/4 cup dry white wine
- Stir and scrape any hard chicken bits from the bottom of the pan.This is called de glazing. You want those chicken pieces in the sauce!
- Bring the sauce to a boil over medium high heat- it will thicken just slightly.
- Then, reduce heat to low, and add the chicken slices back into the pan.
- Cover with a lid and let cook for 10 minutes more on low/simmer.
- When ready, serve the piccata on dinner plates, using any leftover sauce in the pan to pour or spread on top.
