Easy Chicken Piccata

Lemony chicken with a light, bright sauce, what’s not to like? Easy Chicken Piccata is a delicious, light meal for any occasion. Capers provide a rich, tangy component to this flavorful dish. It’s a meal you’ll want to make again and again.

What are capers?

Capers are one of the main ingredients in Chicken Piccata, giving the dish it’s signature flavor. Capers are the flower buds of the caper bush. They are harvested and pickled before we use them in recipes like this one.

While in Sicily a few years ago, we stopped in the little town of Savoca. It’s known for being home to the church where the wedding took place in the movie, The Godfather. Our guide pointed out a caper bush growing along a stone wall as we were walking through town. Capers are common in the Mediterranean and grow in rocky, dry places. Pairing them with olive oil, also produced in Italy, and lemons makes this a distinctly Italian recipe.

The good news is that you don’t have to go all the way to Italy to find capers. Since they are brined and preserved, you will find them in the olive and pickle section of the grocery store. Capers are affordable and can be used in a variety of recipes. Commonly, they are used to make tapenades and sauces, or can be added to a charcuterie board with olives.

Easy Chicken Piccata Recipe

Ingredients:

• CHICKEN BREASTS– White meat is used in this recipe. Butterfly the chicken so it is thin and will cook quickly.
• CAPERS– These are added to the sauce to give it a bright, briny flavor, it is a tasty combination with the garlic and lemon juice.
• LEMONS– These provide the bright flavor found in the sauce. Combined with the butter and capers, the sauce becomes rich and flavorful.
• BUTTER– It makes the sauce rich and thickens it slightly.
• CHICKEN BROTH– Use chicken broth or Better Than Bouillon and water to make the chicken broth that forms the base of the sauce for this recipe. I like to keep a jar of this on-hand, so I can make chicken broth when needed.
• GARLIC– Use fresh or jarred minced garlic to season the piccata sauce.
• WHITE WINE– A dry white wine is used in this recipe to add flavor and body to the sauce.

How to make Easy Chicken Piccata?

Step-by-Step Instructions:

• Using a sharp knife, butterfly the two chicken breasts by cutting them completely in half lengthwise. You will have four chicken fillets that are 1/2-inch thick. Place the flour on a plate and season it with a pinch of garlic powder, salt and black pepper.
• Add 3 tablespoons of olive oil to a large skillet over medium heat. Dust each piece of chicken with the flour mixture and place it in the skillet. Brown the chicken until golden, about 5 minutes on each side. When done, remove the chicken to a plate, set aside.
• Add the thinly sliced onions to the skillet and saute them for 5 minutes until softened. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for one more minute.

• Stir in the chicken broth, lemon juice, white wine and capers while stirring and scraping the brown bits from the bottom of the pan. Add 3 tablespoons of butter and simmer for 10 minutes to reduce the sauce slightly. Add the chicken pieces to the pan and cook for 5 minutes.
• Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Garnish with fresh parsley and grated Parmesan cheese, if desired. Serve with pasta of your choice. Recipe makes 4 servings.

I served this bright, briny chicken with gnocchi and a green vegetable. This recipe is so easy to make, as many American-Italian classics are, and so flavorful. Easy Chicken Piccata comes together in 30 minutes and is full of bright, buttery flavors.

For more of the best chicken dinners, check out these flavorful recipes:

• Caprese Chicken and Pasta
• Chicken Parmesan
• Sheet Pan Teriyaki Chicken and Vegetables
• Mom’s Fried Chicken
• Roasted Chicken and Vegetables
• Chicken Paprikash and Dumplings

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