Chicken Piccata
Chicken piccata is thin chicken cutlets pan-fried until golden, then bathed in a bright lemon, caper and butter sauce. It tastes restaurant-fancy but takes about 35 minutes in one pan.
- 35 minTotal time
- 4Servings
- 420kcal / serving
- 42 gProtein
Pounding the chicken thin makes it cook fast and stay juicy. A light flour coat helps it brown and thickens the pan sauce just enough. Serve with pasta, mashed potatoes or green beans.
The science: why this works
- Pounding the chicken to an even 1 cm thickness lets it cook in minutes, so it stays tender.
- A thin coat of flour browns in the butter and oil and gives the sauce a little body.
- Deglazing with wine lifts the browned bits, which hold most of the flavor.
- Whisking cold butter in off the heat makes a smooth, glossy sauce that does not separate.
- Lemon juice and capers add acid and salt that cut through the rich butter.
Deglazing for flavor
The brown crust stuck to the pan is concentrated flavor from the Maillard reaction. Liquid dissolves it, turning the pan into the base of a sauce. Wine adds acid and aroma while the alcohol helps carry flavors.
Learn: Deglaze the pan →Mounting with butter
Whisking cold butter into a warm, not boiling, sauce spreads tiny fat droplets through the liquid. This emulsion gives a silky, glossy sauce that clings to the chicken. Boiling would break it and leave pools of grease on top.
Learn: Pan sauce in five minutes →Acid balances richness
Lemon juice sharpens flavor and cuts through the butter, so each bite tastes brighter and less heavy. Adding most of it near the end of cooking keeps the fresh, citrusy notes from simmering away, and the capers add a salty counterpoint.
Learn: Add acid at the end →Chicken Piccata
35 min · 4 servings · Italian · Main course
Ingredients
Makes 4 servings
- 700 gchicken breasts, sliced into 4 thin cutlets
- 120 mlall-purpose flour
- 1 tspkosher salt
- ½ tspblack pepper
- 3 tbspolive oil, divided
- 4 tbspbutter, divided
- 120 mldry white wine
- 180 mlchicken stock
- 3 tbsplemon juice (about 1 1/2 lemons)
- 2 tbspcapers, drained
- 2 tbspfresh parsley, chopped
- 1lemon, sliced into thin rounds
Method
Tips for the best result
- Pound the cutlets evenly so they all finish at the same time.
- Do not crowd the pan or the flour coat will turn gummy instead of golden.
- Taste the sauce before adding salt; the capers are already salty.
Mistakes to avoid
- Leaving the chicken thick makes it dry on the outside before the center cooks, so slice and pound.
- Boiling the sauce after adding butter makes it greasy, so keep the heat off or very low.
- Letting the flour coat sit wet for a long time makes it pasty, so cook right after dredging.
Variations and swaps
- Use veal cutlets or thin pork cutlets for a classic version.
- Add a handful of artichoke hearts to the sauce.
- Stir in 1/4 cup cream for a rounder, creamier sauce.
- Swap white wine for extra chicken stock plus 1 tbsp more lemon juice if you avoid alcohol.
- Swap all-purpose flour for a gluten-free flour blend to make it gluten-free.
Storing and reheating
Refrigerate within 2 hours and eat within 3 to 4 days. Reheat gently in a skillet with a splash of stock until it reaches 165°F (74°C). The coat will soften.
Chicken Piccata: questions
What do you serve with chicken piccata?
Angel hair pasta, mashed potatoes, rice or roasted green beans soak up the sauce. A simple green salad keeps the meal light.
Can I make chicken piccata without wine?
Yes. Use extra chicken stock and add a little more lemon juice. You lose some depth, but the dish is still bright and tasty.
Why is my piccata sauce thin?
It needs a longer simmer. Reduce the wine fully, then simmer the stock and lemon 4 to 5 minutes until it lightly coats a spoon.
Should I use chicken breast or thighs for piccata?
Chicken breast is traditional and cooks quickly when pounded thin. Boneless thighs also work and are more forgiving, but pound them to an even thickness.
How thin should chicken be for piccata?
About 1 cm (1/2 inch) thick. That cooks through in 3 to 4 minutes per side and stays juicy.
