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Easy Zesty Lemon Chicken Piccata Recipe Perfect for Quick Dinners

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A quick and easy lemon chicken piccata recipe featuring juicy chicken breasts, a bright lemon-caper sauce, and a silky buttery finish. Perfect for weeknight dinners that feel comforting yet impressive.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, pounded thin
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • ½ cup dry white wine (e.g., Sauvignon Blanc), optional
  • ½ cup low sodium chicken broth
  • 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons capers, drained and rinsed
  • Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Place chicken breasts between plastic wrap or in a zip-lock bag and pound to about ½ inch thickness. Pat dry with paper towels.
  2. In a shallow bowl, combine flour with a pinch of salt and black pepper. Lightly dredge chicken breasts in the flour mixture, shaking off excess.
  3. Heat olive oil in a heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat. When shimmering, add chicken and cook 3–4 minutes per side until golden and cooked through (165°F internal temperature). Remove chicken and keep warm tented with foil.
  4. Reduce heat to medium and add 3 tablespoons butter. Once melted, add minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant without browning.
  5. Pour in white wine and simmer for 2 minutes to reduce slightly.
  6. Stir in chicken broth, lemon juice, and capers. Simmer gently for 3–4 minutes until sauce thickens slightly. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
  7. Remove pan from heat and stir in remaining 2 tablespoons butter until melted and sauce is silky.
  8. Return chicken to pan, spoon sauce over to coat, and warm for 1 minute. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve.

Notes

Pound chicken evenly for uniform cooking. Avoid burning garlic to prevent bitterness. Rinse capers to control saltiness. If sauce thickens too much, add broth or lemon juice to loosen. For dairy-free, substitute butter with olive oil or dairy-free margarine and skip butter finishing step. White wine can be replaced with extra chicken broth plus lemon juice if avoiding alcohol.

Nutrition

Keywords: lemon chicken piccata, quick dinner, easy chicken recipe, lemon caper sauce, weeknight meal, chicken breasts, simple ingredients

Find it online: https://magnetmeal.com/easy-zesty-lemon-chicken-piccata-recipe-perfect-for-quick-dinners/