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Tender Chicken Piccata with Lemony Garlic Butter Sauce

Tender Chicken Piccata with Lemony Garlic Butter Sauce
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Tender Chicken Piccata with Lemony Garlic Butter Sauce features juicy, evenly cooked chicken breasts topped with a bright, tangy, and rich garlic butter sauce. This quick and easy recipe combines fresh lemon zest and juice, capers, and a buttery silky sauce that enhances the tender chicken, making it perfect for both weeknight family dinners and elegant gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken and Coating

  • 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, thinly sliced or pounded to about 1/2 inch thickness
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour (or almond/gluten-free flour for gluten-free)
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Sauce

  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided (use dairy-free margarine for dairy-free)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 3 cloves fresh garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth or dry white wine
  • Juice and zest of 1 large lemon
  • 2 tablespoons capers, drained
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Prepare the chicken: Pound chicken breasts to about 1/2 inch thickness for even cooking. Season both sides lightly with salt and pepper, then dredge evenly in flour to create a light coating.
  2. Cook the chicken: Heat 1 tablespoon butter and olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken pieces and cook for 3 to 4 minutes on each side until golden brown and cooked through. Remove chicken from the pan and set aside.
  3. Build the sauce: In the same skillet, add minced garlic and sauté briefly until fragrant but not browned. Pour in chicken broth or white wine, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Stir in fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, and capers.
  4. Finish with butter and herbs: Reduce heat to low and whisk in remaining chilled butter cubes one at a time to thicken and enrich the sauce. Return the cooked chicken to the pan and coat it in the sauce for about one minute to reheat and blend flavors. Sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley before serving.

Notes

  • Use room temperature chicken for even cooking and tender texture.
  • Do not over-flour chicken to avoid gummy texture; just a light coating is sufficient.
  • Add chilled butter slowly to emulsify the sauce and achieve a creamy consistency.
  • Fresh lemons provide the best brightness and flavor compared to bottled lemon juice.
  • Sauté garlic only until fragrant to prevent bitterness from burning.

Nutrition

Keywords: Chicken Piccata, Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce, Easy Chicken Recipe, Quick Dinner, Gluten Free, Chicken Breast

Find it online: https://mealsbysarah.com/tender-chicken-piccata-with-lemony-garlic-butter-sauce/