Lemon Chicken Piccata Recipe

This Lemon Chicken Piccata Recipe pairs a sensationally thin bread crumb crusted chicken with classic lemon wine sauce that is highly addictive!

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Overhead shot of lemon piccata chicken contained in a black cast iron skillet with lemons

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My love of chicken and citrus runs deep.  I first introduced you to this amazing savory combo with my lemon roast chicken and potatoes recipe, and now I am back at it again with this breaded chicken piccata recipe.

A cast iron skillet filled with breaded chicken in a lemon wine sauce with slices of lemon ready to serve

What Is Chicken Piccata?

Traditional Chicken Piccata is a very simple dish.  It begins with chicken that is pounded thin that is dredged in flour and lightly fried then topped with a deliciously easy to make lemon wine sauce.  It can be served over pasta, rice, mashed potatoes or anything you can think of.

This chicken piccata recipe has a bit of a twist and is one of my favorite chicken breast recipes for the following reasons:

1. It’s breaded! I simply can’t resist almost anything dredged in flour and breadcrumbs.

2. It’s drenched in a simple lemon wine sauce. The combination of citrus flavors and chicken can’t be beat!

3. It’s so simple and quick to make.

Ingredients

Here are the key ingredients to make this recipe so fantastic:

  • Thinly Sliced Chicken Breasts: Making sure they are thin helps cook them up in a flash.
  • All-Purpose Flour: This is our secret weapon for a golden and slightly crispy coating.
  • Beaten Eggs: Think of them as the glue, making sure that breadcrumb coat doesn’t fall off.
  • Italian Seasoned Breadcrumbs: These punch up flavor and texture in every bite.
  • White Wine: Opt for a dry variety, it’s going to deglaze our pan and whisk you away to flavor town.
  • Fresh Lemon Juice: This flavor adds so much zesty citrus flavor.
  • Unsalted Butter: Butter makes everything better – bringing a silky finish to our sauce.

How to Make Lemon Chicken Piccata

I love my chicken breasts for this breaded chicken piccata recipe to be as thin as possible.

You can either find it like this at your grocery store, or you can pound it yourself (with a mallet, rolling pin or any kitchen utensil that can do the job fast and easy) to make it thinner.  This helps the chicken cook faster and tenderizes it even more.

The breading is created using beaten eggs, flour and bread crumbs (all in separate bowls). Dip your thin chicken breasts in the flour, egg mixture and bread crumbs and repeat at least once.

This dredge creates a flavorful impact with a golden brown and crispy outer layer alongside a fast lemon butter sauce, which you add to the top of your cooked chicken.

A close up of chicken piccata in lemon sauce ready to serve for dinner

Best Wine to Make Piccata Sauce

I get asked this question a ton but here are a tips for selecting a great wine!

  1. Make sure it is a wine that you would normally drink.  Avoid cooking wines.
  2. Crisp White Wine works best!  Look at the following as amazing options!
    1. Pinot Grigio
    2. Sauvignn Blanc
    3. Chardonnay

How to Store and Reheat

To store, place any leftover chicken in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Make sure to separate the sauce so it doesn’t get soggy. When you’re ready to reheat, pop the chicken at 350 to crisp and reheat the chicken. Microwave the sauce and serve over the chicken.

How To Serve This Dish

This lemon chicken piccata recipe can be served over a pasta like linguini or over a bed of grits or mashed potatoes, which is my preference along with my easy homemade garlic bread recipe.  The softness of the mashed potatoes matched with the crunch of the chicken is so delicious.  I do a small happy dance in my chair after each and every bite, just for good measure.

Lemon Chicken Piccata Recipe served on a bed of mashed potatoes with wine sauce and lemon garnish

I originally started using the recipe for Ina Garten’s chicken piccata many moons ago but it has gone through quite a few alterations over the years to create my lemon chicken piccata.  It was the perfect inspiration for this recipe.  As always, thank you Barefoot Contessa!

More Chicken Recipes to Try

Find more Fried Chicken recipes HERE

A pile of fried chicken with the words, "Best Fried Chicken Recipes" on a blue graphic
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Breaded Chicken Piccata | Grandbaby Cakes

Lemon Chicken Piccata Recipe

This delicious Lemon Chicken Piccata Recipe pairs a sensationally thin bread crumb crusted chicken with classic lemon wine sauce that is highly addictive! 
4.56 from 18 votes
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course: Main Course
Servings: 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 6 thinly sliced boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 large eggs beaten
  • 1 cup Italian seasoned dry breadcrumbs
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • Olive oil for sauteeing
  • 1/2 cup white wine info on which kind to select in notes below
  • 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Lemon slices and chopped fresh parsley for serving

Instructions

  • Start by preheating your oven to 375 degrees.
  • Season thin chicken breast pieces with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Add flour to a separate shallow bowl. In another bowl, add beaten eggs. In a 3rd shallow bowl, whisk together breadcrumbs and paprika.
  • Dip seasoned chicken one at a time into flour then eggs then breadcrumbs coating both sides then place on a baking sheet to rest. Repeat with all chicken breasts until complete.
  • Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a medium sized saute pan over medium heat.
  • Add two chicken breasts at a time to pan and cook on both sides until golden brown. As each piece is finished, place the chicken breast on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place the chicken in the oven when it is done and continue the cooking process (starting with adding more olive oil with each cook) until all chicken is cooked and placed in the oven.
  • Clean the saute pan and put back over medium high heat. To make the lemon sauce, add white wine and lemon juice to pan and boil until reduced by half. Season with salt and pepper to taste then turn off heat and add butter, swirling in the sauce to completely melt. To serve, ladle sauce over chicken and garnish with lemon slices and parsley.

Video

Notes

Make sure you pound the chicken thin so it can cook quickly.  If it is too thick, it will take much longer to cook.
Make sure it is a wine that you would normally drink.  Avoid cooking wines.
Crisp White Wine works best!  Look at the following as amazing options!  
Pinot Grigio
Sauvignn Blanc
Chardonnay

How to Store and Reheat

To store, place any leftover chicken in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Make sure to separate the sauce so it doesn’t get soggy. When you’re ready to reheat, pop the chicken at 350 to crisp and reheat the chicken. Microwave the sauce and serve over the chicken.

Nutrition

Calories: 358kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 144mg | Sodium: 424mg | Potassium: 537mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 360IU | Vitamin C: 7.2mg | Calcium: 56mg | Iron: 2.8mg
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Filed Under:  Chicken, Dinner, Italian Recipes, Stovetop

Comments

  1. Funny, I made a comment yesterday, and viola, it’s gone. Don’t understand why. Anyway, I’m planning to make this recipe today for Sunday dinner. Can’t wait to try it.

  2. This is an Italian immigrant created dish made with veal. I’ve always done the traditional method, but I will definitely try this one. Looks good and I’ll bet it’s delish.

  3. Made this tonight for dinner. Easy and delicious. It was amazing! Thank you ,thank you, thank you!!!!

  4. I have made this four times for my family. They request it weekly now. The crunch on the chicken is amazing. I found that the longer I let the breaded chicken sit prior to frying, the crispier the end result. This recipe is a winner!!

4.56 from 18 votes (9 ratings without comment)

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