Healthy Lemon Chicken Piccata Recipe | Wholesome Yum (2024)

Healthy Lemon Chicken Piccata Recipe | Wholesome Yum (1)

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In This Post

  • What Is Chicken Piccata?
  • Why You’ll Love This Lemon Chicken Piccata Recipe
  • Ingredients You’ll Need
  • How To Make Chicken Piccata
  • Storage Instructions
  • What To Serve With Chicken Piccata
  • More Italian Chicken Recipes
  • Tools To Make Healthy Chicken Piccata
  • Healthy Lemon Chicken Piccata RecipeRecipe card
  • Recipe Reviews

This healthy chicken piccata recipe is the perfect fancy meal you can make any night of the week! Much like veal scallopini piccata, this lemon chicken piccata combines thin chicken cutlets with an irresistible lemon butter sauce and capers.

What Is Chicken Piccata?

Chicken piccata is a classic Italian-American dish consisting of thin, pounded chicken breast pan fried with a lemony butter and caper sauce.

Some versions of this recipe dredge chicken in all purpose flour before pan frying, but there’s no need — we’re dredging the chicken in something else that’s healthier and even more delicious.

Why You’ll Love This Lemon Chicken Piccata Recipe

  • Bright, tangy flavor from lemon and capers
  • Tender meat with buttery sauce
  • Uses basic ingredients
  • No flour needed
  • Done in just over 30 minutes
  • A naturally healthy, gluten-free, low carb, and keto chicken piccata
Healthy Lemon Chicken Piccata Recipe | Wholesome Yum (2)

Ingredients You’ll Need

This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for easy lemon chicken piccata, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.

For The Chicken:

  • Chicken Breasts – Use boneless skinless chicken breasts that weigh 8 ounces apiece.
  • Salt & Pepper
  • Parmesan Cheese – Use a grated variety for best texture, since it will serve as a light dredging ingredient for the chicken. It works surprisingly well instead of flour!
  • Olive Oil – For frying. I use extra virgin olive oil here, but regular olive oil or avocado oil will also work.

For The Healthy Chicken Piccata Sauce:

  • Butter – Gives the sauce flavor and helps thicken. Use unsalted, and for the healthiest option, grass-fed.
  • Garlic – Minced garlic in a jar will work fine, but fresh garlic shines in this sauce.
  • Chicken Broth – I use reduced sodium for all my recipes, which is somewhere between low sodium and regular. The dish may be too salty if you use regular. For an extra nutrient boost, make it homemade or try bone broth instead.
  • Lemon Juice – Use fresh squeezed juice if you can! Bottled will work, but does not taste nearly as good. If you like extra lemon flavor, add a teaspoon of lemon zest as well.
  • Capers – Get capers in brine, but drain before using in the recipe.
  • Fresh Parsley – Optional, for garnish and freshness.

Healthy Lemon Chicken Piccata Recipe | Wholesome Yum (3)

SWAP: Replace half of the chicken broth with dry white wine.

Use a dry white wine, such as pinot grigio or sauvignon blanc. The sauce will be less salty if you do this, so you may need to adjust salt to taste.

Healthy Lemon Chicken Piccata Recipe | Wholesome Yum (4)

How To Make Chicken Piccata

This section shows how to make lemon piccata chicken, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.

  1. Prep chicken. Slice the 3 chicken breasts horizontally, all the way through, to create 6 thin pieces in total. If necessary, use a meat tenderizer to pound chicken until it reaches 1/4 inch thickness. Pat dry with paper towels.

Healthy Lemon Chicken Piccata Recipe | Wholesome Yum (5)

TIP: Slicing thin means faster, more even cooking.

However, you can keep chicken breasts whole if you prefer. Cooking time will take longer.

  1. Season. Sprinkle the cutlets with salt and pepper.
  2. Dredge. Dredge both sides of the chicken in grated parmesan. (A shallow bowl works best for this.) We’re using parmesan cheese here instead of the typical flour mixture that some recipes use, which is healthier and provides great flavor and texture when it browns.
Healthy Lemon Chicken Piccata Recipe | Wholesome Yum (6)
Healthy Lemon Chicken Piccata Recipe | Wholesome Yum (7)
  1. Fry. In a large skillet, add a single layer of cutlets to the pan. Saute until browned on each side, then remove and cover to keep warm. Repeat until all chicken is cooked.
  2. Saute garlic. Melt butter in the same pan. Add garlic and saute until fragrant.
  1. Deglaze. Add broth and lemon juice. Use a wooden spoon to scape up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
  2. Reduce. Add capers. Increase heat to boiling, then simmer until sauce is thickened and reduced by half.
  3. Finish. Stir in remaining butter. Add chicken back to the pan and coat in sauce. Garnish with lemon wedges and parsley to serve.
Healthy Lemon Chicken Piccata Recipe | Wholesome Yum (10)
Healthy Lemon Chicken Piccata Recipe | Wholesome Yum (11)

Storage Instructions

  • Store: Keep leftover chicken lemon piccata covered in the fridge for 3-4 days.
  • Reheat: Reheat in a microwave or warm skillet.
  • Freeze: Freeze keto chicken piccata in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Store chicken and sauce separately, if possible. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating and serving.
Healthy Lemon Chicken Piccata Recipe | Wholesome Yum (12)

What To Serve With Chicken Piccata

Pair this dish with a few light sides:

  • Vegetables – Easy veggie sides such as baked eggplant, mashed cauliflower, sauteed asparagus, air fryer broccoli, or roasted artichokes pair very well with healthy chicken piccata.
  • Pasta – This classic Italian dish pairs well with linguine, but for a keto chicken piccata option, use zucchini noodles or baked spaghetti squash.
  • Salads – Try this dish with Italian marinated artichoke salad, chopped Mediterranean salad, or a bed of greens with homemade Caesar dressing.
  • Soup – Get the full Italian experience with a copycat version of Olive Garden’s Zuppa Toscana soup.

More Italian Chicken Recipes

Chicken is the perfect canvas for Italian flavors! Try these fast and easy dishes next.

Mediterranean Chicken

Balsamic Chicken Thighs

Grilled Bruschetta Chicken

Baked Chicken Caprese

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Recipe Card

Healthy Lemon Chicken Piccata Recipe | Wholesome Yum (18)

5 from 29 votes☝️ Click stars to rate or click here to leave a review!

Healthy Lemon Chicken Piccata Recipe

With a few fresh ingredients and no white flour, you can have this healthy lemon chicken piccata recipe on the table in just over 30 minutes!

Prep: 10 minutes

Cook: 25 minutes

Total: 35 minutes

Author: Maya Krampf from WholesomeYum.com

Servings: 6 (adjust to scale recipe)

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Ingredients

Tap underlined ingredients to see where to get them.

Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.

  1. To make chicken cutlets, butterfly the chicken breasts by cutting them horizontally in half all the way through. (You will end up with 6 pieces total.) If they are still thick, use the flat side of a meat tenderizer to pound them to 1/4-inch (6.4 mm) thickness. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels.

  2. Season both sides of the chicken cutlets with salt and pepper. Place the grated parmesan into a shallow bowl. Dredge the chicken on both sides in the parmesan.

  3. In a 12-inch skillet (I used this cast iron braiser because it heats well and can fit a lot of chicken cutlets at once, but a regular non-stick skillet works too), heat a tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat, until shimmering. Working in batches, add the chicken cutlets in a single layer. Saute for about 3 minutes per side, until browned. Transfer to a plate and cover with foil to keep warm. Repeat with all the chicken cutlets, adding the remaining tablespoon of olive oil halfway through.

  4. Reduce heat to medium. Add a tablespoon of butter to the pan. Add minced garlic and saute for about a minute, until fragrant.

  5. Add the chicken broth and lemon juice. Scrape the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon or spatula to release any browned bits (this is called deglazing). Add the capers. Increase heat to bring to a boil, then simmer for 7-10 minutes, until volume is reduced by half and slightly thickened.

  6. Stir in remaining butter, until melted. Simmer for another 3-5 minutes, until slightly reduced to your liking. Taste and adjust salt and pepper to taste, if desired.

  7. Return the chicken to the pan and coat in sauce. Serve with fresh parsley, if desired.

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Related Easy Recipes

  • Avocado Chicken Salad Recipe

  • Baked Chicken Caprese Recipe

  • Pesto Chicken

  • Grilled Bruschetta Chicken

Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1 chicken cutlet with sauce

Nutrition Facts

Amount per serving. Serving size in recipe notes above.

Calories251

Fat14.8g

Protein26.3g

Total Carbs2.6g

Net Carbs2.2g

Fiber0.4g

Sugar0.7g

Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see our nutrition policy.

Course:Main Course

Cuisine:Italian

Keywords:chicken piccata recipe, healthy chicken piccata, keto chicken piccata, lemon chicken piccata

Calories: 251 kcal

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead. 🙂

Easy Healthy Chicken Piccata Recipe

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Healthy Lemon Chicken Piccata Recipe | Wholesome Yum (2024)

FAQs

What is piccata sauce made of? ›

This preparation couldn't be simpler: We combine wine and capers in a pan, reduce the liquid, then add olive oil, butter, and lemon juice, and season with salt and pepper. Piccata dishes are traditionally topped with parsley; we like to quickly wilt fresh parsley leaves right in the pan.

What does piccata mean in English? ›

Piccata, though, is an Italian word meaning larded. It seems to be a translation of the French word pique (sharp, as in piquant). When used in a reference to a way of preparing food (particularly meat or fish) it means sliced and sauteed in a sauce containing lemon, butter, and spices.

Does chicken piccata have a lot of calories? ›

How many calories are in Chicken Piccata? Typical chicken piccata dishes have around 500-600 calories. This lightened up version has just 290 calories. The main difference the calories and fat are lower is that there is significantly less butter and oil used.

What can I replace capers with in piccata? ›

What's the Best Substitute for Capers? Try These 9 Ideas
  1. Green olives. They're salty, they're acidic, they're savory, they're buried somewhere in your fridge—what more can you ask for? ...
  2. Lemon. What a difference a squeeze of fresh lemon makes. ...
  3. Pickles. ...
  4. Green peppercorns. ...
  5. Thyme. ...
  6. Caper berries. ...
  7. Artichoke hearts. ...
  8. Anchovies.
Apr 15, 2020

How do I thicken my piccata sauce? ›

How to thicken piccata sauce without flour
  1. Make a slurry with 1 1/2 tablespoons corn starch and 1/2 cup COLD chicken stock.
  2. Add this after adding the 2 cups chicken stock.
  3. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, then reduce to a simmer.
  4. Add chicken, lemon juice, and capers to sauce.
Nov 15, 2021

What is chicken piccata called in Italy? ›

Piccata di pollo, or Chicken Piccata, isn't a particularly common dish in Italy, where scaloppine are typically made with veal.

What ethnicity is chicken piccata? ›

Piccata (sometimes spelled picatta outside Italy) is an Italian dish of thin pan-fried flour-dredged meat in a sauce of lemon juice, butter, parsley, and often capers. In Italian cuisine piccata is prepared using veal (piccata di vitello al limone, lit.

What is the French version of piccata? ›

“Francese and piccata are very similar. The difference between the two is for Francese, the chicken breast is first dipped in flour, then into a beaten egg mixture, before being cooked. For piccata, the chicken is first dipped in egg and then in flour.

Is chicken piccata fatty? ›

A single serving of Chicken Piccata typically contains about 200-350 calories, with 20-30 grams of protein, making it a great choice for those managing calorie intake while seeking to meet their protein needs. It's relatively low in fat, with only 10-15 grams per serving, of which a minimal amount is saturated fat.

Which is healthier, chicken francese or chicken piccata? ›

Chicken Piccata has the least calories per 100 grams. Chicken Piccata with Artichoke Hearts has the least total fat per 100 grams. Chicken Piccata has the least saturated fat per 100 grams. Chicken Francese has the least sodium per 100 grams.

What's the difference between chicken piccata and chicken francaise? ›

Chicken piccata has capers. So for you caper haters out there, the Francaise version is for you. Chicken Francaise is dredged in flour and egg, whereas chicken piccata is dredged only in flour, so the Francaise has a bit more (delightfully) substantial coating.

What is a substitute for lemon juice in chicken piccata? ›

When cooking savory dishes, lime juice and orange juice make a good substitute for lemon juice. Replace the lemon juice with lime juice in equal amounts (e.g. 1 teaspoon for 1 teaspoon). Or, you could substitute the lemon juice with half as much white wine or white vinegar.

What is the best wine to use for chicken piccata? ›

Choose a Sauvignon Blanc with bright citrus flavors, which will match and draw out the lemon in the piccata sauce. A Sauvignon Blanc with stronger herbal notes will highlight the herbal flavors of fresh parsley.

What wine is best for cooking piccata? ›

For the sauce, use a dry Italian white wine such as Pinot Grigio or Vermentino and have it ready to pour into the pan the minute the garlic turns golden so that nothing burns.

What's the difference between francese and piccata sauce? ›

The difference between the two is for Francese, the chicken breast is first dipped in flour, then into a beaten egg mixture, before being cooked. For piccata, the chicken is first dipped in egg and then in flour. Both are then simmered in a lemony butter sauce, but the piccata sauce includes capers.”

Does chicken piccata contain capers? ›

Lemony, caper-topped, and just buttery enough, our easy chicken piccata recipe makes for an easy weeknight supper that's easy to love, and so very fast—just ten minutes from sauté pan to table after all, it's basically thin scaloppine—or “thin pieces”—of chicken, fried in butter and drizzled a tangy lemon-butter pan ...

What sauce is made from capers? ›

Lemon-caper sauce with its bright acidic flavor pairs particularly well with salmon, shrimp, scallops or any other mild-flavored seafood. It also makes a great sauce for pasta with the addition of chopped fresh parsley and grated Parmesan.

Is piccata sauce supposed to be thick? ›

Heat to a simmer, then add lemon juice, capers, and stock and continue to simmer until the liquid is reduced by about a half. Add the cream and continue to simmer until the sauce is thick enough to coat the back of your spoon, and then add the butter.

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