Description
Mediterranean-Style Chicken Piccata is a light, flavorful twist on the classic Italian dish. Featuring tender, seared chicken breasts with a bright lemon-caper sauce, cherry tomatoes, and fresh herbs, it’s a quick, healthy, and elegant weeknight dinner option.
Ingredients
2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts, butterflied and pounded thin
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
4 tablespoons olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice (about 2–3 lemons)
1/4 cup brined capers, rinsed
1/3 cup fresh parsley, chopped
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1/4 cup dry white wine (optional)
1 teaspoon dried oregano (or 1 tbsp fresh)
1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
Instructions
1. Butterfly chicken breasts and pound to 1/2-inch thickness. Season with salt and pepper.
2. Dredge chicken in flour, shaking off excess.
3. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chicken 3-4 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Work in batches if needed. Remove and set aside.
4. Add remaining oil and garlic to skillet, cook 30 seconds. Deglaze with white wine, reducing by half.
5. Add chicken broth, lemon juice, capers, and oregano. Simmer 5 minutes until slightly reduced. Stir in butter to finish sauce.
6. Return chicken and juices to skillet. Add cherry tomatoes and parsley. Heat through 1 minute and serve immediately.
Notes
Avoid overcooking chicken; thin breasts cook quickly.
Use fresh lemon juice for best flavor.
Always deglaze the pan to capture browned bits.
Add cold butter gradually for a velvety sauce.
Capers can be substituted with chopped green olives.
Dairy-free option: use olive oil or vegan butter instead of butter.
Gluten-free option: use a 1-to-1 gluten-free flour blend for dredging.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course, Dinner, Mediterranean, Healthy
- Method: Skillet, Pan-Seared
- Cuisine: Mediterranean, Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast with sauce
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 380 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 105 mg