Healthy chicken piccata is super savory and deeply satisfying. This recipe features tender chicken breast, lemon, cherry tomatoes, artichokes, capers, and spinach. The colors, flavors and textures will have you dreaming of dinner all day long. This easy one-pot meal is ready to serve in 30 minutes!
PIN CHICKEN PICCATA TO MAKE IT LATER!
WHAT IS CHICKEN PICCATA?
Lemon chicken piccata is an Italian favorite! This dish is also called piccata milanese or chicken milanese because of its origin in Milan, Italy.
This comforting meal begins with chicken breasts that are pounded thin, dredged in flour and sautéed in a skillet. It’s served with a tangy lemon garlic sauce featuring olive oil, butter, wine, broth, and capers. Our healthy recipe includes plenty of veggies that make it an easy one-pot meal.
FAVORITE ITALIAN RECIPES: Legendary MEAT LASAGNA, Grandma’s SPAGHETTI SAUCE FROM SCRATCH, quick and easy FETTUCCINI ALFREDO, and delicious SKILLET ROASTED TOMATOES.
INGREDIENTS FOR HEALTHY CHICKEN PICCATA
These are the ingredients you’ll need to make a delicious, healthy, lemon chicken piccata:
- Chicken breasts (thin-sliced, pounded, or chicken cutlets)
- All-purpose flour
- Salt and pepper
- Olive oil
- Butter
- Cherry tomatoes
- Dried thyme
- Cloves of garlic
- Marinated artichoke hearts, drained
- Lemons
- Chardonnay wine
- Chicken broth or chicken stock
- Capers, drained and rinsed
- Fresh spinach leaves, no stems
- OPTIONAL GARNISH: Fresh Italian parsley
HEALTHY RECIPES TO MAKE ASAP: Quick-and-easy TUNA WRAPS, extra-crispy AIR FRYER CHICKEN WINGS, and NEW ORLEANS JAMBALAYA.
BEST CHICKEN PICCATA RECIPE
Butterfly your chicken breasts and cut them in half. Place them between sheets of plastic wrap. Gently pound them with a meat pounder or with the back of a small pan until each piece is 1/4-inches thin. Assemble a basic seasoned-flour mix: all-purpose flour plus salt and pepper!
HOW TO MAKE LEMON CHICKEN PICCATA
Follow these easy step-by-step instructions for this flavorful one-pot meal!
- STEP 1: Dredge chicken in seasoned flour, shaking off excess.
- STEP 2: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. When oil shimmers, add the chicken. Leave spaces between the pieces. Work in batches. Add more olive oil if needed. Cook for 3-4 minutes per side or until a meat thermometer reads 165°. Transfer chicken to a tray.
- STEP 3: Add butter and more olive oil to the pan. Place lemon slices in the skillet. Cook for one minute. Remove slices from the pan.
- STEP 4: Add cherry tomatoes to the skillet. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and thyme. Cook for 2-3 minutes or until a few of the tomatoes begin to pop. Remove from pan.
HEALTHY CHICKEN PICCATA RECIPE
Continue following these easy directions. We’re almost done!
- STEP 1: Add garlic and artichokes to the skillet. Saute for 1 minute. Add wine and stir. With a wooden spatula, scrape brown bits from the bottom of the pan. Simmer for 3 minutes or until the liquid is reduced by half.
- STEP 2: Pour in broth and lemon juice. Add spinach and capers. Reduce heat to medium.
- STEP 3: Add more butter and stir. Simmer for 5 minutes or until the sauce slightly thickens. Taste. Adjust seasonings as desired.
- STEP 4: Return chicken, tomatoes and lemon slices to the skillet. Spoon sauce over the chicken piccata. Garnish with Italian parsley.
EXPERT TIPS FOR CHICKEN PICCATA
Whether you know this dish by a different name, e.g., piccata milanese or chicken milanese, you can save time in the kitchen and elevate this recipe with a few simple expert tips!
- SAVE TIME IN THE KITCHEN: Buy “thinly-sliced” skinless, boneless chicken breasts. They’re about 1/4-inch thick, so you won’t need to pound them. You can also use chicken cutlets and slice them horizontally.
- ADD MORE TEXTURE: For an irresistible crispy-brown crust, add 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese or Panko breadcrumbs to the seasoned flour.
- MAKE IT A ONE-POT MEAL: Filled with healthy veggies and protein, this is definitely a one-pot meal! For extra vegetables, add in some zucchini when pan-roasting the cherry tomatoes.
- WHAT TO SERVE WITH THIS DISH: Mashed cauliflower, orzo, mashed potatoes, or angel hair pasta. Try steamed broccoli or stir-fried green beans. Enjoy chicken piccata with a cup of soup or a crisp green salad.
I WANT WHAT SHE HAS
Beautiful high-quality kitchen tools bring so much happiness to the kitchen! I’ve been slowly replacing old kitchen items with new tools that are a joy to use. Here’s what I used to make this healthy chicken piccata one-pot meal:
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Did you enjoy this lemon piccata recipe? Rate this one-pot meal in the comments below!
Chicken Piccata
- Total Time: 30 Minutes
- Yield: 6 Servings 1x
Description
This healthy lemon chicken piccata is filled with beautiful colors, flavors and textures. Assemble this recipe in 30 minutes. It’s the ideal one-pot meal for busy families!
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts (thin-sliced or chicken cutlets)
- 1/2 cup All-purpose flour
- Salt and pepper
- 4–5 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 4 tablespoons butter, divided
- 1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 3 cloves of garlic, pressed or minced
- 1 jar (6 ounces) marinated artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
- 1 lemon, sliced
- 1/4 cup lemon juice (about 2–3 lemons)
- 1 cup chardonnay wine
- 3/4 cup chicken broth or chicken stock
- 2 1/2 tablespoons capers, drained and rinsed
- 3 cups fresh spinach leaves (no stems), firmly packed
- OPTIONAL GARNISH: Fresh Italian parsley
Instructions
RECIPE PREP: Butterfly chicken breasts, cut them in half, and pound them to a 1/4-inch thickness. If using chicken cutlets, cut them in half horizontally.
- Add flour to a shallow bowl. Season well with salt and pepper. Dredge chicken in seasoned flour, shaking off excess. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. When oil shimmers, add the chicken. Leave spaces between the pieces. Work in batches, adding more olive oil if needed. Cook for 3-4 minutes per side or until a meat thermometer reads 165°. Transfer to a tray.
- Add 2 tablespoons butter and 2 tablespoons olive oil to the pan. Place lemon slices in the skillet. Cook for for 20 seconds on each side. Remove slices from the pan. Add cherry tomatoes to the skillet. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and thyme. Cook for 2-3 minutes or until a few of the tomatoes begin to pop. Remove from pan. Add garlic and artichokes to the skillet. Saute for 1 minute.
- Add wine to the skillet and stir. With a wooden spatula, scrape brown bits from the bottom of the pan. Simmer for 3 minutes or until liquid is reduced by half.
- Pour in broth and lemon juice. Add spinach, capers, and 2 tablespoons butter. Reduce heat to medium. Simmer for 5 minutes or until the sauce slightly thickens. Taste. Adjust seasonings as desired.
- Return chicken, tomatoes and lemon slices to the skillet. Spoon sauce over the chicken piccata. Garnish with parsley.
Notes
EXPERT TIPS FOR CHICKEN PICCATA
- SAVE TIME IN THE KITCHEN: Buy “thinly-sliced” boneless, skinless chicken breasts. They’re about 1/4-inch thick, so you won’t need to pound them. You can also use chicken cutlets and slice them horizontally.
- ADD MORE TEXTURE: For an irresistible crispy-brown crust, add 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese or Panko breadcrumbs to the seasoned flour.
- MAKE IT A ONE-POT MEAL: Filled with healthy veggies and protein, this is definitely a one-pot meal! For extra vegetables, add in some zucchini when pan-roasting the cherry tomatoes.
- WHAT TO SERVE WITH THIS DISH: Mashed cauliflower, orzo, mashed potatoes, or angel hair pasta. Try steamed broccoli or stir-fried green beans. Enjoy chicken piccata with a crisp green salad.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 Minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: Chicken Piccata, Piccata Milanese, Chicken Milanese, One Pot
CHICKEN PICCATA > JOIN THE CONVERSATION
Have you tried lemon chicken piccata at your favorite Italian restaurant? Do you know this dish by another name: piccata milanese or chicken milanese? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Definitely one of my favorite versions of chicken piccata! Really loved the artichokes and lemons!
★★★★★
What a beautiful and healthy option for chicken piccata! My family is going to love this recipe.
★★★★★
One pot dinners are the best and this was great! Loved how easy it was to put together! The flavor was amazing!
★★★★★
I loved the combination of flavors! Really delish!
★★★★★
I love being able to make one of my restaurant favs at home! Your step by step made it so easy!
★★★★★
This is one of our favourite dishes. Cannot wait to make and more importantly eat this beautiful dish.
★★★★★
One pot, loads of flavour and healthy – this is a winner!
★★★★★
Such a gorgeous dish! I love all those colors and definitely need to try some more one pot meals.
OMG! The flavors in this area all spot on! We all loved this recipe so much, I will be repeating it over and over!
★★★★★
OMG! I have never tried chicken piccata, although I am in love with Italian cuisine. I am drooling over your pictures… I just need to make it ASAP!
★★★★★
This was so delicious-packed with flavor! Definitely worthy of a restaurant, indeed!
★★★★★
I love chicken piccata, it’s definitely one of my top favorite things to make with chicken! Yours looks so delicious – can’t wait to try this recipe ♥
★★★★★