This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
This Chicken Piccata recipe answers your “what’s for dinner tonight?” dilemma in a quick and delicious way. Forget fancy ingredients or pounding out cutlets – this single serving recipe delivers restaurant-worthy flavors in just 20 minutes. We use simple techniques to create tender chicken bathed in a light and tangy lemon caper sauce, perfect for a satisfying lunch or light dinner.
This single serving Chicken Piccata recipe is a lifesaver! Made with simple ingredients, it comes together quickly for a delicious and satisfying meal. Enjoy it on its own, or serve Chicken Piccata with a comforting side like buttered noodles or homemade mashed potatoes. Craving more single serving chicken inspiration? Check out our other recipes for Chicken Divan, Lemon Garlic Chicken, and Chicken Fricassee – all portioned perfectly for one!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Fast and Easy: Ready in just 20 minutes, this recipe is perfect for busy weeknights or whenever you need a quick and delicious meal.
- Simple Ingredients: Made with common pantry staples, this recipe requires no fancy ingredients.
- One-Pan Wonder: Everything cooks in a single skillet, minimizing cleanup.
- Restaurant-Quality Flavor: Despite its simplicity, this dish delivers restaurant-worthy taste with its juicy chicken and tangy lemon sauce.
- Easily Customizable: This recipe is a great base for customization. Play around with different herbs or add a splash of white wine for an extra flavor dimension.
What Is Chicken Piccata: A Lemony Delight With Twist
Chicken Piccata is a classic Italian dish known for its tender, pan-seared chicken and vibrant lemon-butter piccata sauce studded with briny capers. It’s a delightful balance of flavors and textures that’s become a beloved menu choice.
Our single serving Chicken Piccata recipe takes this classic and gives it a modern twist for busy home cooks. We ditch the traditional pounded cutlets and instead use readily available boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced into strips for quicker and easier preparation. This single serving approach means perfectly portioned meals and minimal cleanup.
Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this easy Chicken Piccata recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder.
- Chicken: A 5-6 ounce boneless, skinless breast, thinly sliced. This makes it quick to cook and easy to eat. If you have extra chicken breasts, they’re great for making Tuscan Chicken or Chicken Parmesan, giving you more delicious meal options.
- Flour: All-purpose flour is standard. For a gluten-free version, use a gluten-free flour like King Arthur’s Measure For Measure, and ensure broth is also gluten-free.
- Salt and Black Pepper: Added for seasoning.
- Parmesan Cheese: Freshly shredded is recommended for better melting. Pre-shredded contains preservatives affecting meltability.
- Olive Oil: Extra virgin is preferred for its flavor and quality. Light olive oil is an alternative.
- Butter: Salted butter enhances the sauce’s flavor.
- Chicken Broth: Low-sodium is preferable to control saltiness. Adjust added salt if using regular broth. Use any leftover broth in Chicken Tortellini Soup or Risotto.
- Lemon Juice: Freshly squeezed offers the best taste. Bottled can be used in a pinch.
- Capers: Add a tangy, salty burst to the sauce. Consider using leftover capers in a fresh tomato salad or on a smoked salmon platter.
- Parsley: Freshly chopped parsley brings a bright flavor to the dish.
Recipe Variations
- Chicken Piccata with Artichokes: Add a touch of sophistication by incorporating a few quartered marinated artichoke hearts to the pan along with the capers.
- Creamy Chicken Piccata: For a richer sauce, stir in a tablespoon of heavy cream or sour cream after adding the lemon juice.
- Spicy Chicken Piccata: Add a kick of heat by including a pinch of red pepper flakes or some chopped fresh jalapeño pepper (seeds removed) to the pan with the butter.
How To Make Chicken Piccata
These step-by-step photos and instructions help you visualize how to make this small batch Chicken Piccata recipe. See the recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.
- Slice the chicken breast into thin strips, about 1/4-inch thick.
- In a bowl, combine flour, salt, pepper, and Parmesan cheese.
- Coat the chicken strips evenly in the flour mixture.
- Heat butter and olive oil in a 10-inch skillet over medium heat.
- Once the butter sizzles, add the chicken. Cook for 3 minutes on one side.
Pro Tip: Be sure to let the butter melt fully. When it melts, you will know that the fat is the ideal temperature to cook your chicken.
- Flip the chicken strips and cook for another 3 minutes until browned and fully cooked.
- Take the chicken out and place it on a plate.
- In the same skillet, add chicken broth, lemon juice, and capers. Scrape the pan’s bottom gently and simmer until the sauce halves.
- Stir in the remaining butter.
- Return the chicken to the pan, simmer for 2 minutes.
- Serve the chicken with the sauce poured over it, garnished with parsley.
Healthy Twists On Classic Chicken Piccata
Craving that delicious Chicken Piccata flavor but looking for a lighter option? Here are a few simple tweaks to transform this classic dish into a healthy and satisfying meal:
- Ditch the Flour: While the light flour coating adds a nice texture, you can easily skip it for a lower-carb version. The chicken will still brown beautifully in the pan, and you won’t sacrifice any of the wonderful lemon-caper sauce.
- Pick a Wholesome Side: The traditional pasta pairing is certainly tempting, but there are plenty of healthy alternatives. Brown rice offers a more fiber-rich option, or embrace the veggie spiralizer and swap in zoodles (zucchini noodles) for a low-carb twist. If you prefer leafy greens, a bed of spinach or arugula adds a touch of freshness and extra nutrients to your plate.
Expert Tips
- Prep is Key: This recipe moves fast! Take a minute to read through all the steps and gather your ingredients (including those mentioned in the Ingredient Notes) before you start cooking.
- Wine or No Wine? It’s up to you! This recipe uses broth for simplicity, but feel free to add a splash of white wine (about 2 tablespoons) along with the broth for an extra layer of flavor. Sauvignon Blanc is a great choice because its citrusy notes complement the lemon and parsley beautifully.
- Low-Carb Option: Craving a lower-carb Chicken Piccata? Skip the flour dredge! Simply coat your chicken strips in a mixture of grated Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper for a delicious and healthy alternative.
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely! Simply double all the ingredient amounts to serve two people.
Yes, you can leave the capers out altogether or substitute them with chopped green olives.
The cooked chicken and sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat gently in a pan over low heat until warmed through.
Chicken Piccata and Chicken Scallopini are related dishes, but there’s a key difference:
Chicken Scallopini: This refers to the preparation method of the chicken. “Scallopini” means “thin slices” in Italian, so chicken scallopini involves thinly sliced chicken breasts or thighs. These cutlets can then be cooked in a variety of ways, including pan-frying, baking, or grilling. The sauce used can also vary depending on the recipe.
Chicken Piccata: This is a specific dish that uses the scallopini preparation method. Chicken piccata features thinly sliced chicken cutlets dredged in flour, pan-seared, and then bathed in a lemon-butter sauce with capers.
Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder or you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:
For examples of the dishes used at One Dish Kitchen, please visit our Store page.
If you’ve tried this recipe for Chicken Piccata or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.
If you take a picture please tag us on Instagram (@onedishkitchen) we’d love to see it!
Chicken Piccata For One
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon all purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon grated Parmesan cheese
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
- 1 (5 to 6-ounce) boneless skinless chicken breast -sliced into ¼-inch strips
- 2 tablespoons butter -divided
- ½ tablespoon olive oil
- ¼ cup low sodium chicken broth
- ½ tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon capers -drained
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
Instructions
- Mix together the flour, Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper in a medium-sized bowl.
- Dredge the sliced chicken in the flour mixture until both sides of each of the chicken strip are well coated.
- In a 10-inch skillet over medium heat, melt 1 tablespoon of the butter with the olive oil.
- When the butter starts to sizzle, add the chicken and cook for 3 minutes on one side.
- Flip each of the chicken strips and cook for another 3 minutes, until the chicken pieces have browned and are cooked through.
- Remove the chicken from the pan and transfer to a plate. Add the chicken broth, lemon juice, and capers to the pan. Use the tip of a rubber spatula to gently scrape up the brown bits on the bottom of the pan. Bring to a simmer and cook until the sauce is reduced by half.
- Stir in the remaining butter.
- Return the chicken to the pan and simmer for 2 minutes.
- Transfer the chicken to a bowl or a plate and pour the piccata sauce over the chicken. Garnish with chopped parsley.
Notes
- Prep is Key: This recipe moves fast! Take a minute to read through all the steps and gather your ingredients (including those mentioned in the Ingredient Notes) before you start cooking.
- Wine or No Wine? It’s up to you! This recipe uses broth for simplicity, but feel free to add a splash of white wine (about 2 tablespoons) along with the broth for an extra layer of flavor. Sauvignon Blanc is a great choice because its citrusy notes complement the lemon and parsley beautifully.
- Low-Carb Option: Craving a lower-carb version? Skip the flour dredge! Simply coat your chicken strips in a mixture of grated Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper for a delicious and healthy alternative.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Made this for dinner tonight. It did not disappoint. Thank you for making it easier to cook for one. I can do it, but you take out the extra work.
Great dish, loved it. I am lazy and usually opt for yogurt or cottage cheese for dinner but I know that’s not the best. This was so easy I may change my mind!
I would leave out the capers. They are too strong of a taste. I don’t like them. lol
To each their own taste.
Super recipe.