Quick & Easy High Protein Chicken Piccata Recipe
One of my favorite Italian dishes is Chicken Piccata. We frequent a restaurant that makes my favorite. This past year, I wasn’t able to eat out as often as usual, so I attempted to duplicate their high-protein Chicken Piccata recipe. I think it turned out great, and Brad said he likes it better than the restaurant version.
As I’m on a strict high-protein diet, this recipe is a favorite go-to. It’s also a low-carb recipe. So that’s another win-win.
If you like a lemon-based sauce with the tartness of capers combined with tender chicken, you’ll love this recipe. Surprisingly, it’s quick and easy to make.
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Quick and Easy Chicken Piccata Secrets
The secret to good chicken piccata is thin slices of chicken breast. I have split a large chicken breast horizontally, but then realized that purchasing chicken breast tenders or strips works even better.
Then you must pound the chicken until it’s thin. I like mine around 1/4 inch thick.
Another secret to successful chicken piccata is fresh lemon juice. It gives the dish the perfect balance of tart and savory.
How To Prepare The Chicken
If you are using a large chicken breast, the first step is to split them horizontally. Prepare your flour mixture with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
On a plastic cutting board, pound the chicken until it is thin. I like it 1/4 inch thick.
Then drege the chicken tenders in the flour mixture.
Cook The Chicken Breasts
To cook the chicken breast, add butter to a large skillet over medium heat and add the flour-coated chicken breast. Cook until browned, add more butter, and turn. Cook until both sides are browned, and the chicken is cooked through. Remove from the skillet, leaving the drippings, and set aside.
How To Make Chicken Piccata Sauce or Gravy?
Next, return the skillet to the burner and add the remaining butter. Stir and scrape the drippings to combine with the butter until melted.
Add chicken broth and lemon juice to the skillet. Stirring until it begins to thicken. If the consistency is not what is desired, you can add a small amount of the flour mixture (used for dredging the breast) to the liquid. Mix well and continue stirring. Add capers.
Add Chicken
Once the sauce or gravy thickens to your satisfaction, add the cooked chicken back to the skillet. Lower the heat and simmer until the chicken is heated.
How To Serve Chicken Piccata
In restaurants, I’ve been served the Chicken with the sauce alone and over pasta.
I prefer it over angel hair pasta. To ensure everything is ready at the same time, cook your pasta according to the directions while the chicken browns. The sauce-making process is quick, and you want your pasta ready while everything is hot.
To serve, I recommend plating the pasta first, then topping it with a chicken breast. Spoon some of the sauce/gravy over the breast and pasta.
Optional Serving Ideas
I also like to add some fresh parsley to garnish. You can also add shaved or shredded Parmesan cheese to the top. Serve with a tossed salad for a delicious meal.
Quick and Easy High Protein Chicken Piccata Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Large Skillet/Frying Pan
- 1 Cutting Board
- 1 Meat Tenderizer Hammer
- 1 shallow dish or bowl
Ingredients
- 4 large Chicken Tenders or Strips
- 1/4 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1 cup Flour Plain
- 5 tbsp Butter
- 1/2 cup Chicken Broth
- 1/3 cup fresh squeezed Lemon Juice
- 1/3 cup Capers
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp pepper
Instructions
- In a shallow dish mix flour, garlic power, salt, & pepper until even distributed.
- Place your chicken breast tenders on the cutting board and use the meat hammer to flatten the breasts until they are approximately 1/4 inch thick.
- Place the skillet on medium heat and add 1 Tbsp of butter and allow to melt.
- Dredge the chicken tenders in the flour mixture, coating both sides.
- Place in the skillet to cook. After approximately 3 minutes, flip over and add another tbsp. of butter. Continue to flip until both sides are browned and chicken is done.
- Remove chicken breasts and set aside. Reserve any drippings in the skillet.
- Return skillet with drippings to the burner and add remaining butter.
- Then add chicken broth, & lemon juice. Continue to stir until sauce thickens. If you are not happy with the consistency you can add a small amount of the flour mixture to thicken. Continue to stir until the flour is smooth and you are happy with c onsistency.
- Then add cooked chicken breast and capers. Stir until chicken reheated.
- You can serve alone or over Angel Hair pasta. Add chicken breast to each plate and drizzle the gravy over each breast.
Notes
- Each serving has approximately 50 grams of protein.Â
- You can use 2 large chicken breasts and split them into two thin pieces. Â
- If your sauce or gravy evaporates and you need more, just add a splash more chicken broth and stir to mix. Â
- You can substitute butter with olive oil when cooking the chicken to reduce calories. However, I do recommend using butter for making the sauce/gravy. It gives it a soft, buttery lemon flavor. Â
- Serve alone or over pasta. Be sure to cook the pasta while the chicken is cooking so that everything is ready and hot when it’s time to serve. Â
- You can garnish with fresh parsley. Â
Low Carb/High Protein Chicken Piccata
This chicken piccata recipe is not only high in protein, approximately 50 grams per serving. Another plus is that it’s low in carbs without adding any pasta, making it a good keto recipe. I try to limit the amount of pasta as the meal is hearty without the added carbs. However, the sauce is delicious on the pasta. LOL
I hope you enjoy this delicious recipe as much as we do.
