The Barefoot Contessa Chicken Piccata Recipe: Simple Yet Divine

Barefoot Contessa Chicken Piccata transforms ordinary poultry into a restaurant-worthy culinary experience that feels simultaneously sophisticated and comforting.

This classic Italian-inspired recipe promises a delightful dance of bright, zesty flavors that elevate a straightforward protein.

Tender chicken breasts get a luxurious golden coating through careful pan-frying techniques.

Succulent meat meets a vibrant sauce where citrusy notes harmonize with rich butter and a subtle hint of briny capers.

Each bite delivers a perfect balance between crisp exterior and juicy interior, making the dish irresistibly appealing.

Elegant yet approachable, this recipe brings gourmet dining directly to your kitchen with minimal effort and maximum satisfaction: Get ready to impress!

The Bright Zing Behind a Chicken Piccata Favorite

• Create a Restaurant-Quality Dish at Home: This Barefoot Contessa Chicken Piccata transforms ordinary chicken into a stunning meal that rivals professional restaurant cooking, allowing home chefs to impress family and friends with minimal culinary expertise.
• Enjoy Perfect Texture Combination: The recipe delivers an incredible crunch from golden bread crumbs exterior while maintaining a tender, juicy chicken interior, providing a delightful contrast in every single bite that keeps taste buds excited.
• Elevate Flavor with Simple Sauce: The bright, tangy lemon-wine sauce adds sophisticated depth to the crispy chicken, creating a complex yet uncomplicated flavor profile that makes this dish feel elegant and gourmet without requiring advanced cooking skills.
• Quick and Versatile Weeknight Winner: From start to finish, this chicken piccata takes less than 30 minutes to prepare, making it an ideal solution for busy families wanting a delicious meal that doesn't compromise on taste or presentation.

Must-Haves for a Lemon-Caper Chicken Win

• Chicken Breasts: Tender, boneless meat that becomes the star of the dish, best when fresh and evenly sized for consistent cooking.

• All-Purpose Flour, Kosher Salt, Black Pepper: Creates a light seasoned base layer for crispy exterior.
• Egg, Water: Helps bread crumbs adhere to chicken surface for perfect golden coating.
• Bread Crumbs: Provides crunchy, golden exterior with delightful texture.

• Olive Oil: Helps brown chicken and prevent sticking to pan.
• Butter: Adds rich, smooth flavor and helps create silky sauce.
• Lemon Juice: Brings bright, tangy acidity to balance the dish.
• White Wine: Adds depth and complexity to sauce.
• Fresh Parsley: Provides fresh, herbal garnish with vibrant color.
• Lemon Slice: Decorative garnish that hints at dish's citrusy profile.

Cooking Chicken Piccata with That Golden Touch

Step 1: Warm Up the Oven

Crank the oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup.

Step 2: Flatten the Chicken

Gently pound chicken breasts between parchment sheets until they’re wonderfully thin. Season both sides with salt and pepper.

Step 3: Create Dredging Stations

Set up three shallow plates for coating:

• Flour
• Salt
• Pepper

• Beaten egg
• Water

• Bread crumbs

Step 4: Coat the Chicken

• Flour mixture first
• Egg wash second
• Bread crumbs last

Step 5: Sizzle and Bake

• Heat olive oil in a large skillet
• Cook chicken for 2 minutes per side until golden
• Transfer to baking sheet
• Bake 5-10 minutes until fully cooked

Step 6: Craft the Zesty Sauce

• Lemon juice
• White wine
• Lemon halves
• Salt
• Pepper

Boil until sauce reduces by half. Remove from heat. Stir in remaining butter

Step 7: Plate and Garnish

• Remove lemon halves from sauce
• Place chicken on plates
• Drizzle sauce over top
• Garnish with lemon slice
• Sprinkle fresh parsley

Tips to Balance Tang and Tenderness

• Tenderize with Care: Pound chicken breasts gently and evenly to create a uniform thickness, guaranteeing perfectly cooked, succulent meat that cooks quickly and consistently.
• Squeeze Fresh Sunshine: Reach for real lemons instead of bottled juice, extracting bright, zesty flavor that transforms the piccata sauce from ordinary to extraordinary.
• Pan Performance Matters: Give chicken breathing room while cooking, preventing steaming and ensuring a gorgeous golden-brown crust that delivers delicious crispy edges.
• Sauce Reduction Magic: Simmer the sauce until it thickens and concentrates, developing deeper, more intense flavors that cling beautifully to the chicken.
• Rest and Relax: Allow cooked chicken a brief moment to settle, redistributing internal juices for maximum tenderness and preventing dry, tough meat when serving.

Keep Your Chicken Piccata Fresh and Fabulous

• Freeze Wisely: Seal cooled Chicken Piccata in heavy-duty freezer bags, removing excess air to prevent freezer burn. Stack flat for maximum space efficiency, labeling each bag with the date and contents. This method preserves flavor and texture for up to one month.
• Refrigerate Strategically: Transfer chicken to a glass container with a tight-fitting lid, placing a paper towel underneath to absorb excess moisture. Consume within three days for optimal taste and food safety. Keep the container toward the back of the refrigerator where temperature remains most consistent.
• Gentle Reheating: Warm chicken slowly in a covered skillet with a splash of chicken broth to restore moisture. Use medium-low heat, turning pieces occasionally to prevent drying. Alternatively, use the oven at 325°F, covering with foil and adding a touch of broth to maintain tenderness.

Spin the Classic with Bold and Citrusy Ideas

• Mediterranean Herb Infusion: Replace bread crumbs with a blend of dried oregano, thyme, and rosemary for a Greek-inspired flavor profile that adds aromatic complexity to the chicken.
• Gluten-Free Crispy Version: Swap wheat flour and bread crumbs with almond flour and crushed gluten-free crackers to create a crunchy coating that's perfect for those with dietary restrictions.
• Spicy Cajun Kick: Incorporate cayenne pepper and paprika into the flour mixture, then use Creole seasoning instead of plain bread crumbs to transform the classic recipe into a zesty Southern-style dish.
• Nutty Parmesan Crust: Mix grated Parmesan cheese with bread crumbs and add chopped toasted almonds for an extra layer of nutty richness and textural contrast to the chicken piccata.

A Tangy Goodbye to the Piccata Plate

Chicken piccata emerges as a culinary masterpiece that dances between classic Italian roots and modern kitchen elegance.

Barefoot Contessa’s recipe elevates this dish from ordinary to extraordinary with precise techniques and balanced flavors.

Mediterranean influences shine through each golden-crusted chicken breast, creating a symphony of lemony brightness and delicate crunch.

Complex yet approachable, this recipe transforms simple ingredients into a restaurant-quality meal anyone can master at home.

Sophisticated techniques merge with straightforward preparation, making chicken piccata accessible for home cooks seeking international flair.

When plated with its velvety sauce and herbaceous garnish, this dish promises a gourmet experience that will make followers swoon, share their kitchen triumphs on social media, and inspire culinary adventures with their closest friends.

Barefoot Contessa Chicken Piccata Recipe

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4.6 from 38 reviews

• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Barefoot Contessa’s Chicken Piccata delivers classic Italian-American comfort with zesty lemon and capers. Delicate chicken cutlets sparkle with tangy sauce, promising restaurant-quality flavor right from your kitchen.

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Ingredients

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Proteins:

• 2 split boneless, skinless chicken breasts (1 whole chicken breast)
• 1 extra-large egg

Dry Ingredients:

• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup seasoned dry bread crumbs
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper

Liquids and Garnishes:

• ½ tablespoon water
• Olive oil (for cooking)
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter (room temperature)
• ⅓ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (from 2 lemons)
• ½ cup dry white wine
• Lemon slices (for serving)
• Chopped fresh parsley (for serving)

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Instructions

1. Prepare the oven and baking surface by heating to 400°F (200°C) and lining a sheet pan with parchment paper.
2. Tenderize chicken breasts between parchment paper, flattening to 1/4-inch thickness. Season both sides generously with salt and black pepper.
3. Create three separate dredging stations: first with seasoned flour, second with beaten egg and water mixture, and third with bread crumbs.
4. Carefully coat each chicken breast by first dredging in flour, removing excess, then dipping in egg wash, and finally covering completely with bread crumbs.
5. Heat olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium-low temperature. Sear chicken breasts for 2 minutes per side until golden brown, then transfer to prepared sheet pan.
6. Bake the chicken in the preheated oven for 5 to 10 minutes, ensuring internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) for fully cooked meat.
7. Clean the sauté pan and melt butter over medium heat. Add lemon juice, white wine, reserved lemon halves, salt, and pepper.
8. Reduce sauce by boiling on high heat for approximately 2 minutes until volume is halved. Remove from heat and incorporate remaining butter for richness.
9. Plate the chicken, discarding lemon halves from sauce. Drizzle sauce over each breast, garnish with fresh lemon slice and chopped parsley.

Notes

• Gently pound chicken breasts to a uniform 1/4-inch thickness, guaranteeing even cooking and maintaining tender, succulent meat throughout.
• Squeeze fresh lemons to extract vibrant, zesty juice that elevates the sauce’s flavor profile, avoiding dull bottled alternatives that lack brightness.
• Create space between chicken pieces while sautéing, allowing each cutlet to develop a golden, crispy exterior without steaming in crowded conditions.
• Simmer sauce until it reduces by half, transforming liquid into a rich, concentrated blend that clings beautifully to the perfectly cooked chicken.
• Give baked chicken a brief moment to rest before serving, letting juices redistribute and ensuring each bite remains incredibly moist and delectable.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 537.5
• Sugar: 1.5g
• Sodium: 240.0mg
• Fat: 22.0g
• Saturated Fat: 8.9g
• Carbohydrates: 38.5g
• Fiber: 1.5g
• Protein: 31.5g
• Cholesterol: 65.0mg