Chicken Piccata (or Veal Piccata) is one of those staple dinner recipes that I like to make for a dinner party. It’s simple and delicious. Surprisingly, it is a dish that most people think is difficult or complicated. Making a dinner like Chicken Piccata is actually so much easier than you think and I hope this recipe becomes one that is most useful to you, especially if you’re looking for the perfect entree for a small (or even large) dinner party.
In the recipe below and the video demonstrating how to make Chicken Piccata, I’ll show you that this dish is only a few steps and that you can make this for 4 or 40 people and they’ll all be amazed at how great you made it. Look for the full recipe details and cooking tips right below the video.
Ingredients:
- 4 skinless and boneless chicken breasts, butterflied, pounded thin and then cut in half
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1 cup all-purpose flour, for dredging
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 lemons, 1 juiced, 1 sliced
- 1 cup dry white wine
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 1 bullion cube
- 2 tablespoons capers, drained
- 1/3 cup fresh parsley, chopped
Directions:
On a cutting board, fillet each chicken breast and trim off any fat. Place two pieces of chicken at a time between two pieces of parchment paper. Pound with a flat mallet, until the cutlets are about 1/4-inch thick. Set aside and repeat until all the chicken is pounded thin. I like to cut the breasts into two pieces to make them more manageable and they also make more reasonable serving sizes like this.
Put some flour in a shallow dish. First, season each side of the chicken cutlets with salt and pepper and then dredge each cutlet lightly on each side with flour.
Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. When the oil is nice and hot, brown a few cutlets at a time for 3-5 minutes on each side until golden. Once the chicken is brown, place the pieces in a single layer on a cookie sheet with a rim, or a glass casserole dish. Continue until all the chicken is browned. You don’t need to cook the chicken now. Just brown it. You’ll finish cooking it in the oven.
Turn up the heat and pour the white wine in the pan and boil down for a minute so the alcohol cooks off. Then add the lemon juice, chicken stock, bouillon, butter and then, the capers. Allow the sauce to cook for a minute or two. Pour the sauce over the chicken, place the lemon slices on top, cover with foil and place in a 350-degree oven for about 20 minutes. Remove chicken and sprinkle with fresh parsley before serving.
Cook’s Tips:
If you are making this for just 3-4 people, you could both brown the chicken and then cook it in the same pan to avoid using the oven. In that case, you would brown the chicken, then cover the pan and simmer on low for about 15 minutes instead of using the oven.





{ 28 comments… read them below or add one }
Love chicken piccata! I always thought it was so difficult to make, but you make it look so easy!! Thank you Sugar!!
Maria,
It is so easy. Cooking is very easy if you break it down into steps. Give this a try and I am sure you will love it. If you need any help just email me.
Sugar
OMG I’ve made chicken piccata before and it was delicious but was a lot hard than your recipe looks. I can’t wait to make your recipe, it looks so good and so easy. I’m wondering how do you know what kind of white wine do I use, does it matter?
Kristin
Kristin I just use any decent white drinking wine. I think that was Sauvignon Blanc. I’m not a wine snob like some people. LOL!!
This is a very easy recipe and if you make it for a party you can make the chicken and the sauce ahead of time. Keep the chicken covered and abut 30 minutes before you plan to serve it. Cover with the sauce, cover the tray and pop in the oven.
Enjoy!
Sugar
Hi sugar…just saw the recipe for chicken piccata. Looks delicious…I am gonna give it a try. What exactly are capers? Just wondering I have some picky eaters that may not like them. Any substitutions? Thanks. Your videos are amazing and soooo funn at the end! Love them and all your recipies.
Sandy,
This recipe is so easy and yummy so do try it. You can use the capers in the sauce but don’t serve them on the kids chicken. you can pour just the sauce over the pieces they eat but don’t serve them the capers in their plate. My kids don’t eat them they are really just for the flavor they give to the sauce. They are a flower but that is pickled so it gives a salty taste to the sauce that is very yummy.
I say make the dish like I show and on the kid’s pieces just don’t top them with the capers. Give them an extra sprinkle of Parmesan cheese when you serve it and I think they will love it. Thank you so much for the sweet feedback on my videos. I try to make them fun and show how easy it is to cook and entertain. Keep me posted on how it goes and be sure to share my site with family and friends so you can help it grow.
I want to spread as much love from my kitchen as I can.
Enjoy!
Sugar
This is one of my favorite entree. I usually add mushrooms to the recipe. I also use pheasant instead of chicken.
Yum Jane that sounds amazing.
Sugar
Hi,
I made this dish the other night for dinner, it was so easy to make and so good!!! Everyone loved it! I am Sandy’s form Omaha, she is always telling us what an amazing cook you are! Thanks so much for sharing all of your delicous recipes with us! I heard you had a great recipe for Chicken Parmesan! Would love for you to share it!
Thanks so much!
Suzanne
Suzanne,
I’m so glad you liked this recipe. Yes Sandy is here all the time for some good home cooking. LOL!! I love her like a sister.
She told me you have been making some of my recipes and I’m so thrilled about that. Yes I do make an amazing chicken parm and I will be sure to do that recipe and video right after Christmas. I’m just too busy right now with cookies and other holiday recipes but that will be one for the new year.
Thanks so much for the feedback and stay in touch.
Happy Cooking. Oh and be sure to share my site with your friends.
Sugar
This is one of my all time favorites for dinner parties. I always cook it up in the pan on the stove. I am going to use your method of finishing in the oven next time. It looks like it would work out better.
What is the piano music in the background?
Fred
Hey Fred,
Thanks so much for the feedback. I like to do it in the oven like this when I make it for a dinner party. I even make the chicken and the sauce ahead of time. Set my chicken in the baking pan and my sauce in a seperate container. Then about 40 minutes before I want to serve dinner than I add the sauce cover and bake.
Happy Cooking.
Sugar
Hi! When you brown the chicken, does this have to be right before you put it in the oven, or could you do it earlier? I didn’t know if it would dry out by doing it earlier?
Thanks it sounds delicious I think I will try it this weekend!
Linda,
Yes I make the chicken earlier all the time and just keep the sauce separately. I keep the chicken covered then add the sauce right before I put it in the oven and it comes out great.
Enjoy!
Sugar
Thanks! I made it tonight. It was SO delicious.
Linda,
I’m so glad it turned out well. Thanks for the feedback.
Sugar
Hi Kristin,
Loved the video, quick and straight to the point. I’ve made picatta several times before, but never for a large group. I have about 20 guest. I am I able to prepare the chicken in the a.m.? If so should I put keep it in the fridge or out, and covered. I don’t want it to dry out. Also for the sauce can I prepare in the earlier part of the day as well?
Sherry,
Refrigerate it. Cover it and keep the sauce on the side in the fridge. You can then take it out about 30 minutes before you want to bake it add the sauce right before baking and bake as directed in the recipe. I do it all the time and it works out great.
Enjoy!
I used your recipe for 60 people for a baby shower. It is so easy…I like to add parmesan cheese to the flour and then sprinkle some parmasan cheese on the finished dish. I added a bit of mini penne pasta to the dish and served with a ceasars salad and crusty bread. I received rave reviews on how tender the chicken was.
So, I had some sauce left over…having family visit tomorrow and making the same dish, but only for 12 people. After making it for 60, tomorrow should be a breeze. We are celebrating the birth of our granddaughter!
So, for the baby shower, I prepared the chicken ahead of time. I placed the medallions on a pc of wax paper and warpped and froze them after hammering them down. I also made the sauce ahead of time.
Thank you so much. It is a very classic and elegant dish.
Jeanne,
I’m so glad it worked out for you. WOW that is a big crowd but you see how easy it can be with some planning. You make my day honey. Thanks for sharing and God Bless that new baby.
HUgs,
Sugar
This was the first recipe I tried from your recommendations and we nearly fell off our chairs on how great it turned out…. Sugar, you are turning me into a good cook, thank you!
So awesome! Thanks for the feedback.
Just to cllarify, if I’m making it ahead of time I am obviously cooking chicken completely done? and then follow rest: keep sauce separate, etc
Yes when you brown the chicken cook it completly.
Enjoy!
I prepared chicken piccata to some friends. Your receipe had a huge success in Marrakesh, Morocco. I don’t know how many fans you have in Morocco, but you surely have my wife, our guests of yesterday and I.
Thank you so much
Wow that is just amazing. I don’t know if I have many fans in Morocco but I know I have one now. Thank you so much for the kind feedback and please do share my site with your family and friends. It’s nice to spread love from the kitchen around the world.
This recipe was such a success at my Grandmother’s party tonight!!! Thank u so much for inspiring me to cook the whole event myself
Everyone wants this recipe!
OH Tara that is so great. You made my day.
Thanks for the feedback.
Sugar