Description
Barefoot Contessa Chicken Piccata is a quick and elegant dish featuring tender, golden-breaded chicken breasts in a bright, buttery lemon-wine sauce. Perfect for weeknight dinners or when you want to impress without the stress!
Ingredients
2 split boneless, skinless chicken breasts (1 whole chicken breast)
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 extra-large egg
1/2 tablespoon water
3/4 cup seasoned dry bread crumbs
Olive oil (for cooking)
3 tablespoons unsalted butter (room temperature, divided)
1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (from 2 lemons), lemon halves reserved
1/2 cup dry white wine
Lemon slices (for serving)
Chopped fresh parsley (for serving)
Instructions
Preheat Oven: Set oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
Flatten Chicken: Pound chicken breasts between two sheets of parchment or plastic wrap until 1/4-inch thick. Season with salt and pepper.
Set Up Dredging Stations:
Plate 1: Mix flour with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper.
Plate 2: Beat egg with water.
Plate 3: Add bread crumbs.
Coat the Chicken: Dip each piece in flour (shake off excess), then egg, then bread crumbs.
Sauté: Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium-low. Cook chicken for 2 minutes per side, until golden.
Bake: Transfer to sheet pan and bake 5–10 minutes, until cooked through.
Make Sauce: Wipe pan clean. Melt 1 tbsp butter. Add lemon juice, wine, lemon halves, salt, and pepper. Boil for 2 minutes to reduce. Remove from heat and swirl in remaining 2 tbsp butter.
Serve: Discard lemon halves. Plate chicken, spoon sauce on top, and garnish with lemon slices and parsley.
Notes
Substitute chicken broth for wine if needed.
Letting the coated chicken rest before frying helps the coating stick.
Don’t skip fresh lemon juice—it makes a big difference!
Pair with pasta, roasted potatoes, or seasonal veggies.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baked, Pan-Fried
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 460 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 540 mg
- Fat: 23 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 41 g
- Cholesterol: 165 mg