It's an Italian classic for the garlic lover. This homemade Garlic Chicken Piccata is easy enough to make on a weeknight but fancy enough for company!
Oh, hello! It's been a little while, but for very good reason. We welcomed our little girl Matilda to the world last week and, so say the least, we've been a wee bit busy. But even as I type this (at 3:30 am attached to a pump), I'm excited to share this recipe for Garlic Chicken Piccata with you, because it's so easy that even new sleep deprived parents can make!
You read that right. We just welcome a new baby, the love of our lives, and yes, we are still cooking from scratch when we can. Because as I've said before, from scratch doesn't mean it has to be hard. Let me also say though, this is not meant to shame any new parents who are living off of frozen pizzas (we had some of those, too) and can't even imagine the thought of making something. I get you. Get that sleep first!
What is Chicken Piccata?
Chicken Piccata is a classic in Italian cooking. And while it is a name of a dish, the word "piccata" in Italian means "to be pounded flat" or as a cooking method, which means "sliced, sautéed, and served in a sauce containing lemon, butter and spices." Which is why you also have veal piccata and shrimp piccata - shrimp of course emphasis on the sautéed and the lemon and butter sauce.
The dish originated in Italy and is traditionally made with veal, but has become a breakout Italian American dish primarily with the (more affordable and accessible) chicken.
While we serve piccata as a main dish, as the Italians really know how to eat and eat dinner is courses, the secondi is the meat or seafood dish that's actually the fourth plate of the glorious Italian meal.
- Apertivo: Bubbles and a very light appetizer like a bruschetta.
- Antipasti: The "starter" that's a little heavier like a charcuterie platter.
- Primi: A meatless dish like a pasta or soup
- Secondi: Your meat or seafood dependent upon your region - this is where you'd find the piccata!
- Contorini: This is usually served with the secondi, and basically like a side dish to the meat and mostly vegetable based.
- Insalata: The salad served usually only if leafy veggies aren't in the contorini.
- Formaggi e Fruti: The fruit and cheese. An entire course dedicated to fruit and cheese... this is why I love Italian culture so much!
- Dolce: The sweet dessert. Hello Tiramisu!
- Caffe and Digestivo: The espresso or the final alcoholic drink like limoncello, amaro, or grappa to help digest that huge meal!
Ahhh don't the Italians know how a meal should be? I lived there for about 6 months in my 20s and these long, incredible meals late into the night are what I miss most (and the reason none of my clothes fit when I came home!).
Ingredients Needed
- Chicken Breast - Halved is best because this will ensure faster cooking. You could also use chicken tenderloins or even boneless thighs, but the white breast meat is the best for classic chicken piccata.
- Flour - Just a little to give the chicken a little coating.
- Garlic - Already a staple of our cooking, but this recipe takes it to the next level with a whole roasted bulb!
- Capers - Because what is chicken piccata without these salty, briny, pops of flavor?
- White Wine - Something dry. We usually cook with sauvignon blanc, but really the most important thing is that it is not a sweet wine.
- Chicken Stock - Have you made your own, yet? It's so easy and a great way to use up kitchen scraps you're just going to throw away!
- Butter - Salted to unsalted, whatever you have but if you use unsalted, just adjust your added salt accordingly.
- Lemon Juice - Fresh is always our favorite, but bottled if of course great, too!
- Salt, and Pepper - To season the chicken.
- Fresh Parsley - For a final garnish and punch of freshness!
As usual, fresh and simple is key!
Easy to Make
Although it technically takes awhile to cook, the actual attention time it needs is pretty minimal. A majority of the time required is roasting the garlic, but that's hands off time that I was able to change at least 2 diapers and pump a bottle of milk during.
Step 1: Roast the garlic.
You can skip this step if you'd like to save time and you cook the garlic in the pan, but honestly, roasting it adds so much more flavor and sweetens it a bit.
Step 2: Slice the chicken breasts in half and then dredge them in flour.
Piccata purists will say that you have to pound the chicken. And while we have sometimes pounded the chicken thigh halves to even thickness, this recipe does not require it. Slicing them in half is sufficient.
What is required, dredging them in flour.
Step 3: Cook chicken in a pan with butter and then set aside.
Step 4: Add the roasted garlic and create the rest of the sauce before adding the chicken back to the pan and coat with the sauce.
One pan to delicious!!
We served this with some leftover (remember, new baby) mashed potatoes and an easy green salad. But this would also be amazing with pasta or rice.
More Italian Inspired Dishes
- Easy Chicken Scampi
- Fresh Tomato Marinara Pasta
- Dan's Como Bread
- Fresh Ricotta Ravioli From Scratch
- Cast Iron Skillet Lasagna
- Fresh Homemade Pasta
FAQs
No. You don't have to, but roasting the garlic brings out its sweetness which I think really elevates this dish. But you can definitely just cook it in the pan, see recipe notes.
Nope. I prefer this recipe with just chicken breast halves, but you could absolutely halve and pound thin, too for quicker cooking. But I think that's just another step that's not totally necessary.
This is when pounding the chicken helps because if you pound it thin then will help to ensure even cooking, but you could also use a thermometer and then you can measure when the chicken is done when it reaches 165 degrees F.
Enjoy, Friends! If you make this recipe tell me what you think! I love to hear from you on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram! Whatever you serve it with, it'll be an easy, deliciously garlicky weeknight dinner that even newborn parents can make 😉
Garlic Chicken Piccata
Ingredients
- 3 chicken breasts halved
- 1/3 cup flour
- 2 tablespoon butter
- 1 head of garlic roasted
- 1/2 cup capers drained from juice
- 2/3 cup wine
- 2/3 cup chicken stock
- 2 tablespoon lemon
- salt and pepper to taste
- fresh parsley minced
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees. Slice garlic bulb off at the top. Wrap bulb in aluminum foil and drizzle oil oil over the top of it. Wrap and roast in oven for 40 minutes.
- Slice chicken breasts in half and then generously season them with salt and pepper.
- Add flour to a shallow bowl and dredge the chicken breast halves in the flour and set aside.
- About 5 minutes before garlic is done, melt the butter in a large sauté pan on medium high and add the chicken. Cook 3-4 minutes and then flip and cook another 3-4 minutes. Remove chicken from pan and set aside.
- Remove garlic from oven and open foil.
- With a fork, pull roasted garlic cloves out of bulb and add to the hot pan. Add the stock and wine and let cook for 5 minutes. Add capers and lemon juice and cook for another 3 minutes. Return chicken to the pan and pan baste the chicken with the sauce.
- Add parsley and serve over pasta, rice, mashed potatoes, or steamed vegetables.
Congratulations on your little blessing. First time on your site. I will try this recipe today. I hope that I have the wine but I think if not more stock will do, right? hope.... Thanks for the recipe!
Thank you! Stock will definitely work - enjoy!
Mikki June 2019th
I just want you to know I had this at a very nice Italian restaurant
And love it so much. Looked it up on pintress and found yours.
Made it 4 times now my husband and I love it so much. Thank you for sharing
That’s so great to hear, Mikki!! So glad you love it as much as we do!
I’ve bee looking for this recipe. Is anything I can use in place of the wine.
Hi Renee! White vinegar, chicken stock, lemon juice, or a combination of any of them would be great! I haven't tried it with the full 1/3 cup of vinegar yet, but I have with about a couple of tablespoons of vinegar and a few of lemon juice and it was great!
This is one of our favorite recipes. It is loaded with flavor. It's easy to make. And you can have it on the dinner table in no time. The extra garlic in the recipe doesn't overwhelm the chicken, it just spices up the delicious sauce perfectly. So yummy! This recipe is on the schedule this week.
You had me at 'a little more garlicky.'
Belated congratulations on your little one, and a big ol' head-nod from me on changing priorities and the culinary challenges that come with having a baby. We're expecting our third soon, and being outnumbered really means that I'm going to be keeping my eyes out for good, delicious, scratch-made food that can be put together in a snap. This is going on the list! Cheers!
I love chicken piccata as is, but the way I see it, the more garlic the better!! This recipe looks like absolute perfection for a busy weeknight!
I’m one of those people who reads a recipe with one clove of garlic and thinks “OH…they must mean one HEAD…”. This extra garlicky chicken piccata calls to me for this very reason. I also love that the garlic is roasted. It gives it such a pleasant aroma with the capers that this dish is just asking to be made over and over again.
Extra garlic *never* hurt anyone! (Well, maybe vampires 😉 )
We're huge on garlic in this house, and chicken piccata is one of my husbands faves. I usually stick to the classic recipe, but I'm going to have to surprise him with this more garlicky version next time! He'll be thrilled. I'm a garlic fiend too, so we both win. Minus the fact that we probably won't make out that night. Ha!
Haha! My husband and I joke about how we probably wouldn’t be married to each other if we both didn’t love garlic as much as the other! 😜
First of all, I know it isn't so new anymore, but congrats on the baby!! I want to see some pics!! Second, kudos to you for cooking at all with a newborn. I sure didn't! This sounds like a wonderful dinner and I say, the more garlic the better!
Aw thanks Stef! It has been awhile- so long we now have another baby!
Omgosh, I forget how easy it is to make chicken piccata! Such a simple recipe with delicious results…always! Of course I love it that you go the extra mile and roast garlic for this recipe. Another easy move that always pays off. I need to get this back on my busy week night meal rotation. Thanks for the great recipe 🙂
Thanks, Traci! That roasting def makes a big added difference!
Yum! Roasting the garlic ahead is genius to add so much flavor and not risk burning the garlic in the pan. Great idea!! I love how simple this is to make with pantry staples.
Definitely, Debra! I hope you try it and enjoy it!
I love how simple but delicious this chicken is. I love a good chicken piccata! Congrats on your little one and I love the name that you chose! How do you have time to do it all?!
Thank you! We totally lucked out with a little dream baby who sleeps and just chills while I cook!
Where was this easy dinner when mine was a newborn??? Ours was born July 2016, so almost the same time! There's no way I could have changed diapers and pumped while making dinner. But, I didn't have this easy awesome recipe. LOL!
Oh my gosh! So close in age how fun! Which means you're in the throws of the infamous two, too! We need these easy recipes now for entirely different reasons!
Congratulations on your new addition! When I had mine -- we didn't eat anything but peanut butter and jelly for the first two months! I'm impressed that you have the drive to cook at all. Your chicken piccata looks absolutely perfect -- love that golden crust and the whole head of roasted garlic sounds Ah-Mazing! I haven't made piccata in ages, even though my family loves it. Thank you for the inspiration -- I'm sticking my garlic in the oven now!
Well if you are cooking with wine, you know it is going to be delicious. Lots of simple flavours creating one awesome chicken dish. Love the pop of those little capers. This would be perfect for entertaining, and you also can finish the wine too.
My son was just talking about piccata and I had to see what is it exactly. I need to try your recipe and make him some chicken piccata:)
Congrats on the new baby! How exciting 🙂 This looks like the perfect easy, but flavorful meal, for times when life gets a little crazy.
one of my favorites and my moms we love chicken piccata and I love your recipe will give this a try! thanks for posting
This was absolutely delicious! Even my picky kids liked it. Only thing I didn’t do was add the capers, but I will next time! Wish I could add a picture of my finished product to show everyone. 🙂 Thank you for sharing the recipe!
Oh my yum! Chicken piccata and then with garlic love this idea easy to make and with so much flavor. No doubt a favorite. Classic recipes are always the best.
Looks so delicious and perfect for a quick healthy dinner!
This is amazing! Just whipped it up for dinner, we are on vacation and with limited utensils in an airbnb so I just loved how no nonsense it is, but still with lots of flavor!
It's awesome that you managed to keep to some parts of your pre-baby life especially when it comes to food. Nothing beats a good homecooked meal and this piccata would be so amazing after being up with a crying baby for days
I've actually been searching for capers to try a recipe similar to this! Once I do, I'm sure I'll have enough to make this alongside it! I love all the garlic in this since I feel like the more the better!
This chicken piccata looks so, so good! I love those briny, wonderful capers and the perfect crust from the pan-fry. Sounds absolutely delicious!
First of all -- congratulations!! Having a new life in the home is amazing. Sometimes you feel as if your heart is close to bursting with love. Now, for the recipe -- I don't think you can ever have too much garlic. The chicken sounds fantastic and the taste I'm sure is amazing. Enjoy your little one -- they grow up in a blink of an eye.
You had me at "Made a little more garlicky." Congratulations on your wonderful little bundle of joy (I know I'm a little late on the congratulations chain, but still), and kudos to you for getting anything (let alone this lovely and delicious meal) published with such delightful turbulence in your life. And hey, if there's a meal that's perfect for when you've got a newborn around, it's a comforting classic with just enough garlic to metaphorically punch you in the face and keep you awake for a little while longer. Cheers.
Chicken Piccata is one of my absolute favorites. The more garlic the better, so thanks for kicking up the garlic factor in your recipe! Definitely easy enough for parents or any busy season of life.
Love the briny capers and lemon with the chicken. So much bright and bold flavour. My daughter was born in July 2016 so yours and mine are almost the same age. And yours is turning 2 very soon, so happy birthday 🙂
I've made fish with almost this exact same technique-- it's delicious! And it works so well with mild, thick fish, that I'm sure it's also awesome with chicken. And it's so easy! And those capers give it just the right amount of zing 😀
I love chicken piccata, but I especially love garlic, so this is the ultimate chicken piccata for me!! The perfect dinner for any night of the week!
Congratulations on your little girl! What a busy, but amazing time! I can’t wait to try this recipe. Roasted garlic is a wonderful addition!
I love chicken piccata and extra garlic only makes things taste better! This is one of my favorite dishes, not only because it's so easy and quick to make but also because I absolutely love capers! I am addicted to them! 🙂 Definitely adding to my menu this week.
Chicken Piccata is one of our all-time favorite dishes at our favorite Italian-American restaurant here in town. Can hardly wait to make this at home. Thanks for the great recipe!
Cooking with wine is fun and delicious. Love the pop from the capers. This dish is elegant enough to serve to dinner guests. I will have to give this a try soon....and head out and get some wine too.
This dish looks incredibly good and the recipe sounds looks quite easy to make . Will be trying it soon. Thnx for sharing.
Congratulations Tracy and I love your choice of name. You're going to have so much fun getting to know Matilda - enjoy every second as it's true, they grow so very quickly. I often wish that just for 1 day a year I could have my kids back as babies so I can remember exactly how wonderful it was to cuddle them and just sit admiring their tiny little faces. Not sure how they would feel about that though 😉
Anyway - chicken & capers! You've hit upon a favourite in our household. Pinning for ASAP!
Sooo wounderfull, a new baby,congratulation! Looks like you applied for the job of superwoman cooking from scratch and all??Best of luck for your little family!
This looks delicious! I am always looking for simple, yet tasty dinner recipes, and this looks like it would be great. Congratulations on your daughter too!!!