Description
Chicken Scallopini is a classic Italian-American dish featuring tender, thinly pounded chicken breasts lightly dredged in flour and sautéed until golden. Served with a tangy lemon, caper, and butter sauce, this recipe is quick to prepare and perfect for an elegant weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
For Cooking
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 cup chicken broth
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons capers, drained and rinsed
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Season and Dredge Chicken: Season the chicken breasts generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Lightly dredge each breast in all-purpose flour, shaking off any excess to ensure a thin coating.
- Heat Skillet and Cook Chicken: In a large skillet, heat the olive oil and butter together over medium-high heat until melted and hot. Carefully place the chicken breasts in the skillet.
- Sauté Chicken: Cook the chicken breasts for 3 to 4 minutes on each side until they develop a golden-brown crust and are cooked through. Once done, remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside on a plate.
- Prepare Sauce: In the same skillet with the residual butter and oil, add the chicken broth and fresh lemon juice. Use a wooden spoon or spatula to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan to add flavor.
- Add Capers and Simmer Sauce: Stir in the drained and rinsed capers. Allow the sauce to simmer gently for 1 to 2 minutes, reducing it slightly to concentrate the flavors.
- Return Chicken and Heat Through: Place the cooked chicken breasts back into the skillet. Spoon sauce over each piece, letting them warm for about 1 more minute to meld the flavors.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from heat, sprinkle freshly chopped parsley over the chicken, and serve immediately for best flavor and presentation.
Notes
- For best results, pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness before dredging to ensure uniform cooking.
- You can substitute chicken broth with white wine for a richer sauce.
- The dish pairs well with pasta, rice, or steamed vegetables.
- To make the dish gluten-free, use a gluten-free flour blend for dredging.
- Reserve any leftover sauce for drizzling over side dishes or salads.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Italian-American
