Quick Barefoot Contessa’s Chicken Piccata Recipe for Elegant Dining

Golden, tangy, and bursting with zesty flavors, this Barefoot Contessa chicken piccata recipe delivers a restaurant-quality meal straight to your kitchen.

Juicy chicken breasts get a luxurious coating of seasoned flour before sizzling to golden perfection.

The bright lemon sauce, studded with capers, adds a vibrant punch that makes every bite sing with Mediterranean-inspired delight.

Elegant yet surprisingly simple, this dish comes together in under 30 minutes with minimal ingredients.

Professional chefs and home cooks alike adore the balance of sharp and rich flavors in this classic Italian-American favorite.

You’ll love how quickly this recipe turns an ordinary dinner into something spectacular.

Grab your skillet and let’s create a meal that will have everyone asking for seconds.

Tools for Cooking Barefoot Contessa Chicken Piccata

• Large Sauté Pan: Essential for browning chicken and creating the sauce.
• Sheet Pan: Perfect for baking chicken after initial browning.
• Parchment Paper: Helps line sheet pan and prevents sticking.
• Shallow Plates: Three needed for flour, egg, and bread crumb coating.
• Meat Mallet or Rolling Pin: Used to pound chicken to even thickness.
• Whisk: Great for beating egg and mixing ingredients.
• Measuring Spoons: Precise for salt, pepper, and liquid measurements.
• Sharp Knife: Useful for slicing lemon and garnishing parsley.
• Paper Towels: Helps clean pan between cooking stages.

Step-by-Step Recipe for Barefoot Contessa Chicken Piccata

Zesty Lemon Chicken Adventure

• Chicken Preparation Smooth out chicken breasts until they're paper-thin, creating a delicate canvas for flavor. Season generously with salt and pepper, ensuring every inch gets attention.
• Crispy Coating Dance Craft three magical stations: one with seasoned flour, another with whisked egg, and the final with crunchy breadcrumbs. Gently dip each chicken piece through these stations, creating a golden armor of deliciousness.
• Sizzling Pan Transformation Heat olive oil in a skillet, transforming the kitchen into a flavor sanctuary. Carefully lay chicken pieces, watching them turn a beautiful golden brown. Each side gets a quick sear, developing those irresistible crispy edges.
• Oven Magic Transfer chicken to a baking sheet, letting the oven complete its culinary symphony. These golden treasures will finish cooking, becoming tender and perfectly done.
• Sauce Sensation Wipe the pan clean, then create a luxurious sauce with bright lemon juice, elegant white wine, and velvety butter. Let it bubble and reduce, concentrating flavors into a tantalizing liquid gold.
• Final Flourish Drape the sparkling sauce over each chicken piece. Garnish with fresh parsley and a cheerful lemon slice, turning a simple meal into a restaurant-worthy experience that will make taste buds dance with joy.

Cooking Tricks for Barefoot Contessa Chicken Piccata

• Use a meat mallet or rolling pin to pound chicken evenly, ensuring consistent cooking and tender texture throughout the breast.
• Mix panko breadcrumbs with grated parmesan cheese for extra crispiness and rich flavor that elevates the traditional coating.
• Replace white wine with chicken broth for a non-alcoholic version or add capers for a tangy, briny kick that complements the lemon sauce.
• Always use a meat thermometer to check chicken's internal temperature reaches 165°F, guaranteeing safe and juicy results every time.
• Swap wheat flour with almond flour or gluten-free breadcrumbs to make this recipe suitable for those with wheat sensitivities.

Serving the Best Barefoot Contessa Chicken Piccata

• Pair with Creamy Mashed Potatoes: Spread a smooth bed of buttery mashed potatoes underneath the crispy chicken piccata, allowing the tangy sauce to mingle with the rich, velvety potatoes for a comforting meal.
• Serve with Fresh Green Salad: Complement the rich chicken with a light, zesty salad featuring crisp mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, and a bright lemon vinaigrette to balance the dish's flavors.
• Create an Italian-Inspired Plating: Arrange the chicken on a rustic white plate, drizzle the lemon-wine sauce generously, and sprinkle fresh chopped parsley for a classic, restaurant-quality presentation that highlights the piccata's golden-brown crust.
• Add Roasted Asparagus on the Side: Roast tender asparagus spears with olive oil, salt, and pepper to provide a subtle, earthy contrast to the zesty chicken and create a well-rounded, colorful plate.

Storing Barefoot Contessa Chicken Piccata Leftovers

• Refrigerate Smartly: Store leftover chicken piccata in an airtight container for up to 3 days, keeping the sauce separate to maintain the crispy coating's texture.
• Freeze for Future Meals: Wrap individual portions tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil, then freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
• Reheat with Care: Warm chicken in a 350°F oven for 10-15 minutes to restore crispiness. Avoid microwave reheating to prevent soggy breading and dry meat.
• Prep Ahead Strategy: Bread the chicken and store in the refrigerator up to 4 hours before cooking. This technique helps the coating adhere better and creates a crunchier exterior.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Calories: 540 kcal

Servings: 2

What Goes Into Barefoot Contessa Chicken Piccata

• Chicken Breasts: Tender canvas for this classic dish, choose plump, evenly sized breasts for consistent cooking and elegant presentation.

• All-Purpose Flour: Creates a delicate, crispy barrier that helps seal in chicken's moisture.
• Eggs: Brilliant binding agent that helps breadcrumbs adhere perfectly to chicken.
• Breadcrumbs: Delivers delightful golden crunch and textural contrast to tender chicken.
• Kosher Salt: Enhances flavor and helps season each layer of the chicken.
• Black Pepper: Adds subtle warmth and complexity to the breading.

• Butter: Provides rich, velvety texture and luxurious flavor to the sauce.
• Lemon: Introduces bright, zesty notes that cut through the richness of the chicken.
• White Wine: Adds sophisticated depth and acidity to the sauce.
• Fresh Parsley: Brings fresh, herbaceous finish and visual appeal to the dish.
• Olive Oil: Helps achieve beautiful golden sear on the chicken.

Elegant Barefoot Contessa Chicken Piccata Recipe

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4.9 from 16 reviews

• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Yield: 2 1x

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Description

Barefoot Contessa chicken piccata brings zesty Mediterranean flavors to classic poultry. Lemon, capers, and white wine create a tangy sauce that elevates chicken breasts to elegant dining you’ll savor.

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Ingredients

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• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (1 whole chicken breast)
• 1 extra-large egg
• ½ cup (120 ml) all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup (180 ml) seasoned dry bread crumbs
• ½ tbsp (7.5 ml) water
• ½ cup (120 ml) dry white wine
• ⅓ cup (80 ml) freshly squeezed lemon juice (from 2 lemons)
• 3 tbsps (45 g) unsalted butter (room temperature)
• Olive oil (for cooking)
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• Lemon slices (for serving)
• Chopped fresh parsley (for serving)

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Instructions

1. Prep Station: Organize dredging zones with seasoned flour, egg wash, and bread crumbs. Tenderize chicken breasts between parchment paper, flattening to uniform thickness and seasoning generously with salt and black pepper.
2. Coating Process: Methodically dredge each chicken breast through flour, removing excess, then immerse in egg mixture, and finally coat completely with bread crumbs, ensuring thorough coverage.
3. Initial Searing: Heat olive oil in large sauté pan over medium-low temperature. Sear chicken breasts for 2 minutes per side until achieving golden-brown exterior, creating crisp texture.
4. Oven Finishing: Transfer seared chicken to parchment-lined sheet pan preheated to 400°F (200°C). Bake for 5-10 minutes, verifying internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) for safe consumption.
5. Sauce Creation: Clean sauté pan and melt butter over medium heat. Incorporate lemon juice, white wine, reserved lemon halves, salt, and pepper. Reduce sauce by boiling on high heat for approximately 2 minutes, concentrating flavors.
6. Serving Technique: Remove sauce from heat, swirl in remaining butter for luxurious richness. Plate chicken breasts, discarding lemon halves. Drizzle sauce elegantly over each piece, garnishing with fresh lemon slice and chopped parsley for vibrant presentation.

Notes

• Precision Matters: Flatten chicken breasts evenly to 1/4-inch thickness for consistent cooking and tender texture.
• Dredging Technique: Create a clean, organized assembly line with flour, egg wash, and breadcrumbs to ensure even coating and crispy exterior.
• Temperature Control: Use medium-low heat when searing to prevent burning and achieve a golden-brown crust without overcooking the chicken.
• Sauce Perfection: Reduce sauce quickly over high heat to concentrate flavors and create a rich, glossy finish that complements the crispy chicken.

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

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 2
• Calories: 540
• Sugar: 1 g
• Sodium: 550 mg
• Fat: 30 g
• Saturated Fat: 10 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 38 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 34 g
• Cholesterol: 150 mg