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Creamy Chicken Piccata Bowls

Crispy breaded chicken cutlets served over pasta with rich lemon-butter cream sauce, capers, and fresh herbs - perfect comfort food.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 4 bowls
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian
Calories: 680

Ingredients
  

For the Chicken
  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts about 1.5 pounds
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 large eggs beaten
  • 1.5 cups breadcrumbs Italian-seasoned or plain
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 0.5 tsp black pepper
  • 0.5 tsp garlic powder
  • 0.25 cup olive oil for frying
For the Creamy Piccata Sauce
  • 3 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 0.5 cup dry white wine or chicken broth
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 0.5 cup fresh lemon juice about 2-3 lemons
  • 0.25 cup capers drained
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 0.25 cup fresh parsley chopped
  • salt and pepper to taste
For the Bowls
  • 12 oz pasta shells or any short pasta
  • fresh lemon slices for garnish
  • additional parsley for garnish
  • grated Parmesan cheese optional

Equipment

  • Large skillet
  • Meat mallet
  • Three shallow dishes for breading
  • Large pot for pasta
  • Wooden spoon

Method
 

  1. Place chicken breasts between plastic wrap and pound to 1/2 inch even thickness using a meat mallet.
  2. Set up three shallow dishes: first with flour, salt, pepper, and garlic powder; second with beaten eggs; third with breadcrumbs.
  3. Dredge each chicken cutlet in flour, then eggs, then breadcrumbs, ensuring even coating. Set aside.
  4. Heat olive oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook breaded chicken 4-5 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through (165°F internal temperature). Transfer to plate and keep warm.
  5. Cook pasta in boiling salted water according to package directions until al dente. Drain and reserve 1 cup pasta water.
  6. In same skillet used for chicken, melt butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté 30 seconds until fragrant.
  7. Pour in white wine and scrape up browned bits from pan bottom. Let reduce by half, about 2-3 minutes.
  8. Add chicken broth, lemon juice, and capers. Simmer 3-4 minutes to reduce slightly and blend flavors.
  9. Reduce heat to low and stir in heavy cream gradually. Simmer gently 5-7 minutes until sauce thickens, stirring frequently. Do not boil.
  10. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, or additional lemon juice. Stir in chopped parsley, reserving some for garnish.
  11. Add cooked pasta to sauce and toss to coat. Add reserved pasta water if needed to thin sauce.
  12. Divide pasta among serving bowls. Top with chicken cutlets, spoon additional sauce over top, and garnish with lemon slices, parsley, and Parmesan if desired.

Notes

For crispier chicken, make sure oil is properly heated before frying. Fresh lemon juice makes a significant difference in flavor. Sauce can be thinned with pasta water or additional broth if too thick. Store components separately for best reheating results.