Whole30 diet.
Key points:
- Chicken piccata looks fancy but is easy to make at home
- It only needs a few essential ingredients like chicken, flour, lemon, and capers
- The buttery lemon sauce gives it fantastic flavor
- This Whole30 version is grain-free and paleo-friendly
I wanted to know what to cook tonight’s healthy yet impressive dinner. Keep reading to discover a mouthwatering chicken piccata recipe!
What is Chicken Piccata?
Chicken piccata is an Italian dish where thin chicken cutlets are coated in flour, browned, and served in a tangy lemon butter sauce with capers. It sounds fancy but is simple to make.
The key ingredients that give it fantastic flavor are:
- Lemon juice
- Briny capers
- Garlic
- Butter
When you put it all together, you get tender chicken in a bright, silky sauce that tastes like it came from a restaurant. But this recipe lets you easily recreate it at home.
Why Make Whole30 Chicken Piccata?
Photo Credit – Flickr
This chicken piccata recipe is designed to comply with the Whole30 diet program. That means:
- No grains or flour (use arrowroot starch instead)
- No dairy (uses ghee or compliant butter substitute)
- No sugar
Even with those swaps, it still delivers the classic lemon caper flavor you’d expect. And leaving out the pasta makes it a healthy, protein-packed paleo meal.
It’s swift to prepareโjust 30 minutes from start to finish! The simple ingredients make it a perfect option for a weeknight dinner.
How to Make Whole30 Chicken Piccata
Ingredients Needed
- Chicken cutlets or thin sliced chicken breasts
- Arrowroot powder or other Whole30 flour substitute
- Chicken or veggie broth
- Lemon juice
- Capers
- Garlic
- Ghee or compliant butter/oil
- Salt and pepper
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Season and Coat the Chicken
- Pat the chicken dry, then season both sides with salt and pepper.
- Dredge each cutlet in the arrowroot powder until fully coated
2. Cook the Chicken
- Heat a skillet with ghee/butter and olive oil over medium-high heat
- Cook the coated chicken for 3-4 minutes per side until browned
3. Make the Lemon Caper Sauce
- Remove chicken from the pan and set aside
- Add garlic and broth to deglaze the pan
- Stir in lemon juice and capers
- Allow the sauce to simmer gently for 2 to 3 minutes until it thickens slightly.
4. Finish the Dish
- Add the chicken back to the pan and spoon the sauce over top
- Cook for 1-2 more minutes until chicken is cooked through
- Optionally garnish with parsley and lemon slice
5. Serve and Enjoy!
- Plate the saucy chicken either on its own or over zucchini noodles.
- Spoon any excess sauce from the pan over the top.
- Savor every bright, buttery bite!
Why This Chicken Piccata is a Keeper
Not only does this simple Whole30 chicken piccata taste amazing, but it’s also:
- Quick and easy to make in under 30 minutes
- It uses essential ingredients you may already have on hand
- Naturally gluten-free, grain-free and paleo-friendly
- Loaded with protein and low in carbs/calories
- Fancy enough for a dinner party but easy enough for weeknights
With its bright lemon flavor and silky garlic caper sauce, this dish is sure to become a regular in your kitchen! What are you waiting for? Give this Whole30 chicken piccata recipe a try for your next healthy dinner.
Photo Credit – Flickr
