Description
Chicken Limone is a classic Italian-American dish featuring tender pan-seared chicken breasts simmered in a bright, buttery lemon sauce with garlic, capers, and fresh parsley. This easy yet elegant recipe delivers a perfect balance of zesty citrus and savory flavors, making it ideal for weeknight dinners or special occasions.
Ingredients
Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
For Cooking
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
Sauce
- 1 cup chicken broth
- ½ cup fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons capers (optional)
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- Lemon slices, for garnish
Instructions
- Season and Flour Chicken: Season the chicken breasts evenly with salt and black pepper, then lightly coat each piece in all-purpose flour, shaking off any excess. This creates a nice crust and helps thicken the sauce.
- Heat Olive Oil: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. This will provide a good sear for the chicken.
- Cook Chicken: Add the chicken breasts to the hot skillet and cook for 4–5 minutes on each side until golden brown. The chicken won’t be fully cooked but should develop a crisp, golden crust. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Sauté Garlic: In the same skillet, melt the butter and sauté the minced garlic for about 30 seconds until fragrant, taking care not to burn it.
- Add Sauce Ingredients: Pour in the chicken broth, fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, and capers. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, stirring to combine and loosening any browned bits from the skillet to incorporate flavor.
- Simmer Chicken in Sauce: Return the chicken breasts to the skillet, spoon some sauce over them, and simmer for 8–10 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce slightly thickens and reduces.
- Finish and Garnish: Sprinkle the cooked chicken with freshly chopped parsley and garnish with lemon slices. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Serve this dish over pasta, creamy mashed potatoes, or steamed rice for a complete meal.
- Using fresh lemon juice provides the best bright and fresh lemon flavor.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- For a thicker sauce, you can remove the chicken after simmering and reduce the sauce further before returning the chicken back.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
