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Deliciously Healthy Chicken Piccata

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Donna Urso

Today I'm sharing a healthy chicken piccata recipe that offers an alternative to my chicken weeknight piccata recipe. This is a healthier, lower-carb, and keto-friendly version for all of you looking for easy, healthier, weeknight dinners.

I have always been passionate about chicken piccata.  It is one of my favorite meals and has been on my weekly meal rotation forever!

Chicken Piccata: Low-Carb and Keto-Friendly

Chicken Piccata on a white platter with lemon slices, and roasted asparagus.

This keto-friendly chicken piccata is a dream come true for those looking for a flavorful and satisfying low-carb meal. Here's why you'll love this recipe:

Chicken Piccata is a relatively low-carb dish to begin with. To reduce the carbs to almost nothing, I eliminate the flour dredging at the start of the recipe.  While dredging the chicken breasts in flour is traditional for the preparation, it isn't necessary. This reduces the level of carbs from almost 8 grams per serving to less than 2 grams per serving.

This is the same approach I used to reduce the carbs in my Healthy Chicken Parmesan recipe. By skipping the dredging you'll eliminate an egg and all the carbs added by flour. The flour does help to thicken the sauce, but we're adding a little extra butter at the end to add silkiness to the sauce.  You can skip the extra butter if you want.  Just simmer the sauce a little longer.

You'll also want to be careful about the side dishes you serve with the chicken piccata.  Consider green vegetables instead of pasta or rice, to keep your dish low-carb.

Why You'll Love This Healthy Chicken Piccata

Easy and Quick: This recipe requires minimal prep and cooks up in under 30 minutes, perfect for busy weeknights.
Packed with Flavor: The combination of bright lemon, savory capers, and rich butter creates a light but incredibly flavorful sauce that complements the tender chicken perfectly. 
Healthy: With no breading or added sugars, this dish stays true to your low-carb, keto goals while keeping you satisfied. 
Customizable: Want a thicker sauce? Whisk in some heavy cream.  Want a little more zip? Add a teaspoon of Dijon mustard to the sauce. This recipe is easily adaptable to your taste preferences. 
Family-Friendly: Even picky eaters will enjoy this delicious dish. Plus, it's a great way to sneak in some extra protein.

So ditch the takeout menus and give this keto chicken piccata a try. It's a guaranteed crowd-pleaser that won't derail your keto journey!

How to Make Keto-Friendly Chicken Piccata (Dredge-Free)

This recipe keeps the essence of chicken piccata with a light and flavorful lemon caper sauce, all while staying low-carb and keto-friendly. 

You Will Need

  • The ingredients for chicken piccata on a stovetop.
    4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (thin-sliced or pounded thin)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 4 tablespoons butter, divided   
  • 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • 2 tablespoons capers, drained
  • 1 clove garlic, crushed
  • 1/4 teaspoon paprika (optional) 
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • Fresh parsley and lemon slices (optional, for garnish)

The Steps

1. Season the chicken: Pat the chicken cutlets dry with paper towels. Season generously with salt and pepper on both sides. I like to use coarse salt and pepper for both flavor and appearance. If using paprika, add a light dusting to each side. For help with how to cut boneless chicken breasts into cutlets watch this video.

2. Cook the chicken: Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the chicken breasts and cook for 3-4 minutes per side, or until golden brown and cooked through.  You want the internal temperature of your chicken to be 165 degrees F. Remove the chicken from the pan and set it aside on a plate.

3. Make the sauce: In the same pan (don't discard the drippings!), add the chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits stuck to the bottom of the pan (deglazing). This adds extra flavor to the sauce. Stir in the lemon juice and capers. Add 1-2 tablespoons of butter to add silkiness to the sauce. Bring to a simmer and cook for 2-3 minutes, allowing the sauce to reduce slightly.

4. Finish the dish: Add the cooked chicken breasts back to the pan and spoon the sauce over them. Let them simmer for another minute or two to heat through.

5. Serve: Garnish with fresh parsley (optional) and slices of lemon.  Serve immediately with your favorite low-carb sides like roasted asparagus, roasted green beans, or steamed spinach.   Roasted vegetables, cauliflower rice, or zucchini noodles are also good, low-carb choices. 

Tips

For a thicker sauce, whisk in 1 tablespoon of heavy cream or cream cheese at the end.
If you prefer a less strong garlic flavor, use garlic powder, instead of fresh garlic.
You can adjust the amount of lemon juice to your taste preference. 
Having the right kitchen tools makes cooking a breeze. Here are 10 Kitchen Essentials You Need to Buy Now.

Enjoy this delicious and healthy twist on a classic Italian dish!

The Healthy Chicken Piccata Recipe

Healthy chicken dinner, low-carb chicken, keto chicken
dinner
Italian
Yield: 4
Author: Donna Urso
Healthy Chicken Piccata

Healthy Chicken Piccata

A low-carb, keto-friendly chicken piccata dinner with capers and a yummy lemon sauce perfect for weeknight dinners.
Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 25 MinTotal time: 35 Min

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Season the chicken: Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Season generously with salt and pepper on both sides. If using garlic powder, add a light dusting to each side.
  2. Cook the chicken: Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the chicken breasts and cook for 3-4 minutes per side, or until golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside on a plate.
  3. Make the sauce: In the same pan (don't discard the drippings!), add the lemon juice, scraping up any browned bits stuck to the bottom of the pan (deglazing). This adds extra flavor to the sauce. Stir in the chicken broth and capers. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter to add silkiness to the sauce. Bring to a simmer and cook for 2-3 minutes, allowing the sauce to reduce slightly.
  4. Finish the dish: Add the cooked chicken breasts back to the pan and spoon the sauce over them. Let them simmer for another minute or two to heat through.
  5. Serve: Garnish with fresh parsley (optional) and serve immediately with your favorite low-carb sides like roasted vegetables, cauliflower rice, or zucchini noodles.

Notes

For a thicker sauce, whisk in 1 tablespoon of heavy cream or cream cheese at the end.

If you prefer a less strong garlic flavor, use garlic powder, instead of fresh garlic.

You can adjust the amount of lemon juice to your taste preference. 

Recommended Products

Citrus Juicer
12 inch non-stick skillet
7-inch Santoku Knife

Nutrition Facts

Calories

425.79

Fat (grams)

24.32 g

Sat. Fat (grams)

9.46 g

Carbs (grams)

1.19 g

Fiber (grams)

0.22 g

Net carbs

0.96 g

Sugar (grams)

0.37 g

Protein (grams)

48.49 g

Sodium (milligrams)

532.46 mg

Cholesterol (grams)

175.33 mg

Nutritional information is approximate.

Similar Recipes

Mediterranean Chicken Skillet Dinner

Southwest Salmon with Sriracha Sauce

Healthy Chicken Parmesan

©Just One Donna

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