Zesty Lemon Caper Chicken Cutlets Recipe: Simple Weeknight Magic

Lemon caper chicken cutlets bring a zesty Mediterranean charm to your dinner table, reinventing ordinary poultry into an extraordinary culinary experience.

Bright citrus notes dance alongside briny, tangy capers, creating a harmonious flavor profile that awakens the palate.

These delicate cutlets promise a sophisticated yet approachable meal for home cooks seeking restaurant-quality results.

Tender chicken receives a golden, crispy exterior through strategic cooking techniques that seal in moisture and maximize taste.

The combination marries sharp and bright ingredients with classic protein preparation, resulting in a dish that feels both familiar and exciting.

Each bite delivers a complex interplay of textures and flavors that elevate a simple protein into something truly memorable.

Sophisticated yet simple, this recipe offers a delightful way to impress dinner companions without spending hours in the kitchen.

Why Lemon Caper Chicken Cutlets Stand Out

• Zest Up Your Weeknight Dinner: This lemon caper chicken transforms a simple protein into a restaurant-quality meal with bright, tangy flavors that'll make your taste buds dance.
• Master Quick Gourmet Cooking: Learn an easy technique of dredging and pan-frying that creates a perfectly crispy golden exterior while keeping the chicken incredibly juicy and tender.
• Elevate Simple Ingredients: Clever use of capers, preserved lemon, and red pepper flakes turns basic chicken cutlets into a sophisticated dish that feels luxurious yet takes less than 20 minutes to prepare.
• Versatile Crowd-Pleaser: Perfect for busy weeknights, elegant enough for dinner parties, and adaptable for various dietary preferences with its simple, fresh ingredient list.

What Goes Into Lemon Caper Chicken Cutlets

• Chicken Breasts: Lean, tender meat that becomes the star of the dish with a golden crispy exterior.
• Chicken Cutlets: Thin, even cuts ensure quick and uniform cooking for tender results.

• All-Purpose Flour, Rice Flour: Creates a light, crispy golden crust that helps seal in chicken moisture and adds delicate texture.

• Butter: Provides rich, creamy flavor and helps create smooth, glossy sauce.
• Lemon Juice: Bright, tangy element that adds freshness and balances the rich chicken.
• Capers: Small briny pearls that bring sharp, salty punch to the sauce.
• Preserved Lemon: Intense citrus flavor with deep, complex preserved notes.

• Shallots: Delicate onion-like flavor that adds subtle sweetness to the sauce.
• Red Pepper Flakes: Introduces gentle heat and warm spiciness.
• Salt, Black Pepper: Essential seasonings that enhance overall dish flavor.

• Fresh Parsley: Adds bright green color and fresh herbal finish to the dish.

Cooking Up Lemon Caper Chicken the Easy Way

Step 1: Prepare Chicken Cutlets

Slice large chicken breast into two equal pieces. Place each piece between plastic wrap and gently pound until evenly thin (about 1/2-inch thick).

Step 2: Create Flour Coating

Combine all-purpose flour and rice flour in a shallow dish, mixing thoroughly.

Step 3: Season Chicken

Sprinkle salt and pepper on both sides of chicken cutlets.

Step 4: Dredge Chicken

Coat each chicken piece in flour mixture, gently tapping off excess flour.

Step 5: Sear Chicken

Heat nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add olive oil and butter. When butter starts foaming, carefully place chicken in pan.

Step 6: Cook Chicken

Sear chicken for 3 minutes on each side until golden brown and fully cooked through. Transfer to serving plate.

Step 7: Create Sauce

• Minced shallots
• Red pepper flakes

Cook until fragrant and aromatic.

Step 8: Finish Sauce

• Fresh lemon juice
• Capers
• Preserved lemon

Simmer for one minute. Whisk in remaining butter until smooth and glossy.

Step 9: Plate and Garnish

Drizzle sauce over chicken cutlets. Sprinkle fresh chopped parsley on top for bright flavor and color.

Handy Tips for Juicy Chicken Cutlets

• Pound Evenly: Use gentle, consistent motions when pounding chicken to ensure uniform thickness for perfect, quick cooking.
• Flour Coating Trick: Shake off excess flour to create a light, crispy exterior that won't become heavy or soggy.
• Temperature Control: Maintain medium-high heat to achieve a golden-brown crust without burning the chicken.
• Caper Selection: Choose brined capers for a bright, tangy flavor that complements the lemon perfectly.
• Butter Finishing: Add butter gradually at the end to create a silky, rich sauce that elevates the entire dish.

How to Keep Chicken Cutlets Bright and Zesty

• Refrigerate: Place chicken and sauce in separate airtight containers within 2 hours of cooking. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• Reheat: Warm chicken in a skillet over medium-low heat with a splash of chicken broth to prevent drying. Cover and heat for 3-4 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F.
• Freeze: Wrap individual chicken cutlets tightly in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer bag. Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

What Complements Lemon Caper Chicken Perfectly

• Zesty Wine Companion: Pair this lemony chicken with a crisp, unoaked Chardonnay or a bright Sauvignon Blanc to complement the tangy citrus and caper notes.
• Herb-Infused Side Kick: Serve alongside a light quinoa salad with fresh dill and lemon zest to echo the dish's bright Mediterranean flavors and add a refreshing texture contrast.
• Crusty Bread Rescue: Include a rustic sourdough or ciabatta to soak up the delicious sauce, creating a perfect bite that captures all the rich, zesty elements of the chicken.
• Sparkling Palate Cleanser: Choose a dry, light-bodied sparkling water with a slice of lemon or a crisp pilsner to cut through the richness and refresh the palate between bites.

Lemon Caper Chicken with a Twist You’ll Love

• Mediterranean Marvel: Replace capers with chopped green olives and add crumbled feta cheese on top for a Greek-inspired version that brings zesty Mediterranean flavors to the classic chicken cutlet.
• Herb Garden Upgrade: Incorporate fresh thyme and rosemary into the flour mixture, then sprinkle chopped chives over the finished dish to create an aromatic herb-infused chicken with a bright, garden-fresh profile.
• Spicy Southern Spin: Swap red pepper flakes for cayenne pepper and add a splash of hot sauce to the sauce. Serve with a side of creamy coleslaw to balance the heat and create a Southern-style comfort meal.
• Crispy Nutty Variation: Mix ground almonds or panko breadcrumbs into the flour mixture for extra crunch, then top the chicken with toasted pine nuts for added texture and nutty depth to the classic lemon caper preparation.

Lemon Caper Chicken Cutlets Recipe

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4.7 from 16 reviews

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

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Description

Lemon caper chicken cutlets deliver a zesty Mediterranean-inspired dream on your plate. Delicate chicken breasts dance with tangy capers and bright citrus, creating a perfect balance of flavors that will transport you to coastal Italian kitchens.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Protein:

• 1 large or 2 small butterflied chicken breasts or chicken cutlets (about 0.75 pound / 340 grams)

Flours and Seasoning:

• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons rice flour
• Salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes

Cooking Fats and Aromatics:

• 3 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons avocado or grapeseed oil
• 1 large shallot, finely minced (about 3 tablespoons)

Flavor Enhancers:

• 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon drained capers
• ½ of a small-medium preserved lemon, finely chopped
• Freshly chopped parsley, for garnish

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Instructions

1. Transform whole chicken breasts into uniform cutlets by slicing large pieces in half and gently pounding between plastic wrap to create an even 1/2-inch thickness.
2. Create a delicate flour coating by blending all-purpose and rice flours in a shallow container.
3. Prepare a skillet over medium-high heat, introducing oil and butter until the butter develops a soft, foamy texture.
4. Season chicken cutlets with salt and pepper, then delicately coat each piece in the flour mixture, carefully removing excess powder.
5. Carefully place floured chicken into the heated skillet, allowing each side to develop a golden-brown crust for approximately 3 minutes, ensuring complete cooking.
6. Transfer perfectly cooked chicken to a serving plate, maintaining its warmth.
7. In the same skillet, sauté finely chopped shallots and red pepper flakes until aromatic and slightly softened.
8. Deglaze the pan by adding fresh lemon juice, briny capers, and zesty preserved lemon, allowing the ingredients to meld and simmer briefly.
9. Finish the sauce by whisking in remaining butter to create a silky, luxurious coating.
10. Plate the golden chicken cutlets, generously drizzle with the vibrant sauce, and garnish with freshly chopped parsley for a burst of color and freshness.

Notes

• Quick Chicken Prep: Slice large chicken breasts into even pieces and pound to uniform thickness for consistent cooking and tender results.
• Flour Coating Trick: Create a light, crispy exterior by mixing all-purpose and rice flours, which helps achieve a delicate golden-brown crust.
• Perfect Searing Technique: Use medium-high heat with oil and butter to develop a beautiful golden color and lock in juicy chicken flavors.
• Flavor-Building Sauce: Develop a bright, tangy sauce directly in the same skillet using shallots, red pepper flakes, lemon juice, and capers for maximum taste.
• Butter Finish: Whisk in remaining butter at the end to create a silky, rich sauce that clings beautifully to the crispy chicken cutlets.
• Elegant Garnish: Sprinkle fresh parsley over the dish for a pop of color and fresh herbal note that elevates the entire presentation.

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

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 2
• Calories: 400
• Sugar: 1g
• Sodium: 600mg
• Fat: 28g
• Saturated Fat: 12g
• Unsaturated Fat: 16g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 22g
• Fiber: 1g
• Protein: 26g
• Cholesterol: 90mg