Description
Chicken Francese is a simple yet elegant Italian dish featuring crispy chicken breasts simmered in a buttery, lemony sauce with a touch of white wine. It’s perfect for everything from a weeknight dinner to a special occasion, and it only takes about 30 minutes to prepare. Serve it over pasta, rice, or roasted vegetables for a comforting, flavorful meal that feels fancy!
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1/2 cup flour (for dredging)
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/4 cup white wine (optional)
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 3 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Olive oil (for frying)
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Season both sides of the chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Set up a dredging station with one plate of flour, one of beaten eggs, and another plate with a bit more flour. Dip each chicken breast into the flour, then into the egg, coating evenly.
- Brown the Chicken: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken breasts and cook for 4-5 minutes per side, until golden brown and cooked through. Set the chicken aside.
- Make the Lemon Sauce: In the same skillet, reduce the heat to medium and melt the butter. Add the chicken broth and white wine (if using), scraping up any browned bits. Let the sauce simmer for 3-4 minutes, then add the lemon juice. Stir well and taste, adjusting seasoning as needed.
- Return the Chicken to the Pan: Return the chicken to the skillet, spooning sauce over it. Let simmer for another 2-3 minutes, allowing the chicken to absorb the flavors.
- Serve and Garnish: Transfer the chicken to a platter, pour the sauce over it, and garnish with fresh parsley. Serve with pasta, rice, or roasted vegetables.
Notes
- Pounding the Chicken: If the chicken breasts are thick, pound them to an even thickness before dredging to ensure they cook evenly.
- Creamy Sauce: For a creamier sauce, stir in a bit of heavy cream at the end of cooking.
- Wine Substitute: If you don’t want to use white wine, substitute with extra chicken broth for a delicious sauce.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast with sauce
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 580mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 17g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 155mg