Description

A meal-prep friendly creamy lemon butter chicken piccata that stays juicy and holds up in the fridge for four days. This recipe uses a stable emulsion sauce to ensure restaurant-quality leftovers.

Ingredients

Scale

2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.5 lbs / 680g)
½ cup all-purpose flour (or gluten-free blend)
Kosher salt and black pepper
2 tablespoons neutral oil (avocado or vegetable)
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
½ cup heavy cream
¼ cup fresh lemon juice (about 2 lemons)
Zest of 1 lemon
2 tablespoons capers, drained
3 cloves garlic, minced
¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions

Pat chicken breasts dry and pound to ½ inch thickness. Season with salt and pepper, then dredge lightly in flour, shaking off excess.
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken for 4-5 minutes per side until golden and cooked through (165°F). Remove to a plate and tent with foil.
Reduce heat to medium. Add butter to the pan. Once melted, add garlic and capers; sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
Pour in chicken broth, scraping up brown bits from the bottom. Simmer for 2-3 minutes to reduce slightly.
Stir in heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer for 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
Stir in lemon juice and lemon zest. Adjust consistency with water or broth if needed.
Return chicken to the pan to nestle in sauce for 2 minutes. Remove chicken and slice or keep whole.
Divide chicken and sauce into four meal prep containers. Let cool completely before sealing.
Store in the fridge for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

Notes

Do not overcook chicken; pull at 160°F as residual heat will finish cooking. Always remove from heat before adding lemon juice to prevent curdling. Store carbs separately if using pasta to prevent mushiness. Reheat gently in 30-second intervals.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Category: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 container with sau
Calories: 520
Sugar: 3
Sodium: 650
Fat: 22
Saturated Fat: 12
Carbohydrates: 45
Fiber: 2
Protein: 38

Keywords: chicken piccata, meal prep, creamy lemon butter chicken, easy dinner, high protein lunch, gluten-free option