You can never go wrong with chicken for dinner, whether it’s chicken riggies, creamy garlic chicken, bourbon chicken, chicken Florentine, chicken cacciatore or this simple yet totally satisfying scallopini.
Chicken scallopini is one of those dinner options that looks fancy, but is actually surprisingly quick to make. The combination of crispy chicken with lemon just cannot be beat!
What does scallopini mean?
The Italian word “scaloppine” means small scallops, but in modern terms, this dish has become associated with meat that is sliced and pounded thin into cutlets. The cutlets are typically breaded, either in flour or in breadcrumbs. After that, the meat is seared to golden brown and cooked with a lemon sauce.
How to make chicken cutlets
For this recipe, you’ll need thin pieces of chicken. Start by cutting chicken breasts in half lengthwise. Sometimes you can find chicken breast that have already been sliced in half, they’re typically labeled as “thin cut” chicken breasts. Place your chicken between two pieces of plastic wrap, and use the flat end of a meat mallet or a heavy pan to pound the chicken flat.
How do you make chicken scallopini?
Dredge your chicken cutlets in a mixture of flour, salt and pepper. Cook the chicken in olive oil until it’s crispy and golden brown. Remove the chicken from the pan, then mix melted butter and flour together to form the thickening agent for the sauce. Stir in white wine, chicken broth, lemon juice, capers, garlic and heavy cream. Let the sauce simmer until thickened, then return the chicken to the pan and spoon the sauce over the top. Sprinkle with parsley, then serve and enjoy.
Tips for the perfect chicken
Place your chicken breasts in the freezer for about 20 minutes before you cut them in half, it makes the process go a lot easier when the meat is partially frozen. Freshly squeezed lemon juice is best for the sauce; skip the bottled lemon juice. Serve your chicken immediately, as the coating on the chicken will start to soften as it soaks up the sauce. Serve your chicken over pasta, mashed potatoes or rice, with a green vegetable on the side such as broccoli, asparagus or green beans.
Chicken scallopini variations
This chicken is delicious as-is, but you can absolutely add other ingredients to customize this dish to your tastes.
Protein: Try using slices of pork loin or veal for a different flavor and texture. Vegetables: You can add veggies to this dish such as artichoke hearts, mushrooms, spinach and zucchini. Flavorings: Feel free to add other ingredients to the sauce such as grated parmesan cheese, dried Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper flakes, olives or sun dried tomatoes.
More delicious chicken dishes
Homemade Chicken Fingers Baked Chicken Meatballs Slow Cooker Chicken Breast Chicken Stew Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti
Chicken Scallopini Video
