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Chicken Francese Recipe

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★★★★★

4.8 from 70 reviews

Chicken Francese is a classic Italian-American dish featuring tender, thinly pounded chicken cutlets lightly dredged in seasoned flour and eggs, sautéed to golden perfection, and served with a vibrant lemon, white wine, and butter sauce. This flavorful recipe combines simple ingredients to create an elegant, restaurant-quality meal perfect for a family dinner or special occasion.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken

  • 3 to 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 14 oz. to 16 oz. total)
  • 1 cup flour
  • Kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 tsp garlic powder

Batter and Coating

  • 4 eggs
  • 2 tbsp Parmesan cheese (grated)
  • 4 tbsp fresh parsley (chopped, divided: 2 tbsp for batter, 2 tbsp for garnish)

Cooking

  • 4 tbsp olive oil (divided: 2 tbsp for sautéing chicken, 2 tbsp for sauce)
  • 4 tbsp unsalted butter (divided: 2 tbsp for sautéing chicken, 2 tbsp for sauce)

Sauce

  • 4 garlic cloves (minced)
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
  • ½ cup dry white wine (such as Pinot Grigio)
  • 1 ¼ cups chicken stock
  • Juice of two fresh lemons (about 4 tablespoons)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the chicken: Place one chicken breast at a time in a large freezer bag and pound it with the side of a meat tenderizer to an even thickness of 1/8″ to 1/4″. Cut each pounded piece into halves or thirds and set aside.
  2. Mix the flour seasoning: Spread the flour on a large plate. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and 1 teaspoon garlic powder. Mix gently with a fork and remove 2 tablespoons of this mixture to reserve for the sauce.
  3. Prepare the egg batter: In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, grated Parmesan, 2 tablespoons chopped parsley, and a pinch of salt and pepper until combined.
  4. Coat the chicken: Dredge each chicken piece first in the seasoned flour mixture, then dip fully into the egg batter, coating well.
  5. Heat the skillet: Over medium heat, warm 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet. When hot, add 2 tablespoons unsalted butter and let melt.
  6. Sauté the chicken: Place the coated chicken pieces into the skillet in batches (about 2 at a time). Cook for 3 to 4 minutes on the first side until golden brown.
  7. Flip and cook through: Turn the chicken and cook another 3 to 4 minutes until golden and cooked through. Remove and keep warm. Repeat with remaining chicken. Optionally, keep cooked cutlets warm in a 220°F oven or reheat in a 350°F oven for 15 minutes before serving.
  8. Make the sauce: In the same skillet, add the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat. Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes, cooking until the garlic softens, about 3 minutes.
  9. Add reserved flour: Stir in the reserved 2 tablespoons of seasoned flour. If too wet, add an additional tablespoon of flour. Stir and cook 1 to 2 minutes without letting it brown.
  10. Deglaze and simmer: Pour in the white wine and chicken stock. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to simmer.
  11. Add lemon juice: Stir in the fresh lemon juice and continue simmering until the sauce slightly thickens.
  12. Season and finish: Add salt and pepper to taste. Remove the pan from heat and stir in the remaining 2 tablespoons butter until melted and sauce is glossy.
  13. Serve: Arrange the chicken cutlets on plates or a platter. Pour the lemon butter sauce generously over the chicken.
  14. Garnish: Sprinkle remaining chopped parsley over the plated dish.
  15. Enjoy: Serve immediately and enjoy your homemade Chicken Francese!

Notes

  • Chicken cutlets can be prepared up to 1-2 hours ahead and reheated gently before serving.
  • Adjust red pepper flakes based on your preferred spice level.
  • Use a dry white wine for best flavor; do not use cooking wine.
  • Pounding the chicken thinly ensures quick, even cooking and tender texture.
  • For a gluten-free version, substitute flour with a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend.

Keywords: Chicken Francese, Italian chicken recipe, lemon chicken, chicken cutlets, easy dinner, sautéed chicken, Italian-American cuisine

Find it online: https://reemcook.com/chicken-francese-recipe/