Whole30 Chicken Piccata Recipe

This Whole30 Chicken Piccata is a fresh, indulgent meal that feels like comfort food while adhering to the Whole30 diet. Made with just a few simple ingredients like capers, lemon juice, and tender chicken, it’s ridiculously easy to prepare and perfect for weeknight dinners. Once you try this flavorful, lemony dish, you’ll want to make it again and again—whether you’re following Whole30 or not!

Original post: March 2018 | Updated: January 2021 and January 2025

Why This Recipe Works

• I go through stretches throughout the year when I just need a reset from comfort food. This delicious recipe adheres to the Whole30 diet, yet feels super indulgent!
• Lemon Chicken Piccata is fresh, lemony, savory, succulent, tender and satisfyingly juicy. I absolutely adore this recipe and make it all the time!
• It requires very few ingredients and it is ridiculously easy to make. 
• Capers, lemon juice and chicken are the perfect trio.
• We love this chicken recipe in our family. Once you try it, you’ll absolutely need to make it again and again, whether trying to be a little more healthy or not.
• Whole30 Chicken Piccata is such an easy dinner to throw together, making it the perfect weeknight meal. 

Recipe Ingredients

Chicken – Start with boneless, skinless chicken breasts and remove any fat. Boneless skinless chicken thighs may be used, as well.

Olive oil – Other oils that adhere to the Whole30 program include coconut oil, ghee and avocado oil.

Flour – Use almond flour or your favorite variety of gluten-free flour such as coconut flour, cassava flour, tapioca flour, ground pork rinds or another variety.

Seasonings – Salt and pepper make seasoning this dish super simple yet delish.

Lemon juice – Freshly squeezed lemon juice tastes best and adds a unique lemon flavor that is just so yummy.

Chicken broth – Substitute with chicken stock, vegetable broth or vegetable stock if desired.

Capers – One of the stars of the show, don’t skimp on this ingredient! They add a salty, delightful little punch of flavor to each bite.

Toppings – Fresh parsley, lemon slices and freshly ground black pepper make the perfect simple toppings.

How To Make Chicken Piccata with Lemon Sauce Recipe

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray and set aside. Place the chicken breast halves between two pieces of wax paper and pound to 1-inch thickness using a mallet or heavy wooden spoon.

Step 2

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the almond flour, salt and pepper onto a large plate to season chicken. Mix together with a fork and spread into an even layer. One at a time, place the thin pieces of chicken into the flour mixture, ensuring the entire surface is coated.

Place the coated chicken into the skillet with the hot oil, cover, and cook for 3-4 minutes per side, or until golden brown.

Place the cooked chicken in a single layer in the prepared baking dish.

Step 3

Add the fresh lemon juice, chicken broth and capers to the skillet with the chicken remnants and bring the mixture to a boil, scraping up brown bits from the bottom of the pan. Remove from the heat and pour the caper sauce over the chicken in the baking dish.

Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Top with parsley and extra lemon slices and/or lemon juice and serve over cooked pasta or rice!

Recipe Notes

• Serve over roasted sweet potatoes for an even healthier dish, but this lemon chicken piccata recipe is typically served over cooked pasta, rice or mashed potatoes. 
• If you’re looking for more high protein recipes, check out this delicious high protein bean salad.
• As the recipe is written, it is 100% Whole30 compliant. If you are not aiming to adhere to this diet, replace the almond flour with any other type of flour, if desired.
• Add chopped artichoke hearts or mushrooms to the skillet for extra fiber and flavor!
• Sprinkle red pepper flakes into the mixture in the skillet to add heat to the dish. A pinch of cayenne pepper will do the trick, too!

What To Serve With Chicken Piccata – 17 ideas!

This simple yet delicious classic Italian dish is a quick and easy favorite dinner! If you need ideas about what to serve with chicken piccata, click over for 17 delicious ideas so you can serve a complete meal. Here are a few ideas:

• Roasted veggies
• Veggie noodles
• Cauliflower rice
• Spaghetti squash
• Zucchini noodles

What To Do With Lemons

Lemons are such a magical and versatile citrus fruit. If you are wondering what to do with lemons that might be sitting in your kitchen, read on for a variety of delicious ideas!

Chicken Francese vs Piccata

Chicken Francese and chicken piccata are both chicken dishes that are cooked in a lemony sauce. There are two main differences between them: 

• Francese chicken is dipped in an egg mixture, followed by flour (piccata is coated just in flour). 
• Piccata contains capers, which Francese typically does not. 

More Whole30 Dinner Recipes

• Baked Pork Tenderloin
• Grilled Chicken and Veggies in Foil
• Egg Roll in a Bowl
• Sweet Potato Buns & Burgers

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