When I first discovered Chicken Piccata Pasta Recipe during my travels through southern Italy 🇮🇹, I fell in love instantly. The Amalfi Coast, famous for its lemon groves and sun-drenched coastline, inspired this bright and zesty dish.

It beautifully combines classic Italian piccata flavors lemon, capers, and butter with the comforting heartiness of pasta. Every bite reminds me of dining al fresco in a small trattoria overlooking the sea, where food is simple yet bursting with life and freshness.

Ingredients

Here are the key ingredients you’ll need to bring this delicious dish to life. Using fresh, high-quality components makes a world of difference in the final flavor.

¾ pound thin spaghetti – Any long pasta works, but thin spaghetti or angel hair offers a delicate texture that pairs beautifully with the light sauce.
4 thin chicken cutlets (about ¼ inch thick) – Pounding the chicken thin ensures it cooks quickly and evenly, remaining tender and juicy.
Salt and pepper – Essential for seasoning the chicken and the sauce at different stages.
½ cup all-purpose flour – This creates a light, golden-brown crust on the chicken and helps thicken the sauce later.
Olive oil – For pan-searing the chicken to perfection.
1 tablespoon finely minced shallot – Shallots provide a milder, more delicate flavor than onions, which complements the sauce without overpowering it.
3 cloves fresh garlic, minced – Always use fresh garlic for the best aromatic and savory base.
½ cup dry white wine – A Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio is perfect for deglazing the pan and adding a layer of acidity and complexity.
1 ½ cups chicken broth – Use a low-sodium broth so you can control the saltiness of the final dish.
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice – Freshly squeezed juice is a must; it provides a much brighter and more authentic flavor than bottled juice.
½ a lemon, thinly sliced – These slices infuse the sauce with even more lemon essence as they simmer.
3 tablespoons capers, drained – These little buds add a briny, salty pop that is the signature of any piccata dish.
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided – Using unsalted butter lets you manage the salt level, and adding it at the end creates a rich, glossy sauce.
Freshly chopped Italian parsley – For a fresh, peppery garnish that adds color and flavor.

Note: The ingredient quantities are sufficient for approximately 4 servings.

Variations

This recipe is wonderfully versatile. Here are a few ways to customize it to your liking:

Protein Swap: If you’re not in the mood for chicken, this dish works beautifully with thin pork chops, veal cutlets, or even salmon fillets.
Go Gluten-Free: Simply substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free blend and use your favorite gluten-free pasta.
Flavor Boosters: Add a handful of sautéed mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, or steamed asparagus spears to the sauce for extra texture and flavor.
Make it Creamier: For a richer sauce, stir in a quarter cup of heavy cream or half-and-half along with the butter at the end.
No Wine? No Problem: If you prefer to cook without alcohol, you can easily substitute the white wine with an equal amount of additional chicken broth.

Interestingly, the balance of spice and cream in Italian dishes like this one can inspire variations similar to a Spicy Chicken Chipotle Pasta Recipe, where heat from chipotle meets creamy undertones. Both dishes celebrate flavor in completely different ways yet share the same comforting essence of a home-cooked meal.

Cooking Time

This delicious meal comes together faster than you might think, making it ideal for any night of the week.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes

Equipment You Need

You don’t need any fancy gadgets for this recipe, just a few kitchen basics.

Large Skillet: A 12-inch skillet is perfect for searing the chicken and building the pan sauce.
Large Pot: For boiling the pasta until it’s perfectly al dente.
Meat Tenderizer: To pound the chicken breasts into thin, even cutlets.
Tongs: For flipping the chicken and tossing the pasta in the sauce.

How to Make Chicken Piccata Pasta?

Making this dish is a straightforward process that yields impressive results. By preparing the components separately and then bringing them together, you ensure every element is cooked perfectly.

Step 1: Cook the Pasta and Chicken

First, bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil and cook your spaghetti according to the package directions until it’s al dente. Before you drain it, be sure to reserve about one cup of the starchy pasta water. While the pasta cooks, season the chicken cutlets with salt and pepper, then dredge them in flour, shaking off any excess. Heat a few drizzles of olive oil in a large skillet and cook the chicken until it’s golden brown and cooked through. Set the chicken aside on a plate.

Step 2: Make the Lemon Caper Sauce

In the same skillet you used for the chicken, melt 2 tablespoons of butter. Add the minced shallot and garlic, sautéing until fragrant. Next, add the capers and the white wine to deglaze the pan, using a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom—this is where so much flavor is hiding! Stir in the chicken broth, fresh lemon juice, and the thin lemon slices.

Step 3: Return Chicken and Simmer

Place the cooked chicken cutlets back into the skillet, nestling them into the sauce. Let everything simmer gently on low heat for 2 to 3 minutes. This allows the chicken to absorb the wonderful flavors of the sauce and helps the sauce to thicken slightly. Once done, remove the chicken from the pan and transfer it back to your plate, leaving the sauce in the skillet.

Step 4: Thicken Sauce and Add Pasta

Turn off the heat completely. Immediately add the remaining 3 tablespoons of butter to the skillet, stirring continuously until the sauce becomes glossy and has thickened. This technique, called mounting with butter, is key to a restaurant-quality sauce. Spoon about half of this luscious sauce over the chicken on the plate. Add the cooked pasta to the skillet with the remaining sauce and toss to combine, adding a splash of the reserved pasta water if needed to reach your desired consistency.

A Taste of Southern Italy: The Heart of Chicken Piccata Pasta 🇮🇹

Chicken Piccata Pasta finds its roots in Southern Italy, particularly along the Amalfi Coast a region celebrated for its fragrant lemons, Mediterranean coastline, and fresh seafood culture.

The area’s abundant citrus groves inspired the dish’s signature lemony flavor, perfectly balancing richness with brightness. This pasta captures the essence of Italian coastal cooking, where simplicity meets elegance.

Enjoying it feels like savoring the sunny spirit of Amalfi, with every bite echoing Italy’s love for fresh, vibrant ingredients.

Italian cuisine shares its passion for freshness with dishes like the Succulent & Simple Cilantro Lime Chicken Recipe, where zesty lime replaces lemon but the philosophy remains the same: fresh ingredients, bold flavors, and balance in every bite.

Additional Tips for Making this Recipe Better

Over the times I’ve made this, I’ve picked up a few tricks that really elevate the final dish.

I always pound my chicken to an even ¼-inch thickness. Placing plastic wrap over the chicken before pounding prevents it from tearing and keeps my kitchen clean.
Don’t be shy with the salt when boiling your pasta. For me, making the water taste like the sea is the first step to a flavorful pasta dish.
I learned the hard way that adding the final butter with the heat on will just make the sauce oily instead of creamy. Turning off the stove is a non-negotiable step for me now.
I like to add a pinch of red pepper flakes with the garlic and shallots. It doesn’t make it spicy, but it adds a subtle warmth that I find really enhances the lemon and caper flavors.

How to Serve Chicken Piccata Pasta?

Chicken Piccata Pasta is especially beloved in the Campania region of Italy, home to Amalfi lemons and coastal cuisine that balances tangy and savory elements. To serve, I love plating it the Italian way a twirl of spaghetti kissed with lemony butter sauce, topped with golden chicken cutlets and sprinkled with fresh parsley. Pair it with a crisp white wine and a slice of rustic bread to soak up every last drop of that luscious sauce. 🇮🇹

Just like the comforting balance you find in the Pioneer Woman Chicken Enchilada Soup Recipe, this pasta brings together richness, zest, and warmth — making every forkful taste like a little trip to Italy.

Nutritional Information

Here is an approximate nutritional breakdown for one serving of this recipe.

Calories: 790 kcal
Protein: 50g
Carbohydrates: 80g
Fat: 27g

Make Ahead and Storage

This dish is best enjoyed fresh, but leftovers are still delicious. Here’s how to handle them.

Storing

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. I recommend storing the chicken and pasta separately if possible to keep the pasta from getting too soft.

Freezing

While you can freeze this dish, the texture of the pasta may change upon reheating. It’s best to freeze the chicken and sauce separately from the pasta for up to one month. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.

Reheating

Reheat the pasta and chicken gently on the stovetop over medium-low heat. You may need to add a splash of chicken broth or water to loosen the sauce and bring it back to its original consistency. A drizzle of olive oil can also help if the pasta is sticking together.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe?

There are so many reasons this chicken piccata pasta will become a new favorite in your home.

Quick and Easy: This meal comes together in just 35 minutes, making it a perfect solution for busy weeknights when you want something impressive without the fuss.
Incredible Flavor: The combination of bright lemon, briny capers, and rich butter creates a vibrant and perfectly balanced sauce that is simply irresistible.
One-Pan Sauce: The sauce for both the chicken and the pasta is made in the same skillet, which means deeper flavor and less cleanup for you.
Easily Customizable: It’s incredibly easy to adapt this recipe to your dietary needs or what you have on hand, from swapping proteins to adding your favorite vegetables.

Chicken Piccata Pasta Recipe

Ingredients

Variations

Cooking Time

Equipment You Need