Amanda Dawn Chicken Piccata was not a main dish that I had often growing up, and really wasn’t something that I had experienced until my early adult years. It’s a zesty and lively dish that really perks up some plain ole chicken breasts into something savory and magical. I have known many people to hunt down Italian restaurants in search of a good plate of it, or even just to saddle up and head down to the Olive Garden, where I hear they make a pretty decent version of Chicken Piccata too (I’m not judging).
Despite how complicated this dish might seem at first, it’s really easy to make, and it’s actually kind of hard to mess it up. Make sure though that you use a good non-stick skillet, or else you will be ripping the chicken cutlets off of it when you go to flip them despite browning them in butter and olive oil. I’m speaking from experience on that one, as you don’t want to rip off the delicately coated Whey Protein Isolate and Parmesan Cheese on the outer layer.
Speaking of Whey Protein Isolate, you want to specifically be using the Isolate here in this recipe. I get questions about this whenever I use it in a recipe, and there is definitely a huge difference nutritionally speaking between traditional Whey Protein (Which has sugars from the dairy) and Whey Protein Isolate (which is the protein only, with the sugars removed).
KETO CHICKEN PICCATA RECIPE
Ease of Preparation: Easy
Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Cooking Time: 20 Minutes
Total Time: 30 Minutes
INGREDIENTS:
- 2 Pounds Chicken Breasts
- 3 Tablespoons Whey Protein Isolate
- 3 Tablespoons Grated Parmesan Cheese
- 1/2 Teaspoon Salt
- 1/2 Teaspoon Pepper
- 1 Teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 4 Tablespoons Butter
- 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
- 1/2 Cup White Wine Vinegar
- 1/2 Cup Chicken Broth or Stock
- 1/2 Lemon (Juice only)
- 1/4 Cup Capers (drained)
- Freshly Grated Parmesan or Romano Cheese for Topping
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Slice the chicken in half like a hamburger bun, so that you form chicken cutlets that are between 1/2″ to 3/4″ thick.
- Season the Chicken Breast with Salt, Pepper, and Garlic Powder
- In a Medium Bowl mix together the Whey Protein Isolate and the Grated Parmesan Cheese
- In a Large Non-Stick Skillet warm up 1 TBSP of Butter and 1 TBSP of Olive Oil on Medium-High Heat.
- When the butter and oil mixture is ready, coat the Chicken Breast in the Whey and Cheese mixture and place immediately into the skillet.
- Cook for 3 to 4 Minutes per side, and then remove from the skillet and set to the side on a plate while we prepare the sauce.
- In the same Large Non-Stick Skillet over Medium-High Heat place 3 Tablespoons of Butter, 1 Tablespoon of Olive Oil, 1/2 Cup White Wine Vinegar, 1/2 Cup Chicken Broth or Stock, 1/4 Cup Capers, 1/2 Lemon (Juiced), and cook for 5 to 6 minutes, or until the sauce has reduced to your personal liking. The sauce should reduce to about 50% of it’s original volume give or take your own preference.
- After the sauce has reduced, carefully place the Chicken Breast back into the pan and simmer on Medium-High Heat again for about 5 more minutes.
- Serve immediately, and spoon the capers and remaining sauce on top of the Chicken Piccata once plated, and serve with optional Parmesan or Romano Cheese on top if desired. (The Cheese adds a sharp taste to the pallet, which is a great compliment to the flavors of this dish, so I highly recommend it).
Keto Chicken Piccata
Ingredients
- 2 pounds Chicken Breast Sliced in Half
- 1/2 Cup Chicken Bone Broth
- 1/2 Cup Dry White Wine or White Wine Vinegar
- 1/4 Cup Capers Drained
- 4 tbsp Grass-Fed Salted Butter
- 3 tbsp Whey Protein Isolate unflavored
- 3 tbsp Parmesan Cheese Grated
- 2 tbsp Olive Oil
- 1 tsp Granulated Garlic
- 1/2 tsp Pink Himalayan Salt
- 1/2 tsp Ground Black Pepper
- 1/2 Lemon Juiced
For Topping
- Parmesan or Romano Cheese Freshly Grated
Instructions
- Slice the chicken in half like a hamburger bun, so that you form chicken cutlets that are between 1/2″ to 3/4″ thick.
- Season the Chicken Breast with Salt, Pepper, and Garlic Powder
- In a Medium Bowl mix together the Whey Protein Isolate and the Grated Parmesan Cheese
- In a Large Non-Stick Skillet warm up 1 TBSP of Butter and 1 TBSP of Olive Oil on Medium-High Heat.
- When the butter and oil mixture is ready, coat the Chicken Breast in the Whey and Cheese mixture and place immediately into the skillet.
- Cook for 3 to 4 Minutes per side, and then remove from the skillet and set to the side on a plate while we prepare the sauce.
- In the same Large Non-Stick Skillet over Medium-High Heat place 3 Tablespoons of Butter, 1 Tablespoon of Olive Oil, 1/2 Cup White Wine Vinegar, 1/2 Cup Chicken Broth or Stock, 1/4 Cup Capers, 1/2 Lemon (Juiced), and cook for 5 to 6 minutes, or until the sauce has reduced to your personal liking. The sauce should reduce to about 50% of it’s original volume give or take your own preference.
- After the sauce has reduced, carefully place the Chicken Breast back into the pan and simmer on Medium-High Heat again for about 5 more minutes.
- Serve immediately, and spoon the capers and remaining sauce on top of the Chicken Piccata once plated, and serve with optional Parmesan or Romano Cheese on top if desired. (The Cheese adds a sharp taste to the pallet, which is a great compliment to the flavors of this dish, so I highly recommend it).
This looks delish – however, I have concerns over the use of the whey protein. A key to Keto is to make sure you don’t over do the Protein when it comes to macros. More-over, main dishes tech should have the macros of fat to protein almost equal if not within 10-20% of each other. This dish comes in with the Protein at 3x as much as the fat. Which means (in my head) the eater must have 2-3 fat bombs to offset the protein.
Good concerns. This is just a meat meant to be served as part of a meal. Definitely plan your side dishes accordingly to balance your macros that you are targeting.
This dish could be served with a fatty side….creamed spinach, sautéed spinach, cauliflower casserole, jalapeño poppers.
Is it necessary to use the whey protein
No, you can just coat them in the grated parmesan instead if you want. That works out pretty good by itself too.
Could I sub crushed pork rinds mixed with parm cheese?
Just do Parmesan Cheese by iteself instead and skip the Whey Protein if you want to. Don’t do pork rinds, as Chicken Piccata isn’t meant to be fully breaded like that.
My oldest son and his family eat using the keto diet and look great. They say their two daughters my granddaughters now don’t have headaches or stomachs aches. So I’m hoping with my other half after his heartache and finding he is a diabetic stage 2 and I can see some results when we start using these recipes. Just want to say thank you for sharing!
You are welcome. For me it is amazing how much clearer I can think when my body is not inundated with insulin.
Just made this dish minus the whey. Delicious. Will definitely make again.
Can this be made with organic plant protein instead of the whey isolate protein?
I haven’t tried cooking it that way personally, but it might turn out the same if they have similar properties to one another.
Just made this dish and my family loved it…I used almond flour mixed with the grated parmesan cheese (I don’t have Whey Protein). Came out delish! Thank you for sharing the recipe!
You could also just use the Parmesan Cheese, but I bet Almond Flour made it tasty too 🙂
Made this tonight and it was great! Super easy! I doubled everything except the vinegar and it worked perfectly for my family of many kids.
I just made this dish and let me tell you it is so good I had to smack the counter!
I made a few changes to reflect my tastebuds. I used 6 tbsp of grated parmesan with 2 tbsp of Grillmates Garlic Herb and Wine marinade mix to coat 6 halves of chicken breast. Could’ve used 8 tbsp, maybe next time.
I used 2 shallots, 6 crimini mushrooms, fresh chopped kale, 1/2 jalapeno with seeds and 1tbsp minced garlic in the pan after I browned the chicken. Cook all until tender in the butter and olive oil. Note: I used a mandoline to cut shallots and mushrooms, minced jalapeno by hand.
I followed the recipe for the sauce and then I put the chicken on top and let it all cook until the sauce reduced and yes my chicken is very tender.
I’m a little confused here. “Piccata” usually refers to the noodles in a dish served in the “piccata” style, particularly chicken, where the noodles, typically spaghetti or angel hair, are served in a sauce containing lemon juice, butter, and capers.
I tend to be one of those nitpickers when it comes to spelling and grammar. So, to make amends for this, I also offer resolution to satisfy other nitpickers like me. Add Zucchini noodles to the dish, but don’t overcook them. 😉
Just made this tonight. Excellent. A keeper. #nocapers