The Best Lemon Chicken Scallopini with Creamy Lemon Garlic Sauce: Your New Family Favorite
Get ready to elevate your dinner routine with what is sure to become your new family favorite: Lemon Chicken Scallopini with Lemon Garlic Cream Sauce. This outstanding dish masterfully combines two irresistible elements – perfectly cooked lemon garlic chicken and a rich, velvety lemon garlic cream sauce – into one seamless, flavor-packed experience. It’s an elegant meal that’s surprisingly simple to prepare, making it ideal for busy weeknights yet impressive enough for entertaining.
Imagine tender, thinly sliced chicken cutlets, seared to a beautiful golden crisp, then generously coated in a luxurious, bright, and savory cream sauce. Each bite offers a harmonious blend of tangy fresh lemon, robust aromatic garlic, and comforting creaminess. This recipe isn’t just about satisfying hunger; it’s about creating a memorable culinary moment with depth of flavor and a silky texture that will have everyone asking for seconds.
Solving Your Dinner Dilemmas: Versatility and Flavor in One Dish
As a recipe creator, I cherish hearing from my readers, and your feedback often inspires new dishes! Many of you have asked if my beloved Creamy Lemon Parmesan Chicken Piccata could be made without Parmesan cheese. While my inner cheese-enthusiast always wants to debate the absence of Parmesan (it’s just so good!), I fully understand that dietary needs and preferences vary. My husband, for example, shares a similar aversion to Parmesan, so I get it! Simultaneously, I’ve received numerous requests for adaptations of my popular Creamy Lemon Garlic Chicken, specifically inquiring about using chicken breasts.
Consider this your ultimate answer! This Lemon Chicken Scallopini with Lemon Garlic Cream Sauce is the culmination of those very requests. It delivers all the zesty, garlicky, and incredibly creamy goodness you crave, crafted with the versatility to accommodate various preferences. This recipe proves that you can achieve outstanding flavor without compromise, offering a dish that’s both universally appealing and easily customizable.
A Weekend Obsession: Why I Made This Recipe Twice in a Row!
I must confess, our Saturday night dinner featuring this Lemon Chicken Scallopini was genuinely one of the most delightful meals we’ve enjoyed in a long, long time. The flavors were so vibrant, the chicken so tender, and the sauce so utterly perfect, that I found myself making it again the very next day. Yes, on Sunday! I told my parents it was “for them,” which, while technically true, was also a convenient excuse for me to indulge in this exquisite dish once more. And honestly, who could blame me?
And speaking of confessions, I have another one. I may have, perhaps, just a little bit, okay, I definitely did, drink the leftover sauce straight from the pan by the spoonful. Seriously, do not knock it until you’ve tasted this magnificent lemon garlic cream sauce. It’s a rich, tangy, and unbelievably addictive creation that clings beautifully to every piece of chicken and leaves you wanting to savor every last drop. It’s the kind of sauce that makes a good meal great, and a great meal unforgettable.
The Flour Debate: Enhancing Texture or Keeping it Low-Carb?
One of the fantastic aspects of this recipe is its adaptability, especially concerning how you prepare the chicken. I’ve thoroughly tested and provided options to cater to various preferences and dietary paths. Initially, I experimented with cooking the chicken without any flour coating. The result was good – juicy chicken and flavorful sauce.
However, when I tried it with a light dredge of flour, the transformation was remarkable. Personally, I much prefer the floured version. The flour creates a delicate, golden-brown crust on the chicken as it fries, which adds a wonderful textural contrast and an extra layer of flavor. This light coating also helps the chicken retain its moisture, resulting in incredibly tender cutlets that perfectly absorb the rich cream sauce.
But here’s the beauty of this recipe: I completely understand that many of you are currently following low-carb diets. For this reason, the flour coating is entirely optional. If you’re looking to keep things low-carb or gluten-free, simply skip the flouring step. Your chicken will still be beautifully tender, savory, and swimming in that luscious lemon garlic cream sauce. This flexibility ensures that this Lemon Chicken Scallopini can be enjoyed by everyone, regardless of dietary choices. It’s truly the ultimate chicken recipe – versatile, flavorful, and incredibly satisfying!
Essential Tips for a Flawless Lemon Chicken Scallopini Experience
To ensure your Lemon Chicken Scallopini with Lemon Garlic Cream Sauce turns out absolutely perfect every time, keep these crucial tips in mind:
- Choosing Your Cream: I opted for light (or reduced-fat) cooking cream in this recipe to create a delicious yet slightly less heavy sauce. However, feel free to substitute with heavy cream for an even richer, more decadent finish, or half-and-half for a middle-ground option. The choice of cream will primarily impact the richness and calorie count, not the overall success of the dish.
- The Optional Flour Coating: As highlighted, the flour coating is completely OPTIONAL. For a low-carb or gluten-free version, simply omit this step. The chicken will still brown beautifully and remain tender, soaking up the incredible sauce. If you do use flour (all-purpose or a gluten-free alternative like tapioca flour works well), ensure you shake off any excess to achieve a thin, even coating and prevent it from becoming gummy.
- Freshness is Key: Lemon & Garlic: The vibrant flavors of this dish hinge on fresh ingredients. Always use freshly squeezed lemon juice; its bright, zesty notes are incomparable to bottled juice. Similarly, fresh minced garlic provides a much more aromatic and robust flavor profile than pre-minced varieties.
- Evenly Sliced Chicken: Pounding your chicken breasts to an even thickness (around 1/2 inch) is vital. This ensures that all pieces cook uniformly and quickly, preventing some parts from drying out while others are still cooking. Thin cutlets also cook faster, which is perfect for a quick dinner.
- Mastering Sauce Consistency: The cornstarch and water mixture (often called a slurry) is your secret to a perfectly thickened sauce. Add it gradually to the simmering sauce, stirring continuously, until you reach your desired consistency. It will thicken quite quickly, so pay attention! If you accidentally over-thicken it, a splash of extra broth or water can help thin it out.
- Don’t Overcrowd the Pan: When searing the chicken, cook it in batches if necessary. Overcrowding the pan can lower the temperature, leading to steamed rather than beautifully seared chicken. Give each piece enough space to achieve that desirable golden crust.
Beyond the Plate: Creative Serving Suggestions and Flavorful Variations
This Lemon Chicken Scallopini with Lemon Garlic Cream Sauce is incredibly versatile and pairs beautifully with a multitude of side dishes. Here are some ideas to help you complete your meal and even explore new flavor dimensions:
- Classic Comfort: Serve this luscious chicken over a bed of fluffy white rice, creamy mashed potatoes, or your favorite pasta. Linguine, fettuccine, or even angel hair pasta are excellent choices for soaking up every drop of that heavenly sauce.
- Light & Healthy Options: For a lighter or low-carb meal, spoon the chicken and sauce over steamed asparagus, sautéed spinach, green beans, roasted broccoli, or even zucchini noodles (zoodles). The vibrant vegetables provide a fresh counterpoint to the rich sauce.
- The Essential Dipping Companion: A crusty baguette, warm ciabatta, or savory garlic bread is an absolute must to mop up every last bit of the incredible cream sauce. Trust me, you won’t want to leave any behind!
- A Hint of Heat: If you enjoy a touch of spice, stir in a pinch or two of red pepper flakes with the Italian herbs. It adds a lovely subtle warmth that complements the lemon and garlic beautifully.
- Embrace the Briny Notes: For a traditional piccata twist, add 1-2 tablespoons of capers to the sauce along with the lemon juice. Their salty, briny flavor provides a delightful contrast to the creamy sauce.
- Herb Exploration: While Italian mixed herbs are specified, feel free to experiment with other fresh herbs. Fresh thyme, rosemary, or even a sprinkle of fresh dill can offer a unique aromatic profile.
Still a Lemon Lover? Discover More Zesty Delights!
If, like me, you simply can’t get enough of bright, zesty lemon flavors, you’re in for a treat! Once you’ve made this incredible Lemon Chicken Scallopini, why not venture into a world of other lemon-infused culinary creations? These recipes are perfect for expanding your lemon repertoire:
- Easy Salmon Piccata: An elegant and quick seafood dish featuring a vibrant lemon-caper sauce that’s both light and incredibly flavorful. Perfect for a quick, healthy meal.
- Creamy Lemon Garlic Chicken: A simpler, yet equally delicious, chicken recipe that focuses purely on the magical combination of lemon and garlic in a creamy sauce. A great alternative for a less formal meal.
- Creamy Lemon Parmesan Shrimp: Dive into a fast and fancy dish with succulent shrimp bathed in a rich, zesty, and cheesy Parmesan sauce. Ideal for a speedy weeknight treat or a light dinner.
- Crispy Greek Lemon Smashed Potatoes: Crispy on the outside, wonderfully fluffy on the inside, and infused with a tangy lemon kick. These potatoes are the ultimate side dish to any meal, adding a burst of Mediterranean flavor.
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Lemon Chicken Scallopini with Lemon Garlic Cream Sauce
Ingredients
For The Chicken:
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts large, halved horizontally to make 4
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 pinch cracked pepper
- 1-2 tablespoons lemon juice freshly squeezed, juice of half a lemon
- 4 tablespoons flour all purpose or tapioca – optional
For The Sauce:
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2 teaspoons oil
- 1 brown onion medium-sized
- 2 tablespoons garlic minced, or 6-8 cloves garlic, minced
- 1¼ cup chicken broth stock
- 2/3 cup light cooking cream
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch cornflour mixed with 1 tablespoon of water
- 2-3 tablespoons lemon juice (adjust to your tastes)
- 2 teaspoons dried Italian mixed herbs
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley
- 2 lemon slices or wedges, to serve
Instructions
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Season chicken with garlic powder, salt and pepper. Squeeze the lemon juice of half a lemon over each fillet, rubbing it into each fillet. (The next step is optional): Add the flour to a shallow bowl and dredge each fillet in the flour; shake off excess and set aside.
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Heat the butter and oil in a large skillet or non-stick pan over medium-high heat until butter has melted and pan is hot. Fry the chicken until golden on each side, cooked through and no longer pink (about 4-5 minutes per side, depending on the thickness of your chicken). Transfer onto a warm plate.
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Add the onion and garlic to the pan and fry until onion is translucent (about 3 minutes). Reduce heat to low-medium heat, add the broth. Season with salt and pepper, and continue to cook to reduce down slightly (about 6 minutes). Add in the cream and bring the sauce to a gentle simmer for about 5 minutes until it begins to thicken. (If the sauce is too runny for your liking, add the cornstarch/water mixture into the centre of the pan and mix through fast to combine into the sauce. It will begin to thicken immediately).
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Pour in the lemon juice, allow to simmer gently for a further minute to combine. Stir in the Italian herbs. Add the chicken back into the pan, cover with the sauce and serve over rice, pasta, steamed vegetables or zucchini noodles. Garnish with lemon slices or wedges and parsley.
Notes
*If you don’t have access to Italian dried herbs, use 1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil and 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
