Irresistibly Zesty Chicken Francese Recipe for Home Chefs

My kitchen adventures recently led me to discover an incredible chicken francese that blends Italian culinary traditions with simple, elegant cooking techniques.

Crisp lemon notes dance across tender chicken cutlets in this classic dish.

Delicate egg-coated medallions create a golden, irresistible exterior that seals in succulent flavors.

Restaurants often charge premium prices for such a sophisticated meal, but you can easily master this recipe at home.

Butter and white wine mingle to create a luxurious sauce that complements the chicken’s delicate profile.

Light, bright, and remarkably simple, this recipe promises to become your new favorite weeknight dinner.

Prepare to impress everyone around your table with this delightful Italian-American classic.

Chicken Francese That Will Impress Your Guests

• Quick and Simple Preparation: Whip up this restaurant-quality chicken dish with basic ingredients and straightforward cooking steps that anyone can master.
• Versatile Meal Option: Perfect for weeknight dinners, date nights, or impressing guests with a sophisticated yet approachable Italian-inspired entrée that pairs wonderfully with pasta or salad.
• Flavor-Packed Technique: Create a rich, tangy sauce that elevates ordinary chicken breasts into a gourmet experience with minimal cooking skills required, delivering restaurant-level taste right in your kitchen.
• Minimal Cleanup Delight: Uses just one skillet for the entire cooking process, reducing dish washing and making this recipe a go-to for busy home cooks who want delicious meals without extensive kitchen work.

Ingredients Needed for Chicken Francese

• Chicken Breasts: Lean and tender meat that serves as the main protein in this classic Italian-American dish.

• All-Purpose Flour, Eggs, Parmesan Cheese: Create a crispy and flavorful exterior for the chicken with a delightful golden-brown crust.

• Olive Oil, Butter: Provide rich flavor and help achieve a perfect golden sear on the chicken.
• White Wine, Chicken Broth, Lemon Juice: Form a light, tangy sauce that adds brightness and depth to the dish.
• Salt, Pepper: Enhance the overall seasoning and bring out the natural flavors of the chicken.
• Fresh Parsley, Lemon Slices: Offer a fresh garnish that adds color and a zesty finish to the plate.

Simple Instructions for Chicken Francese

Step 1: Tenderize and Season Chicken

Gently pound chicken breasts to create an even thickness using a meat mallet.

Sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper, ensuring the seasoning covers the entire surface.

Step 2: Prepare Coating Stations

Set up two shallow dishes: one with flour and another with whisked eggs mixed with grated Parmesan cheese.

This will create a delicious crispy coating for the chicken.

Step 3: Dredge the Chicken

Carefully coat each chicken breast in flour, shaking off any excess.

Next, dip the floured chicken into the egg and Parmesan mixture, ensuring a complete and even coverage.

Step 4: Fry the Chicken

Heat a large skillet over medium heat.

Add olive oil and butter to create a golden cooking surface.

Carefully place the coated chicken into the skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side until the exterior turns a beautiful golden brown and the chicken is fully cooked through.

Transfer the chicken to a plate and set aside.

Step 5: Create the Sauce

In the same skillet, pour in white wine and chicken broth.

Use a wooden spoon to scrape up any delicious browned bits from the bottom of the pan.

Allow the mixture to simmer and reduce for 2-3 minutes.

Step 6: Finish the Sauce

Add fresh lemon juice and the remaining butter to the skillet.

Stir until the butter melts completely and the sauce becomes smooth and glossy.

Step 7: Combine Chicken and Sauce

Gently return the cooked chicken to the skillet.

Spoon the sauce over the chicken and let it simmer for an additional 1-2 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together.

Step 8: Garnish and Serve

Sprinkle fresh chopped parsley over the chicken and add a few lemon slices for a bright, fresh presentation.

Serve immediately while hot and enjoy the delightful Chicken Francese.

Pro Secrets for Tender Chicken Francese

• Use a meat mallet or rolling pin to pound chicken breasts uniformly, ensuring consistent cooking and tender texture.
• Pat chicken dry before dredging to help flour and egg mixture adhere smoothly without creating thick, uneven layers.
• Maintain medium heat to achieve golden-brown crust without burning the chicken or creating greasy exterior.
• Reduce wine and broth mixture briefly to concentrate flavors and create a silky, light sauce that clings perfectly to chicken.
• Plate chicken right after simmering in sauce to preserve crispy coating and prevent soggy texture.

Creative Spins on Classic Chicken Francese

• Gluten-Free Chicken Francese: Replace wheat flour with almond flour or cornstarch for a celiac-friendly version that maintains the crispy coating.
• Vegetarian Protein Swap: Substitute chicken with firm tofu or portobello mushrooms, keeping the classic egg and lemon sauce preparation.
• Low-Carb Option: Use crushed pork rinds or grated Parmesan cheese instead of flour for breading, reducing overall carbohydrate content while maintaining a crunchy exterior.
• Dairy-Free Adaptation: Swap butter with olive oil or coconut oil, and use nutritional yeast instead of Parmesan cheese to create a lactose-free alternative that preserves the recipe's rich flavor profile.

Serving Suggestions for Chicken Francese

• Romantic Dinner Date: Plate this elegant chicken francese alongside soft candlelight, creating a sophisticated atmosphere perfect for impressing your special someone.
• Elegant Side Pairings: Serve over creamy risotto or with roasted asparagus to complement the lemony sauce and enhance the delicate chicken flavors.
• Classic Italian Presentation: Arrange chicken on a white platter, drizzle remaining sauce generously, sprinkle fresh chopped parsley, and add a wedge of lemon for a traditional restaurant-style display.
• Comfort Meal Combo: Pair with garlic mashed potatoes or buttery angel hair pasta to soak up the rich, tangy sauce and create a hearty, satisfying meal.

How to Keep Chicken Francese Fresh

• Store leftover chicken francese in an airtight container and keep in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Cover the chicken with the sauce to prevent it from drying out.
• Wrap individual portions tightly in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe container. Frozen chicken francese can be stored for up to 2 months.
• Place chicken on a microwave-safe plate, add a splash of chicken broth to maintain moisture. Cover and heat in 30-second intervals, checking temperature between each interval to prevent overcooking.

FAQs

• What is the origin of Chicken Francese?

The dish originated in Italian-American cuisine, combining traditional Italian cooking techniques with American ingredients, creating a popular restaurant-style chicken recipe.

• Can I use chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts?

While chicken breasts are traditional, boneless chicken thighs can work, but they might be slightly less tender and require adjusted cooking times due to different meat thickness.

• Why do I need to pound the chicken?

Pounding chicken creates an even thickness, ensuring uniform cooking, tenderizing the meat, and helping the coating adhere better, resulting in a more consistent and delicious dish.

• Is Parmesan cheese crucial in the egg mixture?

Parmesan adds rich flavor and helps create a slightly thicker, more textured coating on the chicken, but you can omit it if unavailable without significantly changing the recipe’s overall taste.

Chicken Francese Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.7 from 21 reviews

• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Succulent chicken francese delivers a classic Italian-American culinary experience with golden-crusted chicken bathed in a silky lemon butter sauce. Crisp, tender medallions paired with delicate flavors promise a restaurant-quality meal you can easily craft in your own kitchen.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 large eggs
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Liquid Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 1/2 cup dry white wine
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

Seasonings and Cooking Ingredients:

• 4 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
• Salt, to taste
• Pepper, to taste
• Lemon slices, for garnish

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Gently flatten chicken breasts to uniform thickness using a meat mallet, ensuring even cooking. Season generously with salt and pepper.
2. Prepare two separate shallow dishes: one with flour and another with whisked eggs mixed with grated Parmesan cheese.
3. Carefully coat each chicken piece in flour, gently shaking off any excess, then fully immerse in the egg-Parmesan mixture.
4. Warm a large skillet over medium heat, adding olive oil and butter. Carefully place coated chicken into the hot pan, cooking 3-4 minutes per side until achieving a golden-brown exterior and fully cooked interior.
5. Transfer chicken to a separate plate, keeping warm. Without cleaning the skillet, pour in white wine and chicken broth, using a wooden spoon to release caramelized bits from the pan bottom.
6. Allow liquid to simmer and reduce for 2-3 minutes, concentrating the flavor profile.
7. Introduce fresh lemon juice and remaining butter, stirring until the sauce becomes smooth and slightly thickened.
8. Gently return chicken to the skillet, coating each piece with the vibrant pan sauce. Let simmer an additional 1-2 minutes to marry flavors.
9. Finish by garnishing with finely chopped fresh parsley and delicate lemon slices, serving immediately for optimal taste and presentation.

Notes

• Pound chicken evenly to ensure consistent cooking and tender texture, preventing dry or tough meat.
• Use a meat mallet or rolling pin for gentle, uniform flattening without tearing the chicken.
• Pat chicken completely dry before dredging to help flour and egg coating adhere perfectly and create a crispy exterior.
• Adjust heat to medium-low if chicken browns too quickly, preventing burning while maintaining a golden, crisp coating.
• Swap regular flour with gluten-free flour blend for celiac or gluten-sensitive diners without compromising recipe’s delicious flavor profile.
• Replace Parmesan with nutritional yeast for a dairy-free version that maintains a similar savory, cheesy essence.
• Select fresh, high-quality white wine for the sauce to enhance overall depth and complexity of flavor.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
• Method: Frying
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 360 kcal
• Sugar: 1 g
• Sodium: 300 mg
• Fat: 18 g
• Saturated Fat: 6 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
• Trans Fat: 0.2 g
• Carbohydrates: 10 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 38 g
• Cholesterol: 150 mg