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Chicken Francese in a pan with white wine lemon sauce and lemon slices

Chicken Francese

Lightly battered pan-fried chicken breast with an elegant white wine lemon sauce. Like Chicken Piccata but with a thicker sauce, more of it, no capers, and subtle lemon flavor. Ready in just 25 minutes.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 4 portions
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian-American
Calories: 368

Ingredients
  

  • 2 large chicken breasts skinless boneless, 8 to 10 oz each
  • 0.25 cup all-purpose flour for coating
  • 1 tsp kosher salt for coating
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tbsp milk any fat percentage
  • 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 lemon thinly sliced 1/8 inch thick
  • 3 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 2 tbsp all-purpose flour for the sauce
  • 2 cups low-sodium chicken stock
  • 0.33 cup Chardonnay or dry white wine see notes for substitution
  • 0.5 tsp kosher salt for the sauce
  • 1 tbsp fresh parsley finely chopped, optional garnish

Equipment

  • Large nonstick pan
  • meat thermometer
  • Wooden spoon
  • Paper towels

Method
 

  1. Cut each chicken breast in half horizontally to form 4 thin steaks total.
  2. Whisk the eggs and milk together in a small bowl and set aside.
  3. Mix flour, salt, and pepper on a flat plate. Coat each chicken piece in the flour, shaking off the excess, then set aside on a clean plate.
  4. Heat the olive oil in a large nonstick pan over medium-high heat until shimmering.
  5. Dip each cutlet in the egg mixture, allow the excess to drip off, then place into the hot pan. Cook for 3 minutes until golden. Flip, reduce heat to medium, and cook for 4 more minutes until cooked through (internal temp 155 degrees F). Remove onto a plate.
  6. Add the lemon slices to the same pan. Cook for about 1 minute until softened or lightly browned, then flip and cook the other side for 30 seconds. Remove onto a plate.
  7. Wipe the pan clean using paper towels to remove the black bits.
  8. Still on medium heat, melt the butter in the pan. Add flour and stir for 1 minute with a wooden spoon. While stirring, slowly pour in half the chicken stock. Once dissolved, stir in the remaining stock, wine, and salt.
  9. Raise the heat slightly and simmer for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens to a maple syrup-like consistency.
  10. Return the chicken and lemon slices to the pan. Spoon the sauce generously all over the chicken and simmer for 30 seconds to warm through. Sprinkle with parsley and serve immediately.

Notes

Wine substitute: Replace with non-alcoholic white wine or omit and add 2 to 3 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice. Do not skip pan-frying the lemon slices because they absorb the fond and release rich flavor into the sauce. To avoid lumps, stir constantly while slowly adding stock. Leftovers keep refrigerated for up to 3 days; reheat gently on the stovetop with a splash of stock.
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