Healthy Air-Fried Chicken Picatta Recipe (Gluten-Free)

There is something quite special about the perfect chicken piccata. Tender thinly sliced chicken breast with a crunchy outside layer is magically balanced with a creamy lemony citrus caper sauce also stated as picatta sauce.

We guarantee this healthy air-fried version of chicken picatta will quickly become a welcomed addition to your culinary repertoire.

Air-Fryer Chicken Piccata

Chicken piccata is an excellent main dish for any occasion or gathering. The simplicity of this dish makes it extremely versatile, and a lovely pairing for many side dishes like pasta, rice, or roasted vegetables.

The opportunities are endless! Try some of the pairing suggestions featured at the end of this recipe. Now get to the kitchen!

What is Chicken Piccata?

Contrary to popular belief, you won’t be able to find chicken picatta in Italy. It is an American invention clearly inspired by classic Italian cooking methods, such as scaloppine, which is pan-fried thinly sliced meat (chicken, veal, beef) dredged in flour and served with pan sauce.

The new addition to this recipe is capers, which gives the dish a more unique flavor. If you have never tried capers or cooked with them, you are in for a treat.

Capers give dishes a more lemony citrus and briny flavor which complements a wide range of flavor profiles.

The final picatta sauce combination of butter, lemon, capers, and fresh parsley is a gift from the heavens and will make you come back for seconds. Go on… try for yourself!

Air-Fried vs. Pan-Fried Chicken Picatta

Typically, chicken piccata is pan-fried in a cast iron skillet.

The lemon picatta sauce (listed in step 7) is then made in the same pan with the chicken bit which adds a few more layers of flavor compared to air-frying.

An air-fryer will give your chicken the perfect texture and crispiness without as much oil and mess.

Air-fried meats are cleaner alternatives and surprisingly more tender than their pan-fried counterparts.

The only problem with air-fried chicken picatta is that our final sauce misses the flavors of the pan-fried chicken bits.

Alternatively, you can hybridize this recipe and lightly sear the chicken in the sauce pan , then transfer to an air fryer (reduce cooking time by 2-3 mins).

This will give you sauce an extra level of flavor, but it is not necessary! We guarantee air-fryer chicken picatta is just as satisfying.

What Ingredients You Would Need 

Most of the following ingredients can easily be found in your pantry or nearby supermarket. 

• 2-4 boneless chicken breasts

Egg Mixture:

• 1 large egg, beaten
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1 teaspoon salt & pepper

Dredge Mixture:

• 1 cup corn flour (or normal)
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 3 tablespoons parsley, minced
• 1 teaspoon salt & pepper

Picatta Sauce:

• 3 tablespoons grass-fed butter (or 3 tablespoons olive oil)
• 1 tbsp corn flour (if you have leftover dredge then feel free to repurpose in the sauce)
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 3 tablespoon capers, rinsed

How To Make It?(Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Cut chicken in half lengthwise. Lay chicken halves on top of plastic film. Place an additional layer of plastic film on top. This will help keep the chicken in place when pounding.

Step2: Pound chicken out to 1/4 inch using a mallet (or rolling pin). Season cutlets with salt and pepper.

Step 3: In a shallow bowl, whisk one egg with 1 tbsp lemon juice and pinch of salt. Place dry mixture in a separate shallow bowl or plate.

Step 4: Fully coat chicken in egg mixture (I like to massage the breast with the egg mixture). Transfer to a dry mixture and coat evenly on both sides.

Step 5: Preheat the air-fryer to 400 degrees. Cook in the air fryer for a total of 8 minutes (4 minutes on each side) until golden brown and crispy. Prepare the sauce while the chicken is cooking.

Step 6: In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add garlic and saute garlic for one minute.

Step 7: Add chicken broth, capers, and lemon juice. Bring to a boil, then lower heat. Whisk in 1 tbsp corn flour to thicken.

Step 8: Drizzle the sauce on top of chicken. Garnish with fresh parsley and lemon zest.

Optional Modification/ Toppings / Substitutes 

• Spices: Feel free to add any of your favorite spices to the chicken seasoning. For a spicier chicken piccata, try adding Chile flakes or cayenne pepper. 
• Fresh vegetables: Any vegetable would be a healthy addition to this dish! Try adding spinach to the sauce when cooked. The steam will wilt the spinach. 
• Toppings: Top with fresh herbs like parsley or basil. This dish also can be paired with your favorite cheese like parmesan reggiano. 

Other Options/ Versions of This Recipe?

• Trader Joe’s Chicken Piccata: For a quicker alternative, try air frying Trader Joe’s chicken piccata. 
• Alternative Sauce option: If you prefer a more creamy sauce, try adding ⅓ cup cream to your lemon sauce. You can also switch up this recipe by pairing with a marinara sauce or homemade pesto sauce.

Air Fryer Cooking Times

How to Store and Reheat Chicken Piccata 

This dish is best served immediately, however it can be saved up to 5 days in the refrigerator.

Store sauce separately in an airtight container. To reheat chicken, preheat the air-fryer to 400 degrees and cook for 8-10 minutes.

To cook store bought prepared chicken piccata (like Trader Joes chicken piccata),, simply preheat the air-fryer to 400 degrees and place chicken on a greased tray in thin layers. Cook for 8 minutes flipping each side halfway through. 

Other Tips & Tricks

• Quick and easy– Chicken piccata may seem like a fancy Italian dish but it is quite simple to make and contains minimal ingredients. This recipe will only take 25 mins!
• Healthy Alternative- For the dredge, replace white flour with corn flour. Corn flour contains less calories and a more robust nutritional profile than white flour. For a healthier alternative, use less butter and more olive oil in the sauce.

Ingredient Pro Tips

Here are a few ingredient tips and highlights for these recipes. The complete recipe card can be found below.

• Grass-fed Butter– Butter can be your best friend or enemy. Make butter your best friend by sourcing real Grass-fed butter, not any of those fake alternative “spreads”. This will do your body and culinary creations real justice.
• Corn Flour – Corn flour is an excellent gluten-free alternative for dredged meats. It’s light and fluffy and provides a little more nutrients than a white flour.
• Organic Lemons– It’s lemon season so finding the freshest juiciest lemons should be easy for most. If possible, locate your nearest farmers market or local health food store to source the freshest seasonal lemons.

What to Serve with Chicken Piccata

Chicken piccata is an excellent entree dish and it can literally pair with anything you can dream of! Try serving with a simple carbohydrate like rice, pasta, or potatoes.

For this recipe, I paired my dish with a roasted sweet potato- healthy, satisfying and filling!

Check out some of these healthy side dishes for some inspiration on what to serve with chicken piccata:

1. Simple Garlic Spaghetti
2. Cauliflower Rice
3. Roasted Sweet Potato Rounds

Healthy Air-Fried Chicken Picatta (Gluten-Free)

Yield: 4 Servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Chicken piccata is an excellent main dish for any occasion or gathering. Tender thinly sliced chicken breast with a crunchy outside layer is magically balanced with a creamy lemony citrus caper sauce. We guarantee this healthy air-fried version of chicken picatta will quickly become a welcomed addition to your culinary repertoire.

Print

Ingredients

• 2-4 boneless chicken breasts
• Egg Mixture:
• 1 large egg, beaten
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1 teaspoon salt & pepper
• Dredge Mixture:
• 1 cup corn flour (or normal)
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 3 tablespoons parsley, minced
• 1 teaspoon salt & pepper
• Picatta Sauce:
• 3 tablespoons grass-fed butter (or 3 tablespoons olive oil)
• 1 tbsp corn flour (if you have leftover dredge then feel free to repurpose in the sauce)
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 3 tablespoon capers, rinsed

Instructions

1. Cut chicken in half lengthwise. Lay chicken halves on top of plastic film. Place an additional layer of plastic film on top. 
2. Pound chicken out to 1/4 inch using a mallet (or rolling pin). Season cutlets with salt and pepper.
3. In a shallow bowl, whisk one egg with 1 tbsp lemon juice and pinch of salt. Place dry mixture in a separate shallow bowl or plate.
4. Fully coat chicken in egg mixture (I like to massage the breast with the egg mixture). 
5. Transfer to a dry mixture and coat evenly on both sides.
6. Preheat the air-fryer to 400 degrees. Cook in the air fryer for a total of 8 minutes (4 minutes on each side) until golden brown and crispy. Prepare the sauce while the chicken is cooking.

Piccata Sauce

1. In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add garlic and saute garlic for one minute.
2. Add chicken broth, capers, and lemon juice. Bring to a boil, then lower heat. Whisk in 1 tbsp corn flour to thicken.
3. Drizzle the sauce on top of chicken. Garnish with fresh parsley and lemon zest.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 486Total Fat: 20gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 229mgSodium: 1283mgCarbohydrates: 28gFiber: 3gSugar: 1gProtein: 47g

Keren Tayler

My name is Keren Tayler. I am a stay-at-home mama to three lovely girls, Sarah + Rachel + Hannah. Prior to becoming a mom, I had a successful career in the accounting field, steps away from becoming a CPA. I decided to give up on my career in order to raise my own kids (as opposed to letting a nanny do it, no judgment here :)) I learned a lot and I love sharing it with other moms.  Along the way, I also became a Certified Food Handler.