Chicken Francese

Chicken Francese is a classic Italian-American dish known for its chicken cutlets in a lemon and white wine sauce. It's a culinary masterpiece that can elevate any dinner table. In this recipe, we'll walk you through the process of creating this dish, ensuring you achieve the perfect balance of flavor and texture.

Understanding THEE Chicken Francese Sauce

The sauce is the key part of Chicken Francese, adding depth to the dish.

Each ingredient in the recipe plays a role in the sauce. Here's some of them:

1. Lemon: Freshly squeezed lemon juice and sliced lemon provide the juicy flavor that defines the zest of Chicken Francese.

2. White wine: Dry white wine adds complexity and balances the acidity of the lemon juice. Choose a wine that you enjoy drinking (but nothing too sweet) as it will contribute to the overall flavor of the dish. AND you deserve to pour yourself a glass too (if you're of age).

3. Chicken broth: The broth enhances the savory notes and adds a depth of flavor to the sauce. Choose store bought or make your own with my recipe!!

4. Butter: Unsalted butter is used to enrich the sauce. If you're dairy free, you can swap for a plant based butter!

Ok wait, hold, is it Chicken Francaise and Chicken Francese?

I kept wondering this every time I ate this dish and finally decided to look in to it lol. Chicken Francaise and Chicken Francese are often both use to describe the same dish. The slight variation in spelling is due to regional and personal preferences, but the cooking method and key ingredients are the same.

Ok now back to what you are here for

Thee recipe:

Chicken Francese Recipe (6-8 servings)

Ingredients:

• 2.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts (sliced in to cutlets and pounded)

• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour

• Salt, pepper, & garlic powder to taste

• 4 large eggs mixed with 4 tbsp water

• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

• 4 tablespoons (or 1/2 a stick) unsalted butter

• 2 medium lemons: 1 squeezed, 1 lemon sliced thin

• ½ cup dry white wine

• 1 3/4 cup chicken broth

• ½ cup extra virgin olive oil

Instructions:

1. Prep the chicken: Slice each chicken breast into thin cutlets. Place the cutlets between sheets of plastic wrap and use a meat tenderizer to pound them to an even thickness.

2. Prepare the coating: In a shallow bowl, combine the flour with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. In another bowl, whisk the eggs together with water.

3. Coat the chicken: Dip each chicken breast into the flour mixture, shaking off any excess. Then, dip them into the egg mixture, ensuring they are evenly coated.

4. Cook the chicken: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add olive oil to pan until fully coated. Once olive oil is heated up, add the coated chicken breasts and cook until golden brown and cooked through, about 4-5 minutes per side. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.

5. Prepare the sauce: In the same skillet, add the sliced lemons, pour in the fresh lemon juice, white wine, and chicken broth. Bring the mixture to a simmer, scraping the bottom of the pan to incorporate the browned bits.

6. Bring the sauce to a low-boil then summer for 5 minutes.

7. Remove the lemons, but save on the side. Add salt, pepper, and garlic powder to taste. Make sure to whisk into the sauce.

8. Place the cooked chicken back into the skillet with the sauce, spooning the sauce over the chicken. Let cook 3-5 minutes. If plating add back to dish or pan. Add sliced lemons on top and fresh parsley. Enjoy!1

Pairing Suggestions for Chicken Francese

Chicken Francese pairs beautifully with a variety of sides. Some options are:

1. Pasta: Serve the chicken over spaghetti or linguine for a classic combo.

2. Roasted Veggies: Roasted asparagus, roasted broccoli, sautéed spinach, or roasted cherry tomatoes add more flavor and color to the plate.

3. Salad: A fresh arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette complements the tanginess of the Chicken Francese.

4. Toasted Bread: A side of warm, toasted Italian bread is perfect for dipping into the delicious sauce or even making a mini Chicken Francese sangweech ;)

5. Rice: Place the chicken francese over a serving of rice! My favorite.

With my recipe you can confidently prepare this Italian-American dish in the comfort of your own kitchen. You'll be sure to impress your family and friends with this gorgeous and tasty Chicken Francese recipe that will elevate any mealtime experience.