The Golden, Zesty Chicken Francese Recipe Everyone Loves

Culinary magic happens when you whip up a delectable chicken francese that sparkles with lemony brightness.

Chefs worldwide adore this classic Italian-American dish for its crisp, golden exterior and tender meat.

Delicate egg-dipped chicken cutlets dance in a skillet, creating a luxurious golden crust that promises pure comfort.

Bright citrus notes cut through the richness, making each bite a perfect balance of flavors.

Simple ingredients come together in a symphony of taste that feels both elegant and approachable.

Kitchen novices and seasoned cooks alike can master this impressive plate with just a few easy techniques.

You’ll want to savor every single bite of this restaurant-quality meal that brings sophistication right to your dinner table.

Highlights of Chicken Francese

• Quickly Master a Classic: This recipe offers an approachable technique for creating a restaurant-quality dish with simple cooking steps that anyone can follow.
• Minimal Ingredient Magic: Using just a few common pantry staples like chicken, eggs, flour, and lemons, you can transform ordinary ingredients into an extraordinary meal.
• Perfect for Family Dinners: The golden, crispy chicken with its tangy lemon sauce provides a crowd-pleasing option that satisfies both kids and adults with its delicious flavor profile.
• Versatile Meal Champion: This chicken francese works wonderfully as a weeknight dinner, special occasion meal, or impressive dish for entertaining guests without requiring advanced culinary skills.

Ingredients for Chicken Francese

• Chicken Breasts: Tender and lean protein that serves as the foundation of this classic Italian-American dish.
• All-Purpose Flour: Creates a light, crispy coating for the chicken.
• Eggs: Helps the flour adhere to the chicken and adds richness to the coating.

• Olive Oil: Provides a delicate flavor and helps achieve a golden-brown exterior.
• Chicken Broth: Adds depth and moisture to the final sauce.
• Lemon Juice: Brings a bright, tangy flavor that complements the chicken.

• Salt, Pepper: Enhance the natural flavors of the chicken.
• Butter: Creates a smooth, rich sauce with a velvety texture.
• Fresh Parsley: Adds a pop of color and fresh herbal note to the finished dish.

How to Cook Chicken Francese

Step 1: Tenderize the Chicken

Use a meat mallet to gently pound the chicken breasts until they’re uniformly thin and even. This helps the chicken cook quickly and evenly, creating a tender texture that melts in your mouth.

Step 2: Season and Coat the Chicken

Sprinkle salt and pepper generously over both sides of the chicken. Then, lovingly dust each piece with a light coating of flour, ensuring a crispy exterior that will make your taste buds dance.

Step 3: Create a Golden Crispy Exterior

Dip the flour-coated chicken into whisked eggs, then carefully place into a hot pan with sizzling olive oil. Fry until the chicken turns a beautiful golden brown, creating a delightful crunch with each bite.

Step 4: Craft the Tangy Sauce

• Butter
• Chicken broth
• Fresh lemon juice

Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, allowing the flavors to mingle and create a bright, zesty sauce that will elevate the entire dish.

Step 5: Marry the Chicken and Sauce

Carefully return the golden chicken to the pan, letting it bathe in the luscious sauce for a few moments.

This step allows the flavors to merge and the chicken to absorb the tangy, rich sauce.

Step 6: Garnish and Serve

Sprinkle freshly chopped parsley over the chicken, adding a pop of color and a fresh herbal note.

Plate immediately and watch as your guests’ eyes light up with anticipation.

Tips for Tender Chicken Francese

• Pound chicken breasts carefully to ensure even cooking and prevent tough meat.
• Use a meat mallet or rolling pin to flatten chicken uniformly for tender, quick-cooking pieces.
• Add a splash of white wine to the sauce for extra depth and complexity of flavor.
• For a gluten-free version, swap wheat flour with almond or rice flour to maintain crispy coating.
• Squeeze fresh lemon juice just before serving to preserve bright, zesty notes and prevent sauce from becoming bitter.

New Takes on Chicken Francese

• Vegetarian Francese: Replace chicken with thick slices of portobello mushrooms or firm tofu, following the same coating and cooking technique.
• Gluten-Free Version: Swap wheat flour with almond flour or cornstarch for dredging, ensuring crispy exterior without gluten.
• Mediterranean Herb Variation: Add dried oregano and thyme to the flour mixture, and use white wine instead of chicken broth for deeper flavor complexity.
• Low-Carb Alternative: Skip flour dredging completely, coat chicken in grated parmesan cheese before pan-frying, creating a crispy protein-rich crust.

Serving Suggestions for Chicken Francese

• Sunny Lunch Plate: Pair the golden chicken with a crisp mixed green salad dressed in light vinaigrette for a refreshing midday meal that balances richness and freshness.
• Romantic Dinner Style: Plate the chicken over a bed of creamy garlic mashed potatoes, creating an elegant presentation that elevates the dish for a special evening dining experience.
• Italian-Inspired Feast: Serve alongside al dente linguine pasta, drizzling extra sauce over the noodles to soak up the zesty lemon and butter flavors, mimicking classic Italian restaurant techniques.
• Weekend Brunch Twist: Slice the chicken thinly and place atop toasted crusty bread, creating an open-faced sandwich that transforms the recipe into a delightful weekend brunch option with added texture and appeal.

FAQs

• What is chicken francese?

A classic Italian-American dish featuring chicken breasts coated in flour and eggs, then pan-fried and served with a light, tangy lemon butter sauce.

• Do I need any special equipment to make this recipe?

No, just a standard skillet, meat mallet, and basic kitchen utensils work perfectly for preparing chicken francese.

• Can I use chicken cutlets instead of whole chicken breasts?

Absolutely! Chicken cutlets are actually ideal and will cook faster and more evenly than thick chicken breasts.

• Is this recipe gluten-free?

Traditional chicken francese is not gluten-free due to the flour coating, but you can substitute with gluten-free flour or almond flour to make it suitable for gluten-sensitive diners.

Best Chicken Francese Recipe

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4.6 from 38 reviews

• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Succulent chicken francese showcases Italian-American culinary magic with tender chicken cutlets bathed in a zesty lemon butter sauce. Elegant dining comes alive when you savor each delicate, perfectly seasoned bite of this classic restaurant-style dish.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Protein:

• 4 Boneless chicken breasts

Wet Ingredients:

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

Dry Ingredients and Seasonings:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Cooking Fats:

• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 4 tablespoons butter

Garnish:

• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley

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Instructions

1. Flatten chicken breasts to uniform thickness using a meat mallet, ensuring even cooking and tender texture.
2. Generously season the chicken with salt and pepper, creating a flavor foundation.
3. Coat each chicken piece thoroughly in flour, shaking off excess to create a light, crisp exterior.
4. Dunk floured chicken into whisked eggs, allowing complete coverage for a golden, protective layer.
5. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering, then carefully place egg-coated chicken into the pan.
6. Fry chicken for 3-4 minutes per side until achieving a rich, golden-brown crust and ensuring internal temperature reaches 165°F.
7. Remove chicken and set aside, then immediately deglaze the pan with butter, chicken broth, and fresh lemon juice.
8. Simmer the sauce for 2-3 minutes, allowing flavors to meld and slightly reduce.
9. Return chicken to the pan, gently coating with the tangy, rich sauce for an additional 1-2 minutes.
10. Transfer to serving plates and sprinkle with finely chopped fresh parsley for a bright, herbaceous finish.

Notes

• Pound chicken evenly to ensure uniform cooking and tender texture throughout the cutlet.
• Opt for a light dusting of flour to create a delicate, crispy coating that won’t overpower the chicken’s flavor.
• Use fresh lemon juice for the brightest, most vibrant sauce that cuts through the richness of the fried chicken.
• Consider using gluten-free flour for a celiac-friendly version, maintaining the same crispy exterior and delicious taste.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
• Method: Frying
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 320 kcal
• Sugar: 1 g
• Sodium: 400 mg
• Fat: 18 g
• Saturated Fat: 5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 10 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 35 g
• Cholesterol: 130 mg