Simple Classic Chicken Scallopini Recipe

Quick, comforting, and perfectly tangy, chicken scallopini is a classic dish that never gets old. It's always a good idea to have a simple go-to dinner in your back pocket, and thanks to this scallopini recipe brought to us by Julianne De Witt, the constant conundrum of what to whip up on a weeknight will feel a little less daunting. Of course, the real star of the show here isn't necessarily the chicken, but rather the zingy sauce, which features briny capers and fresh lemon juice for the ultimate acidic punch. 

"The vibrant lemon, butter, and caper sauce kicks this recipe up a notch from your usual chicken dinner," De Witt says. She also tells us, "This is the first sauce I learned how to make in culinary school, and it's probably the easiest sauce to prepare," so if you want to cook like a pro but keep things relatively simple, there's no better recipe to master than chicken scallopini. Best of all, this dish requires minimal ingredients and only takes 25 minutes to throw together — so even though the results may look restaurant-worthy, the ease in prep can remain your little secret. 

Chicken breasts are the star of this scallopini dish, though De Witt notes that you might have another option depending on what's available at your grocery store. "If your grocery store carries chicken cutlets, these can be used, and it will save you from having to butterfly the chicken yourself," she says. As for the rest of the scallopini ingredients, you'll need salt, black pepper, all-purpose flour, olive oil, dry white wine, lemon juice, butter, and capers, as well as some fresh parsley for garnish.

To butterfly the chicken, place a chicken breast on a cutting board. Place one hand on top of the chicken, and use the other hand to hold a knife and slice horizontally through the thickest part of the chicken, stopping before the knife goes all the way through so you can open up the breast like a book.

Repeat with the remaining 3 chicken breasts.

Place a sheet of parchment paper over the chicken and pound with the smooth side of a meat mallet until the cutlets are ¼ inch thick.

Season chicken on both sides with salt and pepper.

If desired, cut chicken breasts in half to create smaller cutlets.

Add flour to a shallow dish. Dredge chicken in flour on both sides, shaking off any excess.

Pour olive oil into a large saute pan and place over medium high heat.

Once hot, add chicken and cook until golden brown all over, about 2 minutes per side.

Transfer chicken to a plate and cover with foil.

Reduce heat to medium, add wine to the pan, and stir, scraping up any brown bits from the bottom.

Add lemon juice and butter, stirring until butter is melted.

Stir in capers and parsley, then taste sauce for seasoning and adjust if needed.

Pour sauce over chicken and garnish with additional parsley, if desired. Serve immediately.

If you've never had chicken scallopini before, you might hear the name of the dish and assume that scallops are involved. Alas, no seafood is to be found here (well, at least not in the chicken version), though as De Witt explains, the word scallopini is nevertheless apt for this recipe. "The word scallopini comes from the Italian word 'scaloppine,' meaning 'small scallops,'" she explains. "This refers to the quick cooking of thin slices of meat — usually pork, veal, chicken, or even fish," showing just how versatile this easy cooking technique and crowd-pleasing sauce can be.

So, the word scallopini derives from Italian, which that must make this an Italian dish, right? Technically, yes, it is a classic Italian dish, though scaloppine is most likely derived from a French word, so we can thank Europe more broadly for gracing us with such an exquisite dish. 

Chicken scallopini makes for an excellent dinner main course, though since the recipe consists of just protein and sauce, there's a good chance you'll want to pair it with other foods to round out the meal. "I like to serve chicken scallopini with a simple side of fettuccine alfredo and steamed veggies," De Witt suggests, adding, "A Caesar salad would pair nicely, as well." You can't go wrong with creamy pasta, and a relatively neutral vegetable such as asparagus would complement the bright flavor of the chicken without overpowering it.

As for when to serve chicken scallopini, that's where the true versatility of this dish shines. "This is a very quick and simple recipe to prepare, making it perfect for a weeknight meal," De Witt says. "But, it's also elegant enough to serve at a dinner party." However you offer it, be sure to sprinkle plenty of extra parsley on top and maybe even have some lemon wedges on hand for a final squeeze of acidity.