• Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • About
  • Contact Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter

Dinner at the Zoo

  • All Recipes
  • Dinner
  • Appetizers
  • Dessert
  • One Pot Meals
  • Slow Cooker
  • Asian Food

Home » Dinner » Chicken Francese

Published: February 13, 2020 Last Modified: February 13, 2020 By Sara 54 Comments

Chicken Francese

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
Chicken Francese Recipe #chicken #lemon #dinner #dinneratthezoo

This chicken francese recipe is battered chicken breasts that are pan fried to golden brown perfection, then topped with a savory lemon sauce. An easy and unique dinner option that always gets rave reviews!

You can never go wrong with chicken for a simple yet satisfying dinner. Some of my family’s favorite chicken dishes include slow cooker chicken breast, Greek chicken and this delicious chicken francese.

Chicken Francese Recipe #chicken #lemon #dinner #dinneratthezoo Chicken Francese Recipe #chicken #lemon #dinner #dinneratthezoo

Chicken francese in a white wine sauce, garnished with lemon slices.

Whenever I see chicken francese on a restaurant menu, I have to order it. I just love that combination of crispy chicken in a light lemon sauce. I’ve learned to make this dish at home, and I have to say, I think my version is even better than what you’d get at a restaurant!

What is chicken francese?

Chicken francese is a derivation of a traditional Italian dish that was originally made with veal. It is an Italian-American creation popular in the New York region. It consists of battered chicken cutlets in a lemon, butter and white wine sauce.

Thin cut chicken breasts on a plate.

How do you make chicken francese?

This dish starts with chicken breasts, which are dredged in seasoned flour and coated in egg. The chicken breasts are seared in olive oil until golden brown. Remove the chicken breasts from the pan, then cook some lemon slices until they’re browned. Remove the lemon slices from the pan, then add wine, chicken broth, lemon juice and butter. Bring the sauce to a simmer and cook until thickened. Garnish the chicken with the cooked lemon slices and fresh parsley, then serve and enjoy.

Chicken breasts, seasoned flour and egg batter.

Tips for the perfect chicken

  • This dish works best with either chicken cutlets or thin sliced chicken breasts. You can buy chicken breasts that are already cut thin, or you can make your own by slicing thicker chicken breasts in half lengthwise. You can also make this dish with chicken tenders.
  • Be sure to use freshly squeezed lemon juice, it has a much better flavor than the bottled stuff.
  • Use a white wine that you wouldn’t mind drinking, such as a Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc.
  • Chicken francese is best served immediately. You can store any leftovers in the fridge, but the coating on the chicken may soften over time.

Battered and pan fried chicken cutlets in a pan.

Chicken francese variations

While this chicken is delicious as-is, sometimes I add other ingredients depending on what I have on hand.

  • Herbs: Instead of parsley, try an herb with a bolder flavor such as fresh rosemary, thyme, basil or tarragon.
  • Sauce: Add 1/4 cup of heavy cream to the sauce for a different flavor.
  • Vegetables: Feel free to add some veggies to this dish such as sauteed mushrooms, asparagus, onions or zucchini.
  • Cheese: Top your chicken with some shaved parmesan cheese, or add finely grated parmesan to the seasoned flour mixture.

Chicken francese served over mashed potatoes with green beans.

I like to serve this dish over pasta or mashed potatoes, with a green vegetable on the side. It’s a great way to turn ordinary chicken breasts into something extraordinary.

More chicken recipes to try

  • Chicken and Green Beans
  • Slow Cooker Chicken Drumsticks
  • Hawaiian Chicken
  • Chicken Casserole
  • Braised Chicken with Carrots and Potatoes

Chicken Francese Video

Chicken francese in a white wine sauce, garnished with lemon slices.
Print Pin
4.99 from 54 votes

Chicken Francese

This chicken francese recipe is battered chicken breasts that are pan fried to golden brown perfection, then topped with a savory lemon sauce. An easy and unique dinner option that always gets rave reviews!
Course Main Course
Cuisine Italian
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 406kcal
Author Sara Welch

Ingredients

For the chicken

  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts thin cut
  • 1/3 cup all purpose flour
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 1/4 cup olive oil

For the sauce

  • 4 tablespoons butter divided use
  • 1 lemon thinly sliced
  • 1 tablespoon all purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup white wine
  • 3/4 cup chicken broth
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons chopped parsley

Instructions

For the chicken

  • Place each piece of chicken in between two pieces of plastic wrap. Pound with the flat end of a meat mallet to create thin cutlets.
  • Place the flour, salt and pepper in a bowl. Mix until combined.
  • Place the eggs and milk in a small bowl and whisk until smooth.
  • Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium high heat.
  • Dredge each chicken cutlet in the flour mixture, then dip in the egg.
  • Place the chicken breasts in a single layer in the pan.
  • Cook for 4 minutes per side, or until golden brown and cooked through.
  • Remove the chicken from the pan and cover to keep warm. Wipe out the pan with a paper towel.

For the sauce

  • Heat 1 tablespoon of butter in the pan over medium heat. Add the lemon slices. Cook for 2-3 minutes or until lemon slices have browned. Remove the lemon slices from the pan.
  • Add the rest of the butter to the pan, and cook until melted. Add the flour and cook for one minute, stirring constantly.
  • Pour in the white wine and simmer for 2 minutes. Add the chicken broth and simmer for an additional 4-5 minutes or until sauce has just thickened.
  • Stir in the lemon juice and season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Return the chicken to the pan. Spoon the sauce over the chicken, then top with cooked lemon slices. Sprinkle with parsley, then serve immediately.

Nutrition

Calories: 406kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 185mg | Sodium: 1210mg | Potassium: 575mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 503IU | Vitamin C: 21mg | Calcium: 43mg | Iron: 2mg
Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @DinnerAtTheZoo or tag #dinneratthezoo!
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email

Filed Under: Dinner

FREE TOOLKIT: 5 Secrets to Meal Planning

Learn my 5 Meal Planning Secrets & get my Meal Planning Toolkit...FREE!

    ​
    ​

    Still hungry? Follow Dinner at the Zoo on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest for more great recipe ideas!

    « Baked Chicken Breast
    Beef Chow Mein »

    Comments

    1. Maria Ellis says

      January 7, 2023 at 6:43 am

      5 stars
      My family loves this meal it was restaurant quality and quantity and it’s very easy to make with a few simple ingredients I love this meal and I hope you will too

      Reply
    2. Debra says

      June 15, 2022 at 11:31 am

      This recipe was delicious! I made it exactly as printed and my husband and I both loved it!

      Reply
    3. Denise says

      May 6, 2022 at 5:31 pm

      What type of white wine? There are sweet and dry white wines.

      Reply
      • Sara says

        May 11, 2022 at 11:39 am

        This uses a dry white wine.

        Reply
    « Older Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating





    With 3 young kids, dinner can feel like feeding time at the zoo! I'm a mom on a mission to create easy, healthy and family friendly recipes ...Read More

    Winter Soups

    Hamburger soup with potatoes and vegetables is an economical and easy meal option.

    Hamburger Soup

    A pot of cabbage soup with carrots, celery, bell peppers and green beans.

    Cabbage Soup

    A bowl of lasagna soup topped with ricotta, parmesan and mozzarella cheeses.

    Lasagna Soup

    A bowl of chicken stew with celery, potatoes, green beans and peas.

    Chicken Stew Recipe

    A bowl of Italian wedding soup with meatballs, carrots, spinach and pasta.

    Italian Wedding Soup

    This hearty farro soup recipe is filled with turkey meatballs, white beans and kale. It's the perfect easy and nutritious dinner option!

    Farro Soup with Meatballs

    More Posts from this Category

    Featured Recipes

    This recipe for lemon pepper chicken with butter sauce is a simple recipe that's ready in just 20 minutes! The perfect dinner for a busy weeknight.

    Lemon Pepper Chicken

    This one pot chicken with cheddar broccoli rice combines classic flavors for a quick and easy dinner. Chicken thighs are cooked with a creamy cheesy broccoli cheddar rice for a complete meal without all the cleanup.

    Chicken Broccoli and Rice Casserole

    A bowl of rice topped with Korean ground beef and mixed vegetables.

    Korean Beef Bowls

    These oven baked beef tacos are filled with beans, meat and melted cheese, then topped off with shredded lettuce and fresh salsa. The best way to make tacos for a crowd!

    Baked Beef Tacos

    FREE TOOLKIT: 5 Secrets to Meal Planning

    Learn my 5 Meal Planning Secrets & get my Meal Planning Toolkit...FREE!

      ​
      ​

      Categories

      Sites I am featured In
      PRIVACY POLICY ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT © Sara Welch and Dinner at the Zoo® LLC, 2015-2022.
      • Facebook
      • Instagram
      • Pinterest
      • RSS
      • Twitter
      • About Me
      • Contact Me
      • All Recipes
      • Dinner
      • Appetizers
      • Dessert
      • One Pot Meals
      • Slow Cooker
      • Asian Food