Chicken Piccata Pasta

 

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
• 1 1/4 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour)
• Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper, to taste
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1/2 cup diced shallot
• 3 cloves garlic, grated or minced
• 1/2 cup dry white wine
• 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (about 2 lemons)
• 2 tablespoons capers, drained
• 1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
• 12 ounces uncooked penne pasta (gluten-free if needed)

Instructions:

1. Cook the Pasta: Cook the penne pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.

2. Prepare the Chicken: In a bowl, toss the chicken pieces with 1 tablespoon of flour until evenly coated. Season with salt and pepper.

3. Brown the Chicken: Heat a deep nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and swirl to coat the bottom of the skillet. Add the chicken to the skillet and cook, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is lightly golden and cooked through, about 5 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and transfer to a plate.

4. Make the Sauce: Return the skillet to medium heat. Add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil and the butter. Add the diced shallot and garlic to the skillet and sauté for 2-3 minutes, until softened.

5. Thicken the Sauce: Sprinkle the remaining 2 tablespoons of flour over the shallots and garlic. Cook and stir for 1-2 minutes to cook out the raw flour taste.

6. Deglaze with Wine: Pour in the white wine, stirring and scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Let the wine reduce for about 1 minute.

7. Add Broth and Lemon Juice: Whisk in the chicken broth and lemon juice until well combined. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

8. Finish the Dish: Stir in the capers and chopped parsley. When the sauce comes to a bubble, add the cooked chicken back to the skillet along with the cooked pasta. Toss everything together gently until heated through.

9. Serve: Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve the Chicken Piccata over pasta, garnished with additional parsley if desired.

Enjoy your flavorful Chicken Piccata with pasta! It's a delicious dish with a perfect balance of savory, tangy flavors from the capers and lemon juice.