Express Chicken Piccata Bowl

Featured in: Warm Family Dinners

This vibrant bowl features tender chicken pieces sautéed to golden perfection and coated in a zesty lemon-piccata sauce with capers and garlic. Served atop fluffy steamed rice and garnished with fresh parsley and optional lemon slices, it offers a bright balance of flavors ideal for a quick, satisfying meal. The buttery sauce can be made dairy-free, and substitutions like quinoa or cauliflower rice work well. Simple steps deliver an elegant dish on the table in just 30 minutes.

Updated on Wed, 26 Nov 2025 09:43:00 GMT
Express Chicken Piccata Rice Bowl, a delicious Italian-American dish with golden chicken and zesty lemon sauce. Save
Express Chicken Piccata Rice Bowl, a delicious Italian-American dish with golden chicken and zesty lemon sauce. | cloverhearth.com

A vibrant and zesty rice bowl featuring juicy chicken breast in a lemony piccata sauce, served over steamed rice with a sprinkle of fresh herbs. Perfect for a quick yet elegant meal.

I love making this dish when I want something flavorful yet simple. It always impresses guests and makes weeknight dinners special.

Ingredients

  • Chicken: 2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts about 500 g cut into 1-inch pieces
  • Rice: 2 cups cooked white or brown rice about 300 g
  • Flour & Seasoning: 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1 tsp salt 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • Cooking oil: 2 tbsp olive oil
  • Sauce: 2 cloves garlic finely minced 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice from about 2 lemons 2 tbsp capers drained and rinsed 2 tbsp unsalted butter use dairy-free margarine for dairy-free option
  • Garnish: 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley Lemon slices for serving optional

Instructions

Step 1:
In a shallow bowl mix flour salt and black pepper. Dredge the chicken pieces in the seasoned flour shaking off excess.
Step 2:
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook for 5–6 minutes stirring occasionally until golden and cooked through. Remove chicken to a plate.
Step 3:
In the same skillet add garlic and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
Step 4:
Pour in chicken broth and lemon juice scraping any browned bits from the pan. Bring to a simmer.
Step 5:
Stir in capers and return chicken to the skillet. Simmer for 2–3 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
Step 6:
Stir in butter until melted and sauce is glossy. Remove from heat.
Step 7:
To serve divide cooked rice among four bowls. Top with chicken and spoon over the piccata sauce. Garnish with parsley and lemon slices.
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My family always comes together around this meal, enjoying the fresh flavors and comforting rice base that feeds us all.

Notes

For extra flavor add a splash of dry white wine with the broth. Substitute quinoa or cauliflower rice for a low-carb version. Add steamed broccoli or sautéed spinach for more vegetables. To make it dairy-free use plant-based butter.

Required Tools

Large skillet Shallow bowl Knife and cutting board Rice cooker or saucepan

Allergen Information

Contains Gluten flour Dairy butter substitute as needed May contain Sulfites capers wine if used Always verify ingredient labels for specific allergens.

Bright, flavorful Express Chicken Piccata Rice Bowl, with tender chicken and a glistening, lemony sauce over fluffy rice. Save
Bright, flavorful Express Chicken Piccata Rice Bowl, with tender chicken and a glistening, lemony sauce over fluffy rice. | cloverhearth.com

This dish is perfect for a quick yet elegant meal any night of the week. Enjoy the fresh flavors and ease of preparation.

Recipe Questions & Answers

What cut of chicken works best?

Boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into bite-sized pieces ensure quick, even cooking and tender texture.

How can I make the sauce dairy-free?

Replace unsalted butter with a dairy-free margarine or plant-based alternative without altering flavor.

What rice options can I use?

Steamed white or brown rice works well; quinoa or cauliflower rice are great lower-carb substitutes.

Can I add vegetables to this dish?

Yes, steamed broccoli or sautéed spinach pair nicely and add nutritional value without overpowering flavors.

How to enhance the sauce flavor?

A splash of dry white wine added with the broth deepens the sauce's complexity and brightness.

Express Chicken Piccata Bowl

Juicy chicken in lemon piccata sauce atop steamed rice with fresh parsley and capers for a vibrant meal.

Prep duration
10 minutes
Cook duration
20 minutes
Overall time
30 minutes
Recipe by Clover Hearth Emily Dawson

Recipe type Warm Family Dinners

Skill level Easy

Culinary roots Italian-American

Servings made 4 Portion size

Diet preferences None specified

What you'll need

Protein

01 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces

Rice

01 2 cups cooked white or brown rice

Coating & Seasoning

01 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
02 1 teaspoon salt
03 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Cooking

01 2 tablespoons olive oil

Sauce

01 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
02 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
03 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (from approximately 2 lemons)
04 2 tablespoons capers, drained and rinsed
05 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (substitute with dairy-free margarine for dairy-free option)

Garnish

01 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
02 Lemon slices, for serving (optional)

How to make it

Step 01

Prepare seasoned flour: In a shallow bowl, combine flour, salt, and black pepper. Dredge chicken pieces in the mixture, shaking off any excess.

Step 02

Cook chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook for 5 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden and cooked through. Transfer chicken to a plate.

Step 03

Sauté garlic: In the same skillet, add minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.

Step 04

Simmer sauce base: Pour in chicken broth and fresh lemon juice, scraping browned bits from the pan. Bring to a simmer.

Step 05

Add capers and chicken: Stir in capers and return chicken to the skillet. Simmer gently for 2 to 3 minutes until the sauce slightly thickens.

Step 06

Incorporate butter: Stir in butter until melted and the sauce becomes glossy. Remove skillet from heat.

Step 07

Assemble bowl: Divide cooked rice evenly into four serving bowls. Top with chicken and spoon the piccata sauce over. Garnish with chopped parsley and optional lemon slices.

Equipment needed

  • Large skillet
  • Shallow bowl
  • Knife and cutting board
  • Rice cooker or saucepan

Allergy details

Be sure to review every ingredient for potential allergies, and talk to a medical expert if you’re unsure.
  • Contains gluten (flour) and dairy (butter), with dairy-free substitutions available. May contain sulfites from capers and optional wine. Verify ingredient labels for allergens.

Nutrition information (each portion)

Only use this data as a helpful reference—it’s not intended to replace professional health guidance.
  • Calorie count: 420
  • Fat content: 13 grams
  • Carbohydrates: 45 grams
  • Proteins: 30 grams