Chicken Francaise is a classic Italian-American dish featuring tender chicken cutlets dipped in egg and parmesan, pan-fried to golden perfection, and smothered in a rich lemon garlic cream sauce. Ready in just 30 minutes, this restaurant-quality meal is perfect for a quick yet elegant dinner.
1.5poundsboneless skinless chicken breastscut in half lengthwise to make 4 thinner cutlets
4tablespoonsolive oil
2tablespoonsbutter
2largeeggs
0.25cupgrated Parmesan cheese
0.25cupall-purpose flour
1teaspoonsalt
0.5teaspoonfreshly ground black pepper
4clovesgarlicminced
1cuplow-sodium chicken broth
1cupheavy creamor half & half
3tablespoonsfresh chopped parsleydivided
1unitlemonjuiced, about 3 tablespoons
Instructions
Preparation Steps
Set a large skillet over medium-high heat and add in olive oil and butter.
Add the eggs and Parmesan cheese to a shallow bowl and beat until well combined.
Add the flour, salt, and pepper to a separate shallow plate and stir to combine.
Working with one chicken cutlet at a time, coat both sides of the chicken with flour, then dip it in the egg mixture to coat on all sides. Allow excess egg mixture to drip off.
Add the chicken to the heated oil and cook for about 4 to 5 minutes per side or until cooked through and golden brown. Lower the heat if the chicken is browning too quickly but not cooking through on the inside.
Remove the cooked chicken cutlets from the skillet and transfer them to a paper towel-lined plate. Cover with a towel and set aside.
Set the skillet back over medium-high heat. Add garlic to the skillet and cook for 15 seconds or until fragrant. Stir so it doesn't burn. Slowly whisk in the chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Continue to cook for 4 minutes or until liquid is reduced.
Lower heat to medium-low and whisk in the heavy cream and 2 tablespoons parsley. Continue to cook for 2 minutes or until thickened.
Whisk in lemon juice; whisk until completely incorporated and continue to cook for 2 minutes. It's important to whisk continuously so the cream does not curdle when you add in the lemon juice.
Remove from heat and add the chicken pieces back into the pan; spoon sauce over the chicken, garnish with parsley and serve.
Notes
This dish pairs beautifully with pasta, mashed potatoes, or steamed vegetables. For a twist, add 2 tablespoons of capers to the sauce for a briny kick. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.