Chicken Piccata with Lemon & Capers (EBT Version)
Ingredients:
- 3-4 chicken breasts (thin-cut chicken breasts (or regular breasts sliced in half))
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour ((EBT-friendly))
- 2-3 tbsp olive oil (or butter)
- 3 garlic (cloves garlic, minced)
- 1 cup chicken broth ((EBT-friendly))
- 1 lemon (Juice of lemon)
- 1 lemon (Zest of 1 lemon (optional))
- 2-3 tbsp capers (capers + a little of the brine)
- 2 tbsp butter ((optional but makes it silky))
- Fresh parsley ((optional, as needed))
- Salt (Salt + pepper to taste (as needed))
- pepper (Salt + pepper to taste (as needed))
Ingredients are subject to availability at local stores. Unavailable items will be automatically substituted at best-effort.
Instructions
1. Prep the chicken. Pat chicken dry. Season with salt and pepper. Lightly dredge each piece in flour, shaking off excess.
2. Sear. Heat oil or butter in a skillet over medium-high. Sear chicken 3–4 minutes per side until golden. Remove and set aside.
3. Build the sauce. Add garlic to the pan and cook 1 minute. Pour in broth, lemon juice, and capers (plus a spoonful of brine). Scrape up all brown bits.
4. Simmer. Bring sauce to a gentle simmer for 2–3 minutes.
5. Finish. Stir in butter (optional) for a glossy, velvety sauce. Add salt + pepper to taste.
6. Return chicken. Place chicken back into the pan and spoon sauce over the top. Simmer 3–5 minutes until chicken is cooked through.
7. Serve. Sprinkle with parsley and extra lemon if desired. Serve over rice, potatoes, or pasta.
A bright, zesty, silky chicken piccata made fully EBT-friendly using simple, low-cost pantry staples. Tender chicken simmered in a lemony pan sauce with capers, garlic, and a touch of broth — it tastes like a restaurant classic but stays budget-conscious and weeknight easy.
Grocery List + Prices
Chicken breasts (1.25–1.5 lb) — $6.99
All-purpose flour — $0.20 (portion cost)
Olive oil or butter — $0.40 (portion)
Garlic — $0.40 Chicken broth — $0.50
Lemons (1–2) — $0.69
Capers (small jar) — $1.79–$2.29
Parsley (optional) — $0.40
Estimated Total: $11.27
Per Serving (4 servings): ~$2.81
