Pressure Cooker Chicken Piccata is an Italian Favorite. It is basically pan-fried Chicken Schnitzel with a simple to make, Lemon Cream Sauce.
Jump to Section
Pressure Cooker Chicken Piccata Lemon Cream Sauce
Pressure Cooker Chicken Piccata
A very popular meal in Italian restaurants is Chicken Piccata. The Chicken is Butterflied, sliced and pounded and then sautéed and served in a yummy and delicious lemon cream sauce. You might think uh oh, this is complicated. It’s not. This is one of the simplest recipes around, which produce a full and deep flavors.
Most of you probably already have all the ingredients in your pantry!
Usually made in a Heavy Skillet or Cast Iron Skillet, this Pressure Cooker Chicken Piccata, cooked in the Pressure Cooker is a bit quicker, won’t heat up your kitchen and is equally as good! Instructions for both methods are included below.
Cast of Ingredients for Pressure Cooker Chicken Piccata
The Cast of Ingredients is very small. The most “unusual” ingredient are the Capers. Capers are the unripened flower buds of a perennial bush native to the Mediterranean.
They are a key ingredient to authentic Piccata recipes. Capers come in various sizes from a small peppercorn size, called Non Pareil Capers to ones the size of peas, called Capote Capers, which I use here.
I always have a jar or two in my house. There is a place in West LA, that makes this incredible Shrimp with Pasta and Capers recipe. I will have to go visit and get their recipe.
They are also delicious on Smoked Salmon! I’m Jewish. Sunday mornings are full of Nova, Bagels, Onions, Tomatoes, Cream Cheese, Smoked Salmon, Capers!!!!
Butterfly the Chicken Breasts, Cut and Pound
You’ve heard the word, “Scaloppine,” I’m sure. It’s just thinly sliced meat. Carefully and with a Sharp Knife, butterfly your Chicken Breast.
Place the butterflied Chicken Breast between wax paper and using a Meat Tenderizer or a Rolling Pin, lightly pound the Chicken Breast until it is about 1/4 inch thin.
This same method is used for my Instant Pot Pressure Cooker Italian Chicken Marsala recipe.
Salt and Pepper Chicken, then Dredge in Potato Starch (or Flour)
Season the Chicken pieces with Salt and Pepper. To keep this Gluten Free, use can use Potato Starch, rather than Flour, if you like.
I feel Potato Starch works really well in the Pressure Cooker.
The Chicken Breast will stay nice and moist, as the Potato Starch will help to protect the Chicken from becoming rubbery.
Dredge the Chicken through Potato Starch and shake off the excess.
I do not suggest using Flour, when cooking in a Pressure Cooker. If you must use something other than Potato Starch, try Cornstarch or Tapioca Starch/Flour.
Flour tends to become quite gummy and leaves an after taste. It is fine to use if you cook this on the Stove Top.
Slice One or More Lemons
The rind of the Lemon, will add a bit of bitterness, so start with less and you can always add more Lemon Juice later.
Slice the Lemons into 1/4 inch slices and remove any seeds.
Add a little White Wine to a measuring cup and then either add more Wine, or Chicken Broth to get the proper amount of liquid.
If you choose to not use Lemon Slices, then add Lemon Juice to your total liquid amount.
Add Oil and Butter and Wait for Butter to Melt
Use the Sauté or Browning button on your Pressure Cooker and allow cooking pot to fully heat. Heating a stainless steel pot before adding a fat, will help to make the pot non-stick.
Once the cooking pot is hot, add in a little Olive Oil and Butter. Olive Oil is one of those things that you want to make sure to use a really good brand, as it does make a difference.
Once the Butter melts, add in half of the Chicken and Pan Fry on each side.
Remove the Chicken to a plate. Add a little more Olive Oil and Butter and Pan Fry the rest of the Chicken.
I used a really delicious and superb Olive Oil which was imported directly from a particular tree in Italy. I can’t tell you much about it yet, as I am working out the details with the Company.
The Olive Oil is not sold in stores. The brand I link to above is what I normally use and is very good quality too.
Sauté Shallots and Deglaze Pot
Toss in the diced Shallots and Sauté them in the Olive Oil/Butter for a wee bit, being careful not to let them burn.
Pour in the Wine and/or Chicken Broth and deglaze the pot. Use a Spatula and make sure you have loosened all the brown bits and nothing is stuck on the bottom of the cooking pot.
You can see in the last photo, that nothing is stuck to the bottom of the cooking pot at all.
Add the Lemon Slices to your Cooking Pot
Add the Lemon Slices to the Pressure Cooker cooking pot and turn off the Pressure Cooker. I tripled the recipe, so I tripled the Lemon Slices…don’t put that many Lemons in the pot for a single recipe!!!
My husband loves, loves, loves this recipe, so I made a whole bunch extra for him to eat, while I eat other “weird” stuff for dinner. I love all kinds of interesting spices.
He does not, so, when I make a “normal” recipe, I usually double or triple, so that he can have meal and not kvetch at other stuff I make.
By “weird” stuff, I mean recipes like Pressure Cooker Baba Ghanoush, Pressure Cooker Roasted Onion Garlic Hummus, Pressure Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala and other delicious and wonderful flavors. He’s a bore.
Return the Chicken to the Pressure Cooker
Place Chicken on top of Lemon Slices. If you are not using Lemon Slices, just add the Chicken right into the liquid.
Alternatively, you can cut a Lemon in half, squeeze the juice into the pot and then toss in the spent rind.
Pot in Pot Potatoes, Cauliflower
If you would like to make this a one pot meal with Mashed Potatoes or Mashed Cauliflower, add a Tall Legged Trivet and a pan of diced potatoes/cauliflower now.
If using Cauliflower, keep the Cauliflower in large pieces. I always soak my potatoes in water for about 30 minutes before cooking.
You don’t have to do this. I just feel that the mashed potatoes taste better and are less starchy/sticky/gummy feeling. If you are going to make potatoes, dice them very, very small.
Remove Chicken and Lemon Slices to a plate
Remove Chicken and Lemon Slices to a plate. Cover to keep warm or place in warm oven, while you reduce the Sauce.
If you want a crisp piece of Chicken, you could also toss the Schnitzel into the Air Fryer or under the Broiler.
It really doesn’t make much of a difference, as the hot Sauce will soften the coating anyway for the Pressure Cooker Chicken Piccata and if using Cast Iron.
Whisk in the Butter to Thicken the Sauce
Once the Sauce has reduced, Whisk in the rest of the Butter to thicken Sauce. Depending on how much Lemon, Wine, Broth you add into your cooking pot, you may not need to reduce the Sauce.
Also, some of the Potato Starch will mix with the liquid, so play this by ear!
The Butter will thicken the Sauce. Turn off Pressure Cooker.
Add the Capers to the Sauce. Squeeze in the remaining Lemon and add the chopped Parsley. Stir to combine.
Spoon Sauce over Chicken
The freshly squeeze Lemon after cooking will give the dish a nice pop of Fresh Lemon.
Make sure to taste and adjust, before adding the Lemon. You don’t want to over power the Chicken.
Italian Chicken Piccata
Plate the Chicken and pour the Sauce over the Chicken.
Serve your Pressure Cooker Chicken Piccata with Healthy Potato Carrot Mash, Mashed Cauliflower, Pressure Cooker Vegetable Ghee Rice, Pasta, Spaghetti, or anything you like!
Heat a Cast Iron Skillet
If cooking in Cast Iron, heat the Cast Iron Skillet until very hot. Add the Olive Oil and Butter.
Sauté Shallot and Simmer Lemons
Sauté Shallots, Deglaze the Skillet and Simmer Lemons for a few minutes. Add a little Butter.
Make the Lemon Cream Sauce
Remove the Lemon Slices after about 5 minutes. Add the rest of the Butter and Whisk to incorporate. Mix in the Fresh Parsley and Capers and Squeeze a little Fresh Lemon Juice into Skillet.
Add back the Chicken to warm and finish cooking.
Cast Iron Chicken Piccata
Both ways are easy and the taste is the same.
Kitchen Equipment and Essentials
- Instant Pot DUO Plus 60
- J.A. Henckels Classic 8-inch Chef’s Knife
- Amco Advanced Performance 18/10 Stainless Steel Measuring Spoons
- Culina Stackable (Dry) Stainless Steel Measuring Cups
- Anchor Hocking Glass (Liquid) Measuring Cups
- Rösle Stainless Steel Flat Whisk– a MUST have, probably my most used utensil
- di Oro Living Silicone Spatulas Set
- Rachael Ray Stoneware EVOO Oil Dispensing Bottle
- Porcelain & Bamboo Salt Box with Spoon
- Electric Pepper Mill
- 6 oz Porcelain Ramekins
- My FANTASTIC Teak Cutting & Charcuterie Board & Compartments
- OXO Stainless Steel Tongs
- stainless steel flat bottomed insert pans
- Stainless Steel Tall Legged Trivet
- Capote Capers
- Potato Starch
Caring is sharing! If you would like to support This Old Gal, please share this recipe on Social Media, so that I can continue to bring you more wonderful recipes!
Here is the handy printable recipe:
Ingredients
- 2 Chicken Breasts Boneless/Skinless boneless/skinless
- 1/4 cup/44g Potato Starch
- 1 tsp Sea Salt
- 1/4 tsp Freshly Ground Black Pepper
- 6 TBL/70.65g Butter
- 3 TBL Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1 large/40g Shallots minced
- 2-3 large Lemons (2 sliced thin)
- 1/3 cup Dry White Wine
- 1/2 cup Chicken Stock/Broth
- 2-3 TBL Whole Capers drained/rinsed
- 1/3 cup/7g Fresh Flat Leaf Parsley chopped
Instructions
- Butterfly Chicken Breasts and cut in half. Place between wax paper and lightly pound thick part, to match the thinner side. Salt and Pepper Chicken and dredge through Potato Starch. Shake off excess Starch and set aside on plate.
- Select Sauté/Browning on Pressure Cooker and adjust to High/More. Allow Pressure Cooker cooking pot to fully heat.
- Add 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil and 2 Tablespoons Butter to cooking pot. When Butter is melted, add half of the Chicken and pan fry each side about 60 seconds, until brown. Remove Chicken to a plate. Add the rest of the Olive Oil and 2 Tablespoon of Butter. Pan fry the rest of the Chicken and remove to a plate.
- Add Shallots and Sauté, until slightly brown, being careful to not let them burn. Pour in the Wine/Broth and deglaze cooking pot, making sure to scrape up all the stuck on bits.
- Add Lemon Slices and Chicken to Pressure Cooker cooking pot.
- Lock on Lid and close Pressure Valve. Cook at High Pressure for 2 minutes. Allow a 5 minute Natural Pressure Release and then release the rest of the pressure. Turn off Pressure Cooker.
- Remove Chicken and Lemon Slices to a serving plate and place in warm oven or cover to keep warm. Select Sauté/Browning/Normal. Add 2 Tablespoons of Butter to cooking pot and Whisk to thicken. Turn off Pressure Cooker. Add Capers, Juice of one Lemon and Parsley and mix through. Spoon Sauce over Chicken.
Cast Iron Skillet
- Heat Skillet on Medium High for five minutes. Add 2 TBL Oil and 2 TBL Butter. When Butter melts, Brown Chicken in batches on both sides, about 3 minutes each side. Remove to a plate and cover to keep warm. Add 2 TBL Butter and Sauté the Shallots for about a minute. Deglaze the pot with Wine and add Lemon Slices. Simmer Lemon Slices for 5 minutes. Remove Lemon and Whisk in 2 TBL Butter. Add in Parsley and Capers. Squeeze in one Lemon. Plate Chicken in Skillet and simmer 3 minutes. Plate Chicken and spoon Sauce over Chicken.
Notes
PIN this Pressure Cooker Chicken Piccata Lemon Cream Sauce!
Pressure Cooker Instant Pot Chicken Piccata
Made for 1st time using tapioca flour & adjusted for 5 large, butterflied breasts (10 pieces) in a 12 psi electronic pressure cooker. Used the P C pot for browning.
Very pleased with the finished result. Thanks, Jill !
Thank you, Rob. Glad you enjoyed. Jill
Very tasty and quick recipe!
I have never heard of Capers, would it taste the same without it?
No, it would not taste the same without capers. They give it a salty flavor and something that tastes acidic. They are not hard to find. Please give them a try! You will love it!!
Made as per instructions using potato starch. Chicken remained juicy and sauce was very flavorful.
Wonderful to hear, Melanie. I am so glad you enjoyed this recipe. Jill
Thanks for the great recipe! I made it the old fashioned way in my cast iron..was a big hit.
I liked this but would remove rind from lemon slices, it got a little bitter but easy to rectify next time.
Can you use almond flour instead of potato starch to make this keto?
I’ve not tried almond flour. Jill
I made this for my family last night in my IP and I REALLY wanted to like this recipe; Chicken Piccata is one of my all-time favorites.
I don’t know if it was the bitterness from the lemon rinds under pressure or 9 Tablespoons of fat for 2 chicken breasts or the slurry consistency or what the issue was, but this one was only “meh” for me.
I’m wondering since you used 5o% MORE butter than what the recipe calls for, if you also added more of other things, like lemon.
Love your recipe and detailed directions. For this recipe how do I only cook the chicken for five min and then a natural release. And it be cooked all the way? The chicken button on the IP is for 20min. I am a little confused.
OMG. This was fabulous. Served with mashed potatoes and asparagus. I could eat this every day. Thanks for the recipe!
I followed everything except using shallots and my sauce turned out bitter. Any idea why?
Yes, bitterness is explained in the post above. Jill
Can you sub almond flour for the potato starch? Trying to cut back on the carbs.
Can you use instant potato flakes in place of potato starch?!
I make fish piccata, would love to know how long to cook fish piccata in the IP
Fish cooks really fast. I have not done it yet, so I cannot give accurate advice, but I would say cook for no more than one minute. Jill
This looks amazing
I don’t mix butter with meat. What would you suggest as a substitute? Recipe looks delicious and I would love to make it!
I just get very irritated at having to scroll for so long to get to the actual recipe! I have been cooking over 60 years and know what to do. Many times I like to see the ingredients required.
You may know what to do but many others do not, so it is very helpful for people who are new to cooking or unsure of their skills. I get irritated when the poster has taken so much time and effort to take pictures and explain the steps and then someone feels the need to criticize that it takes an extra 10 seconds to scroll to the recipe. This site wasn’t created just for you.
amen!c
Thank you, Lisa. It is a world of entitlement these days. People complain about something they are getting for free. Jill
Some of us don’t want to read and see all that you are endorsing. Many pages have a “jump to recipe” button. I’m doing this on my phone and sometimes I get bumped out of the link and then need to find the recipe over and over. Please consider this button for your recipes
What an entitled world we live in. A few seconds scrolling for a free recipe, which took me hours to create, cook, photograph, write up and get it just right for the site, is very inconvenient for you. Ads are how I make a living, which cost you nothing. How about a thank you instead? Jill
To double this what would change time wise-with the potatoes too
Unfortunately this turned out a sticky goopy mess. I used the potato starch, but still gross. Luckily I hid it with the sauce. Will not make again in the instant pot.
Hi AB. It is very important to shake off all the excess starch. It’s very good in cast iron too. Jill
Hi Jill,
This looks amazing and I love chicken piccata. I’ll definitely be trying this. I do have a question though. I’ve tried all of the links for potato starch and keep coming up with a blank page. When I go to Amazon there are so many different brands that I’m overwhelmed. Can you recommend a brand?
Thanks for all of these recipes that you provide. The first thing I made when I got my Instant Pot was your meatloaf and mashed carrot/potato. It was delish. I’ve also used your Fairlife recipe for yogurt and this last week-end I made the New York cheesecake. It was soooo good.
Hi Carol. I am glad you are enjoying my recipes. I love the mashed carrot/potato recipe as well. It’s like all the taste of mashed potatoes at half the calories. Try adding in a big spoonful of sour cream or yogurt!! Yum. Here is the link for the Bobs Potato Starch. They should now be working in the recipe. Jill
Thank you so much. I’ve added it to my ever growing cart on Amazon. lol
Thank you Jill. Your recipes are wonderful.I’ve tried many of them and they have all been fabulous.
Made this and your tumeric mashed cauliflower tonight. Excellent!! Thank you!
Hi Jennifer. You are welcome and thank you too. Glad you enjoyed. Jill
Could I use corn starch ? Can’ find potato starch where I live and I must be Gluten Free?
Hi Jody. Sure. My preference is the potato starch, but the cornstarch will work too. Jill
I made this recipe tonight for dinner and everyone loved it! Thank you for yet another fabulous recipe! 🙂
If you’re making the potatoes along with the chicken, do you have to change the time any? I noticed the mashed potato recipe calls for 7 mins but this only says 2.
Would cutting the potatoes really small make up the difference?
Courtney~
The potatoes would need to be diced in order for it to work. You don’t want to cook longer or your chicken will be rubbery.
Jill