Chicken Francese
Egg-coated chicken cutlets fried until golden and finished in a lemon, white wine and butter sauce. Four servings in 35 minutes.
Chicken Francese, Step by Step
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Season the chicken with half the salt and the pepper. Spread the flour on a plate. Beat the eggs with the parsley in a shallow dish.
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Heat 1 tbsp of the oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Dredge 2 cutlets in the flour, shake off the excess, dip them in the egg and lay them straight into the pan. Fry for 3 minutes on each side, until golden, then move to a plate. Repeat with the remaining oil and cutlets.
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Wipe out any dark crumbs with kitchen paper, add the wine to the pan and simmer for 2 minutes, scraping up the browned bits. Add the stock, lemon juice and lemon slices and simmer for 5 minutes, until reduced by about half.
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Turn the heat to low, swirl in the cold butter and the remaining salt, then return the chicken to the pan for 2 minutes, spooning the sauce over.
Tips for Making Chicken Francese
- Slice the breasts into even cutlets so they cook at the same rate.
- If the coating browns too quickly, lower the heat a little; the egg should turn golden, not dark.
- Add the butter once the sauce has stopped bubbling hard, or it will separate.
Changing the Recipe
- Vegetable stock in place of the chicken stock makes this meat-free without changing the method, if that is what you need.
- A dry vermouth keeps for longer than an open bottle of white wine and is the closer swap than a random white left in the fridge; for an alcohol-free version, use the same amount of stock with a squeeze of lemon.
What to Serve with Chicken Francese
- Steamed asparagus
- Sauteed spinach
- A green salad
Keeping and Reheating
Keeps in the fridge for up to 3 days, though the coating softens. Reheat in a covered pan over low heat.
Questions About Chicken Francese
How long does Chicken Francese take to make?
About 35 minutes in total — 15 minutes of preparation and 20 minutes of cooking. The recipe serves 4.
What are the key tips for making Chicken Francese?
Slice the breasts into even cutlets so they cook at the same rate. If the coating browns too quickly, lower the heat a little; the egg should turn golden, not dark. Add the butter once the sauce has stopped bubbling hard, or it will separate.
What should I serve with Chicken Francese?
Steamed asparagus; Sauteed spinach; A green salad.
How should Chicken Francese be stored?
Keeps in the fridge for up to 3 days, though the coating softens. Reheat in a covered pan over low heat.
Is Chicken Francese suitable for a special diet?
This recipe is diabetes-friendly, high-protein, low-carb, keto and no added sugar. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.
How many calories are in Chicken Francese?
About 384 kcal per serving, with 40 g protein, 11 g carbohydrate and 20 g fat. The figures are calculated from the ingredient list and are an estimate.
What's in a Serving
Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.
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Written and tested by Turab
One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.