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Home » Recipe Index » Italian

Chicken Francese

Published: Sep 20, 2018 · Modified: Mar 2, 2025 by Kris Longwell · This post may contain affiliate links

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This Chicken Francese recipe is an absolute favorite of ours.  It’s so flavorful and bursting with flavor.

Oh, it’s doesn’t get much better than this dish!

Delicious and beautiful, all at the same time!

A lemon wedge being squeezed onto a platter of chicken francese

HOW TO MAKE CLASSIC CHICKEN FRANCESE AT HOME

Watch us show you how easy it is to make this incredibly delicious dish.

It’s so good and a lot of fun to make!

OTHER CLASSIC CHICKEN RECIPES TO TRY

  • Chicken Piccata
  • Chicken Parmesan
  • Chicken Marsala
  • Chicken Cacciatore
  • Chicken Florentine

The ingredients in chicken francese are simple and work beautifully together.

The simplicity of this dish is really what makes it shine. White wine and lemon and egg…doesn’t get much better than that!

chicken francés recipe

THE EGG IS ON THE OUTSIDE

Chicken Frances is similar to Chicken Picatta, but the real difference is that “the egg is on the outside.”

You dredge in seasoned flour first, and then egg with herbs.

This is going to be good.

chicken francés recipe

Make sure the chicken cutlets are nice and thin. You can easily place them in a large freezer bag and pound them until they are about an ⅛″ thick.

Then cook them in the olive oil until beautifully browned. You can keep them warm in a low-temp oven. Resist the urge to put the breaded cutlets in the sauce, this often causes the egg ‘breading’ to fall away from the chicken cutlet.

chicken francés recipe

CHICKEN FRANCESE IS MADE WITH A WINE AND BUTTER SAUCE

And then the sauce. Oh, that sauce.

White wine, chicken stock, garlic…and some butter.  

Divine.

chicken francés recipe

IS IT CHICKEN FRANCESE, OR CHICKEN FRANCAISE?

This dish has French and Italian origins, but it is most commonly seen in Italian eateries. Learn more about the history of this amazing dish here.

The presentation is just beautiful, too.

Finish it with a squeeze of fresh lemon, and your guests will be so impressed!

Yes!

chicken francés recipe

FINISH THE CHICKEN FRANCAISE WITH A SQUEEZE OF LEMON

If you enjoy this amazing Chicken Francese, chances are you’d also love our Pork Milanese!

And this amazing dish can literally come together in 30 minutes.  Perfect for a weeknight meal.  But impressive enough to serve to guests on a special dinner party.  Serve with salad and crusty Italian bread.  Just amazing.  100% Loon Approved!

chicken-francese-recipe

CHICKEN FRANCESE FAQ’S

  • How far in advance can the cutlets and sauce be made in advance? Yes! Prepare the cutlets and sauce as written and then re-eat the cutlets in a low-temp oven and heat the sauce in a saucepan on the stove.
  • Is it okay to simmer the prepared cutlets in the sauce? We don’t recommend this. Often, the sauce will cause the cooked egg ‘breading’ to pull away from the cutlet. We recommend serving the cutlet with the sauce poured over the top.
  • Is cooking wine for the sauce? We feel pretty strongly about this…if you wouldn’t drink the wine by itself, you shouldn’t cook with it either. This is a pretty straight-forward dish without a lot of ingredients, that’s why quality is so important.
  • Can the sauce be frozen? Yes! For up to 2 months!

Now, it’s time to make this incredible Chicken Francese Recipe!

And once you’ve made the dish, take a picture and post to Instagram!  Be sure to tag @howotfeedaloon and #howtofeedaloon!

Chicken Francese on a white plate

Chicken Francese

This Chicken Francese recipe is so easy to make, and one of the tastiest dishes there is. The 'egg on the outside' gives it a wonderful texture. And the sauce is divine. Amazing.
4.94 from 81 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Entree
Cuisine: Italian
Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes minutes
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 526kcal
Author: Kris Longwell

Video

Ingredients

  • 3 to 4 chicken breasts boneless and skinless, about 14 oz. to 16 oz. total
  • 1 cup flour for dredging (you'll also need 2 tablespoon of the flour mixture later for the sauce...but we'll get to that later in the instructions).
  • Kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 4 eggs
  • 2 tablespoon Parmesan grated
  • 4 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped (divided...2 tablespoons for batter, 2 for garnish)
  • 4 tablespoon olive oil divided...2 tablespoons for sautéing the chicken, and then 2 more for the sauce
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter divided...2 for sautéing the chicken, 2 for the sauce
  • 4 garlic cloves minced
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes more, to taste
  • ½ cup dry white wine ie, Pino Grigio
  • 1 ¼ cups chicken stock
  • Juice of two fresh lemons about 4 tablespoons

Instructions

  • Place the chicken (one at a time) in a large freezer bag, and using the side of a meat tenderizer, pound the chicken to ⅛" to ¼" in thickness.
  • Cut each pounded chicken piece into halves, or thirds. Set aside.
  • Pour the flour onto a platter or plate. Add ½ teaspoon of salt, ½ teaspoon of pepper and the 1 teaspoon of garlic powder. Gently mix together with a fork. Remove 2 tablespoons to use later for the sauce.
  • In a second small/medium-sized bowl, mix together the eggs, Parmesan, 2 tablespoons of the parsley, and a pinch of salt and pepper.
  • Dredge each chicken cutlet in the flour mixture and then dip into egg mixture, fully coating.
  • Heat oil over medium heat in a large skillet. After the oil has heated, add 2 tablespoons of the butter.
  • Place the coated chicken into the hot skillet, 2 at a time.
  • Cook for 3 to 4 minutes, until nicely browned on the bottom.
  • Flip and cook the other side until completely cooked through and nicely browned, about another 3 - 4 minutes.
  • Remove from the pan and repeat with remaining chicken. (Cooked cutlets can be made 1 to 2 hours ahead of time. Re-heat in (350 F) oven 15 minutes before serving, or keep warm in oven (220 F) until ready to use.
  • In the same skillet, add the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil over medium heat.
  • Add garlic and crushed red pepper, cook until soft, about 3 minutes.
  • Add the reserved 2 tablespoons of seasoned flour, and mix completely. Add another tablespoon of flour if too wet, should resemble wet sand. Stir and let cook for about 1 to 2 minutes (don't let it get dark brown).
  • Add white wine and chicken stock and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat.
  • Add the lemon juice. Stir until slightly thickened.
  • Season with a healthy pinch of salt and pepper.
  • Remove the pan from the heat and stir in remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. Stir until melted.
  • Taste and adjust seasonings, if necessary.
  • Place cutlets on plates, or platter, and pour sauce over the top.
  • Garnish with remaining parsley.
  • Enjoy!

Notes

Prepare the sauce separate from the chicken cutlets.  Place the cutlets on the serving dish and then pour the sauce over the cutlet.  If you simmer the cutlets in the sauce, it can cause the egg batter to pull away from the chicken.
The cutlets and sauce can be prepared several hours in advance of serving.  Re-heat the cutlets in a low-temp oven and gently warm the sauce on the stove.
The sauce can be frozen for up to 2 months. 

Nutrition

Calories: 526kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 48g | Fat: 36g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 306mg | Sodium: 415mg | Potassium: 864mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 1015IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 84mg | Iron: 3mg
Tried this recipe? Take a Picture!Mention @HowToFeedALoon or tag #HowToFeedALoon!

 

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Comments

  1. Carrie says

    November 06, 2021 at 8:31 am

    5 stars
    Awesome recipe. I follow exactly and it is fool proof and consistently perfect!

    Reply
    • Kris Longwell says

      November 07, 2021 at 1:01 pm

      Hi Carrie!!! That is so wonderful to hear!! We are so happy that you had such great success with the dish!! And thank you SO MUCH for letting us know and for the awesome review! That means the world to us!! All the best, Kris & Wesley

      Reply
  2. Diane says

    October 10, 2021 at 11:33 am

    5 stars
    Wow! This was absolutely delicious!! I’ve made this dish so many times, so many different recipes. But this one was the absolute best! I will never make it any other way. Followed the recipe exact and it was perfect!
    Thanks for a great recipe!

    Reply
    • Kris Longwell says

      October 10, 2021 at 12:25 pm

      Hi Diane!! YAY!!! We are THRILLED you had such great success with our chicken francese recipe!! That fills our hearts with such joy!! And thank you so very much for letting us know and for the wonderful review!! That honestly means the world to us!! All the very best, Kris & Wesley

      Reply
  3. Sara Marinan says

    September 17, 2021 at 8:46 pm

    5 stars
    Wow! Followed recipe exactly and it was so well written. From being able to make the chicken way ahead of time to instruction “DO Not reheat chicken in sauce, breading will fall off”. Not to mention it was absolutely delicious. I did clean the pan after my chicken sauté because remnants were dark. This is my new go to recipe for chicken francaise/francese.

    Reply
    • Kris Longwell says

      September 21, 2021 at 2:40 pm

      Hi Sara! So very sorry for the delayed response here! We are so so happy you had such great success with our chicken francese recipe! Thank you SO MUCH for letting us know and for the wonderful review! Please stay in touch!!! All the best, Kris & Wesley

      Reply
  4. Lanette Marie Duggan says

    September 09, 2021 at 10:50 am

    5 stars
    Awesome recipe been looking for a restaurant tasting Francese for years, finally this is the one. Better than our local Italian place.

    Reply
  5. Dawn says

    June 29, 2021 at 4:27 pm

    5 stars
    This is the best Chicken française I’ve ever made! The chicken came out perfect and I’ve been trying to get a creamy sauce and this recipe did it for me, when I took a taste I raised my hands in a glory dance it’s Delicious! This happens to be my favorite dish so I’ll be using this recipe forever! Thank You!!

    Reply
  6. Rose says

    June 04, 2021 at 3:00 pm

    Gentlemen, how would I make Chicken Francese for a crowd (maybe 10) a day ahead so I can heat it when we need ??

    Reply
    • Kris Longwell says

      June 09, 2021 at 2:23 pm

      Hi Rose! Please forgive the late response here! Make the sauce ahead of time, no problem. You can make the cutlets in advance, too, and warm them for about 20 minutes in the oven to heat them and crisp them up a little. Heat the sauce seperately, and then pour the sauce over the heated cutlets just before serving. Hope this helps!! Let us know how it all turns out! Best, Kris & Wesley

      Reply
  7. Matt B. says

    May 29, 2021 at 5:57 pm

    5 stars
    Absolutely delicious! By far the best francese recipe out there.

    Reply
    • Kris Longwell says

      May 30, 2021 at 4:30 pm

      Hi Matt! That is music to our ears! We are SO THRILLED you had such great success with our chicken francese! That is truly one of our all-time favorites, too!! Thanks so much for letting us know and for the FANTASTIC review! That means the world to us!! All the best, Kris & Wesley

      Reply
  8. Nana says

    May 13, 2021 at 1:32 pm

    4 stars
    Wow! Great recipe! Everyone I have made it for loves it! Thank you

    Reply
    • Kris Longwell says

      May 13, 2021 at 6:16 pm

      Awesome!! That is so wonderful to hear!!! Thank you for letting us know!! All the best, Kris & Wesley

      Reply
    • Mary says

      May 22, 2021 at 1:58 pm

      5 stars
      This was without a doubt, one of the best recipes I’ve made.
      I followed the recipe exactly how it was written.
      Perfection! I served it with mashed potatoes and asparagus.

      Reply
      • Kris Longwell says

        May 24, 2021 at 5:17 pm

        Mary!! So sorry for the delayed response!! We are THRILLED you had such great success with the chicken francese!! Sounds like a spectacular meal!!! Thanks so much for letting us know and for the wonderful review! That means the world to us!! All the best, Kris & Wesley

  9. Denise says

    April 23, 2021 at 11:26 am

    5 stars
    Delicious! This recipe is a keeper!

    Reply
    • Kris Longwell says

      April 23, 2021 at 4:16 pm

      Hi Denise!! So so happy you enjoyed our chicken francese recipe! And thanks so much for letting us know and for the great review! We truly appreciate that so very much! All the best, Kris & Wesley

      Reply
  10. Michele says

    April 04, 2021 at 6:36 pm

    5 stars
    Made this recipe today exactly as written. It was pretty simple, I had just about everything on hand already, and it turned out restaurant quality. I served it to company and everyone thought it was amazing. I was pretty impressed myself, and I thought it turned out delicious. Thanks for the recipe! I’ll be making this again!

    Reply
    • Kris Longwell says

      April 07, 2021 at 2:23 pm

      Hi Michele! That is music to our ears! We are so so thrilled you hit it out of the park with the chicken francese!! So glad you and your guests enjoyed it so much! And thank you SO MUCH for letting us know and for the awesome review! That truly means the world to us!! Please stay in touch! All the best, Kris & Wesley

      Reply
  11. Terry says

    March 29, 2021 at 6:52 am

    What a great recipe. My guests loved it. Loved the addition of the red pepper flakes. I absolutely love Chicken Francaise,
    Might you have any suggestions for another type of sauce for that chicken. Love the way it fries up. Considering trying it with a marinara and mozzarella for a great chicken parm.

    Reply
    • Kris Longwell says

      March 29, 2021 at 12:52 pm

      Hi Terry!! That is so awesome that you had such great success with the chicken francese!! Marinara and mozzarella would be great! Check out our Pork Chops with Capers Sauce…that would be a tasty sauce for the chicken, however, we’d recommend doubling the sauce recipe.

      Reply
      • Terry says

        March 31, 2021 at 8:12 pm

        As you suggested ….tried the caper sauce (pork) on chicken tonight. Prepared the chicken as you would with Francese……it was awesome!!!! And pretty quick!
        Thanks for the suggestion,,,,

      • Kris Longwell says

        April 02, 2021 at 12:04 pm

        That’s awesome, Terry!! So glad it turned out well and you enjoyed it! We’ll have to try that, too!!

  12. Scott says

    March 26, 2021 at 2:30 pm

    5 stars
    Great recipes ,great writing and web page for cooking food with lots of flavor and classic recipes and lots of new dishes even suggest sides great job

    Reply
    • Kris Longwell says

      March 29, 2021 at 12:43 pm

      Thank you, Scott!! That means the world to us!! All the very best, Kris & Wesley

      Reply
  13. Lesley says

    March 25, 2021 at 11:45 pm

    5 stars
    Excellent chicken francaise’ the
    Best recipe I have come across I was hoping to have leftovers for another
    meal but it was all gone! Prepared exactly as written Perfect!

    Reply
    • Kris Longwell says

      March 29, 2021 at 12:30 pm

      Hi Lesley!! We can’t even begin to tell you how happy this makes us!! We are THRILLED you loved our chicken fancese recipe and THANK YOU SO MUCH for letting us know and for the wonderful review!! That truly means the world to us!! Stay in touch! All the very best, Kris & Wesley

      Reply
  14. Nan says

    March 13, 2021 at 2:00 am

    5 stars
    Tried this tonight and it was fabulous! My husband and I both think it surpassed our fav restaurants version! Can’t wait to make it for the whole family!

    Reply
    • Kris Longwell says

      March 15, 2021 at 12:34 pm

      Hi Nan!! That is so awesome to hear!! We are so excited that you and your hubby loved the chicken francese so much!!! Woo hoo!! And thank you so very much for letting us know and for the fabulous review! That means the world to us!! All the best, Kris & Wesley

      Reply
  15. DB says

    March 06, 2021 at 9:45 pm

    5 stars
    Very flavorful and looks great too, I made double the sauce and served it with pasta. yummy!

    Reply
    • Kris Longwell says

      March 07, 2021 at 8:33 pm

      Woo hoo!! We are so so happy you loved the chicken francese! And thank you SO MUCH for letting us know and for the wonderful review! That really means the world to us!! All the best, Kris & Wesley

      Reply
  16. Nideen Morrison says

    March 06, 2021 at 8:35 pm

    5 stars
    This is the best chicken francaise recipe I’ve ever made and even ever had!!!

    Reply
    • Kris Longwell says

      March 07, 2021 at 8:32 pm

      Nideen!! You just made our weekend!! We are SO THRILLED you had such great success with our chicken Francese recipe and thank you so much for letting us know and for the GREAT review! That honestly means the world to us!!! Please stay in touch!! All the very best, Kris & Wesley

      Reply
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Welcome!

Kris & Wesley (The Loon) live for fun, food, and fabulousness. "How to Feed a Loon" is a celebration of just that. Come join us on this joyous culinary ride.

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