This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Creamy chicken Francaise is a classic French-inspired Italian-American recipe, kicked up a notch with the creamiest garlic and lemon sauce. This restaurant-style favorite is an easy one-pan dinner that you can make at home in 30 minutes!
We love to try new chicken dishes, including this French-inspired dinner and flavors from around the world. If you do the same, you have to try this creamy pesto chicken or my chicken piccata – it’s a great dish with tangy lemon and capers. For a unique twist, don’t miss out on my chicken Marbella, packed with bold flavors from prunes, olives, and capers.
A little lemon on your plate brightens up a whole meal, and this easy Chicken Francaise is a testament to that. This flavorful recipe is rich, creamy, garlicky, and perfect for any night of the week. Creamy chicken francese combines the classic dish with rich garlic and lemon sauce, and you can enjoy this restaurant-quality, one-pan meal at home in just 30 minutes!
What Is Chicken Francaise?
Chicken Française, or Chicken Francese, is a French-inspired, Italian-American specialty. Francaise means “in the French style”. In this case, the chicken filets are dredged in flour first and then coated in egg before they’re pan-fried and topped with a delicious lemon sauce. This recipe is made extra-rich with a touch of heavy cream. It’s a fun spin on the classic butter, white wine, and lemon combo of traditional Chicken Francaise sauce.
Why I Love This Chicken Francaise Recipe
- One pan. Everything is cooked in the same skillet for quick and easy clean-up.
- Flavorful. Delicious flavors of lemon and fresh herbs come together in a rich homemade cream sauce in this recipe.
- Family-friendly. The light flavors and extra creaminess make it a family favorite. If your kids love creamy chicken dishes like chicken marsala or chicken paillard, there’s a good chance they’ll love this recipe, too!
Recipe Ingredients
- Chicken: I recommend boneless, skinless chicken breasts for this chicken recipe. Cut them in half lengthwise so that they’re thin enough for frying. You can also use boneless chicken thighs, though thigh meat may take a bit longer to cook.
- Olive Oil and Butter: Butter adds flavor, while oil increases the smoke point and keeps the butter from burning.
- Eggs and Parmesan: You’ll make an easy egg wash enhanced with freshly grated parmesan cheese for flavor.
- All-Purpose Flour, Salt, and Black Pepper: These are used for the breading. You can substitute coconut flour, as I do for my lemon pepper chicken. It works wonderfully and adds a bit of a nutty taste.
- Garlic: Try to use fresh garlic cloves. I like a garlicky sauce, so I use four whole cloves, but feel free to adapt the number of cloves to taste. You can use less or leave the garlic out altogether.
- Chicken Broth: I recommend low-sodium chicken broth or stock so that the sauce doesn’t turn out overly salted. It’s easy to adapt the seasonings to taste.
- Heavy Cream: Or half-and-half, to thicken the sauce and make it ultra-rich and creamy.
- Parsley: You’ll need freshly chopped parsley for the sauce and for garnishing the finished dish.
- Lemon: Freshly squeezed lemon juice is essential for this recipe. Give the bottled stuff a pass!
How to Make Chicken Francaise
Below, we’ll have a look at the quick steps to make the perfect French style chicken. It’s likely that you have most of what you’ll need for the breading and sauce in your pantry already! Scroll to the recipe card for the full ingredient amounts and recipe details.
- Prepare a dredging station. In a shallow bowl, whisk the eggs together with the parmesan. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, salt, and pepper for the breading.
- Coat the chicken. One piece of chicken at a time, dredge the filet first in flour, followed by the egg wash. Make sure it’s well-coated on both sides.
- Fry. Add the coated chicken to a preheated skillet with olive oil and butter. Work in batches if needed, and cook the chicken for 4 to 5 minutes per side. Set the cooked chicken aside on a paper towel-lined plate while you get started on the sauce.
- Make the sauce. In the same skillet, add the garlic. After about 15 seconds, deglaze the pan with the chicken broth, scraping up any stuck-on bits. Simmer the broth for another few minutes until it’s reduced. Lower the heat and stir in heavy cream and parsley. At the very end, whisk in the lemon juice.
- Serve. Let the sauce cook for a couple of minutes longer, and then take it off the heat and nestle your cooked chicken pieces back into the pan. Spoon over the sauce to get the chicken nice and coated. Finish with a sprinkle of parsley, and serve!
Recipe Tips & Variations
- Use thin pieces of chicken. Your chicken pieces should be about 1-inch thick so that they cook through in the time it takes to brown the coating. If needed, you can pound the chicken after you cut the breasts in half, to get it to the right thickness.
- Get organized. Set up your dredging station from left to right, using one hand to dip the chicken into the flour and the other to dip in the egg.
- Flour, then egg. It’s the French way, after all. Dip your chicken in the flour first and then the egg wash. Give the egg time to drip off afterward for the crispiest results when frying.
- Don’t disturb the chicken. Once your dredged chicken is frying in the skillet, leave it untouched until you’re ready to flip it. This way the breading stays put and the sides get a good sear.
- Cook in batches. Depending on the size of your pan, you may need to fry the chicken in batches. Avoid over-crowding the pan as this causes the chicken to steam, making it less crispy.
- Watch the chicken as it cooks. If you notice that the chicken is cooking more quickly on the outside than it is on the inside, lower the heat so that it doesn’t burn.
- Turn off the heat before adding the chicken back into the sauce. If the chicken cooks for too long in the cream sauce, the breading will get soggy and crumble. Instead, spoon the sauce over the chicken and serve right away.
- Make keto Chicken Francaise. Replace the all-purpose flour in this recipe with keto-approved/low-carb flour. I’ve tested this recipe with coconut flour, and it works great. Coconut flour is also a good option for a gluten-free chicken dinner.
Serving Suggestions
This chicken recipe pairs deliciously with a leafy kale Caesar salad or a fresh tomato burrata salad in the summer. This La Scala chopped salad recipe is also a year-round favorite. Serve it with easy starters like baked mozzarella sticks or Mediterranean-inspired caponata.
For a hearty dinner, pair chicken francaise with a side of baked feta pasta, mashed potatoes, mashed cauliflower, or crispy air fryer roasted potatoes. We love it with roasted Brussels sprouts, sauteed broccolini, or tender-crisp roasted green beans. If you’re looking for something a little different, try roasted artichokes.
Storage
Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for 4 to 5 days or freeze them for up to 3 months. Thaw the chicken in the fridge overnight before reheating. To reheat, gently warm the chicken with the sauce in a skillet on the stovetop or in the microwave until hot throughout.
Easy Chicken Dinner Ideas
Pin this now to find it later
Pin It
Creamy Chicken Francaise
Ingredients
- 2 (8-ounces each) boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut in half, lengthwise, to make four ¾-inch thick filets
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 large eggs
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup low sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream, you can also use half & half
- 3 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley, divided
- 1 lemon, juiced
Instructions
- 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/mix 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 or paper 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
- Chicken Cutlets: Use 1/2 to 3/4-inch-thick chicken pieces to ensure even cooking. After cutting the breasts in half, pound the chicken if necessary.
- Breading Stations: Prepare your dredging station in order, using separate hands for the flour and eggs to stay organized. Always dip the chicken into flour first and then the egg, allowing the excess egg to drip off for a crispier result.
- Cooking/Frying: While frying, avoid moving the chicken to achieve a nice sear. Cook in batches to avoid overcrowding. Monitor the cooking process, lowering the heat if needed to prevent the exterior from burning. Turn off the heat before adding the chicken back to the sauce to keep the breading from getting soggy.
- Lighter Options: For a keto version, substitute all-purpose flour with a low-carb option like coconut flour, which is also gluten-free.
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
This was awesome 👏🏼 Fun to make and turned out soooo good
Such a delicious meal!! I will definitely make it again!
I a drooling over this chicken! Perfect for our Friday romantic dinner!
Lookss beyond delicious! That is definitely a make!