Chicken piccata is a classic Italian dish that typically consists of chicken cutlets cooked in a lemon, butter, and white wine sauce. It’s a flavorful yet light meal that’s popular for its simplicity and versatility. But if you’re watching your carb intake, you may be wondering just how many carbs are in a serving of chicken piccata.
What is Chicken Piccata?
Chicken piccata is made by coating chicken cutlets in flour, sautéing them in butter or olive oil, and then cooking them in a pan sauce of lemon juice, chicken broth, capers, and sometimes white wine. The chicken cutlets are pounded thin before cooking so they cook quickly and absorb the flavors of the sauce.
Traditionally, the chicken is dredged in flour before sautéing. The flour helps create a crisp coating on the outside of the chicken. However, many lighter versions of the recipe skip the flour coating to reduce the carbs. The sauce features bright, acidic lemon juice as the star ingredient, along with briny capers and savoriness from chicken broth.
Some versions may also include parsley, garlic, shallots or onions, and oregano or basil for additional flavor. The classic preparation serves the chicken with lemon wedges and chopped parsley on top to enhance the bright citrus flavors.
Carb Count in Chicken Piccata
The main sources of carbohydrates in chicken piccata come from:
- Flour coating on the chicken
- Lemon juice in the sauce
- White wine if used in the sauce
- Onions or shallots if added
However, the amounts of these ingredients used are relatively small. The coating of flour on the chicken cutlets adds minimal carbs if it is thinly dredged. And the lemon juice and white wine are used in small quantities to flavor the sauce.
Here is an estimate of the carb count for a 6oz serving of chicken piccata made with a light coating of flour:
Carbohydrates in 6oz Chicken Piccata
| Ingredient | Grams of Carbs |
|---|---|
| Chicken Cutlet (6oz) | 0g |
| 2 Tbsp Flour | 15g |
| 1/4 Cup Lemon Juice | 3g |
| 2 Tbsp White Wine | 1g |
| 1 Tbsp Capers | 1g |
| 1/4 Cup Chicken Broth | 0g |
| Total Carbs | 20g |
As you can see, a 6oz serving of chicken piccata made in the classic style with a light flour coating has about 20g net carbs. This is because flour contains about 15g net carbs per 2 tablespoon serving.
Lower Carb Options
There are a few simple ways to reduce the carbs in chicken piccata:
- Skip the flour: Dredging the chicken in flour accounts for most of the carbs. You can skip this step entirely and the chicken will still get golden and crispy from sautéing in butter or oil.
- Use almond or coconut flour: If you still want a crispy coating, use a very light dredging of almond or coconut flour instead of regular flour. 2 tablespoons contains around 5g net carbs.
- Use chicken broth: Replace the white wine with additional chicken broth to eliminate those carbs.
- Increase lemon: Bump up the lemon juice and zest to keep the dish flavorsome without extra carbs.
- Serve larger portions: Cut the chicken into 4oz servings rather than 6oz to lower the carb count per serving.
Making these simple substitutions can reduce the net carbs in a serving of chicken piccata to around 10g or less.
Lower Carb Chicken Piccata (4oz serving)
| Ingredient | Grams of Carbs |
|---|---|
| Chicken Cutlet (4oz) | 0g |
| 1 Tbsp Almond Flour | 2g |
| 1/3 Cup Lemon Juice | 4g |
| 1 Tbsp Capers | 1g |
| 1/3 Cup Chicken Broth | 0g |
| Total Carbs | 7g |
Nutrition Facts
Here is the full nutrition breakdown for a 6oz serving of classic chicken piccata made with a light coating of flour:
Chicken Piccata Nutrition Facts (6oz serving)
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 376 |
| Fat | 12g |
| Carbohydrates | 20g |
| Protein | 43g |
| Sodium | 473mg |
And here is the nutrition facts for a 4oz serving of lower carb chicken piccata made without flour:
Lower Carb Chicken Piccata Nutrition Facts (4oz serving)
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 236 |
| Fat | 8g |
| Carbohydrates | 7g |
| Protein | 28g |
| Sodium | 314mg |
As you can see, skipping the flour decreases the carb count substantially while still providing high amounts of protein and relatively low calories.
Conclusion
Chicken piccata can fit into a low carb diet with some simple modifications. Skipping the flour dredge is the easiest way to reduce the carbs, but you can also substitute lower carb ingredients where possible. Portion sizes make a difference too – smaller 4oz portions will be lower carb than larger 6oz cutlets.
With its quick prep time, easy ingredients, and bright lemon flavors, chicken piccata is a great low carb option for a fast weeknight dinner. Just be mindful of the added flour, and enjoy this classic Italian dish without all the extra carbs weighed down.
Some other easy low carb dinner options include grilled chicken topped with salsa, baked fish with vegetables, steak salad with vinaigrette, taco bowls with ground turkey, and stir fries made with cauliflower rice. With a little creativity, you can make delicious and satisfying low carb meals for the whole family.
When transitioning to a low carb diet, be sure to focus on getting adequate protein, healthy fats, and nutrient-dense vegetables at each meal. Track your daily net carb intake to stay below your target carbohydrate level based on your health and fitness goals. And don’t forget to drink plenty of water and supplement electrolytes like sodium, potassium, and magnesium while reducing carbs.
The key is finding low carb recipes that you genuinely enjoy eating so the lifestyle feels sustainable in the long term. Chicken piccata is a great option to add into your regular dinner rotation. Serve it with a side salad or roasted broccoli, and you have a complete low carb meal that doesn’t feel restrictive at all.