Chicken Paillard Like the French (Authentic Recipe)
A classic French chicken dish where breasts are pounded thin, seared quickly, and finished with lemon, garlic, and parsley. Light, fresh, and elegant, it’s ready in under 20 minutes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Total Time: 18 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Pan-Seared
- Cuisine: French
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
½ lemon, juiced
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
2 tablespoons freshly chopped parsley
Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Place the chicken breasts between two sheets of plastic wrap and pound them with a meat mallet until about ¼ inch thick.
- Season both sides with salt and pepper.
- Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add the chicken and cook for 2–3 minutes per side, until golden brown and cooked through.
- Transfer the chicken to a plate and squeeze lemon juice over the top.
- Sprinkle with garlic and parsley before serving.
Notes
Top with a simple arugula salad for extra freshness.
Add a splash of white wine to the pan before finishing with lemon for more flavor.
Use chicken thighs if preferred, but they may take slightly longer to cook.
This dish can also be grilled for a smoky flavor.
Pound chicken to an even ¼ inch thickness for best results.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 220mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 1g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
