Lemon Caper Chicken Piccata With Spinach And Angel Hair
A lightened-up Italian-American classic featuring tender chicken cutlets in a bright, zesty lemon-caper sauce. Served over whole wheat angel hair pasta and wilted fresh spinach for a comforting, nourishing dinner.
Prep
10 min
Cook
15 min
Total
25 min
Makes
2 servings
The feel-good payoff
Why this meal can feel especially good in perimenopause
Think practical wins: steadier energy, comfortable fullness and one less food decision. Your response is personal, so use the prompts below to notice what works for you.
Perimenopause symptoms and relief · Office on Women’s HealthSteadier energy
Feel fueled, not flattened
A complete meal with protein, carbohydrates and fats is designed to offer more staying power than a quick carb-only fix.
Notice: energy 1–3 hours later
Comfortably satisfied
Fullness that has staying power
This meal is designed to feel substantial, so finishing it can feel like the meal is complete rather than the start of an evening of grazing.
Notice: fullness 2–3 hours later
More staying power
Make the next few hours easier
This meal is built to be more sustaining than a snack-sized stopgap, with enough substance to carry you into the next part of the day.
Notice: energy + fullness later
Clearer, simpler choices
Let the recipe do the thinking
Clear steps and a complete plate mean fewer decisions when focus is in short supply—and a more substantial meal once you are done.
Notice: focus + energy later
Setup
Get set up
Choose your servings, gather what you need, then cook along below.
Prep
10 min
Cook
15 min
Total
25 min
How many are you cooking for?
The ingredient amounts update automatically.
Equipment
Large skillet · Knife and cutting board
Time saver
Prep the vegetables and measure pantry ingredients earlier in the day to shorten cook time.
Do these three things first
- 1Prep tbsp capers (drained)
- 2Set out all ingredients before cooking
- 3Measure the pantry ingredients before heating the pan
Ingredients
Gather as you go
Ingredients
From Your Pantry
Cook along
Instructions
0 of 7 steps complete
Next: Bring a pot of lightly salted water…
- 01
Bring a pot of lightly salted water…
Bring a pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook the whole wheat angel hair pasta according to package directions, then drain and set aside.
Tap card to mark done - 02
Pat the chicken breast cutlets dry
Pat the chicken breast cutlets dry, season both sides with salt and black pepper, and lightly dust them with the all-purpose flour.
Tap card to mark done - 03
Heat the olive oil in a large…
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook for 3 to 4 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer the chicken to a plate.
Look for: golden brown and cooked through
Tap card to mark done - 04
Reduce the heat to medium
Reduce the heat to medium. Pour the chicken broth, lemon juice, and capers into the skillet, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom. Let it simmer for 2 minutes to reduce slightly.
Allow: 2 minutes
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Swirl the butter into the sauce until…
Swirl the butter into the sauce until melted, then add the fresh baby spinach. Stir gently for 1 minute until the spinach is just wilted.
Look for: melted, then add the fresh baby spinach
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Return the chicken to the pan to…
Return the chicken to the pan to warm through in the sauce for 1 minute.
Allow: 1 minute
Tap card to mark done - 07
Divide the pasta between two plates
Divide the pasta between two plates, top with the chicken, and spoon the lemon-caper spinach sauce generously over the top. Garnish with the lemon zest.
Ready when: everything is assembled and ready to enjoy
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