One of my absolute favorite places to get inspiration and learn about food from is NYT Cooking. If you aren’t subscribed to NYT, you are seriously missing out. I actually look forward to the daily email inspired curated by Sam Sifton, along with the delicious food recipes by so many of my favorite recipe developers. All of which inspired me to create this Sheet Pan Chicken Piccata.
One of my very favorite recipe creators is Alison Roman. Her cookbooks are brilliant, her recipes on her blog are insanely delicious and her Instagram is definitely amongst my top favorite people to follow. Her no BS yet creative recipes get me everytime.
I recently recieved one of my NYT cooking emails in my inbox and they were sharing the current #1 recipe on the website, which just so happened to be this Sheetpan Vinegar Chicken with Crushed Olives. It seemed like one of those straightforward recipes that was just flavored perfectly so as an Alison Roman fan, I knew I had to try it. As always, it didn’t disappoint. My favorite part about the recipe that I found was unique to most sheetpan meals is that it had a pan sauce. Brilliant!
First of all, make Alison’s Sheetpan Vinegar Chicken, trust me. It’s SO good, especially if you love olives and you love tangy things. Secondly, all of that is to say that her chicken inspired me to make this Whole30 compliant Sheet Pan Chicken Piccata. It’s easy, flavorful and a total crowd pleaser! I love making this when hosting guests because it’s easy enough to throw in the oven and enjoy your company, but impressive enough for everyone to lick their plates clean! My favorite kind of meal.
Sheet Pan Chicken Piccata

Ingredients
- 3.5 lbs bone-in, skin-on chicken parts (I used an assortment of chicken legs, drumsticks, and chicken thighs)
- 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 2 small lemons sliced into 1/4 inch rounds
- 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
- 1/4 cup chicken broth
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tbsp capers, drained
- 2 tbsp finely chopped fresh parsley leaves
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
- On a large sheet pan, place all chicken parts and use a paper towel and pat chicken until dry. Drizzle olive oil over chicken then sprinkle with salt, pepper and smoked paprika. Toss and rub until the chicken is evenly coated.
- Spread chicken into a single layer on pan and nestle in the sliced lemons. Pour white wine vinegar and chicken broth over and around the chicken pieces.
- Transfer sheet pan to the oven on middle rack and roast until chicken is golden brown; about 25 minutes.
- Remove from oven and add garlic, capers and parsley.
- Using tongs, carefully toss all ingredients then add back into oven until the garlic is fragrant and the chicken is cooked through, 5 to 10 more minutes (being careful not to burn).
- Remove from oven and transfer chicken onto a serving platter, pour pan juices all over the chicken. Serve and enjoy!
16 Comments
Melanie Koch
October 20, 2022 at 4:01 amGreat recipe! Lovely moist chicken. I had no lemon so used grapefruit juice, zest and slices for baking. It was very subtle but bright and nice.
Lulu
March 8, 2022 at 10:39 pmHi! I’m making this recipe for the first time! Looks so good! Quick question: on the video, one of the ingredients says “vinegar” but in the recipe list it says white wine vinegar. Which should I use? Thanks so much!
Alex
March 10, 2022 at 7:00 pmUse white wine vinegar! Happy cooking!
Shannon
August 31, 2021 at 1:35 pmHoly yum! I used all chicken thighs and made this with brown rice. This is was so darn delicious. The chicken was perfect flavor and the rice combined with extra sauce was so good! New staple in our house!!
Vickie
August 26, 2021 at 6:25 pmDelicious and easy!!
Stephanie
August 24, 2021 at 3:02 amThis was a great quick chicken dish. Very flavorful and moist!
Christina
July 31, 2021 at 9:03 pmWould removing the skin change the cooking time?
Alex
August 4, 2021 at 12:15 pmI don’t believe so– you just won’t get the crispy skin on top!
Shannon
August 31, 2021 at 1:34 pmHoly yum! I used all chicken thighs and made this with brown rice. This is was so darn delicious. The chicken was perfect flavor and the rice combined with extra sauce was so good! New staple in our house!!
Danielle Binzer
April 19, 2021 at 2:47 amThis has become an absolute favorite! It’s perfect for company. Not too lemony, but a real depth of flavor. Everyone we’ve made this for loves it, especially the sauce!
Christian Green
February 10, 2021 at 10:48 pmThis was great! I’ve never made chicken picatta before but I will be again. This had so much flavor! I served it with roasted garlic and lemon broccoli.
Erica Johnston
January 26, 2021 at 12:35 amThis recipe is soo tasty and simple to make!!
Tracey
January 11, 2021 at 1:29 pmHi! Any changes if using boneless, skinless chicks breasts?
Tina
December 27, 2021 at 2:38 pmHi Tracey- did you happen to try it with boneless/skinless? I was wondering the same. If you did, did you make any adjustments? Thanks!
Stacey
January 10, 2021 at 7:35 pmWould this still work with boneless, skinless chicken breasts?
Madeline Rose
October 19, 2020 at 11:11 pmYou and Alison Roman are my two favorite chefs! You remind me a lot of each other.