Lemon Caper Sauce (for Salmon, Chicken & More!!)

This easy 6-ingredient lemon caper sauce has a delicious dimension of flavors and a velvety richness, making it the perfect match for fish, shrimp, chicken, and more! Ready in just 5 minutes, it’s a simple go-to sauce that always upgrades your weeknight dinner.

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Lemon butter sauce being spooned on salmon.

There are endless sauces you can serve with fish, shrimp, scallops, and chicken, but few rival this simple Lemon Caper Sauce. It takes your dishes to entirely new levels of flavor and sophistication without needing any complicated ingredients or techniques! 

With just 6 basic ingredients and a few effortless steps, you can whip up this delectable sauce in no time. The result? A  luxuriously smooth and creamy lemon butter caper sauce with a bold, buttery richness, briny depth, and a delightful citrusy zing.

Looking for more easy sauces to give your dinner a boost? Try my Red Wine Sauce, Seafood Boil Sauce, Remoulade Sauce, and Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce recipes as well.

Ingredients

INGREDIENTS FOR LEMON CAPER SAUCE LABELED ON TRAY.

There are two shining stars in this recipe: butter and capers. This duo, along with a handful of other simple ingredients, make up this easy, yet elegant sauce. This is everything you need:

  • Unsalted butter – Once melted, the butter gives the sauce a satiny smooth texture and rich, creamy flavor. Capers are already salty, so using unsalted butter here is best. 
  • Capers – You should be familiar with capers if you’re as big of a fan of chicken piccata as I am. They’re a pungent, tart, and briny relative to olives, and give this sauce its signature zing.
  • Garlic
  • Lemon juice – The bright and tangy acidity cuts through the richness to elevate every taste. Use freshly squeezed lemon juice here, not the bottled stuff. 
  • Fresh parsley
  • Kosher salt

How to make lemon butter sauce

Start by melting the butter in a small skillet over low heat. Once melted, add the capers and garlic and cook until fragrant.

Remove the skillet from the heat and add in the lemon juice and parsley. Taste and season with salt as needed. That’s it!

Tips and tricks

  • This recipe moves quickly, so it’s best if you have all of the ingredients prepped, measured, and ready to go before getting started. 
  • Butter-based sauces should be smooth and creamy, not browned. Be patient and melt the butter over low heat to prevent it from overcooking.
  • If the sauce is too thick, you can thin it out by stirring in a splash of chicken broth or dry white wine. Remember to give it a taste before serving to ensure the flavors are still balanced.
  • And if it’s too thin, whisk in a few tablespoons of cornstarch mixed with water to help it thicken. Start with a little, then add more as needed.
  • Taste it as you go! It’s the best way to maintain balance and gives you full control over the flavors. Try adding more lemon for tanginess, butter for richness, and capers for saltiness.

Variations

You can make this lemon caper sauce recipe your own with a little creativity. Here are some ideas:

  • Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of lemon zest to intensify the citrusy aroma and tang. 
  • Besides parsley, fresh chives, dill, and tarragon complement this sauce perfectly. 
  • Add a few extra minced garlic cloves, plus shallots for extra depth of flavor.
  • Add a splash of dry white wine to elevate the flavor with a subtle hint of sweetness and acidity. 
Bowl of lemon caper sauce being stirred.

Serving suggestions

The sky’s the limit when it comes to ways to use lemon caper sauce! It’s perfect tossed with hot cooked pasta, drizzled over steamed or roasted veggies, like artichokes, asparagus, and broccoli, or paired with any of these simple proteins: 

Storing

The leftover butter sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. It also freezes well for 2 to 3 months.

Let the frozen sauce thaw overnight in the fridge, then gently reheat it in a saucepan on the stove over low heat before serving.

FAQs 

Can I make it ahead of time?

Yes, you can make the sauce 1 to 2 days ahead of serving. Gently reheat it on the stove when it’s time to eat, whisking it well to help it re-emulsify.

Why did my sauce separate?

This typically happens if the sauce is heated over high heat or is left on the heat for too long. To fix a separated or broken sauce, remove it from the heat immediately and whisk it vigorously to re-emulsify the ingredients. 

Why does my sauce taste sour?

This can happen if you add too much lemon juice or use overly tart lemons. To balance the flavors, add a teaspoon of honey or a pinch of sugar.

Lemon caper sauce in skillet with spoon.

More sauces for fish and chicken

​​​​Did you make this lemon butter sauce with capers?

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Looking for more ways to use lemons? Here’s 35+ recipes that use a lot of lemons.

Lemon caper sauce on spoon over small bowl.

Lemon Caper Sauce

This easy 6-ingredient lemon caper sauce has a delicious dimension of flavors and a velvety richness, making it the perfect match for fish, shrimp, chicken, and more! Ready in just 5 minutes, it’s a simple go-to sauce that always upgrades your weeknight dinner.
5 from 26 votes
Print Pin
Prep Time: 1 minute
Cook Time: 4 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 4 people

Ingredients

Instructions

  • In a small skillet, melt the butter over low heat.
  • Once melted, add the capers and garlic. Bring to a simmer, and continue cooking until fragrant, about 1 minute.
  • Remove from the heat and add the lemon juice and parsley. Season to taste with kosher salt.
  • Enjoy over fish, shrimp or chicken.
Did you make this recipe?Mention @platingsandpairings or tag #platingsandpairings!

Equipment

Nutrition

Calories: 104kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 0.3g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 30mg | Sodium: 113mg | Potassium: 21mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 0.2g | Vitamin A: 440IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 8mg | Iron: 0.2mg

9 thoughts on “Lemon Caper Sauce (for Salmon, Chicken & More!!)”

  1. 5 stars
    This was delicious. I used dill because I had a bunch to use up. Also did put a little corn starch in for a thicker sauce and we liked it. This elevated our baked salmon which is already yummy to what we call “bistro” which is when we make something that feels like we’re eating out!

    Reply
  2. 5 stars
    After lightly frying butterflied chicken breast for dinner last night, I nestled each of the breasts in this sauce (doubled for my houseful of males with mega appetites) before yelling “Dinner is ready!”
    My fellas all sent multiple compliments to the chef throughout dinner… a true rarity in my home.

    Thank you for the wonderful and easy recipe with ingredients most of us always have on hand!

    Reply
  3. 5 stars
    this looks so easy and I love lemon..while I know this is great on meat…has anyone used this on pasta and a sprinkle of grated parmesan on top before serving?

    Reply
  4. 5 stars
    I *LOVE* chicken piccata, but I’ve only really eaten it from restaurants bc I’m typically the only one in my house that craves capers, lol. Last night I asked my husband, who does most of our cooking, if he was into giving this recipe a go.

    It was perfect! My husband said it was super easy. Today, I’m wishing he’d made more. A lot more. I’ll still have pasta a million ways, but this is as good as any restaurant lemon caper sauce I’ve ever had. I think I’m obsessed.

    Reply
5 from 26 votes (19 ratings without comment)

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