Chicken Francese: Comforting and Yummy
Chicken Francese, also known as Francaise, is a creation of Italian-American cuisine, similar to fettuccine Alfredo and eggplant parmigiana. It is considered a comforting and delicious classic dish. But what is Francese? Well, it is a preparation, just like Milanese, great for use with meat and seafood, from beef to veal to shrimp. When it comes to chicken, this dish involves coating the cutlets in beaten egg and flour.
The point is to create a Schnitzel-like batter but with the cutlets ending up slightly soggy because you finish them by simmering in a lemony sauce. Despite its complexity, this recipe comes together in just under an hour. So, don’t feel intimidated thinking you will have to spend hours in the kitchen. You won’t. What then could be a better opportunity to try making this Italian-American staple?
(4.7 / 5) 
(4.6 / 5) 
(4.5 / 5) What Chicken to Use?
Use any chicken type to create an excellent and yummy Francese meal. For optimum flavor, choose chicken breast, simply because they are large, easy-to-fry chunks of meat. Alternatively, you can also use boneless thigh meat if you are into it. A great thing about this dish is that it is kid-friendly, too, meaning kids will love it. Try adding some oregano, thyme, or even parsley to your recipe for an aromatic lift, while a pinch of turmeric and curry gives a vibrant, exciting vibe.
What Wines Pair Well With Chicken Francese?
This tender chicken recipe calls for delicious rich white wine. If you are looking for the best white wine with chicken Francese, try Chardonnay, Viognier, or Sauvignon Blanc. For starters, Chardonnays are creamy, peachy, and with good, moderate acidity, making a perfect match with creamy sauces, such as Francese. Viognier, on the other hand, is highly aromatic. It pairs well with sage, lavender, and thyme.
Considering that chicken Francese is packed with similar herbs, Viognier is a no-brainer wine option. Likewise, Sauvignon Blanc, with its high acidity and herbaceous character, cuts through the creaminess of chicken Francese refreshing the taste buds. In every case, however, whatever white wine you choose to serve your chicken Francese with, you are guaranteed an immersive dining experience!
Best White Wines With Chicken Francese
The Seeker Sauvignon Blanc
- Winery — The Seeker
- Country/Region — New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough
- Type — New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc
- Aroma — Meyer Lemon, Lime Peel, Apple, Thyme, Basil, Honeysuckle, Honey
- Grapes — Sauvignon Blanc
- Taste — Mango, Passion Fruit, Pear, Peach, Ginger
- Alcohol Content — 12.7%
- Sugar — Dry
- Pairing — Chicken Francese, Seafood, Sea Bass, Oysters, Oven-baked Chicken, Vinaigrette, Chèvre
Tasting Notes
A wine that is lemon straw in color with green highlights, then Immerses you in bright aromatics of citrus, green fruit, and herbs mingled with a slight touch of honey. On the palate, The Seeker Sauvignon Blanc is crispy with fresh fruit notes.
Vibrant and pronounced, this Sauvignon opens with aromas of Meyer lemon, lime peel, apple, thyme, basil, and honeysuckle. Nuances of honey and lavender are present on the bouquet, as well. In the mouth, mouthwatering flavors of mango, passion fruit, pear, and peach form a fruity core, as touches of ginger grace the finish.
An Endless Quest for the World’s Best Wines
The Seeker was brought to the wine world by a family company with over 65 years of experience and close-knit relationships with international wineries, seeking top-quality wines from prestigious grape-growing regions. As the winery puts it, the Seeker bridges continents and time zones in its quest for the best wines, aiming to bring the thrill of discovery and adventure with every sip.
Catena Appellation Tupungato Chardonnay
- Winery — Catena
- Country/Region — Argentina, Mendoza, Uco Valley, Tupungato
- Type — Argentinian Chardonnay
- Aroma — Honeysuckle, Grapefruit, Tangerine, Peach, Wet Stones, Flint
- Grapes — Chardonnay
- Taste — Pineapple, Guava, Smoke, Popcorn, Vanilla Spice, Butter, Charred Oak
- Alcohol Content — 13%
- Sugar — Dry
- Pairing — Chicken Francese, Halibut, Lobster, Crab Cakes, Smoked Salmon, Pork Ribs
Tasting Notes
Very aromatic with expressive perfumes of citrus and stone fruit, this Chardonnay shows rich notes of minerals and an explosive palate of tropicals. Fresh with density and gentle smokey touches, it concludes with a moderate buttery aftertaste.
A great white from the Tupungato region, this expressive Chardonnay is highly aromatic. It is packed with fragrances of honeysuckle, grapefruit, tangerine, and peach, as well as lifting scents of flint and wet stones. Creamy and honeyed on the palate, flavors of pineapple and guava join tastes of smoke, freshly-baked popcorn, and vanilla spice. The acidity is well-integrated and offsets the strong creaminess, while the aftertaste is buttery, revealing slight woody elements.
High-Quality Malbec From the Andean Foothills
Catena Zapata is considered one of Argentina’s best wine estates. Established in 1902 by Nicola Catena, an Italian immigrant, the winery has been renowned for pioneering Malbec wine production and growing grapes at high altitudes. They have found that the Andean mountainsides of Mendoza are the perfect terroir. The Catena family has run the winery for over 100 years and has promoted one of the best wine-growing regions in Argentina.
Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc – Viognier
- Winery — Pine Ridge
- Country/Region — Napa Valley, California, United States
- Type — Californian White Blend
- Aroma — Pineapple, Citrus, Apple, Honey, Pear
- Grapes — Viognier, Chenin Blanc
- Taste — Peach, Strawberry, Green Apple, Pear, Grapefruit
- Alcohol Content — 12.5%
- Sugar — Dry
- Pairing — Chicken Francese, Jambalaya, Grilled Cheese, Creamy Salmon, Sea Bass
Tasting Notes
Aromas of apple, peach, orange blossom, and jammy melon showcase the wine’s aromatic intensity, followed by a creamy, smooth texture and racy acidity. In the mouth, flavors of stone and tropical fruits define the palate. Undoubtedly, one of the best pairings for chicken Francese.
Bold, dynamic, and crisp, Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc is an aromatic white blend that opens with aromas of orange blossom, apple, honeysuckle, peach, and melon. These aromas are closely followed by hints of jasmine and grapefruit, too. Medium-bodied on the palate, the wine shows flavors of nectarine, pineapple, apricot, and guava. The stimulating acidity of the finish has hints of ginger, pear, and tangerine.
A Lead of Napa Valley Wine Production
Founded in 1978, Pine Ridge Vineyards has been a true leader of Cabernet Sauvignon in the Stags Leap District of California. The winery has taken its name from the ridge of pines nearby. On top of this, Pine Ridge Vineyards owns estate vineyards spanning different appellations within Napa Valley, Rutherford, Carnerors, Oakville, and Howell Mountain. Finally, the winery located in Napa Valley is Napa Green Certified, meaning it promotes biodiversity.
Yves Cuilleron Marsanne Les Vignes d’à Côté
- Winery — Yves Cuilleron
- Country/Region — France, Vin de Pays, Méditerranée, Collines Rhodaniennes
- Type — Northern Rhône White
- Aroma — Acacia, Honeysuckle, Orange Blossom, Peach, Pear, Marzipan
- Grapes — Sauvignon Blanc, Marsanne
- Taste — Pineapple, Passion Fruit, Grapefruit, Honey, Campfire, Almond, Grass, Asparagus
- Alcohol Content — 12%
- Sugar — Dry
- Pairing — Chicken Francese, Shellfish, Red Snapper, Fried Chicken, Stewed Veal, Asian
Tasting Notes
White flowers grace this wine’s nose, followed by fragrances of white peach and green fruit. The plush and creamy palate is in harmony with the flavors of tropical and citrus fruit. A hint of dried herbs completes the finish. Aerate this wine for the best taste.
Wave upon wave of acacia, honeysuckle, and orange blossom emerge as you uncork the bottle, accompanied by equally fragrant notes of peach, pear, and marzipan. As the wine flows into the mouth, tastes of pineapple, passion fruit, and grapefruit mingled with honey, campfire, and almond all surface to deliver a powerful palate. Further, notes of asparagus and grass combine with flavors of fennel and pepper as they drive into the moderate plum-like finish.
Faithful to the Traditional Côte Rôtie Wine Style
Regarded as a high-quality winery of the northern Rhône, Domaine Yves Cuilleron crafts red and white wines mainly from Syrah, Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc, and Marsanne. The Domaine has belonged to the Cuilleron family for over three generations. However, it was not until Yves Cuilleron, winemaker and owner, decided to expand the vineyard holdings that things really took off. Except for employing estate grown grapes, Domaine Yves Cuilleron also sources cuvée from other prestigious Côte Rôtie and Condrieu appellations.
The winemaking is the traditional Côte Rôtie style, where the grapes are partially de-stemmed before fermentation with indigenous, natural yeasts. Regular punch-downs and pump-overs are common during fermentation, with the wines spending 18 months in barrel, where they undergo malolactic fermentation. In other words, tradition and heritage are the elements characterizing Domain Yves Cuilleron wines.
Truchard Roussanne
- Winery — Truchard
- Country/Region — United States, California, North Coast, Napa County, Napa Valley, Los Carneros
- Type — Californian Roussanne
- Aroma — Apple, Pear, Guava, Honey, Flint, Vanilla Spice
- Grapes — Roussanne
- Taste — Apricot, Peach, Pineapple, Meyer Lemon, Smoke, Clove, Pepper, Brioche Bread, Almond
- Alcohol Content — 14.2%
- Sugar — Dry
- Pairing — Chicken Francese, Scallops, Grouper, Roast Chicken, Indian, Chaumes, Double Gloucester
Tasting Notes
Fermented in French oak for more structure and weight, Truchard Roussanne is a dynamic white, superb with chicken Francese. Scents of green fruits and tropicals dominate the bouquet, as the juicy palate exhibits flavors of citrus, oak, and spice.
Fragrant vibes of pear, apple, and guava define the nose, alongside hints of honey, flint, and vanilla spice. The mouth has moderate viscosity with flavors of apricot, peach, pineapple, and Meyer lemon. Powerful notes of smoke, clove, and pepper are discernible, too. They are framed by faint undertones of brioche bread and almond. The acidity is refreshing and balances the oiliness, while the red berry aftertaste is long and pleasant.
Passion for Great-Quality Wine
Truchard Vineyards is a family-owned winery in Carneros, Napa Valley. Owners Tony and Jo Ann Truchard have managed to grow high-quality grapes for over 40 years. Being hard-working and devoted to this property, they pioneered grape growing in Carneros. So, in 1989, the Truchard winery was established, with the duo producing wines exclusively from estate-grown fruit.
Conclusion
Chicken Francese is creamy and juicy, a fantastic dish! But to help it reach its true potential, you have to pair it with matching wine. Sure, chicken Francese wine pairing is not that easy, especially if you are not a wine pro. Fortunately, by taking our advice and pairing chicken Francese with any of the above wine suggestions, you will achieve the best chicken Francese wine match.
Before we go, remember you can pair this dish with red wines, too. For example, a Beaujolais Nouveau could be the best red wine with chicken Francese. Similarly, a light-hearted Pinot Noir is a solid red wine option, too. In every case, uncork your bottle, take a mouthful of chicken Francese and a long sip, and enjoy!
