Strangely enough, the first chicken dishes I learned to cook pre-culinary school were Italian—chicken cacciatore and chicken piccata—not soy sauce or Hainanese chicken. I chalk it up to watching a lot of non-Asian cooking shows on PBS, like Cucina Amore and Lidia’s Kitchen. My parents never complained because, let’s face it, it took cooking dinner off their backs. And, for the most part, they enjoyed my culinary experimentations.

This collection of tried-and-true Italian recipes with chicken includes classics like chicken Parmesan, chicken marsala, and chicken piccata that incorporate plenty of tips to improve upon standard methods. We also take a little creative license with some dishes, like chicken cacciatore and chicken scarpariello, both of which have always been open to interpretation. Whether you like it breaded, fried, simmered, or grilled, these recipes and technique will help you cook a better chicken, Italian style.