Chicken Marsala Recipe

Introduction

Chicken Marsala is a classic Italian-American dish featuring tender chicken breasts in a rich and savory mushroom and Marsala wine sauce. This recipe balances deep flavors with a creamy texture, perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner or special occasion.

A close-up view of four golden-brown cooked chicken breasts in a black skillet, each piece topped with brown, tender mushroom slices and covered in a creamy light brown mushroom sauce. The sauce fills the skillet evenly around the chicken, with bright green chopped parsley sprinkled over the chicken and mushrooms for color contrast. The skillet sits on a white marbled surface, emphasizing the rich colors and textures of the dish. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

  • 12 oz. cremini mushrooms, sliced, rinsed, and dried
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ cup flour
  • 1-2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • ½ beef bouillon cube
  • ¼ cup heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon mustard powder
  • ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
  • ¾ cup dry Marsala wine
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 medium shallot, minced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons flour
  • 1/8 teaspoon Gravy Master or Kitchen Bouquet (optional)
  • Fresh parsley, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Step 1: Combine the sauce mixture by mixing chicken broth, beef bouillon, heavy cream, Worcestershire sauce, onion powder, mustard powder, and dried thyme in a bowl. Set aside.
  2. Step 2: Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a pan over medium-high heat. Add the sliced mushrooms and cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until browned. Season lightly with salt halfway through. Remove mushrooms and set aside.
  3. Step 3: Slice the chicken breasts in half lengthwise to create thinner cutlets. Cover with plastic wrap and pound each to about ½ inch thickness with a meat mallet. Pat dry.
  4. Step 4: Season chicken with salt and pepper. Mix garlic powder and flour, then coat both sides of the chicken with this mixture.
  5. Step 5: Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Sear chicken in batches for 4-5 minutes per side until golden brown. Remove and set aside.
  6. Step 6: With heat off, add Marsala wine to the pan. Turn heat back to medium and scrape the pan bottom to loosen browned bits. Allow wine to reduce by half, about 5-6 minutes.
  7. Step 7: Add 2 tablespoons butter, minced garlic, and shallots to the pan. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  8. Step 8: Stir in 2 tablespoons flour and cook continuously for 2 minutes, letting it darken to a rich brown.
  9. Step 9: Gradually add the prepared sauce mixture, stirring constantly. Bring to a boil, then lower heat to simmer and cook uncovered for 7-10 minutes until thickened. Optionally add Gravy Master or Kitchen Bouquet for deeper color.
  10. Step 10: Return mushrooms and chicken to the pan. Spoon sauce over chicken, partially cover, and heat through for 3-4 minutes.
  11. Step 11: Garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately.

Tips & Variations

  • To keep mushrooms firm and flavorful, rinse quickly and dry thoroughly before cooking to avoid a waterlogged texture.
  • Use dry Marsala wine for the best balance of sweetness and acidity. Sweet Marsala can alter the dish’s flavor.
  • Pound the chicken evenly for quick, uniform cooking and tender texture.
  • For a dairy-free version, omit the butter and substitute heavy cream with coconut cream or a plant-based alternative.

Storage

Store leftover Chicken Marsala in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in a skillet over low heat to preserve the sauce’s texture, adding a splash of broth if needed to loosen. This dish is best enjoyed fresh but reheats well.

How to Serve

The image shows a pan with golden-brown cooked chicken breasts lying in a creamy beige mushroom sauce. There are four chicken breasts evenly placed in the pan, each topped with sliced brown mushrooms and sprinkled with bright green chopped parsley. The sauce is smooth and covers the chicken almost halfway up, with visible small mushroom pieces throughout. The pan is black cast iron, placed on a white marbled surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use a different type of mushroom?

Yes, white button mushrooms or portobello slices work well, but cremini mushrooms are preferred for their firm texture and robust flavor.

What can I substitute for Marsala wine?

If Marsala wine is unavailable, dry sherry or a combination of white grape juice and a splash of balsamic vinegar can provide a similar depth of flavor.

Print
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Chicken Marsala Recipe


  • Author: Jake
  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x

Description

Chicken Marsala is a classic Italian-American dish featuring tender chicken breasts sautéed to golden perfection and smothered in a rich, flavorful Marsala wine sauce with sautéed cremini mushrooms and shallots. This recipe balances creamy, savory, and slightly sweet notes, making it a perfect weeknight dinner or impressive meal for guests.


Ingredients

Scale

For the Mushrooms

  • 12 oz. cremini mushrooms, sliced, rinsed, and dried
  • 2 tablespoons butter

For the Chicken

  • 2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ cup flour
  • 12 tablespoons olive oil

For the Sauce

  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • ½ beef bouillon cube
  • ¼ cup heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon mustard powder
  • ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
  • ¾ cup dry Marsala wine
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 medium shallot, minced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons flour
  • 1/8 teaspoon Gravy Master or Kitchen Bouquet (optional)
  • Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Prep Work: Prepare all ingredients by slicing mushrooms, mincing garlic and shallots, and measuring out spices and liquids.
  2. Combine Sauce Mixture: In a bowl, mix together chicken broth, crumbled beef bouillon cube, heavy cream, Worcestershire sauce, onion powder, mustard powder, and dried thyme. Set this mixture aside for later use.
  3. Cook the Mushrooms: Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sliced mushrooms and cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, allowing them to brown but retain texture. Lightly salt halfway through cooking. Remove mushrooms from skillet and set aside.
  4. Dredge and Pound the Chicken: Slice each chicken breast horizontally to create two thinner cutlets. Place between two sheets of plastic wrap and pound to about ½ inch thickness with a meat mallet. Pat dry with paper towels.
  5. Season and Flour the Chicken: Season both sides of each chicken cutlet with salt and pepper. Mix garlic powder and flour together, then dredge each chicken piece, ensuring even coating on both sides.
  6. Sear the Chicken: Heat olive oil in the same large pan over medium-high heat. Cook the chicken cutlets in batches for 4-5 minutes on each side until golden brown and cooked through. Remove from pan and set aside.
  7. Deglaze and Reduce Marsala Wine: Turn off the heat temporarily. Pour Marsala wine into the pan to deglaze, scraping the bottom and sides with a silicone spatula to loosen fond. Turn heat back to medium and reduce the wine by half, about 5-6 minutes, until a gentle bubble remains.
  8. Sauté Aromatics: Add the 2 tablespoons of butter, minced garlic, and shallots to the pan. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  9. Create Roux: Sprinkle 2 tablespoons flour evenly over the aromatics and stir continuously for 2 minutes until the flour darkens slightly to a rich brown color.
  10. Add Sauce Mixture and Simmer: Gradually add the reserved sauce mixture in small splashes while stirring constantly to avoid lumps. Bring sauce to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Let sauce simmer uncovered for 7-10 minutes, allowing it to thicken and flavors to concentrate. Optionally, add 1/8 teaspoon Gravy Master or Kitchen Bouquet for a richer color.
  11. Combine Mushrooms and Chicken: Stir the cooked mushrooms back into the sauce. Return the seared chicken cutlets to the pan and spoon the sauce over them. Cover partially and let everything heat through for 3-4 minutes.
  12. Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle freshly chopped parsley over the dish and serve hot for a delicious and elegant meal.

Notes

  • Rinse mushrooms lightly and dry thoroughly to prevent them from steaming and becoming rubbery during cooking.
  • Pounding the chicken to an even thickness ensures even cooking and tender chicken.
  • Reducing the Marsala wine concentrates its flavor and avoids a too-strong alcohol taste in the sauce.
  • Gravy Master or Kitchen Bouquet is optional for color enhancement and can be omitted without affecting flavor.
  • This dish pairs well with mashed potatoes, pasta, or crusty bread to soak up the flavorful sauce.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Italian-American

Keywords: Chicken Marsala, marsala wine, cremini mushrooms, chicken recipe, Italian, stovetop chicken, creamy mushroom sauce

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