Homemade Chicken Marsala Recipe: Tender & Flavorful Delight

Crafting a delightful chicken marsala can transform an ordinary evening into a culinary adventure.

Succulent pieces of tender chicken dance with rich, earthy mushroom flavors that whisper of Italian tradition.

Wine-infused sauce creates a luxurious coating that makes every bite memorable.

Smart home cooks appreciate how quickly this elegant dish comes together in a single skillet.

Subtle herbs and robust marsala wine blend seamlessly, creating depth that surprises and delights.

Mediterranean influences shine through in this classic preparation that feels both sophisticated and comforting.

Prepare to impress everyone at your table with this restaurant-quality meal that’s surprisingly simple to master.

Why Chicken Marsala Brings Flavor to Your Table

• Savor Gourmet Simplicity: Transform ordinary chicken into a restaurant-quality dish with minimal cooking skills, making sophisticated cuisine accessible for home cooks.
• Speedy Weeknight Wonder: Prepare a delicious meal in under 30 minutes, perfect for busy families seeking a quick yet impressive dinner solution without complicated techniques.
• Flavor-Packed Comfort: Enjoy a rich, hearty meal combining tender chicken, earthy mushrooms, and luxurious Marsala wine sauce that delivers maximum taste with minimal effort.
• Versatile Crowd-Pleaser: Impress dinner guests or create a special family meal that appeals to various palates, making it ideal for casual gatherings and weeknight dinners alike.

Ingredients to Craft Delicious Chicken Marsala

• Chicken Breasts: A lean and tender meat that serves as the main protein in this classic Italian-American dish.

• All-Purpose Flour: Provides a light, crispy coating for the chicken.
• Salt, Black Pepper: Essential seasonings that enhance the natural flavor of the chicken.

• Olive Oil, Butter: Create a rich, golden brown exterior for the chicken and add depth to the sauce.
• Marsala Wine: A sweet fortified wine that brings a complex, caramelized flavor to the dish.
• Chicken Broth: Adds moisture and helps create a silky, flavorful sauce.

• Mushrooms: Provide an earthy, umami flavor that complements the chicken and wine sauce.

How to Make Chicken Marsala That Impresses Guests

Step 1: Prepare Chicken for Cooking

Clean and pat dry the chicken breasts. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Coat each piece thoroughly in flour, ensuring an even, light layer covers the entire surface of the chicken.

Step 2: Sear Chicken to Golden Perfection

Heat a large skillet over medium flame.

Add olive oil and butter, allowing them to melt and blend together. Carefully place floured chicken into the hot pan.

Cook each side until a beautiful golden-brown crust forms and the chicken is fully cooked through, approximately 4-5 minutes per side. Transfer the cooked chicken to a separate plate.

Step 3: Sauté Mushroom Magic

In the same skillet with remaining pan drippings, add sliced mushrooms. Cook mushrooms until they develop a rich, deep brown color and release their savory juices, about 5 minutes.

Stir occasionally to prevent burning.

Step 4: Deglaze with Marsala Wine

Pour Marsala wine into the skillet.

Use a wooden spoon to scrape up all the delicious browned bits stuck to the bottom of the pan. Let the wine simmer and reduce slightly, concentrating its rich flavor.

Step 5: Create Luxurious Sauce

Add chicken broth to the skillet. Gently return the cooked chicken pieces back into the sauce.

Allow everything to simmer together, melding the flavors for about 5 minutes.

Step 6: Finish with Silky Butter

Swirl remaining butter into the sauce, creating a glossy, rich coating that will make the dish irresistibly smooth and flavorful.

Step 7: Plate and Serve

Transfer chicken to serving plates. Generously spoon the mushroom Marsala sauce over the top.

Serve immediately while hot and aromatic.

Handy Tips for Cooking Chicken Marsala Just Right

• Choose thin chicken cutlets for quicker, more even cooking and better sauce absorption.
• Select cremini or shiitake mushrooms for deeper, richer flavor profiles in the Marsala sauce.
• Ensure your skillet is hot before adding chicken to achieve perfect golden-brown exterior without overcooking.
• Use dry Marsala wine for authentic taste; sweet Marsala can make the dish overly sugary.
• Pat chicken completely dry before flouring to help create a crispy, well-seasoned crust that locks in moisture.

Flavorful Variations on Classic Chicken Marsala

• Gluten-Free Marsala: Replace flour with cornstarch or almond flour for dredging chicken, ensuring crispy coating without gluten.
• Vegetarian Mushroom Marsala: Swap chicken with portobello mushroom steaks or firm tofu, maintaining rich wine sauce and earthy flavors.
• Low-Carb Cauliflower Marsala: Use cauliflower steaks instead of chicken, reducing carbohydrates while preserving classic Marsala taste profile.
• Dairy-Free Version: Substitute butter with olive oil or coconut oil, keeping sauce creamy and maintaining traditional cooking technique.

Pairings That Complement Chicken Marsala Beautifully

• Creamy, buttery white wine complements the rich marsala sauce and enhances the chicken's delicate flavors, creating a harmonious taste experience.
• Smooth, velvety potatoes soak up the savory marsala sauce perfectly, providing a comforting side that balances the dish's robust flavor profile.
• Light, peppery greens with lemon vinaigrette cut through the richness of the chicken, adding freshness and balancing the meal's intensity.
• Warm, rustic bread becomes the ideal vehicle for soaking up the delectable marsala sauce, ensuring no delicious droplet goes to waste.

Best Ways to Store Chicken Marsala Safely

• Refrigerate: Store leftover Chicken Marsala in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking, keeping it fresh in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
• Freeze: Carefully transfer chicken and sauce to a freezer-safe container, removing excess air; freeze for up to 2 months, maintaining optimal flavor and texture.
• Microwave Reheat: Place chicken and sauce in a microwave-safe dish, cover with a damp paper towel, and heat in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval to ensure even warming.
• Stovetop Reheat: Gently warm chicken in a skillet over low heat, adding a splash of chicken broth to prevent drying out and maintain sauce's moisture and rich flavor.

FAQs

• What type of wine is best for Chicken Marsala?

Marsala wine from Sicily, Italy is traditional. Sweet or dry Marsala work well, but dry Marsala is recommended for a more balanced flavor profile.

• Can I substitute the Marsala wine?

Yes, you can use Madeira wine or dry sherry as alternatives. If avoiding alcohol, use chicken broth with a splash of balsamic vinegar for similar depth of flavor.

• How do I know when the chicken is fully cooked?

Use a meat thermometer to check internal temperature. Chicken should reach 165°F (74°C) at the thickest part to ensure it’s safely cooked through.

Chicken Marsala Recipe

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4.9 from 26 reviews

• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Signature chicken marsala blends tender chicken with rich mushroom sauce from Italy. Robust flavors and simple ingredients create a classic dinner perfect for home cooks craving authentic Mediterranean comfort.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 3/4 cup (177 ml) dry marsala wine
• 1/2 cup (120 ml) low-sodium chicken broth
• 4 tbsps (60 ml) olive oil
• 4 tbsps (56 g) unsalted butter
• 8 oz (226 g) cremini or button mushrooms, sliced
• salt and pepper to taste

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Instructions

1. Thoroughly coat chicken breasts with a delicate layer of seasoned flour, ensuring even coverage.
2. Heat a skillet to medium temperature, combining olive oil and butter until shimmering and fragrant.
3. Carefully place floured chicken into the hot skillet, cooking for 4-5 minutes per side until achieving a rich golden-brown exterior and ensuring internal temperature reaches 165°F.
4. Transfer cooked chicken to a separate plate, maintaining its warmth and crisp texture.
5. Within the same skillet, introduce sliced mushrooms, allowing them to caramelize and develop deep, earthy flavors for approximately 5 minutes.
6. Deglaze the pan by pouring Marsala wine, using a wooden spoon to lift and incorporate the flavorful browned bits from the bottom of the skillet.
7. Introduce chicken broth and gently return the chicken to the pan, letting the ingredients simmer and meld together for an additional 5 minutes.
8. Finish the sauce by whisking in remaining butter, creating a luxurious, glossy coating that beautifully envelops the chicken.
9. Plate immediately, generously drizzling the rich Marsala sauce over the chicken to enhance its visual appeal and flavor profile.

Notes

• Choose skinless, boneless chicken breasts for quick and even cooking.
• Pat chicken dry before seasoning to help flour coating adhere perfectly.
• Use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken reaches 165°F internal temperature for safe consumption.
• Select a good-quality dry Marsala wine for deeper, richer flavor profile.
• Swap regular flour with gluten-free alternatives like almond or rice flour for celiac-friendly version.
• Opt for low-sodium chicken broth to control salt content and customize seasoning.
• Consider adding fresh herbs like thyme or parsley for extra aromatic dimension.
• Slice mushrooms uniformly to guarantee consistent browning and texture.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner
• Method: Sautéing
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 370 kcal
• Sugar: 1 g
• Sodium: 180 mg
• Fat: 23 g
• Saturated Fat: 7 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 5 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 32 g
• Cholesterol: 95 mg