Description
Savory chicken marsala pasta delivers Italian-inspired comfort with rich mushroom sauce and tender chicken. Creamy, indulgent flavors blend perfectly, inviting you to savor each delightful bite of this classic culinary masterpiece.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound (454 grams) chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 pound (454 grams) pasta (shells, penne, or your favorite shape)
- 8 ounces (227 grams) cremini or baby bella mushrooms, sliced
Cooking Fats and Liquids:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 3/4 cup Marsala wine (sweet or dry)
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
Seasonings and Garnish:
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon salt (for pasta water)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme (or 1 teaspoon fresh)
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare a generously salted water bath in a large pot, bringing it to a rolling boil. Submerge pasta and cook until perfectly tender, approximately 8-9 minutes. Drain thoroughly and reserve.
- Heat olive oil in a spacious skillet over robust medium-high temperature. Introduce seasoned chicken pieces, allowing them to transform into a golden-brown exterior while ensuring complete internal cooking, roughly 6-7 minutes. Extract chicken and temporarily set aside.
- In the identical skillet, dissolve butter and introduce sliced mushrooms. Allow them to soften and caramelize for approximately 5 minutes. Incorporate aromatic garlic and delicate thyme, sautéing until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes.
- Cascade Marsala wine into the pan, actively loosening caramelized remnants from the skillet’s surface. Permit liquid to reduce and concentrate flavors for 3-4 minutes.
- Integrate chicken broth and rich cream, elevating mixture to a gentle simmer. Allow sauce to thicken and develop depth, approximately 5-7 minutes.
- Reintroduce cooked chicken and accumulated juices into the creamy environment. Fold in Parmesan cheese until achieving a luxurious, smooth consistency. Gently integrate reserved pasta, ensuring complete coating.
- Embellish with freshly chopped parsley and present immediately while piping hot.
Notes
- Enhance flavor by marinating chicken in Marsala wine for 30 minutes before cooking to infuse deeper taste.
- Substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or Greek yogurt for a lighter, lower-calorie version.
- Choose cremini or shiitake mushrooms for richer, more complex umami notes in the sauce.
- Use gluten-free pasta and flour-coat chicken with almond flour to make the dish completely gluten-free.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 660 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 610 mg
- Fat: 27 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 57 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 41 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg