Chicken Marsala Recipe

This classic Chicken Marsala is a restaurant favorite as well as being surprisingly quick to make at home! Simmering the sweet Marsala wine with mushrooms creates a deep, earthy glaze, which along with the splash of heavy cream adds a luxurious richness to this chicken dish that is so satisfying over pasta or mashed potatoes.

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Chicken Marsala Recipe Ingredients

• The Chicken:
  • 1 1/4 lbs chicken breast (or tenders)
  • 1/4 cup flour (for dredging)
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp unsalted butter
• The Marsala Sauce:
  • 8 oz brown mushrooms (cremini), halved or thick sliced
  • 1/2 tsp onion powder
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 3/4 cup dry Marsala wine (crucial: not sweet!)
  • 3/4 cup low-sodium chicken stock
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley

How To Make Chicken Marsala Recipe

1. Prep the chicken: Slice the chicken breasts lengthwise to create 4 thinner cutlets. Place them between plastic wrap and pound them to an even 1/3-inch thickness. This ensures they cook quickly and evenly.
2. Dredge: Season the cutlets generously with salt and pepper. Place the flour in a shallow dish and dredge the chicken, shaking off any excess powder. You want a light dusting, not a thick batter.
3. Sear: Heat the olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once the butter foams, add the chicken. Cook for 3–4 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken to a plate and set aside.
4. Brown the mushrooms: In the same pan (don’t wipe it out!), add the mushrooms. Sauté for about 5 minutes until they release their water and turn golden brown.
5. Aromatics: Add the minced garlic and onion powder. Cook for just 30 seconds until fragrant—don’t burn the garlic!
6. Deglaze: Pour in the dry Marsala wine. Use a wooden spoon to scrape up the delicious browned bits (fond) from the bottom of the pan. Let the wine simmer vigorously for 4–5 minutes to reduce and concentrate the flavor.
7. Build the sauce: Pour in the chicken stock. Then, slowly stir in the heavy cream. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for another 4–5 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly and coats the back of a spoon.
8. Finish: Return the cooked chicken (and any resting juices) to the pan. Spoon the sauce over the meat and simmer for 2 minutes to warm everything through. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately.

Recipe Tips!

• Dry vs. Sweet: You must use Dry Marsala wine for savory cooking! Sweet Marsala is for desserts (like Tiramisu) and will make your chicken taste like syrup. Check the label carefully!
• The Flour Coat: Dredging the chicken in flour serves two purposes: it creates a beautiful golden crust on the meat, and the leftover flour in the pan helps thicken the sauce later naturally.
• Mushroom Magic: Don’t crowd the mushrooms! If they are piled too high, they will steam instead of brown. Give them space to get that deep, savory sear which adds tons of umami.
• Cream Control: If you prefer a lighter sauce, you can skip the cream entirely and just mount the sauce with 2 tablespoons of cold butter at the end for a glossy finish.

What To Serve With Chicken Marsala Recipe?

This Chicken Marsala Recipe is rich and saucy, so it needs a starch to soak up every drop! A pile of buttery Mashed Potatoes or egg noodles is the traditional Italian-American pairing. For a lighter option, serve it over Polenta or even Cauliflower Rice! A side of Sautéed Spinach or Roasted Green Beans adds a pop of color and freshness to balance the earthy mushroom sauce.

How To Store Chicken Marsala Recipe

• Refrigerate: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. The sauce will thicken in the fridge.
• Reheat: Warm gently in a skillet over medium-low heat. Add a splash of chicken broth or water to loosen the sauce back to a creamy consistency.
• Freeze: You can freeze this dish! Freeze in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

Chicken Marsala Recipe Nutrition Facts

• Calories: 450 kcal
• Fat: 22g
• Carbohydrates: 12g
• Protein: 35g

Nutrition information is estimated per serving.

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