Foolproof Chicken Marsala Recipe: A Cozy Italian Classic

Culinary magic happens when you whip up a delectable chicken marsala that dances with rich, earthy flavors.

Wine-soaked mushrooms create a luxurious backdrop for tender chicken breasts.

Italian restaurants have nothing on this homemade masterpiece that comes together faster than you might expect.

Marsala wine brings depth and complexity to each succulent bite.

Professional chefs would nod in approval at this simple yet sophisticated dish.

Skillful cooking means understanding how each ingredient plays its part in creating harmony.

You can absolutely nail this restaurant-quality meal with just a few smart techniques.

Prepare to impress everyone at your table with this irresistible classic that promises pure comfort on a plate.

Why Chicken Marsala Deserves A Spot On Your Table

• Master Flavor Fusion: Marsala wine and mushrooms combine to create a deeply rich and complex taste profile that elevates simple chicken into a restaurant-worthy dish.
• Quick Skill-Building Technique: Learn professional-style cooking methods like flour dusting, pan searing, and sauce reduction that boost your culinary confidence with minimal kitchen expertise.
• Versatile Dinner Solution: Perfect for impressing guests, date nights, or transforming weeknight meals from ordinary to extraordinary without complicated preparation steps.
• Minimal Ingredient Magic: Uses common pantry staples and just a few key ingredients to produce a gourmet-tasting meal that feels sophisticated yet surprisingly uncomplicated.

What You’ll Need For Chicken Marsala

• Chicken Breasts: Tender, lean meat that serves as the primary protein in this classic Italian-American dish.

• Salt, Black Pepper: Essential seasonings that enhance the natural flavor of the chicken.
• All-Purpose Flour: Creates a light, crispy exterior for the chicken when dusted and pan-fried.

• Marsala Wine: A sweet fortified wine that provides a rich, deep flavor to the sauce.
• Chicken Broth: Adds depth and helps create a smooth, flavorful liquid base for the sauce.
• Garlic: Aromatic ingredient that brings a pungent and savory note to the dish.
• Mushrooms: Earthy vegetables that complement the chicken and absorb the marsala sauce.
• Butter: Adds richness and helps create a silky, smooth sauce texture.

• Fresh Parsley: Bright herb that adds a fresh, green finish to the dish.

• Olive Oil: Used for sautéing the chicken and creating a golden, crispy exterior.

Steps To Cook Chicken Marsala Perfectly

Step 1: Prepare Chicken Cutlets

Slice chicken breasts horizontally to create thin, even cutlets. This technique ensures uniform cooking and tender meat throughout.

Step 2: Season and Flour Chicken

Sprinkle salt and pepper over chicken pieces. Gently coat each cutlet with a light dusting of flour, shaking off any excess to create a delicate, crispy exterior.

Step 3: Sear Chicken to Golden Perfection

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until it’s shimmering and almost smoking. Carefully place floured chicken cutlets into the hot pan, cooking for 3-4 minutes on each side until they develop a beautiful golden-brown crust with crispy edges.

Step 4: Rest Cooked Chicken

Transfer the beautifully seared chicken to a warm plate, keeping it at an ideal temperature while preparing the sauce.

Step 5: Sauté Mushroom Medley

In the same skillet, add minced garlic and sliced mushrooms. Sauté until mushrooms release their moisture and transform into a rich, golden-brown delicacy.

Step 6: Create Marsala Wine Reduction

Pour marsala wine into the skillet, using a wooden spoon to scrape up all the delicious browned bits from the bottom. Allow the liquid to reduce by half, concentrating the flavors.

Step 7: Build Rich Sauce

Add chicken broth to the wine reduction, creating a luxurious and deeply flavored sauce that will complement the chicken perfectly.

Step 8: Finish with Silky Butter

Swirl butter into the sauce, letting it melt and create a smooth, velvety texture that adds richness and depth to the dish.

Step 9: Reunite Chicken with Sauce

Gently return the chicken to the skillet, carefully coating each piece with the marsala sauce and golden mushrooms.

Step 10: Simmer and Blend Flavors

Allow the chicken to simmer for 2-3 minutes, reheating the meat and allowing the flavors to meld together beautifully.

Step 11: Garnish and Serve

Sprinkle freshly chopped parsley over the dish for a pop of color and fresh flavor. Serve immediately while hot and aromatic.

Pro Tips For Chicken Marsala That Shines

• Slice with Precision: Cut chicken breasts horizontally to achieve uniform thickness, guaranteeing consistent cooking and tender results every time.
• Flour Power: Shake off excess flour after coating to prevent a heavy, gummy texture and ensure a light, crispy exterior on the chicken.
• Wine Wisdom: Choose a dry marsala wine for authentic flavor, avoiding sweet varieties that can make the sauce overly sugary and unbalanced.
• Mushroom Magic: Use fresh cremini or button mushrooms and avoid overcrowding the pan to achieve perfect golden-brown caramelization and rich depth of flavor.
• Temperature Control: Let chicken rest briefly after cooking to retain juices, then return to the sauce gently to prevent overcooking and maintain succulent meat.

Creative Ways To Serve Chicken Marsala

• Herb-Crusted Chicken Marsala: Coat chicken with a blend of dried herbs like thyme, rosemary, and oregano before flouring, adding extra aromatic depth to the classic recipe.
• Spicy Mediterranean Marsala: Incorporate red pepper flakes and a touch of smoked paprika into the flour coating, creating a zesty and warm flavor profile.
• Creamy Mushroom Marsala: Stir heavy cream into the wine reduction just before adding chicken back to the skillet, transforming the sauce into a rich, velvety experience.
• Prosciutto-Wrapped Chicken Marsala: Wrap each chicken cutlet with thin slices of prosciutto before cooking, introducing a salty and crispy exterior to the dish.

Great Pairings For Chicken Marsala

• Elevate Marsala Wine Harmony: Choose a medium-bodied Italian red wine like Chianti, which complements the dish's rich marsala sauce and cuts through the buttery chicken.
• Mushroom-Friendly Beverage Pairing: Select a crisp Pinot Grigio that balances the earthy mushroom flavors and provides a light, refreshing contrast to the hearty chicken.
• Herbal Accent Companion: Serve with a sparkling mineral water infused with fresh rosemary or thyme, echoing the herb garnish and cleansing the palate between bites.
• Textural Side Kick: Pair with creamy polenta or herbed risotto, which absorbs the marsala sauce beautifully and adds a luxurious complementary texture to the golden-brown chicken.

Best Storage Tips For Chicken Marsala

• Store chicken marsala in an airtight container, placing it in the refrigerator within two hours of cooking to maintain food safety and preserve flavors.
• Allow the dish to reach room temperature before transferring to storage containers, preventing condensation that could make the chicken soggy.
• Keep chicken marsala in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, ensuring optimal taste and texture when reheated gently.
• Package the chicken marsala in freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags, removing excess air to prevent freezer burn and maintain quality for up to 2 months.

Answers To Chicken Marsala Questions

• What type of mushrooms work best for this recipe?

White button or cremini mushrooms are ideal, offering a mild, earthy flavor that complements the marsala sauce perfectly.

• Can I use a different type of wine if marsala is unavailable?

While marsala wine is traditional, you can substitute with a dry sherry or madeira wine to maintain a similar rich, sweet profile.

• How do I prevent the chicken from becoming tough?

Slice the chicken breasts horizontally to create thin, even cutlets and avoid overcooking. Cook each side for just 3-4 minutes until golden brown.

• Is this dish considered gluten-free?

The recipe uses flour for coating chicken, so it’s not gluten-free. For a gluten-free version, use cornstarch or almond flour instead of traditional wheat flour.

Chicken Marsala Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.6 from 36 reviews

• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Savor classic Italian-American comfort with this rich Chicken Marsala, featuring tender chicken breasts nestled in a silky mushroom sauce. Hearty wine-infused flavors and golden-brown chicken promise a restaurant-quality meal you’ll crave again and again.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 4 chicken breasts
• 8 oz mushrooms
• 1/2 cup marsala wine

Supporting Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

Finishing Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp butter
• 2 tbsp fresh parsley
• 1/4 cup chicken broth

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Slice chicken breasts horizontally to create thinner cutlets, ensuring uniform thickness for even cooking.
2. Season chicken pieces with salt and pepper, then delicately dust with flour, shaking off excess to create a light coating.
3. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering and almost smoking.
4. Carefully place floured chicken cutlets into hot skillet, cooking for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown and crispy edges form.
5. Remove chicken and set aside on a warm plate, maintaining its temperature.
6. In the same skillet, add minced garlic and sliced mushrooms, sautéing until mushrooms release their moisture and turn golden brown.
7. Pour marsala wine into the skillet, scraping up browned bits from the bottom, and allow liquid to reduce by half.
8. Add chicken broth to the wine reduction, creating a rich, flavorful sauce.
9. Swirl butter into the sauce, allowing it to melt and create a silky texture.
10. Return chicken to the skillet, gently coating each piece with the marsala sauce and mushrooms.
11. Simmer for an additional 2-3 minutes to reheat chicken and marry flavors.
12. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley before serving hot.

Notes

• Always slice chicken breasts with a sharp knife against the grain to ensure tender, even cutlets that cook quickly and consistently.
• Use a blend of all-purpose and rice flour for a crispier, gluten-free coating that adds extra texture and lightness to the chicken.
• Control skillet heat carefully to prevent burning; medium-high heat creates perfect golden-brown edges without drying out the meat.
• For a lighter version, swap heavy cream or butter with Greek yogurt or olive oil to reduce calories while maintaining rich flavor profile.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Sautéing
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 380
• Sugar: 2 g
• Sodium: 600 mg
• Fat: 18 g
• Saturated Fat: 6 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 20 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 34 g
• Cholesterol: 90 mg