Description
Savory classic chicken marsala brings Italian culinary elegance to dinner tables with tender chicken and rich mushroom wine sauce. Hearty flavors and simple ingredients combine for a restaurant-quality meal you can confidently create at home.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken:
- 4 chicken breasts
- 1 tsp salt
- 0.5 tsp black pepper
Marsala Sauce Ingredients:
- 1 cup marsala wine
- 0.5 cup chicken broth
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic
Coating and Garnish:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 0.25 cup parmesan cheese
- 8 oz mushrooms (cremini or white button)
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley
- 1 tbsp fresh thyme
Instructions
- Carefully butterfly and pound chicken breasts to uniform 1/4-inch thickness, creating tender, even cutlets for consistent cooking.
- Combine flour and parmesan cheese in a shallow dish, seasoning the mixture with salt and pepper for a flavorful coating.
- Gently dredge each chicken breast in the seasoned flour mixture, ensuring complete and even coverage while shaking off excess.
- Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat until the mixture is shimmering and fragrant.
- Carefully place coated chicken cutlets into the hot pan, cooking for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown and achieving an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Remove chicken and set aside, maintaining warmth while preparing the sauce.
- In the same skillet, sauté minced garlic for 30 seconds, releasing its aromatic essence without burning.
- Add sliced mushrooms and cook until they release moisture and develop a rich, caramelized exterior.
- Pour marsala wine and chicken broth into the skillet, scraping up any browned bits from the pan to enhance sauce complexity.
- Simmer the sauce for 5-7 minutes, allowing it to reduce and concentrate flavors until slightly thickened.
- Return chicken to the skillet, gently coating each piece with the luxurious marsala sauce.
- Garnish with freshly chopped parsley and thyme, adding a vibrant, herbaceous finish to the dish.
- Serve immediately, spooning additional sauce over the chicken for maximum flavor enjoyment.
Notes
- Select chicken breasts of uniform size to ensure even cooking and consistent texture throughout the dish.
- Use a meat mallet or rolling pin to pound chicken to precise 1/4-inch thickness, preventing uneven cooking and tough meat.
- Mix freshly grated parmesan with flour for an extra layer of savory depth and crispy coating that enhances overall flavor profile.
- Pat chicken completely dry before dredging to help flour mixture adhere better and create a crispier exterior.
- Choose a quality marsala wine for authentic flavor – dry marsala works best for this classic recipe, providing rich, complex undertones.
- Test skillet temperature by dropping a flour pinch into oil; it should sizzle immediately, indicating perfect cooking heat.
- Low-carb variation: Replace flour coating with almond flour or crushed pork rinds for a gluten-free alternative.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 34 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg