What is Chicken Marsala?
Chicken Marsala is an Italian-inspired dish featuring pan-seared chicken cutlets and mushrooms in a savory, creamy sauce flavored with rich Marsala wine. Marsala wine is a fortified wine that comes from Sicily. It has a deep golden color and a rich flavor, especially when it’s used in cooking. This chicken in Marsala wine recipe is a classic restaurant dish, maybe you’ve ordered it from the Olive Garden before! You don’t need to go out for Chicken Marsala though, it’s simple to make at home. You can cook this easy chicken dinner in under 30 minutes, using just one pan!
Why You’ll Love It
The cooking method used here is one of my favorites because it’s so quick and easy! Chicken cutlets are cooked in no time on the stove, and are always juicy and delicious. The sauce is cooked in the same pan, and all in less than a half hour! Doug It’s just like my Marry Me Chicken, Lemon Rosemary Chicken, and Creamy Garlic Chicken. I have several others made using this same easy one-skillet method, and they’re all delicious. If you’d rather make Marsala chicken a different way, try my Instant Pot Marsala Chicken recipe instead!
Ingredients In This Chicken Marsala recipe
Here’s what you need to make this delicious and easy chicken dinner:
Chicken: For this recipe, I’m using three large boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced in half lengthwise to create thin cutlets that are quick to cook. Flour: Before searing the chicken in the pan, dredge it in flour. This gives the chicken a lovely crust and helps to thicken the pan sauce. Make this recipe gluten-free by leaving out the flour, or replacing it with gluten-free flour. Mushrooms: Cremini mushrooms (aka baby bellas or chestnut mushrooms) are my favorite, but regular white button mushrooms work too. Olive Oil and Butter: To saute the chicken until it’s golden brown. I love the flavor that comes from using a little bit of both. Garlic: 3 cloves of garlic, freshly minced. Marsala Wine: Look for a dry Marsala wine at your grocery store or wine store. It should be fairly easy to find, but in case you can’t, try this recipe with dark sherry instead. Heavy Cream: This is known as double cream if you’re in the UK. This makes the marsala sauce nice and creamy. The cream also helps to balance the strong flavor of the marsala wine. Omit it (and the butter) if you prefer to make the recipe dairy-free.
Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
How To Make Chicken Marsala
Recipe Tips
Be careful not to overcook the chicken. Overcooked chicken is dry and tough. Use a meat thermometer to check the temperature of the cutlets as they’re cooking, and remove them when they’ve reached 165°F/74°C. Deglazing the pan is key to the big, rich flavor in this dish. All of those brown bits at the bottom of the pan are packed with deliciousness, and you don’t want to leave them out of the marsala wine sauce. Use a stainless steel or ceramic-coated skillet to make this recipe. Cast iron is not ideal for reducing sauces like this one, as it can hold on to previously cooked flavors.
Storing Tips
Leftovers of this chicken marsala recipe will keep for up to 4 days in the fridge in an airtight container. You can reheat in the microwave or a small saucepan over low heat. This recipe doesn’t freeze well, due to the cream in the sauce.
What To Serve With Chicken Marsala
Serve this chicken with mashed potatoes, buttered noodles, or rice. The sauce is wonderful over any of these starches. Cauliflower rice is a great lower-carb alternative too.
What can I use instead of Marsala wine?
Marsala wine is the very thing that gives this dish its rich flavor, but if you can’t find it, you can try a substitute. In a pinch, Madeira or sherry will also work.
Is chicken marsala an Italian dish?
This chicken recipe is an Italian-American one. Maybe not exactly something that would be made in Italy now, but a chicken dish that was inspired by Italian cooking and of course Italian wine!
Can I make chicken marsala with chicken thighs?
You definitely can, but you may find that they take a bit longer to cook. Use a meat thermometer to ensure that they are fully cooked before moving on to the next step in the recipe. This Chicken Marsala recipe is a restaurant-quality meal that you can make at home! You’re family is going to love this one, so be sure to save it for later. © Little Sunny Kitchen
