Chicken Marsala With Mushrooms Recipe

Easy Chicken Marsala with Mushrooms Recipe – Homestyle Magic!

Crafting a delectable chicken marsala with mushrooms brings pure culinary magic to your kitchen.

Wine-soaked flavors dance elegantly across tender chicken cutlets in this classic Italian-inspired dish.

Delicate mushrooms add earthy depth and complexity to each succulent bite.

Marsala wine creates a rich, velvety sauce that perfectly complements the golden-brown chicken.

Weeknight dinners or special occasions call for this elegant yet approachable meal that impresses everyone at the table.

You can master this restaurant-quality dish with just a few simple ingredients and some basic cooking techniques.

Let’s unlock the secrets to creating a memorable chicken marsala that will have people asking for seconds.

Chicken Marsala That Feels Fancy Yet Familiar

  • Elevate your home cooking with a restaurant-quality dish that looks and tastes impressive without requiring professional chef skills.
  • Prepare this entire meal in under 30 minutes, making it perfect for busy families seeking delicious dinners without extensive preparation time.
  • Adaptable for different dietary preferences by easily substituting ingredients or adjusting the sauce thickness, ensuring everyone at the table feels satisfied.
  • Combines tender chicken, rich Marsala wine sauce, and golden mushrooms that create a harmonious blend of savory, earthy flavors that comfort and delight taste buds.

What You’ll Need for This Mushroom-Laced Dish

Meat:
  • Chicken Breasts: Lean protein that forms the main dish, boneless and skinless work best for even cooking.
Main Ingredients for Cooking and Coating:
  • All-Purpose Flour: Creates a golden crispy coating for the chicken, helps sauce stick to meat.
  • Salt, Black Pepper: Essential seasonings that enhance the chicken's natural flavor, freshly ground recommended.
Liquid and Fat Components:
  • Olive Oil: Provides excellent base for searing chicken, adds subtle flavor.
  • Butter: Helps sauté mushrooms and creates rich, smooth texture in sauce.
  • Marsala Wine: Classic Italian cooking wine that adds deep, sweet-savory complexity.
  • Chicken Broth: Provides depth and moisture to the sauce, low-sodium preferred.
Fat and Flavor Enhancers:
  • Heavy Cream (Optional): Creates a luxurious, velvety sauce texture, can be substituted with half-and-half.
Aromatics and Herbs:
  • Garlic: Adds sharp, aromatic flavor, fresh cloves recommended over pre-minced.
  • Fresh Thyme: Brings earthy, subtle herbal notes to the sauce, stems can be removed.
Garnish:
  • Fresh Parsley: Adds bright color and fresh herb finish, flat-leaf variety preferred.

How to Make Marsala Chicken with Creamy Sauce

Step 1: Prepare Chicken for Coating

  • All-purpose flour
  • Salt
  • Black pepper

Create a delicious coating by mixing flour, salt, and pepper in a shallow dish. Gently press each chicken breast into the mixture, removing excess flour by shaking lightly.

Step 2: Sizzle and Brown Chicken

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Carefully place chicken breasts in hot pan, cooking until each side turns a beautiful golden brown. Ensure chicken reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove chicken and set aside on a clean plate.

Step 3: Caramelize Mushroom Magic

Lower skillet heat to medium. Melt butter until it sizzles. Add mushrooms and cook until they release moisture and develop a rich golden color. Toss in minced garlic and stir quickly until fragrant.

Step 4: Create Luxurious Wine Sauce

Pour Marsala wine into skillet, scraping up delicious browned bits from bottom of pan. Let sauce simmer and reduce slightly. Add chicken broth and fresh thyme. For extra richness, stir in heavy cream and continue simmering.

Step 5: Reunite Chicken with Sauce

Return chicken to skillet, generously spooning mushroom sauce over each piece. Warm chicken through, ensuring it’s completely coated with the decadent sauce. Sprinkle with freshly chopped parsley before serving.

Tips for a Tender Cut and Bold Sauce

  • Perfectly Coat Chicken: Use a light touch when dredging chicken in flour mixture to create a thin, even coating that ensures a crispy exterior without excess breading.
  • Mushroom Magic: Select fresh cremini or white button mushrooms and avoid overcrowding the pan to achieve golden-brown caramelization and maximum flavor development.
  • Wine Selection Matters: Choose a dry Marsala wine from Sicily for authentic taste; avoid cooking wines which contain added salt and lack depth of flavor.
  • Temperature Control: Keep skillet at medium-high heat when searing chicken to develop a beautiful golden crust without burning the exterior before cooking through internally.
  • Sauce Consistency Tip: If sauce seems too thin, let it simmer slightly longer or add a small amount of cornstarch slurry to achieve desired thickness without compromising rich flavor profile.

Best Way to Store and Warm Marsala Chicken

  • Store leftover chicken Marsala in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Place in the refrigerator and consume within 3-4 days for optimal taste and safety.
  • Transfer cooled chicken to a freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer bag. Seal tightly, removing excess air. Freeze for up to 2 months to maintain quality.
  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Place chicken in a baking dish, cover with foil to prevent drying. Warm for 15-20 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F.
  • Gently reheat in a skillet over medium-low heat. Add a splash of chicken broth or water to prevent sticking and maintain sauce moisture. Stir occasionally until heated through.

What to Serve with This Classic Chicken Recipe

  • Perfectly Pair Marsala Magic
  • Elevate your Chicken Marsala with complementary flavors that dance on your palate.
  • Opt for a medium-bodied Italian red like Sangiovese or Pinot Noir, which mirrors the wine's rich Marsala sauce and cuts through the creamy texture.
  • Serve with garlic-roasted asparagus or buttery herbed risotto to absorb the luxurious sauce and provide a delightful textural contrast.
  • Add a zesty arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette to cut through the dish's richness and provide a refreshing counterpoint to the hearty chicken.

Variations for Marsala with a New Spin

  • Gluten-Free Chicken Marsala: Replace wheat flour with almond flour or cornstarch for dredging chicken. This variation ensures those with gluten sensitivities can enjoy the classic dish without compromising flavor.
  • Vegetarian Mushroom Alternative: Swap chicken with firm tofu or portobello mushroom steaks. Marinate the protein substitute in Marsala wine and herbs to enhance depth and mimic traditional chicken texture.
  • Low-Carb Lean Option: Use thinly sliced chicken breasts and eliminate flour coating. Replace Marsala wine with chicken broth and dry white wine for reduced carbohydrate content while maintaining rich, savory flavors.
  • Dairy-Free Adaptation: Substitute butter with olive oil or coconut oil. Use coconut cream instead of heavy cream to create a creamy sauce without dairy ingredients, perfect for lactose-intolerant individuals.
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Chicken Marsala With Mushrooms Recipe

Chicken Marsala With Mushrooms Recipe


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4.7 from 13 reviews

  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x

Description

Succulent chicken marsala dances with earthy mushrooms in this classic Italian-American comfort dish. Rich wine-infused sauce and golden-browned chicken create a delectable experience you’ll crave again and again.


Ingredients

Scale

Main Protein:

  • 4 chicken breasts, boneless, skinless (pounded to 0.5 inches thickness)

Coating and Seasoning:

  • 0.5 cup all-purpose flour (for dredging)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves (or 0.5 teaspoon dried thyme)

Cooking and Sauce Ingredients:

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 8 ounces (226 grams) cremini or white mushrooms, sliced
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 0.5 cup dry Marsala wine
  • 0.5 cup chicken broth
  • 0.25 cup heavy cream (optional, for a creamier sauce)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Prepare a seasoned flour coating by combining flour, salt, and pepper in a shallow dish. Thoroughly coat each chicken breast, ensuring an even, light dusting while shaking off any excess flour.
  2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high temperature. Carefully place chicken breasts into the hot pan, cooking each side until a rich golden-brown color develops and the internal temperature reaches 165°F/74°C.
  3. Transfer the perfectly seared chicken to a separate plate, keeping it warm while preparing the next components.
  4. Reduce skillet heat to medium and introduce butter, allowing it to melt smoothly. Add mushrooms and sauté until they release moisture and achieve a beautiful caramelized appearance.
  5. Incorporate minced garlic and quickly stir, releasing its aromatic essence for approximately one minute.
  6. Deglaze the skillet by pouring Marsala wine, using a wooden spoon to scrape up the flavorful browned bits from the pan’s bottom.
  7. Allow the wine to simmer and reduce slightly, then introduce chicken broth and fresh thyme. Stir the mixture to combine all ingredients thoroughly.
  8. Optional: Mix in heavy cream for a luxurious, velvety sauce texture. Continue simmering to develop deeper flavors.
  9. Gently return the seared chicken to the skillet, carefully coating each piece with the rich mushroom-wine sauce.
  10. Warm the chicken through, ensuring it’s completely covered in the delectable sauce.
  11. Finish the dish by sprinkling fresh parsley over the top and serve immediately while hot.

Notes

  • Perfectly Dredge Chicken: Use a light coating of flour for a delicate, crispy exterior that locks in moisture and creates a beautiful golden-brown crust.
  • Wine Selection Matters: Choose a dry Marsala wine like a sweet/semi-sweet variety to enhance the sauce’s depth and complement the chicken’s richness.
  • Mushroom Technique: Allow mushrooms to caramelize without overcrowding the pan, ensuring they develop a rich, deep flavor and avoid steaming instead of browning.
  • Dietary Adaptations: Swap wheat flour with gluten-free alternatives like almond or rice flour for celiac-friendly version, and use coconut cream instead of heavy cream for dairy-free option.
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Sautéing
  • Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 4
  • Calories: 400
  • Sugar: 1g
  • Sodium: 600mg
  • Fat: 25g
  • Saturated Fat: 8g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 15g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 18g
  • Fiber: 1g
  • Protein: 32g
  • Cholesterol: 100mg
Daves Miller

Daves Miller

Contributing Chef & Culinary Educator

Expertise

  • American Southern cuisine with a modern twist.
  • Instruction in culinary fundamentals and advanced techniques.
  • Development of recipes that highlight seasonal and local produce.​
  • Mastery of artisanal bread and pastry techniques, from laminated doughs to decorative sugar artistry.

Education

Sullivan University, Louisville, Kentucky

  • Degree: Associate of Science Degree in Culinary Arts
  • Focus: Specialized in cooking techniques and culinary sciences, hands‑on externships, professional kitchen lab training, and career preparation for restaurants, entrepreneurship, and global culinary opportunities.

White Mountains Community College, Berlin, New Hampshire

  • Program: Baking and Pastry Arts degree
  • Focus: Specialized in comprehensive baking and pastry arts, including bread making, artisan breads, cake decorating and design, chocolates, confections, and decorative centerpieces; product development and baking theory; and career preparation for baker and pastry chef roles in many places.

Daves is the friendly face guiding you through flavorful, fuss-free recipes at Picture Perfect Meals. 

He studied culinary arts at Sullivan University and embraced Baking and Pastry Arts at White Mountains Community College. Daves specializes in comforting meals with vibrant flavors, highlighting fresh, seasonal ingredients.

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