Chicken Marsala Recipe

My Chicken Marsala recipe is next level good, boos! My trick to making this recipe not only tender but fast is to thinly slice the chicken so it cooks up tender quickly. I dust with a little flour, sear them then smother in a sauce with mushrooms, shallots, garlic, and plenty of Marsala wine.

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Closeup overhead shot of chicken marsala recipe with mushrooms and parsley in a pan, with fresh pasta and parsley nearby

How to Make this Chicken Marsala Recipe

Dredge and Sear the Chicken

Raw seasoned chicken breasts on parchment paper over a wooden board

Step 1: Slice the chicken breasts in half horizontally to make 4 cutlets. Put each cutlet between two sheets of plastic wrap and lightly pound them. Season with salt and a pinch of black pepper.

Flour dusted chicken breasts on a wooden board

Step 2: Place flour in a zip-top bag. Lightly dredge the chicken pieces in the flour, shaking off any excess. Put the chicken on the wax paper; reserve the remaining flour to use later.

Seared chicken in an oiled skillet

Step 3: Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add butter and olive oil to the pan and swirl the pan until the butter has melted. Add the chicken to the hot skillet. Cook until slightly golden on both sides. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside on a clean plate.

Cook the Mushrooms, Make the Sauce and Finish Dish

Shallots and garlic in skillet cooking

Step 4: Add the remaining butter and olive oil to the skillet. Add the garlic and shallots. Cook until soft and golden.

Sauteed mushrooms in a large skillet to make chicken marsala

Step 5: Add the mushrooms, and season with salt and a pinch of black pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until golden.

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Butter added to marsala sauce cooking in skillet

Step 6: Sprinkle in the reserved teaspoon of flour. Cook, stirring occasionally. Pour in the Marsala wine and chicken stock, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon.
Simmer the sauce, stirring occasionally, until it thickens slightly. Stir in the remaining butter until melted and incorporated.

Finished chicken marsala with mushrooms and sauce garnished with parsley, ready to serve

Step 7: Return the chicken to the skillet with the mushrooms. Reduce heat to low, cover with a lid, and simmer gently to allow the flavors to meld. Serve the chicken and mushrooms over the prepared pasta, then garnish with fresh parsley, and enjoy!

Closeup overhead shot of chicken marsala recipe with mushrooms and parsley in a pan, with fresh pasta and parsley nearby

Chicken Marsala Recipe

This Chicken Marsala recipe is made with chicken cutlets that have been seared and simmered in a Marsala wine sauce with mushrooms and served over pasta.
4.40 from 136 votes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course: Main Course
Servings: 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 4 chicken breast cutlets boneless and skinless, about 4 ounces each
  • Kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/3 cup all-purpose flour plus 1 teaspoon, divided
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter divided
  • 3 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil divided
  • 3 garlic cloves peeled and finely minced
  • 1/3 cup shallots finely chopped
  • 12 ounces sliced cremini mushrooms
  • 1/2 tsp onion powder
  • 1/3 cup Marsala wine
  • 1/2 cup chicken stock
  • 8 ounces fettucine or linguine, prepared according to package directions and kept warm
  • 2 tablespoons fresh Italian parsley finely chopped

Instructions

  • Gently pat the chicken cutlets dry with paper towels. If they are too thick, slide the chicken between two pieces of parchment and pound with a rolling pin until evenly then remove parchment. Next, season generously with salt and pepper on both sides.
  • Place the 1/3 cup flour in a zip-top bag, then add the chicken and shake to coat the cutlets completely. Remove the floured chicken from the bag, shaking off any excess flour and set cutlets aside on a piece of parchment paper.
  • Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of butter and 2 teaspoons of olive oil to the pan and swirl to melt the butter.
  • Add the chicken to the hot skillet and cook until nicely browned, about 3 minutes per side. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside on a clean plate.
  • Add the remaining 1 teaspoon olive oil to the skillet and add the shallots and garlic. Sauté for about 30 seconds, until it’s fragrant.
  • Add the mushrooms to the skillet, and season with salt, pepper, and onion powder. Cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, about 6-8 minutes.
  • Sprinkle the remaining 1 teaspoon of flour over the mushrooms, and cook, stirring constantly, for about 30 seconds.
  • Pour in the Marsala wine and chicken stock, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon.
  • Simmer the sauce, stirring occasionally, until it thickens slightly, about 2 minutes.
  • Stir in the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter until melted and incorporated.
  • Return the chicken to the skillet with the mushrooms.
  • Reduce heat to low, cover with a lid, and simmer gently for 4-5 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
  • Serve the chicken and mushrooms over the prepared pasta, then garnish with fresh parsley, and enjoy.

Video

Notes

Get the butcher to slice and pound your chicken. Or do it at home with a rolling pin and parchment if you want it thin.
Pat the chicken dry so the flour sticks. That’s how you get the perfect golden sear for the best chicken Marsala.
Cook mushrooms in batches. If the pan’s too full, they’ll steam instead of brown.
Use dry Marsala wine only, boos. Sweet Marsala’s for desserts.
Serve right after cooking. That’s when the chicken stays juicy and the sauce is just right.

How to Store Chicken Marsala

  • Fridge: Allow it to cool to room temp, then transfer it to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3-4 days.
  • Reheating: Gently warm it on the stove over low heat, adding a splash of Marsala wine or chicken broth if needed to keep the chicken moist and the sauce from reducing too much. Avoid microwaving if possible to maintain the best texture of the chicken and sauce.
  • Freezer: Let it cool completely, then store it in a freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer bag for up to 2 months. Thaw it overnight in the fridge before reheating low and slow on the stovetop.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 607kcal | Carbohydrates: 60g | Protein: 49g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 172mg | Sodium: 264mg | Potassium: 1300mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 431IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 65mg | Iron: 3mg
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Recipe Tips

  1. Get the butcher to slice and pound your chicken breasts. Or handle it yourself with a rolling pin between parchment paper if you like them extra thin.
  2. Pat the chicken dry first. It helps the flour stick better and gives you that perfect golden sear for the best chicken Marsala.
  3. Cook the mushrooms in batches if you need to. Crowding the pan traps steam, making the mushrooms soggy and bland.
  4. Use dry Marsala wine ONLY, boos. Sweet Marsala is for desserts.
  5. Serve immediately after cooking. Chicken Marsala tastes best when the chicken is juicy and the sauce is on point.
Plated serving of chicken marsala recipe over pasta, with fresh herbs and glass of water in the background

Recipe Help

Do I have to use Marsala wine?

Marsala is what gives this easy chicken marsala recipe its signature flavor, boos! But if you don’t have it, you can use Madeira wine. And if you’re cooking for kids or just want it wine-free, use extra chicken broth and let it simmer down.

More Chicken Recipes

Filed Under:  Chicken, Dinner, Italian Recipes, Main Dishes, Stovetop

Comments

  1. I’m so excited to try this recipe! I’ve seen Jacelyn on Food Networks The kitchen a couple times and am excited to try her recipe!! I’ve been in WW and this is a perfect recipe!

  2. Chicken Marsala is one of my absolute favorites! I was very excited to see how easy it was to do at home. I did, however, make a couple of adjustments since I am on a low sodium diet. I used unsalted chicken broth & unsalted butter, and Holland House Marsala cooking wine (couldn’t find Marsala wine). Also used cornstarch with flour to coat chicken pieces. Chicken took longer to fry than estimated, and needed more oil and butter. I didn’t see where to add the tsp. Of flour/cornstarch , so added it with mushrooms/shallots & chicken to thicken. Regardless of the changes I made personally, the recipe was terrrfic! It is now in my rotation, hubby loved it! Thank you for sharing!

    1. Hi Pat! That’s great to know that Holland House makes Marsala Cooking Wine! I have purchased Marsala wine in the past, used it for my recipe, and then ended up throwing away the rest bc no one wanted to drink it! This would make so much more sense!

  3. It is the sight of the chicken masala which made me crave for it! The pictures are tempting to be honest and the outcomes were equally good when I tried it at home! Thank you!

  4. This recipe was so easy and absolutely delicious. My family ate every single piece! I served it with brown rice and sautéed stir-fried veggies! So good

  5. Chicken Masala is a great recipe smothered with spices and seasonings! Perfect to go with plain steamed rice, the recipe is so easy given how tasteful this turns out to be! Packed with mushrooms, the gravy tastes so good. There was none left after the meal. The bowl went empty in a jiffy!

  6. Really tasty!
    I had never encountered kcal counts before but stupidly assumed it was 129 calories per serving – A MIRACLE RECIPE!
    As it turns out each portion is 296 calories and we’ll worth it!

  7. This was delicious, the flavors really make it! Had it with rice pilaf and it was a big hit for dinner at our house!

  8. Just made this for Sunday lunch. So easy and delicious. I served over whole wheat angle hair pasta and carrots. Is definitely a keeper.

4.40 from 136 votes (98 ratings without comment)

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