Classic Chicken Marsala Recipe

Quick & Savory Classic Chicken Marsala Recipe for Tonight

Crafting an authentic classic chicken marsala delivers pure culinary comfort straight to your plate.

Rich Italian traditions inspire this delectable dish with tender chicken and robust mushroom flavors.

Wine-infused sauce creates magical moments around the dinner table.

Professional chefs and home cooks alike adore this simple yet sophisticated meal.

Mediterranean ingredients merge beautifully in every delightful bite.

Fragrant herbs and perfectly seared chicken promise a restaurant-quality experience at home.

You’ll want to savor each mouthwatering forkful with pure delight.

The Sauce! The Mushrooms! Why Chicken Marsala Reigns Supreme

  • Master Texture Technique: Carefully pounding chicken ensures uniform thickness, guaranteeing perfectly cooked, tender meat in every bite.
  • Crispy Golden Perfection: Dredging chicken in flour creates a delightful, light coating that transforms into beautiful golden-brown edges when seared.
  • Flavor-Packed Sauce Magic: Sautéing mushrooms and deglazing with marsala wine builds a rich, complex sauce that elevates the entire chicken dish.
  • Quick Gourmet Experience: This restaurant-quality meal comes together rapidly, making it ideal for both weeknight dinners and impressive entertaining.

Here’s What You’ll Need to Make Marsala Shine

For the Protein:
  • Chicken Breasts: A tender and lean meat that serves as the main protein for this classic Italian-American dish.
For the Seasoning and Coating:
  • Salt, Black Pepper: Essential seasonings that enhance the chicken's natural flavor.
  • All-Purpose Flour: Provides a light, crispy coating that helps seal in moisture and creates a golden-brown exterior.
For the Cooking and Sauce Base:
  • Olive Oil: A heart-healthy oil that helps achieve a perfect sear on the chicken and adds a subtle fruity flavor.
  • Butter: Adds richness and helps create a smooth, velvety sauce with a luxurious mouthfeel.
  • Marsala Wine: A sweet fortified wine that brings depth and a complex, slightly caramelized flavor to the sauce.
  • Chicken Broth: Provides additional savory undertones and helps create a silky, flavorful sauce.
For the Aromatics and Garnish:
  • Mushrooms: Earthy and meaty vegetables that add texture and umami flavor to the dish.
  • Garlic: A pungent ingredient that infuses the sauce with a warm, aromatic complexity.
  • Fresh Parsley: A bright, fresh herb that adds color and a light, herbaceous finish to the dish.

Sauté, Simmer, Serve – Marsala Made Simple

Step 1: Prepare Chicken

Pound chicken breasts to an even thickness using a meat mallet. This helps the chicken cook evenly and ensures a tender bite.

Step 2: Season and Coat Chicken

Sprinkle salt and pepper over the chicken. Dust each piece with flour, gently shaking off any excess to create a light, crispy exterior.

Step 3: Heat Cooking Pan

Warm olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until it starts to shimmer and dance with heat.

Step 4: Cook Chicken to Golden Perfection

Carefully place floured chicken into the hot skillet. Cook for 3-4 minutes on each side until you see beautiful golden-brown edges forming.

Step 5: Keep Chicken Warm

Transfer the browned chicken to a plate and loosely cover to maintain its warmth and juiciness.

Step 6: Sauté Mushrooms

In the same skillet, melt butter and add mushroom slices. Cook until they release their moisture and turn a rich golden brown.

Step 7: Add Aromatic Garlic

Toss in minced garlic, stirring quickly to prevent burning and release its incredible fragrance.

Step 8: Create Marsala Sauce

Pour in:
  • Marsala wine
  • Chicken broth

Scrape up the delicious browned bits from the skillet bottom to build deep, complex flavor.

Step 9: Reduce Sauce

Simmer the sauce for 3-4 minutes, allowing it to thicken and concentrate its rich, savory character.

Step 10: Reunite Chicken with Sauce

Gently return chicken to the skillet, nestling pieces into the bubbling marsala sauce. Warm for 2 minutes to blend flavors.

Step 11: Finish with Fresh Herbs

Sprinkle freshly chopped parsley over the dish, adding a bright, fresh final touch.

Step 12: Serve and Enjoy

Plate immediately, generously spooning extra sauce over the chicken to maximize flavor in every bite.

Little Tricks That Make a Big Marsala Difference

  • Pound Perfectly: Use a meat mallet or rolling pin to evenly flatten chicken breasts, creating uniform thickness for consistent cooking and tender results.
  • Flour with Finesse: Shake off excess flour after dredging to achieve a light, crispy coating that won't become heavy or soggy during cooking.
  • Mushroom Magic: Sauté mushrooms until they release moisture and develop a deep golden brown color, intensifying their rich, earthy flavor profile.
  • Wine Wisdom: Choose a good-quality marsala wine to elevate the sauce's depth and complexity, ensuring a more authentic and delicious final dish.
  • Sauce Secrets: Let the marsala sauce simmer and reduce to concentrate flavors, creating a more intense and velvety coating for the chicken.

Chicken Marsala, but With a Twist

  • Gluten-Free Chicken Marsala: Replace wheat flour with almond flour or cornstarch for a celiac-friendly version that maintains crispy chicken coating.
  • Vegetarian Marsala Adaptation: Swap chicken with portobello mushroom steaks, using similar seasoning and cooking technique for a plant-based alternative.
  • Low-Carb Marsala Option: Eliminate flour dredging, instead using crushed pork rinds or grated parmesan cheese as a light, crispy chicken exterior.
  • Wine-Free Marsala Substitute: Substitute marsala wine with chicken broth and a splash of balsamic vinegar to replicate depth and complexity of traditional recipe.

Pairing Perfection – Marsala’s Best Friends

  • Savor Wine-Infused Companions: Marsala Chicken's Perfect Pairings
  • Elevate Chardonnay: Crisp, buttery Chardonnay complements the rich marsala sauce, matching the dish's creamy mushroom notes with its smooth, oak-aged profile.
  • Match Rustic Italian Red: Sangiovese's medium-bodied, tangy character cuts through the chicken's richness, echoing the wine-based sauce's Mediterranean roots.
  • Create Herbal Side Salad: Fresh arugula with lemon vinaigrette provides a bright, peppery contrast, balancing the dish's deep, savory flavors and cleansing the palate.

Marsala Magic That Lasts – How to Store It Right

  • Store leftover chicken marsala in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking, keeping it fresh in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
  • Transfer cooled chicken to freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags, removing excess air to prevent freezer burn, and store for up to 2 months.
  • Place chicken on a microwave-safe plate, sprinkle a few drops of water or broth to prevent drying, cover with a damp paper towel, and heat in 30-second intervals until warmed through.
  • Preheat oven to 350°F, place chicken in a baking dish with a splash of chicken broth, cover with foil to retain moisture, and warm for 10-15 minutes until heated completely.

Got Questions About Chicken Marsala? We’ve Got Answers

  • What makes the flour coating special?

The light dredging technique ensures a crispy, delicate exterior that helps seal in chicken’s moisture while creating a golden-brown crust.

  • How do I know when the chicken is perfectly cooked?

Look for a golden-brown color with crispy edges and an internal temperature of 165°F, which guarantees juicy and safe-to-eat chicken.

  • Why sauté mushrooms before adding other ingredients?

Sautéing mushrooms first allows them to release moisture and develop a rich, caramelized flavor that enhances the overall depth of the marsala sauce.

  • Can I substitute marsala wine if I don't have it?

While marsala wine provides a unique flavor, you can use dry sherry or a combination of white wine and chicken broth as an alternative, though the taste profile will slightly differ.

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Classic Chicken Marsala Recipe

Classic Chicken Marsala Recipe


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4.6 from 38 reviews

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

Description

Culinary magic happens when classic chicken marsala delivers Italian-inspired comfort straight to dinner tables. Tender chicken medallions bathed in rich mushroom wine sauce promise a restaurant-quality meal that delights home cooks seeking simple elegance.


Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients:

  • 4 chicken breasts
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup marsala wine

Protein and Coating:

  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper

Vegetables and Seasonings:

  • 8 oz mushrooms (sliced)
  • 2 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley (chopped)
  • 1/4 cup chicken broth

Instructions

  1. Carefully pound chicken breasts to an even 1/4-inch thickness, ensuring uniform cooking and tender texture.
  2. Season chicken with salt and pepper, then generously dredge each piece in flour, shaking off excess for a light, crisp coating.
  3. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering, about 2-3 minutes.
  4. Gently place floured chicken into hot skillet, cooking 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown and crispy edges form.
  5. Transfer browned chicken to a warm plate, covering loosely to retain heat.
  6. In the same skillet, melt butter and add sliced mushrooms, sautéing until they release moisture and turn golden brown, approximately 5-6 minutes.
  7. Introduce minced garlic to the mushrooms, stirring quickly to prevent burning and enhance aromatic complexity.
  8. Pour marsala wine and chicken broth into the skillet, scraping up browned bits from the bottom to maximize flavor depth.
  9. Simmer the sauce for 3-4 minutes, allowing it to reduce and concentrate its rich, savory essence.
  10. Carefully return chicken to the skillet, nestling pieces into the marsala sauce and letting them warm through for 2 minutes.
  11. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley, adding a vibrant, herbaceous finish to the dish.
  12. Serve immediately, spooning extra sauce over the chicken for maximum flavor absorption.

Notes

  • Pounding chicken evenly prevents uneven cooking and ensures a tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture that impresses dinner guests.
  • Use gluten-free flour for a celiac-friendly version, creating a crispy coating that matches the original recipe’s deliciousness.
  • Choose high-quality marsala wine for deeper, more complex flavor, preferably a dry variety that enhances the sauce’s richness.
  • Pat chicken completely dry before flouring to achieve the perfect golden-brown crust that provides delightful crispiness and texture.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Category: Lunch, Dinner
  • Method: Sautéing
  • Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 4
  • Calories: 465
  • Sugar: 3 g
  • Sodium: 573 mg
  • Fat: 26 g
  • Saturated Fat: 10 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 30 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 24 g
  • Cholesterol: 99 mg
Jackson Reid

Jackson Reid

Founder & Recipe Developer

Expertise

  • Single-serving recipe development
  • Global flavor fusion
  • Minimalist cooking techniques
  • Food photography and styling

Education

Holyoke Community College – HCC-MGM Culinary Arts Institute
Certificate in Culinary Arts
Focus: Farm-to-table cuisine, sustainable cooking practices, and hands-on kitchen training


Jackson’s love for cooking began one dish at a time. After earning his Culinary Arts Certificate from Holyoke Community College’s HCC-MGM Culinary Arts Institute, he focused on what mattered most: creating recipes that are simple to follow and full of flavor.
At 10 Below Ice Cream, Jackson brings together global influences and a less-is-more approach. His recipes reflect his belief that good food doesn’t need to be complicated; it just needs to make sense, taste great, and feel right.
When he’s not testing ingredients or adjusting seasonings, you’ll find him hiking near Asheville, exploring local markets, or chasing the best light for food photos.

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