Easy Chicken Marsala Recipe (2024)

Chicken Marsala is easy to make at home and just as good as any Italian restaurant!

Tender chicken breasts are simmered in a creamy mushroom marsala sauce for a meal that’s easy enough for a weeknight dinner.

Easy Chicken Marsala Recipe (1)

A 30-Minute Meal

Chicken Marsala is from Sicily, with chicken breasts simmered in Marsala wine. The wine tenderizes the chicken and creates a delicious savory mushroom sauce.

  • Quick and Easy: Ready in 30 minutes, ideal for a busy weeknight but elegant enough for guests.
  • Restaurant Quality: Skip the hefty restaurant bill or wait at Olive Garden; this dish is easy to make at home.
  • Simple Ingredients: Requires only a few simple ingredients, with chicken, mushrooms, and Marsala wine.
Easy Chicken Marsala Recipe (2)

Ingredients for Chicken Marsala

  • Chicken Breasts: Use 4 small boneless skinless breasts, about 5-6 oz each. Pound them to an even thickness for quick cooking.
  • Flour: Flour is used to give the chicken a crisp crust as well as to thicken the sauce.
  • Chicken Broth: Chicken broth or stock adds flavor to the sauce.
  • Shallot/Onion: Shallot is added for flavor, you can use ¼ cup of onion in place.
  • Mushrooms: Mushrooms add a lot of flavor to the sauce, you can use white or brown mushrooms. Brown has a deeper more earthy flavor.
  • Marsala Wine: Marsala wine is a fortified wine originating from Sicily. When shopping, choose dry Marsala – not sweet Marsala. Not only does it flavor the sauce, but it also has a bit of acidity to help tenderize the chicken.

Substitutions for Marsala Wine

Marsala provides the key flavor in this dish, so replacing will change the flavor but it will still be delicious.

Replace marsala with a dry Madeira, dry sherry, or even a dry white wine. As with any dish calling for wine, choose a wine you’d drink instead of a ‘cooking wine’.

If you’d like to skip the wine, I recommend a dish that doesn’t rely on it for so much of the flavor. Try creamy chicken and mushrooms.

Easy Chicken Marsala Recipe (3)

How to Make Chicken Marsala

  1. Pound chicken to an even thickness and brown it in a skillet. Set aside per the recipe below.
  2. Cook the onion and mushrooms in butter until tender. Add the remaining sauce ingredients and simmer until thickened.
  3. Return chicken to the pan and cook through. Serve over pasta.

Variation

Cream is not traditional in a marsala sauce, but it can be added if you’d like. Replace ⅓ cup of chicken broth with the same amount of heavy cream.

Easy Chicken Marsala Recipe (4)

What to Serve with Chicken Marsala

Chicken marsala is great over any kind of pasta of course! Chicken Marsala tastes fantastic on spaghetti or sturdy pasta shapes like penne, rotini, or bowtie. Here are other favorites to serve on the side.

Egg Noodles

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Homemade Focaccia Bread

Garlic Drop Biscuits

Storing Leftovers

Keep leftover chicken marsala in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat on the stovetop.

Chicken marsala can be frozen for up to 6 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight, and reheat the chicken and sauce on the stovetop before combining them again over freshly made pasta.

Did you make this Chicken Marsala Recipe? Be sure to leave a rating and comment below!

Easy Chicken Marsala Recipe (9)

4.99 from 139 votes↑ Click stars to rate now!
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Easy Chicken Marsala Recipe

Easy Chicken Marsala is more delicious than any version from an Italian restaurant, and budget-friendly, too!

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ReviewPrint

Easy Chicken Marsala Recipe (10)

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 35 minutes minutes

Easy Chicken Marsala Recipe (11)

Servings 4 servings

Easy Chicken Marsala Recipe (12)

Author Holly Nilsson

Ingredients

  • 4 small boneless skinless chicken breasts 5-6 oz each
  • ½ cup all purpose flour
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil
  • ¾ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper

Sauce

  • ¾ cup chicken stock or chicken broth
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • ¼ teaspoon thyme or 1 teaspoon fresh thyme
  • 1 small shallot diced (or onion)
  • 8 ounces mushrooms white or brown, sliced
  • 1 ½ tablespoons flour
  • ½ cup dry Marsala wine
  • 2 tablespoons parsley or chives for garnish

Instructions

  • Cover the chicken breasts with plastic wrap and use the flat side of a meat mallet to pound to ¼-inch thick. Season with salt and pepper and dredge in flour.

  • In a large skillet, preheat the olive oil over medium high heat. Cook the chicken in batches, 3-4 minutes per side or until cooked through. Transfer the chicken to a plate.

For the Sauce:

  • In the same pan, add 2 tablespoons butter, thyme, and shallot and cook until tender, about 3 minutes. Add the mushrooms and cook until juices are released, about 5 minutes. Stir in 1 ½ tablespoons flour and cook for 1 minute more.

  • Pour in the Marsala wine and stock or broth and simmer until thick and bubbly, about 3 minutes.

  • Add chicken back into the pan and simmer for 2-3 minutes or until heated through.

  • Garnish and serve over pasta.

Video

Notes

Marsala: Choose dry marsala wine for this recipe. Sweet marsala wine will make the final dish too sweet.

Chicken breasts: If they’re very large, they can be cut in half horizontally. Replace chicken breasts with 8 thin chicken cutlets.

Sauce: A creamier chicken Marsala can be made by switching out one-third cup of chicken broth for the same amount of heavy cream or half & half.

Leftovers: Keep leftover chicken marsala refrigerated for up to 3 days. Reheat on the stovetop.

4.99 from 139 votes

Nutrition Information

Calories: 567 | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 52g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 161mg | Sodium: 479mg | Potassium: 1106mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 418IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Easy Chicken Marsala Recipe (15) Course Chicken, Dinner, Entree, Main Course, Slow Cooker

Easy Chicken Marsala Recipe (16) Cuisine American, Italian

© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.

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Holly is a wine and cheese lover, recipe creator, shopping enthusiast and self appointed foodie. Her greatest passion is creating in the kitchen and making deliciously comforting recipes for the everyday home cook!
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Easy Chicken Marsala Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What can you use instead of Marsala wine for chicken Marsala? ›

The best substitute for marsala wine is madeira, another kind of fortified wine with a similar flavour profile. Other alternatives include other fortified wines such as commandaria, sherry, vermouth, and port.

Should I use sweet or dry Marsala for chicken Marsala? ›

Should you use sweet or dry Marsala in your Chicken Marsala recipe? It doesn't make a huge difference, and either option will produce delicious results, but I would go for dry because the sweet Marsala has a bit too much sugar for such a savory dish.

What kind of wine do you use for chicken marsala? ›

Marsala wine is a fortified wine from Sicily with a deep flavour and is used in this sauce to create a caramelized rich flavor. When making savory dishes like Chicken Marsala, dry Marsala is the best option.

What is creamy Marsala sauce made of? ›

The creamy sauce is made with sweet marsala wine and wow, the flavor is incredible. (Don't worry because alcohol does burn off during the cooking process and is safe for the kids to eat). All you have to add to it is some heavy cream, garlic, mustard, and voila!

What is traditionally served with chicken Marsala? ›

  • Rice. Rice is a classic, gluten-free side dish that pairs perfectly with chicken Marsala. ...
  • Risotto. For a classic Italian side dish, consider risotto, a creamier alternative to plain rice. ...
  • Egg Noodles. ...
  • Angel Hair Pasta. ...
  • Zucchini Noodles. ...
  • Polenta. ...
  • Mashed Potatoes. ...
  • Boursin Hasselback Potatoes.
Mar 17, 2023

Can I use balsamic vinegar instead of Marsala wine? ›

To make the perfect marsala wine substitute for chicken marsala, replace ½ cup of marsala wine with ½ cup chicken stock, 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar, and one teaspoon of sugar. Mix the chicken broth mixture into your recipe exactly the same way you would add the marsala.

Can I substitute white cooking wine for Marsala? ›

Marsala Substitutes for every quarter cup needed: Substitute the following: ¼ cup of dry white wine.

Can you substitute chicken broth for Marsala wine? ›

For savory dishes that require a long cooking time, chicken stock makes a good substitute for Marsala wine. Use the same amount of chicken stock as Marsala wine in your recipe. Like the cooking wine, chicken stock is high in sodium, but low in calories, carbs, and sugar.

Do you use red or white wine for Chicken Marsala? ›

Chicken Marsala is a traditional Italian dish that is made with chicken, white wine, and sweet marsala wine. Chicken Marsala is served with tomato sauce and creamy white sauce. The marsala wine used in this dish is a dry marsala.

What's the difference between chicken piccata and Chicken Marsala? ›

While both chicken piccata and chicken Marsala are cooked in the same way, there are a few key differences between the two dishes. Chicken piccata isn't creamy. It's cooked with white wine, chicken broth, capers, and lemon juice. It's tangy and bright instead of rich and creamy.

Does marsala wine need to be refrigerated after opening? ›

Marsala is a partially oxidized fortified wine, and as such does not require refrigeration after opening. The wine was originally fortified with distilled spirits to better preserve the wine. I would recommend refrigerating the dry style Marsala, as further oxidation would be more noticeable than in the sweeter style.

Can I use cabernet sauvignon for chicken marsala? ›

She recommends avoiding heavy Cabernet Sauvignons and other full-bodied reds as a direct swap as these risk overpowering the final dish. If you're seeking a non-alcoholic alternative, Ziata suggests playing with herbs, citrus, and fruit juices to a homemade Marsala-like stock.

How do you thicken chicken marsala sauce? ›

Flour plus fat (butter) = roux. A roux is used as a thickening agent in sauces. Sooo, with the butter from the pan and the butter the mushrooms have absorbed, plus the chicken cutlets coated in flour… This all means when the cutlets get added back to the sauce – that flour and butter combo is what thickens the sauce.

Can you use pinot grigio for chicken marsala? ›

One popular wine pairing for Chicken Marsala is Pinot Grigio. This dry white wine from Northern Italy has a light body and bright acidity that helps to cut through the rich sauce of the dish.

How does Marsala sauce taste like? ›

Marsala tends to have a nutty, brown sugar flavor with notes of dried fruit and can be lightly sweet (dry) to very sweet.

What is the difference between masala and Marsala sauce? ›

Marsala is sweet dessert wine, it is not typically used for drinking like a Chianti or Montepulciano, but cooking and marinades. Masala is a spice blend using in Indian cooking. It contains all brown spices: cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, coriander, and cumin.

What are the ingredients in Campbell's Marsala sauce? ›

Marsala Wine (Potassium Metabisulfite), Mushrooms, Water, Tomato Puree (Water, Tomato Paste), Butter, Modified Food Starch, Contains Less Than 2% Of: Salt, Garlic, Sugar, Spices, Soy Lecithin, Citric Acid.

Is Marsala sauce alcoholic? ›

The sauce is made with Marsala wine which is a dry and sweet wine which has a 15-20% alcohol content but don't worry, all of the alcohol will cook out of the sauce. The wine creates a nutty and rich caramelized sauce for the chicken.

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