Nothing says fast and fancy quite like the Italian-American dish of chicken Marsala. A menu staple no matter the restaurant, this dish has seen its fair share of revisions. No matter the update, the pairing of golden, pan-fried chicken with a mushroom-studded Marsala wine sauce hasn't changed. We're throwing our hat in the ring with a version we just can't stop swooning over. With creamy sauce spiked with lots of garlic and, of course, the namesake Marsala wine, this take on chicken Marsala is next-level good.
And while it might sound like a dish that requires hours of cooking, it is actually a super-fast, one-pan chicken dinner that is perfect for weeknight cooking. You can serve the chicken and Marsala sauce over angel hair pasta (just like your favorite Italian restaurant), over cauliflower rice or, my favorite, with a simple Caesar salad.
Chicken Marsala
Serves 4 to 6
For the chicken:
1 cup all-purpose flour, divided
1 teaspoon kosher salt
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
For the Marsala sauce:
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, as needed
8 ounces cremini mushrooms, quartered
2 cloves garlic, minced
3/4 cup dry Marsala wine
3/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1/4 cup heavy cream
Serving options:
Cooked pasta, such as angel hair
Chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
Lemon wedges
1. Arrange a rack in the middle of the oven and heat to 200 F. Mix the flour and salt in a small bowl, and set aside.
2. Working with 1 chicken breast at a time, place inside a gallon zip-top bag and pound with the flat side of a meat mallet or rolling pin to an even 1/4-inch thickness. Set the flattened chicken breast aside, and repeat with the remaining breasts.
3. Return the flattened breasts to the bag and add the flour mixture. Seal the bag and shake to coat.
4. Heat the oil in a 12-inch straight-sided skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the butter, followed by 2 of the chicken breasts. Fry until golden-brown on both sides, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Remove the browned chicken to a baking dish or rimmed baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining chicken breasts.
5. Cover the chicken with aluminum foil, and place in the oven to keep warm.
6. Keep the heat on medium-high. If there isn't grease left from frying the chicken, add up to 2 tablespoons more butter to the pan. Add the mushrooms and cook until their juices start to release, about 3 minutes.
7. Add the garlic, and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
8. Add the Marsala, and scrape the bottom of the pan to remove any browned pieces. Add the broth, and simmer until reduced by half and starting to thicken, about 15 minutes.
9. Add the cream, and return the chicken to the sauce. Cook until the sauce thickens and the chicken is well-coated, 3 to 5 minutes.
10. Serve the chicken and Marsala sauce over cooked angel hair pasta if desired. Garnish with chopped parsley and a squeeze of lemon.
Recipe notes: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days.
This article is written by Meghan Splawn from The Kitchn and was legally licensed via the Tribune Content Agency through the NewsCred publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@newscred.com.
