Chicken Marsala is a classic Italian-American dish that combines tender chicken breasts with a rich and flavorful marsala wine sauce. This dish is perfect for a special dinner or a comforting meal at home. The combination of mushrooms and butter creates a savory sauce that pairs beautifully with the chicken.
One ingredient you might not have readily available at home is marsala wine. This is a fortified wine from Italy that adds a unique depth of flavor to the dish. If you don't have it, you can find it in the wine section of most supermarkets. Make sure to get the dry version for cooking.
Ingredients for Chicken Marsala Recipe
Chicken breasts: Boneless and skinless, these are pounded to an even thickness for uniform cooking.
All-purpose flour: Used to dredge the chicken, giving it a light coating that helps with browning.
Salt: Enhances the flavor of the chicken and the sauce.
Black pepper: Adds a touch of heat and depth to the dish.
Olive oil: Used for cooking the chicken, it adds a subtle flavor and helps achieve a golden brown crust.
Marsala wine: A key ingredient that gives the dish its distinctive taste. Use dry marsala for cooking.
Chicken broth: Adds moisture and flavor to the sauce.
Mushrooms: Sliced and cooked until browned, they add an earthy flavor to the sauce.
Butter: Stirred into the sauce at the end for richness and a silky texture.
Parsley: Chopped and used as a garnish, it adds a fresh, vibrant touch to the finished dish.
Technique Tip for This Recipe
When pounding the chicken breasts to an even thickness, place them between two sheets of plastic wrap or parchment paper. This not only prevents mess but also ensures the chicken cooks evenly, resulting in a more tender and juicy final dish.
Suggested Side Dishes
Alternative Ingredients
boneless, skinless chicken breasts - Substitute with turkey breast: Turkey breast has a similar texture and flavor profile, making it a suitable alternative for chicken in this dish.
all-purpose flour - Substitute with cornstarch: Cornstarch can be used as a thickening agent and provides a gluten-free option.
salt - Substitute with soy sauce: Soy sauce adds a similar level of saltiness along with a depth of umami flavor.
black pepper - Substitute with white pepper: White pepper offers a similar heat but with a slightly different flavor profile that can add a unique twist.
olive oil - Substitute with grapeseed oil: Grapeseed oil has a high smoke point and a neutral flavor, making it a good alternative for cooking.
marsala wine - Substitute with dry sherry: Dry sherry has a similar sweetness and complexity, making it a suitable replacement for marsala wine.
chicken broth - Substitute with vegetable broth: Vegetable broth provides a similar base flavor and is a good option for vegetarians.
sliced mushrooms - Substitute with portobello mushrooms: Portobello mushrooms have a meaty texture and rich flavor, making them a great alternative.
butter - Substitute with ghee: Ghee has a higher smoke point and a nutty flavor, making it a good substitute for butter in cooking.
chopped parsley - Substitute with cilantro: Cilantro provides a fresh, vibrant flavor that can add a different but complementary note to the dish.
Other Alternative Recipes Similar to This Dish
How to Store / Freeze This Dish
- Allow the chicken marsala to cool completely before storing to prevent condensation, which can make the dish soggy.
- Transfer the chicken breasts and marsala sauce into an airtight container. Ensure the container is sealed tightly to maintain freshness.
- Store the container in the refrigerator if you plan to consume the dish within 3-4 days. This will keep the chicken tender and the sauce flavorful.
- For longer storage, place the cooled chicken marsala in a freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer bag. Remove as much air as possible to prevent freezer burn.
- Label the container with the date to keep track of its freshness. Chicken marsala can be frozen for up to 2-3 months without significant loss of quality.
- When ready to reheat, thaw the chicken marsala in the refrigerator overnight if frozen. This gradual thawing helps maintain the texture and flavor.
- Reheat the dish in a skillet over medium heat, adding a splash of chicken broth or marsala wine to refresh the sauce. Stir occasionally until heated through.
- Alternatively, you can reheat in the microwave. Place the chicken marsala in a microwave-safe dish, cover loosely, and heat in 1-minute intervals, stirring in between, until hot.
- Garnish with freshly chopped parsley before serving to revive the dish's vibrant appearance and add a touch of freshness.
How to Reheat Leftovers
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the chicken marsala in an oven-safe dish, cover it with aluminum foil to retain moisture, and bake for about 20 minutes or until heated through.
For a quicker option, use the stovetop. Heat a skillet over medium heat, add a splash of chicken broth or marsala wine to prevent drying out, and warm the chicken marsala for about 10 minutes, turning occasionally.
If you prefer the microwave, place the chicken marsala in a microwave-safe dish, cover it with a microwave-safe lid or plastic wrap (leaving a small vent), and heat on medium power for 2-3 minutes. Stir the sauce and rotate the chicken halfway through to ensure even heating.
For a more gourmet touch, use a double boiler. Place the chicken marsala in the top part of the double boiler and gently heat over simmering water for about 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally to maintain the sauce consistency.
If you have a sous-vide machine, vacuum-seal the chicken marsala and immerse it in a water bath set to 140°F (60°C) for about 30 minutes. This method preserves the texture and flavor beautifully.
Best Tools for This Recipe
Meat mallet: Use this to pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness, ensuring they cook evenly.
Mixing bowl: Mix the flour, salt, and pepper in this bowl for dredging the chicken.
Skillet: Heat the olive oil and cook the chicken in this pan until golden brown.
Tongs: Use these to flip the chicken breasts while cooking to avoid burning your hands.
Plate: Set the cooked chicken aside on this plate while you prepare the sauce.
Wooden spoon: Stir the mushrooms, marsala wine, and chicken broth with this utensil.
Measuring cups: Measure out the marsala wine and chicken broth accurately with these.
Knife: Slice the mushrooms with this sharp tool.
Cutting board: Place the mushrooms on this surface while slicing.
Whisk: Use this to stir in the butter smoothly into the sauce.
Serving platter: Present the finished Chicken Marsala on this dish.
Chopping knife: Finely chop the parsley for garnish with this knife.
Small bowl: Hold the chopped parsley in this bowl until ready to garnish.
How to Save Time on This Recipe
Prepare ingredients ahead: Measure and chop all ingredients before you start cooking to streamline the process.
Use pre-sliced mushrooms: Save time by buying pre-sliced mushrooms instead of slicing them yourself.
Pound chicken in bulk: Pound multiple chicken breasts at once and store them in the fridge for quick access.
Simmer sauce while cooking: Start simmering the sauce while the chicken is cooking to save time.
Double the recipe: Make a double batch and freeze half for a quick meal later.
Chicken Marsala Recipe
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 4 pieces Chicken Breasts boneless, skinless
- ½ cup All-Purpose Flour
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper
- 2 tablespoons Olive Oil
- 1 cup Marsala Wine
- 1 cup Chicken Broth
- 8 ounces Mushrooms sliced
- 2 tablespoons Butter
- 2 tablespoons Chopped Parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness.
- Mix flour, salt, and pepper. Dredge chicken in the mixture.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook chicken until golden brown, about 5 minutes per side. Remove and set aside.
- In the same skillet, add mushrooms and cook until browned. Add Marsala wine and chicken broth, bring to a boil.
- Return chicken to the skillet, reduce heat, and simmer until sauce thickens, about 10 minutes.
- Stir in butter and garnish with chopped parsley before serving.
Nutritional Value
Keywords
Suggested Appetizers and Desserts
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