This classic chicken marsala with mushrooms is an easy and delicious chicken dinner, with boneless chicken and mushrooms in a Marsala wine pan sauce.
Why I love chicken marsala
- This classic chicken marsala recipe has been in regular rotation here for more years that I can count. It’s a dish that has so much to recommend it. It’s quick and easy, so it’s perfect for weeknight meals, but it has a certain elegance to it, that makes it great for entertaining, as well.
- It’s also delicious, which is always good and especially good when it comes along with the quick and easy part.
This easy chicken dinner cooks up quickly in a hot skillet, so it’s on the table in just about 30 minutes!
Ingredients and substitutions
Boneless Chicken Breasts: While you can find thin chicken fillets, I prefer to buy the whole boneless, skinless chicken breasts and cut them in half myself. Either will work here though. The thin fillets will cook more quickly.
Shallots: If you have shallots on hand, they are the best choice here. Alternately, you can use a red or yellow onion.
Mushrooms: You can use any mushrooms here. I like a mix of button mushrooms and cremini mushrooms. I like to buy them whole and slice them myself, but pre-sliced mushrooms are fine.
Marsala Wine: I prefer to use a Dry Marsala Wine. If you are heading out to buy some Marsala for your kitchen, you’ll find it in with the Fortified Wines. The brand I use is called Sperone Fine I.P. and is labeled “Dry”. Some people like sweet Marsala wine, but unless you are sure that is your preference, I recommend sticking with the dry Marsala.
Marsala wine has a distinctive flavour that is not easily duplicated, but in a pinch, a nice red wine will work here. A dry sherry or brandy might be a decent substitute, as well.
Heavy Cream: Heavy cream is generally used in sauces that contain wine, as its fat content prevents it from “splitting”. A lighter cream can be used, but may split (produce tiny white pebbles of fat in the sauce). If using a lighter, thinner cream, you can either mix with 1 tsp of cornstarch to thicken the sauce or reduce the chicken stock slightly for a thicker sauce that way.
Recipe tips
- Flouring the chicken before frying gives it a light coating that “browns” more easily than just cooking the chicken plain. I think it’s nice that the chicken has a little colour, but it’s not a necessary step, so if you prefer, you can skip the flour on the chicken.
- Be sure your chicken is cooked through before removing to the plate, as it won’t cook additionally at the end.
- Take your time when cooking the mushrooms and let them cook until deep golden brown. The extra few minutes makes for a much nicer finished dish.
- Use a meat pounder or a cast iron skillet to pound your chicken breasts after slicing them in half. They don’t have to be super thin, but they should be evenly thick. Starting with thin and even pieces of chicken ensures quick and even cooking.
- Be sure to taste your sauce at the end of cooking and add additional salt and freshly ground pepper, as needed, to bring all the flavours together.
- For a gluten-free dish, skip the flour on the chicken and the flour sprinkled on the mushrooms. Thicken the sauce at the end of cooking with a mixture of 2 tsp cornstarch or arrowroot powder mixed with 1 Tbsp cold water. Add to the hot sauce and cook until the sauce thickens.
Top tip!
This dish cooks quickly over high heat and it’s of great benefit to have all your ingredients measured and handy beside the stove, to add to the hot skillet as needed.
What to serve with chicken marsala
I love to serve chicken marsala with mashed potatoes, to take advantage of the generous, delicious sauce. It’s also nice with white or brown rice or try it with pasta. Add a green vegetable, such as broccoli or green beans to complete the meal.
Making ahead, storing and freezing
While this dish is best cooked and enjoyed right away, it can be made ahead and reheated. I might skip the flour on the chicken if the intention is to make ahead and reheat, as it might have a tendency to become a little soft at best or mushy. To reheat, simply cook through adding the chicken back to the sauce, then cool slightly, cover and refrigerate right in the skillet. When ready to serve, gently heat over low heat until re-warmed.
Store leftovers in the fridge for 2-3 days or it should also freeze well up to 3 months.
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Get the Recipe: Classic Chicken Marsala
Ingredients
- 3 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Salt and freshly ground pepper
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour, for dredging
- 3 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 Tablespoon butter
For the marsala sauce:
- 2 Tablespoons butter
- 2 medium shallots, finely diced, can substitute red or yellow onion
- 1-2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 8-10 oz button or cremini mushrooms, or a mix of mushrooms, sliced
- 1 Tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup dry Marsala wine
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 3 Tablespoons heavy cream
- Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Tip! This dish cooks quickly over high heat and it's of great benefit to have all your ingredients measured and handy beside the stove, to add to the hot skillet as needed.
- Halve the chicken breasts lengthwise. Using a meat pounder, rolling pin or a heavy skillet, pound the pieces until evenly thick. Season with salt and pepper. Add the 1/3 cup of flour to a plate and lightly coat (dredge) each piece of chicken in flour, shaking off the excess. Set aside while the skillet heats.
- In a heavy-bottomed large skillet, heat the 3 Tbsp olive oil together with the 1 Tbsp butter over medium-high heat (or a touch higher even). When the butter is foaming, add the floured chicken cutlets, adding only as many as will fit flat with an inch at least in between. (Do in batches, if necessary). Cook until the underside is golden, then flip and cook the other side as well, about 3 minutes per side. Remove to a plate.
- Melt the remaining 2 Tbsp butter in the pan. Add the shallots and a pinch of salt and cook, stirring for about 30 seconds, using a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Add the garlic and cook 15 seconds more. Add the mushrooms and cook until all of the mushroom liquid has evaporated and the mushrooms are golden, about 3 minutes. Sprinkle with the flour and cook, stirring, for about 30 seconds. Add the Marsala. Allow the Marsala to boil until almost completely evaporated.
- Once the Marsala has almost completely evaporated, add the chicken broth and cook until the mixture is reduced by half, about 3 minutes. Stir in the cream. Return the chicken to the pan and allow it to simmer with sauce to re-warm. Taste the sauce and add salt and freshly ground black pepper, as needed.
- If desired, garnish with chopped parsley or fresh thyme leaves (or dried thyme leaves).
Notes
More Recipes with Marsala to Love!
Hi! I’m Jennifer, a home cook schooled by trial and error and almost 40 years of getting dinner on the table! I love to share my favourite recipes, both old and new, together with lots of tips and tricks to hopefully help make your home cooking enjoyable, stress free, rewarding and of course, delicious!
Your recipes never disappoint! This was simple but perfectly delicious
So glad you enjoyed it :) Thanks so much!
I made this for dinner last night and it was fabulous! Great flavours and depth. My picky son licked the plate clean. Thanks for the “keeper” recipe!
So glad you all enjoyed it, Jen :) Thanks so much!
Hello. This is my first comment here. I also have been hard at it cooking for over 30 years and enjoy the creative craft. I particularly enjoyed this recipe and would like to offer up: right before you add the Marsala crank up your gas burner high for almost a minute. When the wine flambes’ it provides the necessary heat to further build the sauce. I followed your recipe to the exact specifications and was delighted with the texture and flavor profile. It was decadent. My family said: “that’s a keeper”
Thank you,
Craig Z.
So glad you all enjoyed it, Craig. It has been a favourite here for many years :) Thanks so much!
Thank you so much for specifying “which” Marsala to use. I once made a recipe (a pork dish) that did not and used the ‘sweet’ Marsala. It was, of course, way too much. So now when seeing any Marsala in a recipe – I always wonder. It’s surprising how many don’t even realize there are two. I didn’t know! So all that being said – I love your Classic Chicken Marsala and it is one of my “comfort” dishes.
So glad you are enjoying it, Gwen and yes, I always try to provide every detail I think people need to make a dish. Glad it helped :) Thanks!
2023 – I have made this several times and it is always a hit.
Just wanted to let you know!
Thank you, my fellow Canadian!
Hi Gwenyth! I’m so glad you’re enjoying it. Thanks so much :)
Thank you Jennifer. This meal is so delicious. I thought I had Marsala but I did not so I used sherry. I will definitely buy some Marsala and make the chicken again. Thank you so much.
So glad you enjoyed it! Thanks so much :)
Is it dinnertime yet? Nothing like a classic – especially when it’s this flavorful!!
Thanks so much, Annie :)
Made this last night for supper. So good. Didn’t have Marsala on hand so I used 1/3 cup dry vermouth and 2 tbsp brandy.
Glad you enjoyed it, Carolyn! Thanks :)
Yum! This looks wonderful and thanks for all your great tips. I’m a bit embarrassed to admit that I’ve never made Chicken Marsala. But now I think I can’t go wrong – with your expert advice!
Thanks Chris! Next time you’re at the liquor store, grab a bottle of Marsala. It keeps well and is such a wonderful addition to so many dishes (I love it with pork, as well!)
Chicken marsala is one of my husbands all time favorite meals! I know he would go crazy (in the best way) if I surprised him with this! Can’t wait to try your recipe!
Thanks Cheyanne! It’s one of my favourite dishes, as well. Always hits the spot :)
One of my all-time favorite recipes! I adore this chicken and love the sound of your version. So easy to make but perfect for company. Bravo!
Thanks Tricia :)
I say keep sharing the classics, it looks and sounds fantastic. I’d happy make and eat this for dinner.
Thanks Matt and yes, it’s hard to beat the classics :)
All I can say is yes, yes, yes and many more times yes! One of my favorite dishes ever:)
Thanks Milena and me, too :)
I’m thinking this would be lovely for Saturday night with some vino! Hubby would love it too! Looking forward to trying :)
Thanks Dawn and yes, great with a glass of vino :)
I’ve come to the end of my prepped meals for the week, and now I’m wishing I had the ingredients to whip up this chicken marsala. Totally craving it for dinner tonight!
Thanks Leanne :)
You can’t beat a classic Jennifer! And this one is a total FAVE at our house. My husband Tom would eat it every night if I served it! Can’t wait to try your recipe!
Thanks so much, Mary Ann :)