Chicken Marsala is a classic Italian-American dish that's crowd-pleasing, quick, and irresistible. The slightly sweet and savory sauce made of mushrooms, aromatics, and Marsala wine is straight-up drinkable, thanks to the not-so-traditional addition of heavy cream. It's the perfect weeknight dinner, and we don't even feel guilty making it three nights in a row. It's a real plus that this dish comes together in just 35 minutes.
What kind of wine is Marsala?
Marsala is a Sicilian fortified wine, which is a wine that has had a distilled spirit like brandy or cognac added. The fortification process lends a deep brown color and a distinct blend of richness and caramelized sweetness to the wine, making it an ideal match for the umami-rich mushrooms here. That sweet and savory flavor combo is what makes chicken Marsala so delicious and irresistible.
If you can find it, opt for real Marsala wine instead of the cooking wine you might find next to the vinegar and oil in the grocery store. Look for a dry Marsala wine rather than sweet, so that the final sauce is balanced. If you can’t find Marsala wine, try another dry fortified wine like vermouth, Madeira, dark sherry, or port.
What kind of chicken works best for chicken Marsala?
There’s a reason boneless, skinless chicken breast is the traditional choice for this dish. Chicken breast is the perfect canvas for adding a ton of flavor, and the lean cut helps to balance the heavy sauce. Halving the chicken before frying also ensures that it’ll cook quickly while still yielding a golden brown crust on the outside. For an extra-decadent dinner, try boneless, skinless chicken thighs!
What kind of mushrooms are best for chicken Marsala?
The most common choices are cremini or white button mushrooms, which will yield a delicious result every time, but you definitely don’t have to limit your mushroom selection. Try shiitake for added richness or maitake mushrooms for a hint of pepperiness. You could even grab a pack of mixed wild mushrooms to experiment with!
Chicken Marsala serving ideas:
Angel hair pasta is our go-to for this dish: The thin noodles soak up all of that yummy Marsala sauce. If you’re not feeling pasta, you can also go for any side that serves that same purpose. Try fluffy mashed potatoes, herby wild rice, or even toasted crusty bread.
Made this? Let us know how it went in the comments below!
