Easy Chicken Marsala (2024)

Easy Chicken Marsala (1)

This Easy Chicken Marsala lives up to its name about being easy; it’s only 8 ingredients! The best part? It’s actually restaurant quality!I know that’s a bold statement, but by now, you know that I don’t steer you wrong.

Chicken Marsala happens to be one of my favorite dinner recipes. In fact, even though it seems like a fancy-ish dish, I grew up with this recipe. It is one of my dad’s favorite dishes, and so my mom spent years trying to perfect a recipe that he loved.

Now, Chicken Marsala is an Italian dish, and I’m not Italian – I’m Armenian. So I’m not claiming that my recipe is traditional Italian, it’s just my own spin on it, which I’ve developed over the years.

To make this recipe a little lighter than your traditional Italian chicken marsala, you will see that I’ve created this recipe using full fat coconut milk instead of heavy cream. If that’s not your thing, feel free to stick to the heavy cream.

And the only “trick” that you need to know to perfect this recipe is to reduce thewine; meaning, once you add the wine to the pan, you need to bring it to a simmer and let it cook until it’s reduced to about half the quantity. Then, you add thecoconut milk.

Easy Chicken Marsala (2)

Easy Chicken Marsala (3)

What you need to make Easy Chicken Marsala

Chicken breasts

For this recipe, I recommend using boneless, skinless chicken breasts. If your chicken breasts are large (6-9oz), then you only need 2, which you will then slice in half to make 4 thinner breasts. If your chicken breasts are on the smaller side (4oz), then use four of them, and there is no need to slice them in half.

Gluten-free flour

Oat flour, all purpose flour, or even whole wheat flour are all great substitutions.

Olive oil

I recommend using extra virgin olive oil because olive oil does have distinct taste, which is fantastic in this recipe.

Mushrooms

You can use any sliced mushrooms that you’d like in this recipe. I like using Cremini mushrooms, but regular white mushrooms will work too. Slice them thinly.

Butter or ghee

I am obsessed with using real butter or ghee in this recipe. It does a lot for the taste. But if you don’t want to use either of those, feel free to go with a plant-based butter or coconut oil.

Garlic

I prefer fresh garlic, mashed, over dried garlic powder any day of the week, especially in this recipe.

Marsala wine

Now, I know I am asking you to go out on a limb and purchase marsala wine, which I’m sure most of you don’t have at home. But guess what? It’s worth it, because after you make this recipe once, you are going to make it weekly, on rotation. You’ll use it all up, don’t worry!

Coconut milk

For this recipe, you will want to use full-fat coconut milk that comes in the can. Additionally, you can discard the liquid part, and stick with the thick part that is at the top of the can.

Parsley

I love chopping up some fresh parsley and using it as a garnish on the chicken at the very end.

Easy Chicken Marsala (4)

Looking for other dinner inspo?

I’ve got you – a nice, little collection of my favorites.

If you make this recipe, be sure to leave a rating and a comment below, so that others can read your review. And by now, you all know that I practically live on Instagram, so tag me in your creations and I will repost!

Easy Chicken Marsala (5)

Easy Chicken Marsala

5 from 3 votes

Nicole Modic

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

SERVES 4

Print ItPin It

This restaurant-quality Chicken Marsala is easy and one of the most flavorful dishes around. The best part? It's super customizable and you can substitute various ingredients to make it your own. This dish will definitely become a part of your weekly dinner rotation.

Ingredients

  • 2 large chicken breasts 6-9 ounces each or 4 small chicken breasts (4 oz each)
  • ½ cup gluten-free flour or all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 8 ounces mushrooms sliced thin (I recommend Cremini, but any mushrooms will work)
  • 4 tablespoons butter or ghee
  • 4 cloves garlic mashed
  • 1 cup marsala wine
  • ½ cup coconut milk the thick part at the top of the can
  • 2 tablespoons flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped

Instructions

  • Slice mushrooms thinly and set aside.

  • Slice the chicken breasts in half, lengthwise.

  • Sprinkle the chicken breasts with salt and pepper.

  • Add the flour to a medium-sized bowl, and dip each chicken breast in the flour.

  • Next, place a medium skillet on the stove (I recommend cast iron, if possible, because you will get a nice char on the chicken).

  • Add the olive oil, along with 1 tablespoon of the butter/ghee over medium-high heat.

  • Once the pan is hot, then add the chicken breasts.

  • Cook for about 5 minutes on each side, until they are no longer pink in the middle.

  • Once they are done, remove them from the pan and transfer them to a plate.

  • Next, add remaining butter to the pan along with the mashed garlic and the sliced mushrooms.

  • Cook for about 5 minutes, until the mushrooms start to soften.

  • Add the marsala wine to the skillet.

  • Bring to a simmer, and once the liquid has reduced by half, add the coconut milk and give everything a nice stir.

  • Then add the chicken breasts back to the skillet, and cover with the sauce.

  • Cook for another 5 minutes or so, until the sauce has thickened somewhat.

  • Season with salt and pepper and garnish with chopped parsley!

Did you make this recipe?

I’d love to see what you made - tag @kalejunkie
in your posts and I’ll re-share!

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Easy Chicken Marsala (2024)

FAQs

What can I use instead of Marsala wine for chicken marsala? ›

What can I use instead of marsala wine? 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.

Is it better to make chicken marsala dry or sweet? ›

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.

Can you use regular white wine for chicken marsala? ›

If you don't have or can't find marsala wine, my favorite substitution is Madeira wine, or even a nice dry white wine. However, if you don't want to use any alcohol at all, you can use an equal amount of beef broth or stock, but bear in mind, this won't have the same classic flavor.

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.

Does the alcohol cook out of chicken Marsala? ›

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.

What do you serve chicken marsala with? ›

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

Is there a difference between Marsala wine and Marsala cooking wine? ›

Marsala Age Classification

In general, younger Marsala wines are almost always used for cooking, while older Marsalas are known to be more favorable for sipping.

Can I substitute dry Marsala for sweet Marsala? ›

Though both were acceptable, tasters found that dry Marsala offered more depth of flavor, while sweet Marsala added sweetness and some flavor but wasn't as complex. The takeaway? For both savory and sweet applications, we suggest using dry Marsala if a recipe doesn't specify a style.

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.

How do you thicken chicken marsala? ›

So, if you are at the stage where your sauce should be thickening and it isn't, sprinkle a ½ teaspoon of flour evenly across the top of the sauce. It should help thicken it right up. Also, when you are coating the chicken in flour make sure you are really coating them well.

Do people drink Marsala wine or just cook with it? ›

Obviously by now you know that yes, you can drink Marsala wine. Remember, for cooking, you can use the younger, much less expensive variety. But for the best Marsala wine for drinking, you can splurge on the more expensive, aged stuff.

What can I use if I don t have Marsala wine for chicken Marsala? ›

Marsala wine substitutes and a Nonalcoholic option:
  1. Dry Sherry: one-to-one substitute.
  2. Madiera wine: one-to-one substitute.
  3. Grape Juice and Brandy: For every ¼ cup of Marsala wine you need in your recipe, substitute the following: ¼ cup of grape juice mixed with 1 teaspoon of brandy.
Sep 12, 2023

Can I use cabernet sauvignon for Marsala? ›

She recommends avoiding heavy Cabernet Sauvignons and other full-bodied reds as a direct swap as these risk overpowering the final dish.

What is the best wine to make chicken marsala? ›

For cooking savory dishes like this one, use a secco (dry), fine (aged one year) ambra or oro Marsala. This impressive dish leans on the wine's flavor profile, giving it a deep and nutty richness. Even better, it comes together quickly, which makes it just as suitable for busy weeknights as weekend entertaining.

What does Marsala consist of? ›

Marsala is produced using the Grillo, Inzolia, Catarratto and Damaschino white grape varietals, among others. Marsala contains about 15–20% alcohol by volume. Different Marsala wines are classified according to their color, sweetness, and duration of their ageing.

What does masala sauce contain? ›

Ingredients
  • 2 onions (I used one yellow, one purple)
  • 5 cloves garlic.
  • 2 tablespoons fresh ginger, crushed.
  • 3 tablespoon garam masala.
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder.
  • 1 tablespoon turmeric.
  • 1 tablespoon cumin.
  • 1/2 teaspoons ground cloves.

What is chicken masala made of? ›

Chicken masala is a simple Indian dish made with chicken, spices, herbs, onions and tomatoes. Serve this with rice or any flatbreads like naan, roti or paratha.

What alcohol is in Marsala? ›

Marsala is fortified with brandy or neutral grape spirit usually made with regional grapes. A cooked grape must called 'Mosto Cotto' gives Marsala its color and its caramel flavor. A sweetened fortified wine called 'Mistella' is often blended, made from Grillo grapes.

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