Creamy Chicken Marsala - The Recipe Critic (2024)

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Creamy Chicken Marsala is a classicItaliandish that is ready in under 30 minutes! Marsala wine is made into a creamy sauce paired with mushrooms for the ultimate savory bite. It’s simple and easy to whip up and sure to be a crowd-pleaser!

I am such a fan of mushrooms with just about everything. They are the perfect companion to pasta, soup, sauces, and pretty much everything else.If you love mushrooms too, then you will love this Creamy Tuscan Garlic Chicken, this delicious Skillet Creamy Chicken Mushroom Florentine, and this simple but oh-so flavorful Creamy Garlic Parmesan Mushroom Chicken.

Creamy Chicken Marsala - The Recipe Critic (1)

Marsala Chicken

Do you ever make something and think, DANG! I just made that?! This Creamy Chicken Marsalabecame an instant favorite with the very first bite. The creamy sauce is made with sweet marsala wine and wow, the flavor is incredible. (Don’t worry because alcohol does burn off during the cooking process and is safe for the kids to eat). All you have to add to it is some heavy cream, garlic, mustard, and voila!

Everything about this meal is SO GOOD. It’s perfect served with roasted root vegetables and a simple Caesar salad. You could also serve it over pasta al limone or your favorite noodles for a filling chicken pasta. My family always requests mashed potatoes, so I know for a fact it’s great with those too! This marsala sauce is perfect over rice too. However you decide to serve it, you are going to love this quick and easy chicken dish!

Ingredients

The key ingredient in this creamy chicken marsala is of course, the Marsala wine! You can find Marsala wine fairly easily and it’s perfect to have in your pantry for more recipes, like this creamy garlic pork marsala. You can find the measurements below in the recipe card.

  • Chicken Breast: I prefer to use boneless skinless chicken breast for this recipe. You could also use chicken thighs or chicken cutlets instead.
  • Salt and Black Pepper: To season the chicken.
  • Olive Oil: I prefer to cook with olive oil, but you can use your favorite cooking oil. You could use butter instead.
  • Mushrooms: Thinly sliced as evenly as possible so they all cook at the same rate.
  • Marsala Wine: The key ingredient! It adds all the body and flavor to the sauce.
  • Chicken Broth: To help make the sauce.
  • Heavy Whipping Cream: This is what makes this sauce so thick and creamy!
  • Ground Mustard: I prefer to use ground mustard, but you could also use a liquid mustard. Or you could leave it out altogether if your family doesn’t like mustard flavor.
  • Garlic Powder: To add to the depth of the sauce.
  • Parsley: Fresh, for garnish. You could also add fresh thyme as well.
Creamy Chicken Marsala - The Recipe Critic (2)

Creamy Chicken Marsala Recipe

This creamy chicken marsala recipe is pretty much as easy as it gets! Don’t be intimidated by cooking with wine, I kept this recipe so simple that anyone could do it. If you prefer to cook without wine, I share my substitutions below in the tip box.

  1. Cook Chicken: In a large skillet over medium heat add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the pan. Add the chicken and lightly season with salt and pepper. Cook until golden brown and cooked throughout. Remove chicken and set aside on a plate.
  2. Make Sauce: Add 1 tablespoon olive oil and sauté the mushrooms for 1-2 minutes. Add marsala wine and bring to a boil over medium-high heat for 1-2 minutes. This allows the alcohol to burn out. Add the chicken broth, heavy whipping cream, ground mustard, and garlic powder.
  3. Thicken Sauce and Serve: Bring to a boil and reduce heat and simmer for about 10 minutes or until it starts to thicken. Place the cooked chicken back in the sauce and continue to simmer for about 1-2 minutes.
Creamy Chicken Marsala - The Recipe Critic (3)

Tips for Making Creamy Chicken Marsala

This creamy chicken marsala recipe is super easy, but I always like to include a few personal tips that I’ve learned over the years from cooking a lot. Here are a few things to keep in mind when making this recipe.

  • Cutting the Breast in Half: I like to slice my chicken breasts in half or buy them thinly sliced so that they cook quickly and easily. Place one chicken breast half on a cutting board, flat/smooth side down. Put the palm of your non-cutting hand on the top of the breast, and, using a very sharp knife, slowly cut horizontally through the breast, starting with cutting into the long, thick side.
  • Choosing a Marsala Wine: Marsala is an Italian fortified wine with smoky, deep flavor. When making savorydishes like chicken or veal Marsala, dry Marsala is the classic choice; when making desserts, sweetMarsalisgenerally used.Marsala wine is a fortified wine from Sicily with a deep flavor and is used in this sauce to create a caramelized rich flavor. When making savory dishes like Chicken Marsala, dry Marsala is the best option.
  • Wine Alternative: If you are not interested in using dry marsala wine in this recipe, or don’t want to buy a bottle just for this, I’ve got you covered! Here are some substitutions you could use instead: 1/4 cup of white grape juice, 1 tablespoon vanilla extract, or 2 tablespoons of sherry vinegar.
Creamy Chicken Marsala - The Recipe Critic (4)

Storing Leftovers

I love having creamy chicken marsala in the fridge as leftovers because the sauce gets more flavorful over time. It’s seriously so good the next day, and makes a perfect lunch. Here is how to store leftovers.

More Creamy Chicken Recipes

I think chicken is absolutely perfect paired with a creamy sauce! I’ve got so many recipes on my blog, I just had to share a few of my favorites with you. You are going to want to try them all!

Dressings, Sauces, and Dips

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Creamy Tuscan Garlic Chicken

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Creamy Chicken Marsala

4.77 from 97 votes

By: Alyssa Rivers

Creamy Chicken Marsala is a classicItaliandish that is ready in under 30 minutes! Marsala wine is made into a creamy sauce paired with mushrooms for the ultimate savory bite. It's simple and easy to whip up and sure to be a crowd-pleaser!

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 People

Ingredients

Instructions

  • In a large skillet over medium heat add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the pan. Add the chicken and lightly season with salt and pepper. Cook until lightly brown and cooked throughout. Remove chicken and set aside on a plate.

  • Add 1 tablespoon olive oil and sauté the mushrooms for 1-2 minutes. Add marsala wine and bring to a boil over medium-high heat for 1-2 minutes. This allows the alcohol to burn out. Add the chicken broth, heavy whipping cream, ground mustard, and garlic powder.

  • Bring to a boil and reduce heat and simmer for about 10 minutes or until it starts to thicken. Place the cooked chicken back in the sauce and continue to simmer for about 1-2 minutes.

Video

Notes

Originally Posted May 2, 2019

Updated May 4, 2023

Nutrition

Calories: 410kcalCarbohydrates: 4gProtein: 27gFat: 32gSaturated Fat: 15gCholesterol: 154mgSodium: 264mgPotassium: 610mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 909IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 44mgIron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American, Italian, Italian American

Tried this recipe?Mention @alyssa_therecipecritic or tag #therecipecritic!

About Alyssa Rivers

Alyssa Rivers is the author of 'The Tried and True Cookbook', a professional food photographer and experienced recipe-developer. Having a passion for cooking, her tried and true recipes have been featured on Good Morning America, Today Food, Buzzfeed and more.

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Creamy Chicken Marsala - The Recipe Critic (2024)

FAQs

What is creamy Marsala sauce made of? ›

3/4 cup dry Marsala wine. 1 1/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth (or stock) 3/4 cup heavy cream (thickened cream, evaporated milk or half and half may also be used)** 2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley.

Is it better to use dry or sweet Marsala for Chicken Marsala? ›

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.

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.

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.

How can I thicken my Chicken Marsala sauce? ›

Flour plus fat (butter) = roux. A roux is used as a thickening agent in sauces. Sooo, with the butter from the pan and the butter the mushrooms have absorbed, plus the chicken cutlets coated in flour… This all means when the cutlets get added back to the sauce – that flour and butter combo is what thickens the sauce.

What is the difference between masala and Marsala sauce? ›

Marsala is sweet dessert wine, it is not typically used for drinking like a Chianti or Montepulciano, but cooking and marinades. Masala is a spice blend using in Indian cooking. It contains all brown spices: cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, coriander, and cumin.

Can I use red wine instead of Marsala for Chicken Marsala? ›

Sherry or Port are better substitutions for Marsala. Reed wine plus a little balsamic vinegar might be better than just red wine alone. Sort of. You'll want to add some sugar or honey or other sweetner though.

Do you drink marsala wine or just cook with it? ›

Marsala Varietals

The younger wines, like the ones you'll find at the bottom shelf of your liquor store, are best for cooking. Sadly, many people don't realize that Marsala makes a great drinking wine, usually as either an aperitif, or appetizer, or a dessert wine.

Do you use red or white wine for Chicken Marsala? ›

Chicken Marsala is a traditional Italian dish that is made with chicken, white wine, and sweet marsala wine. Chicken Marsala is served with tomato sauce and creamy white sauce. The marsala wine used in this dish is a dry marsala.

What is Marsala wine sauce made of? ›

Add olive oil to heavy hot saucepan. Add onions, garlic, mushrooms, saute until mushrooms are tender. Add flour and cook about 1 minute then deglaze pan with Marsala wine. Add beef stock and cook until thick and flavors are blended.

What is a substitute for Marsala sauce? ›

“Since this is a red sauce, go for a heavy red wine or ruby Port as a substitute,” Bridges advises. To emulate the savory, umami notes in Marsala, he adds, “Worcestershire sauce is also a great swap.”

How does Marsala sauce taste like? ›

Marsala tends to have a nutty, brown sugar flavor with notes of dried fruit and can be lightly sweet (dry) to very sweet.

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