Chicken MarsalaThe trifecta of tender scallopini, mushrooms, and fortified wine forms the basis for this rich and saucy weeknight dinner.

This dish has its origins in traditional Italian scallopini from Sicily and is a staple throughout Italian-American homes. Pounding the chicken cutlets thin before cooking makes them terrifically tender, while deglazing the pan with Marsala and stock creates a quick, rich sauce. Use a dry Marsala wine for this recipe, and save the sweet versions for sipping or for whipping up a batch of after-dinner zabaglione.

Spaghetti and meatballs, veal parm, stromboli—this is our ultimate comfort food.

  • Serves

    serves 4 to 6

  • Time

    40 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1¼ lb. chicken breasts (about 8), pounded ¼ in. thick
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • ⅓ cup plus 1 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
  • 5 Tbsp. olive oil, divided
  • 5 tbsp. unsalted butter
  • 8 oz. white button mushrooms
  • 2 tbsp. minced shallots
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 13 cup dry Marsala wine
  • 13 cup chicken stock
  • 1 tbsp. finely chopped parsley, for garnish (optional)

Instructions

Step 1

Season chicken with salt and pepper and dredge in 1⁄3 cup flour. Heat 2 tbsp. oil and 1 tbsp. butter in a 12" skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, add chicken, and cook, turning once, until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a plate, and set aside. Add 2 tbsp. oil and 1 tbsp. butter, and then add mushrooms; cook until golden brown, about 8 minutes. Transfer to plate with chicken, and set aside.

Step 2

Heat remaining oil in skillet, and then add shallots and garlic; cook, stirring, until soft, about 1 minute. Stir in remaining 1 tbsp. flour; cook for 2 minutes. Add Marsala and stock; cook, stirring and scraping bottom of pan until slightly thick, about 2 minutes. Return chicken and mushrooms to skillet, and cook until heated through, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in remaining butter. Season with salt and pepper; garnish with parsley, if you like.
  1. Season chicken with salt and pepper and dredge in 1⁄3 cup flour. Heat 2 tbsp. oil and 1 tbsp. butter in a 12" skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, add chicken, and cook, turning once, until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a plate, and set aside. Add 2 tbsp. oil and 1 tbsp. butter, and then add mushrooms; cook until golden brown, about 8 minutes. Transfer to plate with chicken, and set aside.
  2. Heat remaining oil in skillet, and then add shallots and garlic; cook, stirring, until soft, about 1 minute. Stir in remaining 1 tbsp. flour; cook for 2 minutes. Add Marsala and stock; cook, stirring and scraping bottom of pan until slightly thick, about 2 minutes. Return chicken and mushrooms to skillet, and cook until heated through, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in remaining butter. Season with salt and pepper; garnish with parsley, if you like.
Recipes

Chicken Marsala

The trifecta of tender scallopini, mushrooms, and fortified wine forms the basis for this rich and saucy weeknight dinner.

  • Serves

    serves 4 to 6

  • Time

    40 minutes

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MATT TAYLOR-GROSS

By SAVEUR Editors


Updated on September 16, 2022

This dish has its origins in traditional Italian scallopini from Sicily and is a staple throughout Italian-American homes. Pounding the chicken cutlets thin before cooking makes them terrifically tender, while deglazing the pan with Marsala and stock creates a quick, rich sauce. Use a dry Marsala wine for this recipe, and save the sweet versions for sipping or for whipping up a batch of after-dinner zabaglione.

Ingredients

  • 1¼ lb. chicken breasts (about 8), pounded ¼ in. thick
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • ⅓ cup plus 1 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
  • 5 Tbsp. olive oil, divided
  • 5 tbsp. unsalted butter
  • 8 oz. white button mushrooms
  • 2 tbsp. minced shallots
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 13 cup dry Marsala wine
  • 13 cup chicken stock
  • 1 tbsp. finely chopped parsley, for garnish (optional)

Instructions

Step 1

Season chicken with salt and pepper and dredge in 1⁄3 cup flour. Heat 2 tbsp. oil and 1 tbsp. butter in a 12" skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, add chicken, and cook, turning once, until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a plate, and set aside. Add 2 tbsp. oil and 1 tbsp. butter, and then add mushrooms; cook until golden brown, about 8 minutes. Transfer to plate with chicken, and set aside.

Step 2

Heat remaining oil in skillet, and then add shallots and garlic; cook, stirring, until soft, about 1 minute. Stir in remaining 1 tbsp. flour; cook for 2 minutes. Add Marsala and stock; cook, stirring and scraping bottom of pan until slightly thick, about 2 minutes. Return chicken and mushrooms to skillet, and cook until heated through, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in remaining butter. Season with salt and pepper; garnish with parsley, if you like.
  1. Season chicken with salt and pepper and dredge in 1⁄3 cup flour. Heat 2 tbsp. oil and 1 tbsp. butter in a 12" skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, add chicken, and cook, turning once, until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a plate, and set aside. Add 2 tbsp. oil and 1 tbsp. butter, and then add mushrooms; cook until golden brown, about 8 minutes. Transfer to plate with chicken, and set aside.
  2. Heat remaining oil in skillet, and then add shallots and garlic; cook, stirring, until soft, about 1 minute. Stir in remaining 1 tbsp. flour; cook for 2 minutes. Add Marsala and stock; cook, stirring and scraping bottom of pan until slightly thick, about 2 minutes. Return chicken and mushrooms to skillet, and cook until heated through, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in remaining butter. Season with salt and pepper; garnish with parsley, if you like.

Spaghetti and meatballs, veal parm, stromboli—this is our ultimate comfort food.

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