Chicken is a great base for any dish. Most people enjoy eating it, and it also provides several health benefits. It is a lean meat that is a great source of protein. It also supports bone health and the immune system and can work to relieve stress.
Another reason chicken is a terrific choice for a meal is because it is so versatile. It tastes great grilled, fried, or baked, and can be served with various other ingredients, sauces and more.
One chicken dish that is worth trying is chicken marsala. This is an Italian American dish that uses chicken cutlets as a base. Mushrooms, minced garlic, shallots and Marsala wine are then added. The chicken is coated in flour and sautéed in a pan.
After the chicken is removed, the pan is then used to make a Marsala reduction. To do this, the wine is reduced to the consistency of syrup while garlic, onions, shallots, mushrooms, herbs and other preferred ingredients are added.
The sauce is then poured over the chicken, which has been kept warm in the oven, and the dish is served immediately.
The dish is a variation of Italian scallopini dishes. This is a term that refers to dishes that use a thin cut of meat and have been served in many varieties throughout Italy. It can be traced back to the 19th century, where it was likely to have originated with English families who lived in Western Sicily, where Marsala wine is produced.
Healthy Chicken Recipes
Chicken marsala is beneficial to health due to its main ingredient, chicken, as well as the other vegetables that are added. But, of course, chicken marsala isn’t the only healthy chicken recipe you can make for your family. Here are some other options you may want to consider.
- Chicken Breasts with Brown Butter Garlic Tomato Sauce: Brown butter is known as a cook’s secret weapon, as it provides meals with a great nutty flavor. The tomatoes (yes, whole tomatoes are actually used in the sauce) also give the dish a healthy kick. Complete the meal with whole wheat couscous, whole grain polenta, or brown rice to make the dish extra nutritious.
- Maple Mustard Roasted Chicken with Squash and Brussels Sprouts: You can tell how healthy this dish will be just from the title. The butternut squash, acorn squash, and brussels sprouts will taste best if they are cut into halves or cubes (for maximum surface area) and roasted. A sprinkling of hazel nuts can also be added as a topper and as another healthy addition.
- Turmeric Roasted Chicken with Farro: Turmeric has several health benefits. Rich in curcumin, it has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects that promote weight loss, support heart health, and improve blood sugar levels. Turmeric can be added to chicken to give it warm, earthy notes. Greek yogurt makes a healthy and tasty topping that works to lock in the chicken’s moisture as it bakes.
Chicken Marsala in Oven
Chicken marsala is a great dish to fix because it involves oven baking. This is a bonus because cooks can just leave their chicken in the oven while taking care of other things. They don’t need to tend to it very often. Just pull it out of the oven and it’s done!
But on the downside, chicken can easily become dried out in the oven. Here are some tips that you can use to keep your oven baked chicken nice and moist.
- Don’t overcook it: Overcooked chicken will be tough and dry. Bake until the internal temperature reaches about 160 degrees. Then, let it sit under foil to ensure it maintains that temperature.
- Try bone-in chicken breast: These tend to be juicier than boneless chicken breasts.
- Cook at lower heat for longer: This will keep chicken breasts tender and juicy.
- Let it rest: Let the cooked chicken rest at room temperature for 3-5 minutes after baking it. This will help to hold in more of the juices.
- Use olive oil: This will keep the chicken moist while adding flavor.
This chicken marsala recipe is the perfect choice for an elegant meal at home. It is made with deliciously coated chicken breasts covered in a Marsala wine and mushroom sauce.
The recipe calls for pancetta, which many chicken marsala recipes omit. Pancetta is an Italian bacon that is cured with salt, pepper, and other spices, but not smoked. It’s moister and has a mellower flavor than most bacon. You can find it at any good Italian market and many supermarkets; it’s definitely worth the extra effort to get.
Some cooks may want to substitute the pancetta, but we caution against it. You can substitute bacon for pancetta by blanching it in boiling water first to subdue the smoky flavor. However, pancetta is what helps to make this recipe incredibly magnificent. Settle for nothing less.
Follow this recipe to make a meal your friends and family will not soon forget.
If you enjoyed this recipe, make sure to check out our Apple-Pork Chops Recipe and our Baked Parmesan Chicken Recipe.
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Chicken Marsala Recipe
(4 votes, average: 3.25 out of 5)
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- Total Time: 40 Minutes
Description
This is an Italian American dish that uses chicken cutlets as a base. Mushrooms, minced garlic, shallots and Marsala wine is then added. The chicken is coated in flour and sautéed in a pan.
Ingredients
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (5–6 ounces each)
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- Salt and pepper
- 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 1/2 ounces pancetta, cut into 1 x 1/8 inch pieces
- 2 cups sliced mushrooms
- 1 medium garlic clove, minced
- 1 teaspoon tomato paste
- 1 1/2 cups sweet Marsala wine
- 1 1/2 Tablespoons lemon juice
- 4 Tablespoons butter, cut into four pieces
- 2 Tablespoons minced fresh parsley leaves
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 200 degrees F, with rack in lower middle position. Place a large heatproof plate on the rack.
- Pat the chicken breasts dry. Place the flour in a shallow baking dish. Season both sides of chicken with salt and pepper, the coat each side in flour. Shake gently to remove excess flour. Set aside.
- Heat the oil in a 12 inch heavy bottomed skilled over medium high heat, until simmering.
- Place the floured cutlets in a single layer in the skillet and cook until golden brown (about 3 min.)
- Turn the cutlets with tongs and cook on the other side until golden brown, about 3 minutes longer.
- Transfer the cutlets to the heated plate and return to the oven.
- Lower the skillet heat to low and add the pancetta. Sauté, stirring occasionally and scraping the pan bottom with a wooden spoon to loosen browned bits, until the pancetta is browned and crisp (about 4 min.)
- With a slotted spoon, transfer the pancetta to paper towels and drain.
- Turn the heat to medium-high and add the mushrooms to the skillet. Sauté, stirring occasionally and scrape the pan bottom until the mushrooms begin to brown (about 8 min.)
- Add the garlic, tomato paste, and cooked pancetta. Cook, stirring constantly, until the tomato paste begins to brown (about 1 min.)
- Remove the pan from heat and add the Marsala. Return the pan to high heat and simmer, scraping the browned bits from the pan bottom, until the sauce is thickened and reduced to about 1 1/4 cups (about 5 min.)
- Remove the pan from heat and add the lemon juice plus any juice from the chicken that has accumulated on the plate. Whisk in the butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, until well blended.
- Stir in the parsley and season with salt and pepper to taste. Pour the sauce over the chicken and serve immediately.
- Prep Time: 15 Minutes
- Cook Time: 25 Minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Sautéeing
- Cuisine: Italian
Sides to Serve with Chicken Marsala
Chicken marsala is definitely the star of the show, but you can't have a complete meal without side dishes! Let's take a look at some of the sides that go great with chicken marsala:
- Roasted vegetables. If you want to make a meal that's well-rounded and healthy, roasted vegetables are a great choice. They're tasty, assuming you season sufficiently, and come packed with lots of nutrients.
- Mashed potatoes. Mashed potatoes are an extremely popular side dish for a reason. They go great with so many dinners, and chicken marsala is no exception. Serve with a hearty helping of gravy.
- Dinner rolls. Sometimes, a simple side dish is best. Grab your favorite dinner rolls from the store and warm them prior to serving dinner. Slather butter on each, and you'll have a great side to include with your chicken marsala.
- Asparagus. This one won't be a favorite with kids, but asparagus works excellently as a side dish for chicken marsala. It has earthy flavors, but these can be subdued with certain seasonings. If you want to serve a healthy dinner, asparagus is the way to go.
- Sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes are a healthy side dish to serve with chicken marsala. The sweet taste will be popular with kids. If you want to serve a healthy dinner but have picky kids, this is the way to go.
- Homemade bread. What's better than making your own bread? You'll fill your house with the delicious smell of baking bread, and you'll get a tasty and fluffy loaf out of it. Serve a thick slice with each serving of chicken marsala.
- Egg noodles. Egg noodles have a relatively neutral taste on their own, making them a flexible side dish. Butter them up before serving them with chicken marsala. Offer sprinkle cheese for those who want to add it to their noodles!
- Risotto. Risotto is a fancier alternative to rice, making it great if you're looking to make your chicken marsala into a fancier dinner for date night or a celebration. There are several flavors of risotto that you can choose from, but we recommend mushroom risotto.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©iStock.com/rudisill.