Chicken Marsala
Quick and easy, this chicken Marsala is packed with flavor, thanks to Marsala wine, sautéed mushrooms, shallots, and garlic. The secret to success with this version is to slip extra gelatin into the chicken stock—which helps give the sauce a glaze-like consistency that's just like the best restaurant pan sauces.
- Total time
- 45 min
- Active time
- 10 min
- Yield
- Serves 4
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Equipment
- 2 required
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Ingredients and Constraints
Ingredients
- Preparation: Skinless Chicken Cutlets
- Preparation: Stemmed and Thinly Sliced
- Preparation: Minced
- Preparation: Minced
- State: ColdPreparation: Cut Into Cubes
Ingredient watchpoints8 watchpoints
Short requirements and tradeoffs to check while gathering ingredients; detailed source notes stay expandable.
Marsala Wine
1 1/4 cups (300ml) Marsala wine (see note)
The source row includes a form, size, temperature, or preparation detail.
Details and source
Source: Chicken Marsala
Chicken Stock
3/4 cup (180ml) homemade chicken stock or low-sodium store-bought broth
The source ingredient row lists alternatives.
Details and source
Acceptable alternatives: low-sodium store-bought broth
Source: Chicken Marsala
Shallots
4 medium shallots (6 ounces; 165g), minced
The source row includes a form, size, temperature, or preparation detail.
Details and source
Source: Chicken Marsala
Garlic
2 medium cloves garlic, minced
The source row includes a form, size, temperature, or preparation detail.
Details and source
Source: Chicken Marsala
Fresh Thyme
1 teaspoon (about 3g) minced fresh thyme leaves
The source row includes a form, size, temperature, or preparation detail.
Details and source
Source: Chicken Marsala
Unsalted Butter
3 tablespoons (45g) cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes
The source row includes a form, size, temperature, or preparation detail.
Details and source
Source: Chicken Marsala
White Wine Vinegar
White wine vinegar, sherry vinegar, or fresh lemon juice, to taste
The source ingredient row lists alternatives.
Details and source
Acceptable alternatives: sherry vinegar; lemon juice; to taste
Source: Chicken Marsala
Fresh Parsley
Minced fresh parsley, for garnish
The source row includes a form, size, temperature, or preparation detail.
Details and source
Source: Chicken Marsala
Additional ingredient notes
Required setup
Equipment
Method Timeline
Prep
ActivePrep
10 min
Source Recipe JSON-LD prepTime.
Cook
ActiveCook
35 min
Source Recipe JSON-LD cookTime.
Finish
ActiveFinish
Not listed
Final serving step and finishing actions from the source directions.
Step 1
Combine Marsala and stock in a mixing bowl or large measuring cup and sprinkle gelatin all over surface. Set aside.
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Image detailsMarsala and stock in a measuring glass with gelatin being sprinkled on top.Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik · Chicken MarsalaDev reference Inputs and tools3
Uses
- 1 1/4 cups (300ml) Marsala wine (see note)
- 3/4 cup (180ml) homemade chicken stock or low-sodium store-bought broth
- 1 packet unflavored gelatin, such as Knox (2 1/2 teaspoons; 10g)
Step 2
Season chicken cutlets all over with salt and pepper. Pour a roughly 1/2-inch layer of flour into a wide, shallow bowl. Dredge each cutlet in flour, tap off excess, and transfer to clean plate.
SeasonStep 3
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Working in batches if necessary, add chicken and cook, turning once, until browned on both sides, about 3 minutes per side. Using a slotted spatula, transfer to paper towels to drain.
3 minCookDrainLarge SkilletSlotted Spatula%3Amax_bytes(150000)%3Astrip_icc()%3Aformat(webp)%2F__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__images__2016__11__20161118-chicken-marsala-vicky-wasik-2-ea0c1126ae964ac393ec065137f0ff23.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
Image detailsChicken cutlets cooking in a skillet for chicken marsala.Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik · Chicken MarsalaDev reference Checks1
TimingInfoTimingabout 3 minutes
Target: 3 minute
Expected state: Working in batches if necessary, add chicken and cook, turning once, until browned on both sides, about 3 minutes per side.
Inputs and tools6
Uses
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken cutlets, each pounded about 1/2 to 1/4 inch thick (1 3/4 pounds; 780g total)
- 1/4 cup (60ml) extra-virgin olive oil, plus more if needed
Equipment
Techniques
Why and source
This step has reviewed source-backed guidance.
- Source: Chicken Marsala
Step 4
Add mushrooms to skillet (do not drain remaining oil) and cook, stirring frequently, until mushrooms have released their juices and browned well, about 10 minutes. Add shallots, garlic, and thyme and cook, stirring, until shallots are translucent, about 2 minutes. Add more oil if pan seems too dry at any point.
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Image detailsMushrooms cooking and browning in a skillet for chicken marsala.Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik · Chicken MarsalaDev reference Checks1
TimingInfoTimingabout 10 minutes
Target: 10 minute
Expected state: Add mushrooms to skillet (do not drain remaining oil) and cook, stirring frequently, until mushrooms have released their juices and browned well, about 10 minutes.
Inputs and tools5
Uses
- 1/4 cup (60ml) extra-virgin olive oil, plus more if needed
- 10 ounces (280g) cremini mushrooms, stemmed and thinly sliced
- 4 medium shallots (6 ounces; 165g), minced
- 2 medium cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon (about 3g) minced fresh thyme leaves
Why and source
This step has reviewed source-backed guidance.
- Source: Chicken Marsala
Step 5
Pour Marsala mixture into pan, making sure to scrape in all the gelatin. Bring to a boil, whisking and scraping up any browned bits from bottom of pan, until liquids are reduced by about three-quarters. Add butter and soy sauce and whisk constantly until emulsified and sauce takes on the consistency of heavy cream. Season with salt and pepper. Taste sauce and adjust with a small amount of vinegar or lemon juice, as needed.
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Image detailsA four image collage. The top left shows shallots being added to browned mushrooms. The top right shows chicken stock being poured in to the skillet. The bottom left shows Marsala wine being poured into the skillet. The bottom right shows cuts of butter being whisked into the mixture.Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik · Chicken MarsalaDev reference Visual cue
consistency of heavy cream
Checks1
Visual cueInfoVisualconsistency of heavy cream
Expected state: consistency of heavy cream
Inputs and tools9
Uses
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- White wine vinegar, sherry vinegar, or fresh lemon juice, to taste
- 1 teaspoon (5ml) soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons (45g) cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes
- 1 packet unflavored gelatin, such as Knox (2 1/2 teaspoons; 10g)
- 3/4 cup (180ml) homemade chicken stock or low-sodium store-bought broth
- 1 1/4 cups (300ml) Marsala wine (see note)
Techniques
Why and source
This step has reviewed source-backed guidance.
- Source: Chicken Marsala
Step 6
Return chicken cutlets to pan, swirling to bathe them in the sauce and warm them through. If the sauce begins to break at any point, swirl in a splash of water to bring it back together. Transfer to a warmed serving plate, spooning sauce all over chicken. Garnish with parsley and serve.
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Image detailsOverhead of garnished chicken marsala resting in a white platter.Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik · Chicken MarsalaDev reference Checks1
ServiceMain recipeSource service instruction
Return chicken cutlets to pan, swirling to bathe them in the sauce and warm them through. If the sauce begins to break at any point, swirl in a splash of water to bring it back together. Transfer to a warmed serving plate, spooning sauce all over chicken. Garnish with parsley and serve.
Inputs and tools3
Uses
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken cutlets, each pounded about 1/2 to 1/4 inch thick (1 3/4 pounds; 780g total)
- Minced fresh parsley, for garnish
Techniques
Why and source
This step has reviewed source-backed guidance.
- Source: Chicken Marsala
Learn More
Extra cooking notes, tests, and source details kept out of the step-by-step method.
Testing notes
Useful tests and side-by-side notes after the method is clear.
Rule 1: Brown Well
A good pan sauce is built on a solid foundation, and that foundation is called the fond, which is a French word that describes the browned bits that form on the bottom of a pan after searing meats and vegetables.
Once the fond is scraped up and whisked into the pan sauce, it'll take on a deeper, more complex flavor. In most chicken Marsala dishes, it's also customary to lightly dredge the cutlets in flour before browning them.
Rule 2: Add Gelatin to the Stock and Marsala, Then Deglaze
Deglazing means adding liquid (to stop the browning) and scraping up the fond (to enrich the liquid with flavor).
In the case of chicken Marsala, the liquid is made up of chicken stock and Marsala wine. Bad versions, meanwhile, are thin and watery.
Rule 3: Finish With Fat and Extra Flavorings
All that's left is to add the chicken back to the pan and warm it through in the simmering sauce, then serve.
Rooted in Italy, indebted to the British, popular in the United States, and boosted with a key Asian ingredient...this chicken Marsala truly is a global dish.
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Recipe structure
Components and intermediate outputs created by the method.
Main recipe
Recipe card ingredients and steps.
Serves 4
Extra useful notes
Short source-backed recommendations and facts that do not need a step.
Good, drinkable-quality Marsala wine can be found for very cheap, so please try to avoid Marsala "cooking" wine (which has added salt and preservatives and doesn't taste nearly as
Good, drinkable-quality Marsala wine can be found for very cheap, so please try to avoid Marsala "cooking" wine (which has added salt and preservatives and doesn't taste nearly as good), if at all possible.
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Source and Origin
Origin declaration
Adapted from source
Imported from the Serious Eats page for dev review.
Copy risk: Unchecked
Chicken Marsala
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