Chicken Marsala with Mushrooms (Printable View)
Tender chicken breasts in a rich mushroom sauce. Italian-inspired, family-friendly, and ready in under 40 minutes.
# Ingredient List:
→ Chicken
01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.5 lbs)
02 - 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
03 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
04 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
05 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
→ Mushrooms & Sauce
06 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter or dairy-free alternative
07 - 10 ounces cremini or white mushrooms, sliced
08 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
09 - 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
10 - 1/2 cup unsweetened grape juice
11 - 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
12 - 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
13 - 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons cold water
14 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
# How to Make It:
01 - Place chicken breasts between plastic wrap sheets and pound gently to achieve even 1/2-inch thickness.
02 - Combine flour, salt, and black pepper in a shallow bowl. Coat each chicken breast thoroughly in the seasoned flour mixture, shaking off excess.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken breasts and cook 4-5 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer to a plate and tent loosely with foil.
04 - In the same skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add sliced mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5-6 minutes until browned and tender.
05 - Add minced garlic to the mushroom mixture and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
06 - Pour in chicken broth, grape juice, balsamic vinegar, and thyme. Bring to a simmer, scraping any browned bits from the pan bottom. Simmer for 5-7 minutes until sauce reduces slightly.
07 - For a thicker sauce consistency, stir in the cornstarch slurry and cook for 1-2 minutes until thickened.
08 - Return seared chicken to the skillet, spooning sauce and mushrooms over the top. Simmer for 2-3 minutes to heat through completely.
09 - Transfer chicken and sauce to serving plates. Sprinkle with fresh parsley before serving.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- The sauce achieves that remarkable restaurant quality richness without opening a bottle of wine, perfect for weeknights when you want something special without the fuss.
- You can prep the components ahead of time, making this your secret weapon for those evenings when you want to appear effortlessly put-together despite a chaotic day.
02 -
- If your sauce ever becomes too concentrated or reduced, simply add a splash more chicken broth to bring it back to the perfect consistency.
- Resist the urge to move the mushrooms too frequently in the pan, as those golden edges that develop when they sit undisturbed create the deepest flavor.
03 -
- When pounding chicken breasts, use gentle, even taps rather than forceful blows, working from the center outward for the most even results without tearing the meat.
- The sauce will continue to thicken as it stands, so remove it from the heat when its slightly thinner than youd ultimately like it to be.