Quick & Simple Ina Garten Chicken Marsala Recipe for Tonight

Chicken marsala represents a delightful culinary adventure that transforms ordinary poultry into an extraordinary dining experience.

Sophisticated yet surprisingly simple, this classic Italian-American dish combines delicate meat with rich, complex flavors.

Wine-infused sauces have long captivated home cooks seeking restaurant-quality meals in their own kitchens.

Elegant preparations often intimidate amateur chefs, but this recipe breaks down complex techniques into manageable steps.

Professional chefs understand the magic of creating depth through careful ingredient selection and precise cooking methods.

Skillful technique elevates humble ingredients into something truly memorable.

Each bite promises a harmonious blend of savory and slightly sweet notes that dance across your palate: Get ready to impress everyone at your table.

Why Ina Garten Chicken Marsala Satisfies

• Quick Restaurant-Quality Meal: Transform your home kitchen into a professional restaurant with this gourmet chicken marsala that delivers incredible flavor without complicated techniques.
• Texture Sensation: Enjoy perfectly tender chicken with a crispy golden exterior, complemented by silky mushroom sauce that adds luxurious moisture and depth to every single bite.
• Speedy Weeknight Wonder: Prepare an impressive dinner in just 40 minutes, making this recipe ideal for busy families wanting a delicious meal without spending hours in the kitchen.
• Versatile Crowd-Pleaser: This recipe works brilliantly for casual family dinners, date nights, or entertaining guests, offering sophisticated taste that appeals to multiple palates and skill levels.

Must-Have Ingredients for Ina Garten Chicken Marsala

• Chicken Breasts: Tender and lean protein that forms the base of the dish, choose fresh and uniform-sized breasts for even cooking.

• All-Purpose Flour: Light coating that helps create a golden crispy exterior and thickens the sauce.
• Salt, Black Pepper: Essential seasonings that enhance the chicken's natural flavor and add depth to the dish.

• Mushrooms: Earthy and meaty ingredient that adds rich umami flavor and texture to the sauce.
• Shallots: Delicate, sweet onion-like vegetable that provides a subtle aromatic base for the sauce.
• Parsley: Fresh herb that adds bright color and a light, clean flavor as a garnish.

• Marsala Wine: Traditional Italian wine that creates a rich, sweet-savory sauce with deep complexity.
• Water: Helps to balance and thin the sauce for proper consistency.
• Butter: Adds richness, smoothness, and helps to thicken and enrich the sauce.
• Olive Oil: Used for searing the chicken and preventing sticking, provides a subtle fruity undertone.

Instructions for Ina Garten Chicken Marsala

Step 1: Prepare Chicken Pieces

Cut each chicken breast in half lengthwise to create 6 equal pieces. Place 1 piece between plastic wrap sheets. Use a meat mallet to flatten chicken to 1/4-inch thickness. Season both sides with salt and pepper.

Step 2: Coat and Sear Chicken

• All-purpose flour
• Pinch of salt
• Pinch of black pepper

Dredge each chicken piece in flour mixture, shaking off excess. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer chicken to a clean plate.

Step 3: Saute Mushrooms and Shallots

In the same skillet, add sliced mushrooms with a pinch of salt. Stir occasionally until mushrooms soften, about 3-4 minutes. Add finely chopped shallots and cook for another 3-4 minutes until they become translucent.

Step 4: Create Marsala Sauce

• Marsala wine
• Water

Return skillet to high heat and bring liquid to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until liquid reduces by 1/3. Add cold butter pieces and whisk until sauce thickens.

Step 5: Combine and Serve

Return seared chicken to skillet with sauce. Cook 2 minutes, flipping halfway, ensuring chicken is fully cooked. Transfer chicken to serving platter. Stir chopped parsley into sauce. Pour sauce over chicken. Garnish with additional parsley for color and freshness.

Tips for a Delicious Ina Garten Chicken Marsala

• Reheat with Care: Gently warm leftovers in a skillet with a splash of chicken broth to prevent drying out and maintain sauce moisture.
• Preserve Flavor Layers: Cover and refrigerate chicken marsala for up to 3 days, allowing herbs and wine to meld intensely.
• Sauce Rescue Strategy: Whisk in extra broth if sauce becomes too thick during reheating, restoring original silky consistency.
• Garnish Revival: Sprinkle fresh chopped parsley just before serving to brighten day-old dish's appearance and taste.
• Quick Transformation: Transform leftover chicken marsala into a delicious pasta topping or filling for crepes with minimal effort.

Keeping Ina Garten Chicken Marsala Fresh

• Vacuum Seal Method: Lock in freshness by using a vacuum sealer to remove air completely. Seal cooled Chicken Marsala in specialized bags, preventing freezer burn and maintaining peak flavor for up to 2 months.
• Glass Container Strategy: Transfer the dish to thick-walled glass containers with tight-fitting lids. Layer chicken and sauce carefully to prevent separation, ensuring even cooling and maximum taste preservation.
• Portion Control Technique: Divide Chicken Marsala into individual serving sizes before storing. This approach allows quick reheating, reduces waste, and keeps each portion as delicious as the first serving.

Simple Variations on Ina Garten Chicken Marsala

• Herbal Mediterranean Chicken: Replace marsala wine with white wine and add fresh rosemary, thyme, and oregano to create a lighter, herb-infused version of the classic dish.
• Spicy Southwest Chicken: Incorporate chili powder, cumin, and cayenne into the flour mixture. Use pepper jack cheese and replace marsala with tequila for a zesty southwestern flavor profile.
• Creamy Mushroom Chicken: Add heavy cream to the sauce after reducing marsala, creating a richer, more velvety texture. Sprinkle grated parmesan cheese on top for extra depth and creaminess.
• Gluten-Free Lean Version: Substitute flour with almond flour or cornstarch. Use skinless chicken breasts and reduce butter quantity, replacing it with olive oil for a healthier alternative that maintains great flavor.

Looking Back at Ina Garten Chicken Marsala

Culinary magic emerges from Ina Garten’s Chicken Marsala, a graceful dance of golden-seared chicken and earthy mushrooms.

Rich marsala wine weaves its sophisticated charm through each tender bite, elevating simple ingredients into an extraordinary meal.

Mediterranean influences whisper through the delicate sauce, promising a restaurant-quality experience at home.

Wine’s complex notes mingle with buttery undertones, creating a symphony of flavors that transports palates across Italian landscapes.

Regional ingredients shine with remarkable simplicity, demonstrating how classic techniques can transform humble components into something spectacular.

Passionate cooks will adore this recipe’s elegant approach – so snap that photo, share the deliciousness across social media, and let fellow epicureans marvel at your kitchen prowess.

Ina Garten Chicken Marsala Recipe

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4.7 from 26 reviews

• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Ina Garten’s Chicken Marsala brings Italian-American comfort to dinner tables with elegant simplicity. Golden chicken breasts nestled in rich mushroom sauce create a luxurious meal that satisfies both home cooks and sophisticated palates.

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Ingredients

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Main Protein:

• 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts, 1 ½ to 2 pounds (0.68 to 0.91 kilograms)

Dry Ingredients:

• ¾ cup (94 grams) all-purpose flour
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper

Wet and Flavor Ingredients:

• ¼ cup (60 milliliters) olive oil
• 12 ounces (340 grams) cremini mushrooms, sliced ¼-inch thick
• 1 large shallot, finely chopped
• 1 ½ cups (355 milliliters) dry marsala wine
• 6 tablespoons (85 grams) unsalted butter, cut into pieces
• ⅓ cup (8 grams) flat-leaf parsley, chopped, plus more for garnish

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Instructions

1. Carefully slice each chicken breast horizontally to create 6 evenly sized cutlets. Position a piece between two plastic wrap sheets and gently tenderize using a meat mallet until reaching approximately 1/4-inch (0.6 centimeters) thickness. Season both surfaces with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.
2. Combine all-purpose flour with a delicate seasoning of salt and pepper in a shallow ceramic dish. Thoroughly coat each chicken cutlet in the seasoned flour mixture, ensuring excess is carefully shaken off. Heat extra virgin olive oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high temperature. Expertly sear chicken pieces until achieving a rich golden-brown exterior, approximately 2 minutes per side. Transfer seared cutlets to a clean ceramic plate.
3. Utilize the identical skillet to sauté sliced cremini mushrooms with a modest pinch of salt. Stir intermittently, allowing mushrooms to release moisture and soften for 3-4 minutes. Introduce finely minced shallots and continue cooking until they become translucent and tender.
4. Remove skillet from heat momentarily, then deglaze with marsala wine and 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) of water. Return skillet to high heat, bringing liquid to a vigorous boil. Reduce temperature to medium, allowing liquid to gently simmer and concentrate. When volume reduces by approximately one-third, incorporate cold unsalted butter pieces, whisking continuously until sauce reaches a luxurious, silky consistency.
5. Nestle seared chicken cutlets back into the aromatic sauce. Cook for an additional 2 minutes, carefully turning midway to ensure even heating and complete cooking. Elegantly transfer chicken to a serving platter. Finish by folding freshly chopped italian parsley into the sauce, then generously drizzle over chicken. Garnish with additional parsley sprigs for a vibrant presentation.

Notes

• Leftovers store perfectly in an airtight container, maintaining delicious flavors for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.
• Serve hot with pasta, creamy mashed potatoes, or crusty bread to soak up the luxurious sauce.
• Whisking cold butter into the finished sauce creates a gloriously silky, restaurant-quality texture that elevates the entire dish.
• Dry Marsala wine delivers the most authentic and balanced flavor profile, transforming ordinary chicken into an extraordinary meal.
• Select fresh mushrooms and allow them to brown slowly, developing deep, rich caramelized notes that complement the tender chicken.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Sautéing
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 576 kcal
• Sugar: 2 g
• Sodium: 270 mg
• Fat: 38 g
• Saturated Fat: 12 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 24 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 33 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 34 g
• Cholesterol: 110 mg