What is Chicken Marsala Sauce Made Of? A Guide to This Classic Sauce

People from Italy and the United States love chicken marsala, which is made with chicken breast cooked in a rich marsala wine sauce with mushrooms. Plain pan-seared chicken tastes great, but the sauce makes it taste even better. But what exactly does real chicken marsala sauce consist of? Let’s take a closer look at the things that go into making this famous sauce.

The Main Ingredients

There are four key ingredients that make up the base of chicken marsala sauce

Marsala Wine

This fortified wine from Sicily gives the sauce its unique taste. Marsala has nutty and caramel notes that go well with the mushrooms that have been sautéed. A dry Marsala wine works best.

Sliced Mushrooms

Cremini or button mushrooms are commonly used, adding meatiness and an earthy umami flavor. They’re sautéed until golden brown before being simmered in the sauce.

Chicken Broth

The broth adds a savory note to the background and helps the sauce reach the right thickness. Low-sodium chicken broth is ideal.

Butter

Butter plays multiple roles, helping coat the mushrooms as they sauté, providing richness, and bringing silkiness to the finished sauce. Salted butter is commonly used.

Supporting Ingredients

Along with the four main ingredients, there are a few others that really raise the level of chicken marsala sauce.

Shallots

Minced shallots provide subtle allium flavor and aroma without overpowering the sauce. Onions can be used instead in a pinch.

Garlic

A bit of minced garlic adds another layer of flavor complexity. Use sparingly to avoid an aggressive garlicky taste.

Fresh Herbs

Chopped Italian parsley brightens up the sauce with freshness right before serving. Other herbs like thyme or sage work too.

Heavy Cream

A splash of heavy cream contributes a lush, velvety texture and mild sweetness to balance the wine.

Black Pepper

Freshly cracked black pepper brings a subtle heat and spice element. Go easy on the pepper to keep the focus on the Marsala.

How It All Comes Together

Now that we’ve covered the ingredients, let’s look at how they come together in a basic chicken marsala recipe:

• Chicken breasts are sliced and dredged in flour, then seared in a skillet until golden brown. This helps form a flavorful fond in the pan. The chicken is set aside.

• In the same pan, mushrooms and shallots are sautéed in butter until lightly browned and tender. Garlic is added toward the end.

• Marsala wine is poured in to deglaze the pan, releasing all the tasty browned bits stuck to the bottom. Chicken broth goes in next.

• The liquid simmers until slightly reduced and thickened. Heavy cream is added and simmered briefly to incorporate.

• Finally, the seared chicken and any accumulated juices get returned to the pan to heat through and absorb sauce flavors for 2-3 minutes.

• Fresh parsley is sprinkled on at the very end for an herbaceous finish.

And just like that, an elegant yet easy chicken marsala sauce comes together, ready to be enjoyed over pasta, mashed potatoes, rice, or anything that could use a luxurious mushroom wine sauce! The interplay of flavors and textures in authentic chicken marsala is what makes it so craveable.

Variations and Substitutions

Chicken marsala sauce is quite versatile, so there’s room for creativity. Here are some common variations:

• Swap cremini mushrooms for other varieties like button, shiitake, oyster, or a mix.

• Use red or white cooking wine instead of Marsala wine.

• Add a dash of balsamic vinegar for extra depth.

• Use chicken or vegetable stock instead of broth.

• Sub in olive oil or vegan butter for regular butter.

• Replace heavy cream with cashew cream for a dairy-free version.

• Mix in a few chopped sun-dried tomatoes for brightness.

• Add a splash of lemon juice right before serving for a touch of acidity.

• Use thyme, oregano, rosemary, or basil instead of parsley.

No matter what ingredients you have on hand, you can whip up a tasty rendition of chicken marsala sauce. Part of the appeal is how customizable it is while still capturing that classic flavor profile.

Tips for Making It Restaurant-Quality

Want your homemade chicken marsala sauce to rival your favorite Italian restaurant? Here are some helpful tips:

• Use high-quality dry Marsala wine, not cooking wine.

• Sauté the mushrooms until well browned for maximum umami flavor.

• Cook the sauce down until thickened substantially, 15-20 minutes.

• Let the sauce cool slightly before adding cream to prevent curdling.

• Season judiciously with salt and pepper throughout the cooking process.

• Finish with a generous amount of chopped fresh parsley.

• Serve immediately over hot pasta or mashed potatoes.

Putting extra care into each step results in a sauce with layers of flavor that are balanced and harmonious.

Simple Weeknight Chicken Marsala

Don’t be intimidated to make chicken marsala on a busy weeknight. Here’s a simplified, shortened recipe:

Ingredients:

• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

• 1/4 cup flour

• 2 tbsp olive oil

• 8 oz sliced mushrooms

• 1 shallot, minced

• 2 garlic cloves, minced

• 3/4 cup Marsala wine

• 1/2 cup chicken broth

• 2 tbsp butter

• Chopped parsley

Instructions:

1. Dredge chicken in flour. Heat oil in skillet over medium-high heat and cook chicken 2-3 minutes per side until browned. Remove chicken to plate.

2. Add mushrooms to skillet. Cook 3 minutes, then add shallot and garlic. Cook 30 seconds more.

3. Pour in Marsala and broth. Simmer until reduced by half, about 5 minutes.

4. Return chicken to skillet and add butter. Simmer 2 minutes until chicken is cooked through.

5. Sprinkle with parsley and serve.

In just 30 minutes, you can have a delicious chicken marsala meal on the table using pantry staples!

Satisfying an Italian-American Classic

Chicken marsala has been a beloved menu staple of red-sauce Italian restaurants for decades. But as we’ve seen, the savory mushroom Marsala sauce can easily be recreated at home with simple ingredients. From the nutty sweet wine to the earthy mushrooms and savory broth, harmonious layers of flavor come together in each bite. Making chicken marsala sauce from scratch lets you control the quality of ingredients and fine-tune it to your tastes. The next time you have a craving for this Italian-American classic comfort food, look no further than your own kitchen. Mangia!