> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://thefoodiekitchen.net/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Chicken Marsala in Butter — Italian-American Pan Sauce Classic - URL: https://thefoodiekitchen.net/chicken-marsala-butter/ - Published: 2026-08-17T08:35:33.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-15T04:22:48.000Z - Description: Chicken Marsala is thin chicken cutlets pan-fried in butter with mushrooms and Marsala wine — one of the most satisfying Italian-American pan sauces. The butter and wine reduction is the entire point. - Author: Savannah Ryan - Tags: Chicken Recipes, MAHA Recipes, Mediterranean Recipes Chicken Marsala is Italian-American cooking at its most straightforward — thin chicken cutlets, mushrooms, and Marsala wine in a butter pan sauce. It originated in Italian immigrant communities in America in the late 19th century, adapting the Sicilian fortified wine to a quick weeknight preparation. The sauce — deeply savoury from the mushrooms, slightly sweet from the Marsala, enriched by butter — is one of the most satisfying things you can make in 25 minutes. ## Marsala Wine Marsala is a fortified wine from Sicily — grape wine to which grape spirit has been added to raise the alcohol content and stabilise the wine. Dry Marsala (secco) is the correct choice for chicken Marsala. Sweet Marsala (dolce) makes the sauce cloying. If Marsala is unavailable, a combination of dry sherry and a splash of brandy approximates the fortified wine character. Regular white wine produces a thinner, less complex sauce. ## The Mushrooms Cremini or chestnut mushrooms are the standard for Marsala. They should be cooked until all their moisture has evaporated and they begin to brown — wet, pale mushrooms in a pan sauce are a texture and flavour failure. Add them to the dry hot pan before the butter to evaporate their water quickly. ## Serves 2 · Prep 10 min · Cook 20 min Serves 2 Prep 10 min Cook 20 min ### Ingredients - 2 chicken breasts, halved horizontally into 4 cutlets - 30g plain flour, seasoned - 80g unsalted butter, divided - 200g cremini mushrooms, sliced - 2 garlic cloves, minced - 150ml dry Marsala wine - 100ml chicken stock - Salt and black pepper - Fresh parsley ### Method 1. Dredge chicken cutlets in seasoned flour, shaking off excess. 2. Heat 40g butter in a large pan over medium-high heat. 3. Cook chicken 3 minutes per side until golden. Remove and set aside. 4. In the same pan, cook mushrooms over high heat without butter until browned, 4 minutes. 5. Add garlic. Cook 1 minute. Deglaze with Marsala. 6. Add chicken stock. Simmer 3-4 minutes until reduced by half. 7. Return chicken to pan. Simmer 2 minutes. 8. Remove from heat. Whisk in remaining cold butter. 9. Scatter parsley and serve. ## Serving Chicken Marsala is served over egg noodles (buttered), linguine, or with mashed potatoes. The sauce needs something to absorb it — do not serve it without a starch component. Polenta — cooked in butter and Parmesan — is the most elegant pairing. Frequently Asked Questions Can I use chicken thighs? Yes — boneless, skinless thigh fillets pounded thin work well. The flavour is richer than breast. What if the sauce is too thin? Simmer longer before adding the chicken back in. Adding a small knob of butter (1 tbsp) off the heat will also thicken the sauce through emulsification. Is dry Marsala easy to find? Most wine shops carry Marsala. Specify 'dry' (secco) — sweet Marsala is more commonly stocked and is incorrect for this preparation. Shop This Recipe Kerrygold Unsalted Butter Irish grass-fed butter — 82% fat, the benchmark for baking and finishing sauces. [Get on Amazon →](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00151WA06?tag=thefoodieki0f-20&ref=thefoodiekitchen.net) Savannah Ryan · Amazon Savor Chicken Every chicken technique seed oil free — piccata, confit, tallow thighs, compound butter roast and global preparations. [Get on Amazon →](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CXLDJ3F8?tag=thefoodieki0f-20&ref=thefoodiekitchen.net) Shop on The Foodie Kitchen - [Seed oil free pantry — every fat, every brand](https://thefoodiekitchen.net/seed-oil-free-pantry-staples-amazon/) - [All 25 cookbooks by Savannah Ryan](https://thefoodiekitchen.net/cookbooks/) Related Recipes - [Chicken Piccata](https://thefoodiekitchen.net/chicken-piccata-butter-capers/) - [Lemon Butter Chicken Pasta](https://thefoodiekitchen.net/lemon-butter-chicken-pasta/) - [Garlic Brown Butter Shrimp](https://thefoodiekitchen.net/garlic-butter-shrimp/) --- Follow Savannah: [@theefoodiekitchen](https://www.instagram.com/theefoodiekitchen/?ref=thefoodiekitchen.net) · [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572217094296) · [All Links](https://linktr.ee/theefoodiekitchen?ref=thefoodiekitchen.net)