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Back when we first met, my husband asked me what my favorite restaurant was. I was in college and of course I couldn’t afford to go anywhere I wanted to go and my parents never grew up… I told him about Olive Garden.My palate has greatly expanded since then, it’s not mine top No more options, but their creamy chicken masala is still one of my favourites.today’s Easy Chicken Masala Recipe Inspired by that restaurant – it’s the perfect dish for date nights and weeknights at home.
Chicken masala may look impressive, but it’s surprisingly easy to make.like mine Sun Dried Tomato Chickenenthusiasm Lemony Chicken Piccataand cream Chicken Florentine, it’s made in one pan in less than 30 minutes.Despite its simplicity, the chicken is tender and juicy, and the classic wine sauce makes it “more than” a chicken dinner.
What is Chicken Marsala?
Chicken Marsala is an Italian-American dish consisting of fried chicken cutlets in a marsala wine mushroom sauce, sometimes with cream added.
A creamy chicken masala recipe like this is somewhat similar to Creamy Mushroom ChickenBut Marsala wine offers a unique, slightly sweet taste.
Why You’ll Love This Easy Chicken Masala Recipe
- tender and juicy chicken
- thick and creamy sauce
- Buttery, Garlic, Slightly Sweet
- One pan for easy cleanup
- No Dredging or White Flour Required
- naturally gluten free
- Easy for a weeknight but perfect for date night or company

Ingredients and Substitutes
This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for this creamy chicken marsala recipe, what each ingredient does in the recipe, and substitution options.For measurements, see recipe card below.
- chicken – I used boneless skinless chicken breasts cut in half lengthwise which helped them cook quickly at the same rate. Boneless, skinless chicken thighs are also a good, albeit less common, alternative to Chicken Marsala.
- sea salt and black pepper – Season the chicken.
- olive oil – saute. A classic choice for an Italian dish like this one, but you can substitute avocado oil or your favorite cooking oil.
- butter – Butter is the base of the sauce and has the most intense flavor. Use unsalted butter, otherwise the dish will become too salty from the other ingredients.
- garlic – use fresh garlic for the best flavor, or canned minced garlic For convenience.
- Creamy Mushrooms – Sometimes these are called “baby bellas” in shops. Other fresh mushrooms such as sliced portobello mushrooms, shiitake, or everyday white mushrooms will work too.
- Marsala cooking wine – Marsala wine is the star of the chicken marsala sauce! This is an unforgettable and delicious brandy. I used Marsala cooking wine, but you can use sweet Marsala, dry Marsala, or even vermouth. You can use extra broth (in addition to what’s already in the recipe) as a non-alcoholic substitute for wine, but the flavor will vary.
- chicken soup – use low sodium chicken broth To avoid dishes that are too salty.You can use chicken if you like bone broth For extra richness and nutrition.
- arrowroot powder – Just a tablespoon thickens the sauce without any flour and it’s great cornstarch substitute。 You can also use cornstarch if it suits your lifestyle. The thickener can be omitted entirely, but be aware that the sauce will thin out.
- heavy cream – You can make a chicken masala recipe without cream, but I totally recommend it for a thick, smooth and (of course) creamy sauce. If you need a dairy-free alternative, full-fat coconut milk or coconut milk is a good choice.
- fresh parsley – Optional, for decoration. You can use other herbs, such as fresh basil or rosemary, if you prefer.

How to Make Chicken Masala
This section shows how to make easy chicken masala, with detailed step-by-step photos and details about the technique to help you visualize it.For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see recipe card below.
- Butterfly. Cut chicken breasts in half lengthwise into 4 pieces. Pat dry with paper towels.
Variation: Pound a whole chicken breast instead.
Instead of slicing chicken, you can pound chicken breasts with a meat mallet. Slicing or pounding are both ways to tenderize the meat and help chicken masala cook evenly.
- season. Sprinkle both sides of the chicken chops with salt and pepper.
- roast chicken. Heat olive oil in a large skillet (I recommend cast iron skillet like this) medium to high temperature. Add chicken in a single layer and fry until golden and cooked through. Transfer to a plate and cover to keep warm.
- Fried mushrooms. Without wiping the pan, add the butter and melt it. Add the mushrooms and sauté until golden brown and the liquid evaporates.
- Add aromatics. Add the chopped garlic to the pot. Saute.
- Deglaze and simmer. Add the wine to the chicken masala pot. Use a wooden spoon or spatula to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan (this is called deglazing). Bring to a boil, then reduce heat. Simmer until the liquid volume is reduced by half.


- bold. Stir the arrowroot powder with a little chicken broth in a small shallow bowl, then add to the pot.
- Make it creamy. Add the heavy cream. Bring to a simmer, stirring until the sauce thickens.


- Finish. Return chicken to pan and heat until chicken is hot. Adjust salt and pepper to taste, if needed. Garnish the finished Chicken Marsala recipe with fresh parsley, if desired.

Tips for the Best Chicken Marsala Recipe
Preparing a delicious chicken tenders masala dish is easy, but don’t forget to follow these helpful tips:
- Turn up the heat if needed. If the mushroom liquid or Marsala wine doesn’t evaporate quickly enough, you can turn the heat up to medium-high as needed.
- Deglaze the pan. After adding the Marsala wine, scrape the bottom of the pan to remove browned bits. This adds a lot of flavor to the final dish.
- Be careful with curds. The acid in wine can sometimes cause the cream to curdle. To prevent this, make sure the wine is halved before adding the broth and cream.
storage instructions
- shop: You can store leftovers from this easy chicken masala recipe in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
- Reheat: Heat on the stovetop over medium heat, or in the microwave on low power, until heated through.
- freeze: Cover chicken masala tightly with plastic wrap or seal in a zip-top bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight before reheating. The sauce may separate a bit, but it should come back together if you stir it.

What to Serve With Chicken Masala Recipe
What to serve with Chicken Marsala? There are many options:
More Easy Italian-Inspired Dinners
italian recipes are some of my favorites because they are so fresh and easy! If you liked this chicken masala recipe, try these dishes next:
Chicken Masala Recipe (Easy and Creamy!)
This easy Chicken Marsala recipe features tender meat and mushrooms in a tangy Marsala wine sauce. Creamy Chicken Marsala is irresistible!
Prepare: 5 minute
chef: 20 minute
all: 25 minute
Serving Size: 4 (adjust according to recipe)
raw material
Click on the underlined ingredients to see where to get them. Please turn off Safari reader mode to view ingredients.
instruct
Click a time in the instructions below to start the kitchen timer while you cook.
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Cut chicken breasts in half lengthwise, into 4 pieces total. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Season both sides of the chicken breasts with salt and pepper.
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Heat olive oil in a large heavy-bottomed skillet (I recommend cast iron like this) over medium heat.Add the chicken in a single layer and fry 4-7 minutes each side, until golden and cooked through. Transfer to a plate and cover to keep warm.
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Without wiping the pan, add the butter and melt over medium-high heat.Add the mushrooms and fry for approx. 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms are golden brown and the liquid evaporates. (You can turn the heat up to medium-high to evaporate the liquid, if desired.)
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Add minced garlic.speculation 1 minuteuntil the fragrance is released.
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Add the Marsala wine to the pot. Bring to a boil, turning up the heat if necessary. Scrape the bottom of the pan to release any browned bits (this is called deglazing).slow cooker 3-5 minutesuntil the liquid volume is reduced by half.
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brush Arrowroot powder and chicken broth in a small bowl. Add chicken stock mixture and heavy cream to pot.Bring to a simmer, stirring and scraping up any browned bits from the bottom because 3-4 minutesuntil the sauce thickens.
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Return the chicken to the pot. Heat for a minute or two, until the chicken is warmed through. Adjust salt and pepper to taste, if needed. Garnish with fresh parsley.
recipe notes
Serving Size: 1 piece chicken with masala sauce
Nutrition information does not include optional arrowroot flour and parsley.
nutrient content
Amount per serving. Serving sizes in recipe instructions above.
calories 414
fat 21.6 grams
protein 32.7 grams
total carbohydrates 10.4 grams
net carbs 9.9 grams
fiber 0.5 grams
sugar 5.3 grams
Nutrition facts are provided politely. Questions about calculations or why are you getting different results?Please see our nutrition policy.
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