Easy Chicken Marsala Recipe (2024)

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This amazing crockpot chicken marsala recipe is an easy way to make a traditional Italian favorite in your slow cooker.

I grew up in an Italian household and with tons of amazing Italian cooks, but for some reason, I never tried Chicken Marsala until I worked at an Italian restaurant called Carabbas in my teens. It’s really weird because my Grandmother was born in Palermo, Sicily which is not that far from Marsala, Sicily. Marsala is where the wine that is used to make Chicken Marsala is made. Even if it took me nearly 20 years to try it, now it’s one of my favorite Italian Chicken Dishes.

Crockpot Chicken Marsala

Typically, Chicken Marsala is made in a pan where you have to stand and flip and reduce the sauce. That is way too much work for this busy working mom! I figured out a way to make Slow Cooker Chicken Marsala without losing the authenticity of the dish. All you need is a crockpot and these fantastic ingredients.

Yes, the list of ingredients is pretty long. But cooking it in the slow cooker makes up for the long list. It will all taste incredible – like authentic, Italian Chicken Marsala.

  • 3 Chicken breasts, cut into strips lengthwise
  • 8 oz. Cremini Mushrooms, sliced
  • 1 Garlic clove, crushed and minced
  • 1 Cup Marsala wine
  • 1 Tbsp. Olive Oil
  • 1 tsp Salt and pepper
  • 1 tsp Dry Rosemary
  • 2 Tbsp. Cornstarch
  • 3 Tbsp. Water
  • 1 Green onion, chopped
  • ½ Cup Chicken Stock
  • Non-Stick Spray

How to Make Slow Cooker Chicken Marsala?

First, season the chicken with salt pepper and rosemary. Make sure the chicken is cut up into strips. It will cook faster this way.


Next, spray the slow cooker bowl with non-stick spray. You don’t want any of this amazing food to stick to the sides.

Put the chicken, wine, garlic, olive oil, and ½ Cup chicken stock to the slow cooker bowl . Cook on high for approximately 3 hours or low for 5 – 6.

Keep in mind, this is not one of those dishes that you can leave on for 12 hours. If you overcook the chicken, it will turn out mushy. So check on your chicken after about 5 hours.

Remove the chicken from the bowl after cooking time is almost complete (approximately ¾ done).


Mix the slurry of 2 tbsp. cornstarch and 3 tbsp. water. Add to the slurry to the liquid in the slow cooker bowl and stir. This will thicken the sauce.

Easy Chicken Marsala Recipe (6)
Add the chicken back to the bowl, along with the sliced mushrooms.

Easy Chicken Marsala Recipe (7)
Cook for the remaining ¼ of time.
Garnish with the green onions and serve.

Easy Chicken Marsala Recipe (8)

What if I don’t like mushrooms?

One of the key ingredients in chicken marsala are the mushrooms. So if you don’t like eating mushrooms, I suggest eating around them. Don’t remove them from the recipe or you’ll have a chicken dish that tastes like it is missing something.

Instant Pot Variation

You can make chicken marsala in the instant pot too. It involves a few more steps than the slow cooker, surprisingly. Sweet and Savory Meals has a fantastic recipe for it.

Basically, you will use saute mode, make sure the chicken is cooked, broil it to make it a bit crispier, and pressure cook it. Her entire recipe takes about 30-35 minutes or so to make.

Which Marsala wine is best to use?

I enjoy using marsala cooking wine for my dish. It’s easy to find in the grocery store – near the bottles of vinegarand sauces.

A helpful tip for choosing the correct Marsala wine for this dish: when you are making something savory, choose a dry Marsala wine. If you are baking something sweeter, choose the sweet Marsalais.

Is this recipe dairy-free?

Yes, I made my chicken marsala sauce thick without using any dairy. Some people make a creamy sauce with heavy cream. That’s an excellent choice, but I preferred to make mine more savory.

I used a corn-starch mixture as a slurry to thicken the sauce until it resembled a gravy texture. This little step made all the difference. It reminded me of the robust flavors I tasted at Carrabbas.

Chicken Marsala Slow Cooker Recipe

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Easy Chicken Marsala Recipe (9)

Print

Crockpot Chicken Marsala Crockpot

This simple Crockpot Chicken Marsala recipe is made in the slow cooker inspired by the Carabbas restaurant entree and traditional Italian dinner

Course Dinner

Cuisine Italian

Keyword Chicken, Marsala, Mushrooms

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 3 hours hours

Total Time 3 hours hours 10 minutes minutes

Servings 6 people

Calories 241kcal

Author Aprilgolightly

Ingredients

  • 3 Chicken breasts cut into strips lengthwise
  • 8 oz Cremini Mushrooms sliced
  • 1 Garlic clove crushed and minced
  • 1 cup Marsala wine
  • 1 Tbsp Olive Oil
  • 1 tsp Salt and pepper
  • 1 tsp Rosemary
  • 2 Tbsp Cornstarch
  • 3 Tbsp Water
  • 1 Green onion chopped
  • ½ cup Chicken Stock

Instructions

  • Season chicken with salt pepper and rosemary

  • Spray the slow cooker bowl

  • Put chicken, wine, garlic, olive oil, and ½ Cup chicken stock to the slow cooker bowl . Cook on high for approximately 3 hours or low for 5 – 6.

  • Remove the chicken from the bowl after cooking time is almost complete (approximately ¾ done)

  • Mix the slurry of 2 tbsp. cornstarch and 3 tbsp. water. Add to the slurry to the liquid in the slow cooker bowl and stir. This will thicken the sauce.

  • Add the chicken back to the bowl, along with the sliced mushrooms.

  • Cook for the remaining ¼ of time.

  • Garnish with the green onions and serve.

Video

Nutrition Facts

Crockpot Chicken Marsala Crockpot

Amount Per Serving

Calories 241Calories from Fat 45

% Daily Value*

Fat 5g8%

Saturated Fat 1g5%

Cholesterol 72mg24%

Sodium 554mg23%

Potassium 645mg18%

Carbohydrates 10g3%

Fiber 0g0%

Sugar 4g4%

Protein 25g50%

Calcium 18mg2%

Vitamin C 1.9mg2%

Vitamin A 55IU1%

Iron 0.8mg4%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Do you love easy to make dinners recipes like this Crockpot Chicken Marsala? You can find my faves on my Easy Dinner Recipes Pinterest Board.

Follow April Golightly’s board Easy Dinner Recipes on Pinterest.

More Chicken Recipes

If you enjoyed my chicken marsala slow cooker recipe, here are some more chicken recipes you will enjoy too.

  • Coconut Chicken Tenders
  • Chicken Francese Recipe
  • Shredded Buffalo Chicken Recipe
Easy Chicken Marsala Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What can you use instead of Marsala wine for chicken Marsala? ›

The best substitute for marsala wine is madeira, another kind of fortified wine with a similar flavour profile. Other alternatives include other fortified wines such as commandaria, sherry, vermouth, and port.

Should I use sweet or dry Marsala for chicken Marsala? ›

Should you use sweet or dry Marsala in your Chicken Marsala recipe? It doesn't make a huge difference, and either option will produce delicious results, but I would go for dry because the sweet Marsala has a bit too much sugar for such a savory dish.

What kind of wine do you use for chicken marsala? ›

Marsala wine is a fortified wine from Sicily with a deep flavour and is used in this sauce to create a caramelized rich flavor. When making savory dishes like Chicken Marsala, dry Marsala is the best option.

What is creamy Marsala sauce made of? ›

The creamy sauce is made with sweet marsala wine and wow, the flavor is incredible. (Don't worry because alcohol does burn off during the cooking process and is safe for the kids to eat). All you have to add to it is some heavy cream, garlic, mustard, and voila!

What is traditionally served with chicken Marsala? ›

  • Rice. Rice is a classic, gluten-free side dish that pairs perfectly with chicken Marsala. ...
  • Risotto. For a classic Italian side dish, consider risotto, a creamier alternative to plain rice. ...
  • Egg Noodles. ...
  • Angel Hair Pasta. ...
  • Zucchini Noodles. ...
  • Polenta. ...
  • Mashed Potatoes. ...
  • Boursin Hasselback Potatoes.
Mar 17, 2023

Can I use balsamic vinegar instead of Marsala wine? ›

To make the perfect marsala wine substitute for chicken marsala, replace ½ cup of marsala wine with ½ cup chicken stock, 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar, and one teaspoon of sugar. Mix the chicken broth mixture into your recipe exactly the same way you would add the marsala.

Can I substitute white cooking wine for Marsala? ›

Marsala Substitutes for every quarter cup needed: Substitute the following: ¼ cup of dry white wine.

Can you substitute chicken broth for Marsala wine? ›

For savory dishes that require a long cooking time, chicken stock makes a good substitute for Marsala wine. Use the same amount of chicken stock as Marsala wine in your recipe. Like the cooking wine, chicken stock is high in sodium, but low in calories, carbs, and sugar.

Do you use red or white wine for Chicken Marsala? ›

Chicken Marsala is a traditional Italian dish that is made with chicken, white wine, and sweet marsala wine. Chicken Marsala is served with tomato sauce and creamy white sauce. The marsala wine used in this dish is a dry marsala.

What's the difference between chicken piccata and Chicken Marsala? ›

While both chicken piccata and chicken Marsala are cooked in the same way, there are a few key differences between the two dishes. Chicken piccata isn't creamy. It's cooked with white wine, chicken broth, capers, and lemon juice. It's tangy and bright instead of rich and creamy.

Does marsala wine need to be refrigerated after opening? ›

Marsala is a partially oxidized fortified wine, and as such does not require refrigeration after opening. The wine was originally fortified with distilled spirits to better preserve the wine. I would recommend refrigerating the dry style Marsala, as further oxidation would be more noticeable than in the sweeter style.

Can I use cabernet sauvignon for chicken marsala? ›

She recommends avoiding heavy Cabernet Sauvignons and other full-bodied reds as a direct swap as these risk overpowering the final dish. If you're seeking a non-alcoholic alternative, Ziata suggests playing with herbs, citrus, and fruit juices to a homemade Marsala-like stock.

How do you thicken chicken marsala sauce? ›

Flour plus fat (butter) = roux. A roux is used as a thickening agent in sauces. Sooo, with the butter from the pan and the butter the mushrooms have absorbed, plus the chicken cutlets coated in flour… This all means when the cutlets get added back to the sauce – that flour and butter combo is what thickens the sauce.

Can you use pinot grigio for chicken marsala? ›

One popular wine pairing for Chicken Marsala is Pinot Grigio. This dry white wine from Northern Italy has a light body and bright acidity that helps to cut through the rich sauce of the dish.

How does Marsala sauce taste like? ›

Marsala tends to have a nutty, brown sugar flavor with notes of dried fruit and can be lightly sweet (dry) to very sweet.

What is the difference between masala and Marsala sauce? ›

Marsala is sweet dessert wine, it is not typically used for drinking like a Chianti or Montepulciano, but cooking and marinades. Masala is a spice blend using in Indian cooking. It contains all brown spices: cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, coriander, and cumin.

What does chicken Marsala taste like? ›

Chicken Marsala is a succulent dish that features thinly sliced pieces of pan-fried chicken breast and mushrooms in a reduced wine sauce. Its name comes from the fortified Italian wine used to give the dish its trademark deep, nutty, and slightly sweet flavor.

What are the ingredients in Campbell's Marsala sauce? ›

Marsala Wine (Potassium Metabisulfite), Mushrooms, Water, Tomato Puree (Water, Tomato Paste), Butter, Modified Food Starch, Contains Less Than 2% Of: Salt, Garlic, Sugar, Spices, Soy Lecithin, Citric Acid.

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