Description
Hearty chicken marsala brings Italian-inspired comfort straight to dinner tables with minimal effort. Mushroom-laden sauce and tender chicken create a delightful meal you can easily prepare, savoring restaurant-quality flavors without complex cooking techniques.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 6 boneless skinless chicken breasts (1.5 to 2 pounds / 680 to 907 grams)
Herbs and Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon sweet paprika
- Salt (to taste)
- Fresh ground pepper (to taste)
Additional Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 8 ounces (227 grams) mushrooms, sliced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup dry marsala wine
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- Chopped fresh parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare the slow cooker by lightly coating the interior with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Create a robust seasoning blend by generously rubbing chicken breasts with garlic powder, basil, thyme, paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Sear the seasoned chicken in a hot skillet with olive oil over medium-high heat, developing a golden-brown exterior for approximately 3 minutes on each side.
- Carefully transfer the browned chicken to the slow cooker, layering sliced mushrooms and minced garlic on top.
- Deglaze the skillet with marsala wine, capturing all the flavorful browned bits, and pour the aromatic liquid directly over the chicken.
- Allow the chicken to cook slowly at LOW temperature for 4 to 5 hours, or accelerate the process at HIGH temperature for 2 to 3 hours until tender.
- Extract the cooked chicken from the slow cooker and transform the cooking liquid into a luxurious sauce by whisking cornstarch and water, then incorporating cream and adjusting seasonings.
- Return the chicken to the sauce, letting it simmer on HIGH for 20 minutes to achieve a rich, velvety consistency.
- Present the dish garnished with fresh parsley for a vibrant, elegant finish.
Notes
- Use high-quality Marsala wine for deeper, richer flavor complexity in the dish.
- Avoid overcooking chicken by checking internal temperature, which should reach 165°F to maintain juicy texture.
- Consider using chicken thighs instead of breasts for more tender and flavorful results, as they have higher fat content.
- For gluten-free adaptation, replace cornstarch with arrowroot powder or potato starch to thicken sauce without compromising consistency.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 hours (on Low) or 3 hours (on High)
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 225 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg