Description
Hearty chicken marsala casserole brings Italian-American comfort to dinner tables with rich, wine-infused flavors. Creamy mushroom sauce and tender chicken create a nostalgic meal you’ll savor from first bite to last.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Dairy and Cheese:
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
Seasonings and Additional Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1/2 cup Marsala wine
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 1/2 cups cooked rice or pasta
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- Fresh parsley
Instructions
- Prepare the culinary workspace by warming the oven to a moderate temperature of 375°F, creating an ideal environment for baking the casserole.
- Select a robust skillet and warm olive oil over medium-high heat, transforming the chicken pieces into golden-brown delicacies through careful searing, ensuring each morsel develops a rich, caramelized exterior.
- Transfer the beautifully bronzed chicken to a temporary holding plate, allowing the skillet to welcome delicate onion fragments which will soften and release their subtle sweetness during a gentle 4-5 minute sauté.
- Introduce minced garlic to the skillet, letting its aromatic essence permeate the cooking environment for a brief moment, awakening complex flavor profiles.
- Deglaze the skillet with Marsala wine, utilizing its liquid properties to lift and incorporate the concentrated flavor remnants clinging to the pan’s surface, reducing the wine by half to concentrate its essence.
- Incorporate chicken broth and heavy cream, creating a luxurious sauce foundation enhanced with thyme, basil, salt, and pepper, allowing the mixture to simmer and gradually thicken.
- Reunite the seared chicken with the velvety sauce, ensuring each piece becomes thoroughly coated and infused with the rich, multilayered flavors.
- Prepare a baking dish by lightly greasing its surface, then establish a foundational layer of cooked rice or pasta, which will absorb the sumptuous sauce.
- Lavishly distribute the chicken and Marsala mixture across the base, creating an enticing landscape of textures and flavors.
- Crown the casserole with a decadent blend of mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses, sprinkling breadcrumbs to provide a tantalizing crisp layer.
- Slide the assembled casserole into the preheated oven, allowing 20-25 minutes of transformative heat to melt the cheese and develop a golden, inviting crust.
- Conclude the culinary journey by adorning the finished dish with a delicate scattering of fresh parsley, adding a vibrant, herbaceous finale.
Notes
- Enhance flavor depth by marinating chicken in Marsala wine for 30 minutes before cooking to infuse extra richness and complexity.
- Swap heavy cream with Greek yogurt or coconut milk for lighter, diet-friendly version that maintains creamy texture and reduces calories.
- Use gluten-free breadcrumbs or crushed almond flour to create a crispy topping suitable for gluten-sensitive diners without compromising taste.
- Boost nutritional value by adding sautéed mushrooms or spinach, which complement the Marsala sauce and provide additional vegetable nutrients.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 462
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 698 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 112 mg