Lighter Chicken Marsala is an easy and healthier version of the classic. Thin-cut chicken breasts are seasoned and seared before simmering with shallots and garlic in a mushroom marsala sauce. Serves 4.

Lighter Chicken Marsala in skillet with fresh herbs on top.

Chicken Marsala is one of my favorite meals. Ever.

Unfortunately for me, I’m the only one who like mushrooms in my house. So I have it once a year while Pat is up north hunting and I reheat leftovers all week long. And I’m not mad about it one bit. 

plated lighter chicken marsala on pasta with green beans.

Just like my chicken piccata, I’ve lightened this recipe up by eliminating almost all the flour and switching to whipped butter and amp up the flavor with shallots, lots of garlic and fresh herbs. Serve it all over pasta (whatever half a box of pasta I have already open) and green beans.

Lighter Chicken Marsala ingredients

To Make This Lighter Chicken Marsala You Will Need:

  • chicken breasts
  • kosher salt
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • paprika
  • whipped butter
  • extra light olive oil
  • button mushrooms
  • shallot
  • garlic
  • fresh oregano and thyme
  • unbleached all-purpose flour
  • marsala wine
  • unsalted chicken stock

seasoned thin-cut chicken breasts on white plate.

Start by seasoning both sides of the chicken with kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper and paprika. Set this off to the side.

whipped butter and olive oil in stainless skillet.

Lightly spray a a 10-inch skillet. Add 1 teaspoon extra light olive oil and 1 tablespoon whipped butter and heat over medium-high heat.

seared chicken breasts in skillet.

Once hot, sear the chicken 4 to 6 minutes a side.

Transfer cooked chicken breast to clean plate.

When the chicken is cooked, transfer the chicken to a clean plate.

add more butter and oil to empty skillet.

To the same skillet, add the last teaspoon of oil plus 1 tablespoon whipped butter.

add mushrooms, shallot, garlic and herbs to skillet.

Then add in 8 ounces sliced button mushrooms, 1 minced shallot, 2 cloves garlic, 1 tablespoon chopped oregano and 1 teaspoon thyme leaves with a pinch of kosher salt.

sauteed mushrooms, shallot and garlic with herbs.

Sauté, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms have browned and are tender.

flour sprinkled over sauteed vegetables.

Sprinkle in 1 tablespoon flour…

cooked flour.

And cook 1 to 2 minutes, stirring often.

pouring marsala wine into skillet with mushrooms.

Next, pour in 2/3 cup marsala wine.

chicken stock being poured into skillet.

Along with 2/3 cup unsalted chicken stock.

mushroom wine sauce starting to thicken in skillet.

Stir to combine, taste and season with salt.

return chicken and smother with mushroom marsala sauce.

Transfer the chicken back to the skillet and spoon the marsala mushroom sauce over top. Heat through until the sauce is bubbling and has thickened.

Lighter Chicken Marsala in skillet with fresh herbs on top.

Swirl in the last tablespoon of whipped butter and top with fresh thyme leaves for garnish.

Lighter chicken marsala on white plate with green beans and pasta.

Serve chicken over pasta, spoon the thick flavorful sauce over top and with your favorite veggie side. And wine.

INCREDIBLE.

I swear, you won’t notice it’s lighter because there is SO much flavor going on! Tender, moist and perfect.

close up of cut chicken Marsala with mushroom.

Enjoy! And if you give this Lighter Chicken Marsala recipe a try, let me know! Snap a photo and tag me on twitter or instagram!

bite of lighter chicken marsala.

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Yield: 4 servings

Lighter Chicken Marsala

Lighter Chicken Marsala is an easy and healthier version of the classic. Thin-cut chicken breasts are seasoned and seared before simmering with shallots and garlic in a mushroom marsala sauce.

Ingredients

  • olive oil spray
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil, extra light
  • 3 tablespoons whipped butter, divided
  • 2 large chicken breasts, halved horizontally all the way through
  • kosher salt, to taste
  • black pepper, freshly ground, to taste
  • 1-2 dashes paprika
  • 8 ounces button mushrooms, sliced
  • 1 large shallot, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon oregano, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon thyme leaves
  • 1 tablespoon unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 2/3 cup marsala wine
  • 2/3 cup unsalted chicken stock

Instructions 

  • Spray a 10-inch skillet with olive oil and add 1 teaspoon extra light olive oil and 1 tablespoon whipped butter.
  • Heat on medium-high. Meanwhile, season both sides of the chicken with kosher salt, black pepper and paprika. Once the pan is hot, place the chicken into the skillet and cook 4 to 6 mintues a side. When golden and fully cooked, transfer to a clean plate and set off to the side.
  • Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the remaining teaspoon extra light olive oil and 1 tablespoon of the whipped butter into the skillet.
  • Add the sliced mushrooms, garlic, oregano and thyme with pinch of kosher salt. Cook 5 to 6 minutes, stirring ocassionally, until the mushrooms and shallots are tender. Sprinkle with flour and cook 1 minute.
  • Pour in the marsala wine and chicken stock, scrape any brown bits up from the bottom of the pan. Return the chicken to the pan and spoon the sauce over top, simmer for 6 to 8 minutes. Add the remaining tablespoon of whipped butter to the sauce and season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Garnish with minced parsely or fresh thyme leaves and serve the chicken marsala with pasta and green beans.
Serving: 1g, Calories: 263kcal, Carbohydrates: 11g, Protein: 22g, Fat: 14g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g, Cholesterol: 69mg, Sodium: 490mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 3g