Chicken Marsala Milanese

4.7
(41)

I usually only try to improve recipes one at a time, but here, we're going to do two. We're making chicken Marsala better by doing the chicken Milanese-style, and we're going to improve chicken Milanese with the same amazing sauce that goes on chicken Marsala. The results were incredible. Serve with an arugula salad.

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a close up view of chicken marsala milanese.
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Prep Time:
20 mins
Cook Time:
30 mins
Total Time:
50 mins
Servings:
2
Yield:
2 servings

Sometimes more is more!

I've wanted to do an updated video on chicken Marsala for quite a while now, which is one of my favorite dishes of all time. But whenever I'd start the process, I'd remember some other chicken recipe I hadn't filmed yet, and it would get pushed off the schedule. That was about to happen yet again, as it was brought to my attention that I've never posted a video for chicken Milanese, but instead I decided to mash up these two iconic dishes, and I couldn't have been happier with the results.

For me, there's nothing better than a thin, crispy, pan-fried cutlet of meat, unless that already awesome edible is topped with a rich, savory mushroom Marsala sauce, which takes everything up to a whole new level. By the way, the sauce being discussed will take anything up to a whole new level. So even if pan-fried, crispy cutlets aren't your thing, I hope the sauce makes it into your permanent recipe repertoire.

This unbeatable combination of taste and texture would be fantastic served next to anything, but I highly recommend you go with some version of the simple arugula salad I displayed in the video. The bitter greens, dressed with something acidic, really cuts through all that richness and keeps our palate on point until the last bite. But no matter what your serve with yours, I really do hope you give this a try soon. Enjoy!

Ingredients

For Chicken Milanese:

  • 2 (6 ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

  • kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

  • 1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste

  • ½ cup all-purpose flour, or as needed

  • 1 large egg, beaten

  • 1 ½ cups panko bread crumbs, divided, or more as needed

  • 1 ounce Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, freshly grated (Optional)

  • ¼ cup olive oil for frying

For the Marsala Sauce:

  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter

  • 8 ounces brown mushrooms, sliced

  • salt to taste

  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

  • ½ cup dry Marsala wine

  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice

  • 2 cups chicken broth

  • 1 pinch ground black pepper

  • 1 pinch cayenne pepper

  • 1 tablespoon chopped flat-leaf (Italian) parsley

Directions

  1. Gather all ingredients.

    Small bowls filled with ingredients to make chicken marsala milanese.

    ALLRECIPES / VICTORIA JEMPTY

  2. Place chicken breasts between two pieces of plastic wrap, or a cut-open zip-top bag, and use a meat pounder to flatten the meat to about 1/4-inch thickness.

    Raw chicken breasts wrapped in plastic on a cutting board.

    ALLRECIPES / VICTORIA JEMPTY

  3. Season chicken on both sides of the chicken with salt, pepper, and cayenne, and transfer to a large plate. Sift flour over both sides of the chicken until the surface is completely coated. Transfer to a clean plate.

    A person shaking flour on top of raw chicken breasts.

    ALLRECIPES / VICTORIA JEMPTY

  4. Brush away any excess flour from the plate. Sprinkle about 1/4 inch of panko onto the surface of the plate.

    Bread crumbs in a low bowl.

    ALLRECIPES / VICTORIA JEMPTY

  5. Pour the egg over the floured chicken and use a brush to paint evenly over the meat. Flip and repeat on the other side. Once chicken has been thoroughly coated with the egg, pick up each piece with tongs, letting the excess egg drip off, and place on the plate of panko.

    Uncooked chicken breast laying in a bed of panko bread crumbs on a plate.

    ALLRECIPES / VICTORIA JEMPTY

  6. Generously sprinkle panko over the top of the chicken and press in with your hands or tongs. Flip the chicken over, and sprinkle more panko over the top. Repeat until the chicken is well breaded all over.

    Panko covered chicken breasts on a plate.

    ALLRECIPES / VICTORIA JEMPTY

  7. Sprinkle a light coating of the Parmigiano-Reggiano over the top of the chicken and press lightly into the breading with your hands. Flip and repeat on the other side.

    Chicken breasts covered with panko bread crumbs and cheese on a plate.

    ALLRECIPES / VICTORIA JEMPTY

  8. Transfer to a plate sprinkled with more panko. Cover with plastic wrap and keep in the refrigerator until you're ready to pan-fry.

    Breaded chicken breasts on a plate wrapped with plastic.

    ALLRECIPES / VICTORIA JEMPTY

  9. To make the sauce, melt butter in a saucepan over high heat; add the mushrooms and a large pinch of salt. Cook mushrooms, stirring occasionally, until well browned, 5 to 6 minutes.

    A person cooking sliced mushrooms in a low pan.

    ALLRECIPES / VICTORIA JEMPTY

  10. Reduce heat to medium and stir in flour. Cook, stirring occasionally, for another 2 minutes.

    Sauteed sliced mushrooms in a pot.

    ALLRECIPES / VICTORIA JEMPTY

  11. Pour in Marsala and lemon juice and use a spatula or spoon to scrape any caramelization from the bottom of the pan. Pour in chicken broth and raise heat to medium-high. Season with black pepper and cayenne and bring to a simmer. Cook the mixture, stirring occasionally, until it reduces and thickens slightly. Keep hot until needed or let cool and reheat when needed. Before serving, some freshly chopped parsley can be stirred in.

    Mushroom gravel in a pot.

    ALLRECIPES / VICTORIA JEMPTY

  12. Heat olive oil in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the breaded chicken to the pan and reduce the heat to medium. Cook until golden brown and cooked through, about 3 minutes per side

    Breaded chicken breast frying in a pan.

    ALLRECIPES / VICTORIA JEMPTY

  13. Serve immediately with Marsala sauce underneath or spooned over the top.

    a close up view of chicken marsala milanese.

    Chef John

Chef's Note:

Do not use sweet dessert Marsala for this.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

953 Calories
34g Fat
101g Carbs
62g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 2
Calories 953
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 34g 44%
Saturated Fat 17g 83%
Cholesterol 254mg 85%
Sodium 1911mg 83%
Total Carbohydrate 101g 37%
Dietary Fiber 2g 9%
Total Sugars 9g
Protein 62g 123%
Vitamin C 8mg 8%
Calcium 212mg 16%
Iron 5mg 26%
Potassium 830mg 18%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.

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