Chicken Marsala Meatballs Recipe (2024)

A family favorite from day one, this recipe for One Pot Chicken Marsala Meatballs is a skillet full of rich, creamy flavor. Tender chicken meatballs that are bathed in a savory marsala sauce will make the family beg to add them to your weekly meal plan. Fast, easy and totally amazing.

Chicken Marsala Meatballs Recipe (1)

We are nearing the end of the school year and I’m finally starting to share all my favorite one pot dinners with you. I’m sorry I held off for so long for so many reasons….one, I kept your feed filled with desserts….like I’m a dessert blogger or something but I’m not. And I know you’re here for a little bit of everything but I had such a sugar addiction I just couldn’t stop.

But….now, I, too need some more one pot, easy dinners to get my through these last few long weeks of school. And two, I’m tired of take out all the things and since I know how to cook I decided to get back to more savory dishes that we can all whip up quickly and easily.

And three….my pants are seriously getting tight and I don’t know if it’s the sweets…the new workout plan…or early menopause but that just needs to end. So, I decide to share with you one of my favorite things ever….this recipe for Chicken Marsala Meatballs because it’s seriously easy….and seriously amazing.

And while we’re talking about the end of the school year….am I the only one that’s looking forward to the end of all the paper piles that manage to grow throughout the week. I mean, really, let’s save some trees!

Chicken Marsala Meatballs Recipe (2)

Back to the meatballs….I’m a huge fan of chicken marsala and I’ve recreated a couple easy recipes for you already like this super popular Slow Cooker Chicken Marsala Stew. It’s really old….the recipe, not the dish…like it’s not been sitting in the back of my fridge since the first post was published….so please excuse the photos…but it’s so good and comforting and totally easy to make that it’s been going strong since I posted it many years ago.

But, one day I was craving Chicken Marsala and meatballs and since that’s kind of protein overkill I thought I’d combine the two to create a unique recipe…calling it Chicken Marsala Meatballs.

Table of Contents

But FIRST…..you may be thinking….what is Chicken Marsala Made of?

Chicken Marsala is one of my favorite dinner recipes. It’s quick, easy and can be made in one pot, this recipe for Chicken Marsala Meatballs is other level. It’s just another way to get the flavors of Chicken Marsala with a fun twist. It’s almost like these Swedish Meatballs…..but not.

Chicken Marsala is made by dreading chicken in flour and then frying in a pan. After the chicken is fried to a golden brown, a sauce is made by reducing marsala wine to a syrupy consistency along with sauteed onions or shallots and mushrooms. I like to stir in a pat of butter for an ultra velvety smooth sauce with a little creaminess.

The same technique is used for these Chicken Marsala Meatballs but without the flour dredge saving you one messy step that makes these my go-to dinner recipe.

Chicken Marsala Meatballs Recipe (3)

I Googled the recipe to see if it had been done before because I thought I was being all clever and crafty….and guess what I found….Giada’s Chicken meatballs in marsala sauce. Yep, I’m so original. But I went with my gut and made my own version in the easiest way I could find….cramming everything into one pot so we don’t have many dishes to do when we’re done and my version is quite magical if I do say so myself.

Which Marsala wine is best for Chicken Marsala Meatballs?

There are both dry and sweet marsala wines in the store but for savory dishes like these Chicken Marsala Meatballs you definitely want to go with the dry marsala wine. Sweet marsala wine should be reserved for desserts or cordial co*cktails, only.

Chicken Marsala Meatballs Recipe (4)

These Chicken Marsala Meatballs are tender and juicy with a hint of marsala baked right into them. I even lightened up the entire dish by adding a ton of finely chopped mushrooms to the chicken mixture to keep them from drying out and reducing the calories.

If you don’t like mushrooms you can definitely leave them out but my mushroom hating kids didn’t even know they were in there….and I did the same thing with this turkey meatloaf years ago….they still have no clue it has mushrooms in it and they request it all the time. So….winning at mom life over here.

Chicken Marsala Meatballs Recipe (5)

The marsala sauce tastes just like it would in your favorite Italian restaurant but, again, lighter on calories and fat and all that other nonsense that we don’t need every day.

It’s almost the same as the sauce in this Creamy Chicken Marsala Skillet recipe except this one doesn’t have cream. But it’s another one pot dinner that you’re family will definitely be on board with and if you don’t have time to roll a bunch of meatballs…it’s definitely a winner in my book.

If you’re looking for a more classic meatball recipe, my kids LOVE this Porcupine Meatball recipe…..also, ONE POT!

Want even more ONE POT Chicken Recipes? Try these family favorites:

  • BEST EVER Oven Baked Chicken Breasts
  • Oven Baked Chicken Parmesan
  • Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole
  • Creamy Tuscan Chicken Tortellini Soup

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Chicken Marsala Meatballs Recipe (6)

Get the Recipe:One Pot Chicken Marsala Meatballs Recipe

Yield: 4

Prep Time: 15 minutes mins

Cook Time: 20 minutes mins

Total Time: 35 minutes mins

Quick and easy, One Pot Chicken Marsala Meatballs is a family friendly recipe that comes together in a hurry for busy weeknight dinners.

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Ingredients

  • 1 cup chopped onion
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 8 ounces sliced mushrooms
  • 1 pound ground chicken
  • 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
  • 1 egg
  • 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons marsala wine
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh garlic
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 2 cups chicken stock
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

  • Add the onion and garlic cloves to a food processor. Pulse several times until finely chopped. Add half the mushrooms to the food processor and pulse another few times until mushrooms are finely chopped.

  • Transfer the onion/mushroom mixture to a large bowl. Add the ground chicken, bread crumbs, egg, 2 tablespoons marsala wine, 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.

  • Using clean hands or a pastry blender, mix the ingredients until well combined.

  • Form 2 tablespoons chicken mixture into a ball and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment. Repeat until all mixture has been used.

  • Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add the meatballs to the pan being careful not to crowd the pan and working in batches, if necessary. Brown the meatballs on all sides. Transfer the skillet to the oven and roast for 10-15 minutes or until cooked through.

  • Remove the skillet from the oven and transfer the meatballs to a platter. Cover with foil to keep warm.

  • Return the skillet to the stovetop and add the butter to the pan. Melt the butter oven medium high heat. Add the remaining mushrooms to the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute. Sprinkle the cornstarch over the mushrooms and stir. Cook for 30 seconds.

  • Pour the remaining marsala wine over the mushrooms and deglaze the pan, scraping the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon to loosen the brown bits. Stir in the chicken stock and bring the mixture to a boil. Add the onion powder and Italian seasoning. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

  • Return the meatballs to the pan and cook for 3-4 minutes just to warm through.

  • Serve the meatballs with the sauce over pasta or mashed potatoes, if desired.

Notes

Meatballs can be made in advance and frozen in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Sauce can be made up to 48 hours in advance and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

To heat the frozen meatballs, arrange on a baking sheet lined with parchment and bake at 425 degrees until no longer frozen in the center.

Calories: 471kcal, Carbohydrates: 27g, Protein: 27g, Fat: 21g, Saturated Fat: 7g, Cholesterol: 157mg, Sodium: 661mg, Potassium: 1041mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 9g, Vitamin A: 235IU, Vitamin C: 5.4mg, Calcium: 59mg, Iron: 2.4mg

Author: Kellie from The Suburban Soapbox

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: Italian

Chicken Marsala Meatballs Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is a Marsala sauce made of? ›

Add olive oil to heavy hot saucepan. Add onions, garlic, mushrooms, saute until mushrooms are tender. Add flour and cook about 1 minute then deglaze pan with Marsala wine. Add beef stock and cook until thick and flavors are blended.

How can I thicken my 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.

What is a substitute for Marsala wine in chicken recipe? ›

Possible substitutes would be a dry Madeira wine or a darker sherry such as Oloroso. If you don't have these then you could also use port or red vermouth.

How much does it cost to make Chicken Marsala? ›

Onion ($0.50), evaporated milk ($1.20), marsala wine (1/2 bottle – $0.96), 2 ounces of high quality Parmesan at $7.99/lb ($1). Along with the estimated cost of the remaining ingredients, the total cost of the recipes calculated to $10.87 and $1.81 per serving).

What is a substitute for Marsala sauce? ›

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.

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.

Does Chicken Marsala use sweet or dry 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.

How long does it take for Marsala sauce to thicken? ›

Deglaze the pan by pouring in the marsala, and cook for about 2 minutes. Increase heat to medium, stir in beef broth and port, and cook until sauce starts to reduce and thicken to your preference, 10 to 12 minutes.

What is the best Marsala wine for Chicken Marsala? ›

Best Brand Of Marsala Wine For Chicken Marsala
  • Florio Sweet Marsala. 4.6 out of 5 stars. 19 reviews. ...
  • Carlo Martinez Marsala Sweet DOC. 4.3 out of 5 stars. 15 reviews. ...
  • Florio Dry Marsala. 4.8 out of 5 stars. ...
  • Colombo Marsala Sweet. 4.1 out of 5 stars. ...
  • Cribari Marsala. 4.2 out of 5 stars. ...
  • Colombo Marsala Dry. 4.4 out of 5 stars.

Can I use balsamic vinegar instead of Marsala wine? ›

Combine a cup of white grape juice with balsamic vinegar to mimic the acidity and depth of Marsala. Mix fruit juices such as cherry or cranberry with a splash of sherry vinegar for a robust flavor.

Can I use Moscato instead of Marsala? ›

If you're preparing a sweeter dish, she suggests reaching for sherry, Moscato, or Port as an easy swap. You could even try a potent dry red tossed in with a bit of sugar and an orange peel as a comparable substitute.

Does chicken marsala contain garlic? ›

Marsala sauce:

1 garlic , finely minced. 2 cups white mushrooms , sliced 0.5cm / 1/5" thick. 1 cup dry marsala wine (Note 3) 1/2 cup chicken stock/broth , low sodium.

Does the alcohol cook out of chicken Marsala? ›

The sauce is made with Marsala wine which is a dry and sweet wine which has a 15-20% alcohol content but don't worry, all of the alcohol will cook out of the sauce. The wine creates a nutty and rich caramelized sauce for the chicken.

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 type of alcohol is Marsala? ›

Marsala wine is a fortified wine produced near the town of Marsala on the island of Sicily, Italy. Marsala wine is made with local white grape varietals including Grillo, Inzolia, Catarratto, and Damaschino (although it can also be blended with red grapes.)

What does Marsala taste like? ›

On the palate, a true Marsala will have flavors of dried apricot, honey, nuts, tobacco, brown sugar, vanilla, and tamarind.

Is Marsala sauce alcoholic? ›

The sauce is made with Marsala wine which is a dry and sweet wine which has a 15-20% alcohol content but don't worry, all of the alcohol will cook out of the sauce. The wine creates a nutty and rich caramelized sauce for the chicken.

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