Looking for inspiration on What to Serve With Chicken Marsala? These 26 pairings will have you excited to get into the kitchen. Chicken Marsala is a fabulous protein dish with thinly sliced breasts and mushrooms that are pan-fried in a reduced wine sauce. The name comes from the Italian wine used to reduce the sauce. It’s nutty, slightly sweet, and deep in flavor. So we’ve picked some refreshing and hearty side dishes to accompany those flavors at the dinner table!.
So many side dishes taste great with poultry, but these are definitely the top 26 ideas! If you’re craving a potato appetizer try the Tater Tot Cups, Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes, or the Honey Mustard Potatoes. Maybe you want to serve vegetables with your Chicken Marsala dinner. In this case try the Roasted Asparagus and Tomatoes, Baked Mushrooms in Parmesan Cream Sauce, or the Radish Salad! I could go on and on but instead, I’ll stop now and let you see for yourself below!.
Discover the true taste of Greece with Maroulosalata, the iconic Greek Lettuce Salad. It’s simple, refreshing, and has a lovely blend of flavors and textures. Maroulosalata is truly a timeless side dish that adds a touch of Greek to your Chicken Marsala dinner. Key ingredients include chopped romaine lettuce, chives, dill, and parsley! The great thing about it is you can get creative by adding radishes, cucumbers, feta cheese, olives, or avocado.
A traditional Italian-American dish, chicken Marsala is made with soft chicken breasts cooked in a rich Marsala wine sauce. Marsala wine’s sweet and nutty taste goes well with the juicy chicken to make a hearty but classy meal. But picking the right starch to go with the Chicken Marsala is important for making a plate that looks good. The starch should not only give the dish texture, but it should also soak up the tasty sauce and bring out the flavors. We looked at a lot of food blogs and chef suggestions to come up with this list of the best starches to serve with Chicken Marsala.
An Overview of Chicken Marsala
Before diving into the best starch pairings let’s first understand the components of a Chicken Marsala dish
-
Chicken: Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are most commonly used. The chicken is dipped in flour just a little and then cooked until it’s golden brown.
-
Marsala Wine: This spicy wine from Sicily gives the sauce a rich, sweet, and nutty taste. The sugars in the wine caramelize beautifully when reduced.
-
Mushrooms: Sliced mushrooms like cremini or white button are sautéed with the chicken to add an earthy, umami flavor.
-
Aromatics: Garlic, shallots, thyme, and bay leaves infuse the sauce with aromatic depth.
-
Broth: Chicken or vegetable broth adds moisture while the sauce reduces.
In the end, there is a thick, shiny sauce that covers tender chicken and mushrooms. From the Marsala, the sauce gets its sweetness. The mushrooms add flavor, and the aromatics add depth.
Why the Starch Matters
With such robust flavors in the Chicken Marsala, the accompanying starch plays an integral role in balancing out the dish. The right starch pairing should:
-
Soak up the delicious sauce without becoming soggy.
-
Add comforting texture to contrast with the tender chicken.
-
Provide a neutral or complementary flavor that doesn’t compete with the Marsala sauce.
-
Give the meal a sense of heartiness and substance.
In short, the starch completes the dish. So let’s look at some excellent options.
Top Starch Pairings for Chicken Marsala
Creamy Mashed Potatoes
Buttery, smooth mashed potatoes are a classic for good reason. They soak up sauce beautifully without falling apart. Russet potatoes lend the richest flavor and creamiest texture, but Yukon Golds also work well. For extra decadence, fold in sour cream, cream cheese, or cream. The potatoes complement the sauce without overpowering it.
Tender Egg Noodles
Egg noodles have a neutral flavor that perfectly soaks up sauce. Cook them al dente so they don’t get too soggy. Their tender, comforting texture contrasts the chicken nicely. For added flavor, sauté the noodles briefly in butter before serving.
Chewy Italian Bread
A crusty loaf of Italian bread is ideal for dunking in the lustrous sauce. Choose a bread with a sturdy interior crumb yet tender and chewy crust—ciabatta or Pugliese are ideal picks. The bread adds a wonderful textural element without competing with the Marsala flavors.
Fluffy White Rice
Simple steamed white rice lets the Marsala sauce shine. Long grain rice like jasmine or basmati fluffs up nicely and has a mild flavor that pairs beautifully with the chicken. For extra flavor, use chicken broth instead of water when cooking the rice.
Earthy Risotto
Creamy, cheesy risotto is a delicious pairing for Chicken Marsala. The starchy Italian rice drinks up the sauce wonderfully. Folding in sautéed mushrooms adds an extra earthy flavor. Just be careful not to make the risotto too rich—it should accent the chicken, not overwhelm it.
Savory Polenta
Polenta’s sweet corn flavor and creamy, gritty texture perfectly complements Chicken Marsala. Prepare polenta with vegetable or chicken broth rather than water for a more robust flavor. Grate Parmesan or Pecorino cheese over the polenta before serving.
Fresh Pappardelle Pasta
Wide pappardelle pasta noodles have a delicate flavor that lets the Marsala sauce shine. Their broad, flat shape catches all the delicious sauce. Handmade egg pasta adds lovely texture, but store-bought dry pasta works too. Just don’t overcook it—al dente texture is key.
Complementary Side Dishes
In addition to a starch, adding vegetables or a salad completes the Chicken Marsala meal beautifully:
- Sautéed broccolini or asparagus
- Roasted carrots or Brussels sprouts
- Garlic sautéed spinach or kale
- Mixed green salad with balsamic vinaigrette
- Simple steamed broccoli florets
Make Every Bite Count
A tender Chicken Marsala is already an elegant entrée, but pairing it with the right starch and sides elevates the dish to new heights of flavor and satisfaction. Whether you opt for creamy mashed potatoes, fluffy rice, or chewy bread, the possibilities are endless. Choosing a starch with a neutral flavor and sauce-soaking texture allows the glistening Marsala sauce and succulent chicken to shine through. Serve the Chicken Marsala family-style over a bed of your favorite starch, and prepare for the rave reviews. Just be sure to have extra sauce on hand—every last drop will be sopped up!
11 The Best Radish Salad
Meet your new favorite vegetable side dish: this 5-ingredient radish salad. Once you taste it, you will surely fall in love with radishes for good! It’s super fresh and brings out the radish’s crispiness. Radishes are small, round veggies with a peppery taste. They can be red, pink, or white on the outside and are crunchy and a little spicy when you bite into them. They taste amazing in salads or as a crunchy snack alongside your chicken Marsala.
14 Minestrone Soup
When you need something cozy and warm to serve with Chicken Marsala, Minestrone Soup is just the recipe you need! I love cooking Minestrone because my kitchen always smells so homey and fresh, like a small Italian bistro! This recipe is ready in about 1 hour and makes 12 servings so you may have leftovers for the next day.
Chicken Marsala
FAQ
What is traditionally served with chicken Marsala?
Chicken Marsala is traditionally served with pasta, often fettuccine or spaghetti, or creamy mashed potatoes. Other popular choices include risotto, polenta, or a simple side of rice.
What to serve chicken masala with?
You can serve Tyler’s five-star side dishes with chicken marsala, like mashed potatoes, egg noodles with butter, rice pilaf, or roasted asparagus. It would also go well with a simple green salad like Tyler’s Spring Green Salad and a loaf of crusty bread like Tyler’s Herbed Garlic Bread.
What pasta do you eat with chicken Marsala?
Pasta – I like a longer shape for this one, so I use fettuccine. Linguine or any shape works, though. Marsala – it’s a wine that is fortified with brandy. I used a semi-sweet (semi-secco) marsala wine for this recipe.
What to pair Marsala with?
Sweet Marsala pairs best with biscotti, cake, apple pie, dark chocolate, trail mix, tiramisu, and Zabaglione.Jan 25, 2022