Copycat Olive Garden Stuffed Chicken Marsala Recipe
Are you craving that delicious Olive Garden Stuffed Chicken Marsala but don’t feel like dining out? Look no further! With this copycat recipe, you can enjoy all the flavors of your favorite restaurant meal right from the comfort of your own kitchen. Best of all, it’s budget-friendly and surprisingly easy to make. Using ingredients from your own garden makes it even more special, adding a personal and fresh twist to the dish!
What is Chicken Marsala?
Chicken Marsala is a classic Italian dish that originated in Sicily. It’s a rich, indulgent meal made from chicken cutlets, sautéed mushrooms, and Marsala wine—a dark and slightly sweet dessert wine that’s similar to sherry. The dish gets its name from the wine used to create the sauce, giving the meal its distinctive flavor.
Fun fact: Chicken Marsala dates back to the 19th century and was likely created by English families living in Sicily, where Marsala wine is produced. It quickly became popular for its robust, savory taste.
When it comes to making Chicken Marsala, always use dry Marsala wine. The dry version enhances the savory flavor, while sweet Marsala might leave the dish tasting overly sugary.
Why This Recipe Is Special
We’ve taken the Olive Garden’s signature stuffed Chicken Marsala and simplified it for the home cook. You’ll get the same creamy, wine-infused mushroom sauce, tender chicken, and gooey cheese stuffing—all without the restaurant bill! By incorporating ingredients from your own garden, like fresh herbs and garlic, you can elevate this meal even further.
Recipe Details
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Servings: 4
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano (or fresh from your garden)
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/2 stick butter
- 1 cup fresh mushrooms, sliced
- 1 medium onion, sliced thin (optional)
- 1/2 cup dry Marsala wine
For the Cheese Stuffing
- 1/2 cup shredded provolone or gouda
- 8 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon minced fresh garlic (from your garden)
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 2 tablespoons sun-dried tomatoes (from your garden, drained if in oil)
- 1/3 cup green onions, thinly sliced (from your garden)
- 3/4 cup sour cream
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
How to Make Copycat Olive Garden Stuffed Chicken Marsala
- Prepare the Stuffing
In a large mixing bowl, combine the shredded cheeses, breadcrumbs, minced garlic, crushed red pepper flakes, sun-dried tomatoes, green onions, sour cream, salt, and pepper. Set aside. - Butterfly and Pound the Chicken
Butterfly each chicken breast by slicing through the thickest part to create two even lobes. Pound the chicken between two sheets of plastic wrap or waxed paper until it’s about 1/4″-1/2″ thick. - Stuff the Chicken
Place the chicken breasts flat on a plate. Add the desired amount of stuffing to one lobe of each chicken breast. Gently press the stuffing down into a “hockey puck” shape. Fold over the other lobe to cover the stuffing. - Dredge and Cook the Chicken
In a medium bowl, combine the flour, salt, pepper, and oregano. Dredge the chicken in the flour mixture, shaking off excess flour. Heat the olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook the chicken for 2 minutes on each side, until lightly browned. - Cook the Mushrooms
After turning the chicken, add the sliced mushrooms and onions around the chicken in the skillet. Cook for an additional 2 minutes until the mushrooms are tender. - Add Marsala Wine
Deglaze the pan by adding the Marsala wine. Scrape the bottom of the pan to release any browned bits (this adds extra flavor to the sauce!). Cover and simmer for 10 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. - Serve and Enjoy
Serve the chicken with mashed potatoes or your favorite side dish. The rich Marsala wine sauce and stuffed chicken will have you feeling like you’re dining at Olive Garden.
Expert Tips
- Using fresh ingredients: Fresh garlic, onions, and herbs from your garden will make a world of difference in flavor.
- Don’t skip the Marsala wine: While you can substitute with other ingredients, the Marsala wine is key to the dish’s unique taste.
- For crispy chicken: Lightly sear the chicken on higher heat before reducing the temperature to finish cooking through.
FAQs
Can I use sweet Marsala wine instead of dry?
It’s best to use dry Marsala wine for this recipe. Sweet Marsala will alter the flavor and may make the dish too sugary.
Can I freeze the stuffed chicken?
Yes! You can prepare and freeze the stuffed chicken breasts before cooking. When ready to cook, thaw overnight in the fridge and follow the recipe as written.
What if I don’t have Marsala wine?
If you need a non-alcoholic substitute, combine 1/4 cup white grape juice, 1 tablespoon vanilla extract, and 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar. While it won’t replicate the exact flavor, it’s a decent substitute.
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Copycat Olive Garden Stuffed Chicken Marsala
Craving Olive Garden at home? This copycat Olive Garden stuffed chicken marsala recipe delivers all the savory flavors of the restaurant! Learn how to make this rich, cheesy chicken dish with a creamy Marsala mushroom sauce. It’s a perfect Italian-inspired dinner that you can recreate with ingredients from your own kitchen. Follow this easy recipe and enjoy a restaurant-quality meal at home tonight!
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano (or fresh from your garden)
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/2 stick butter
- 1 cup fresh mushrooms, sliced
- 1 medium onion, sliced thin (optional)
- 1/2 cup dry Marsala wine
For the Cheese Stuffing
- 1/2 cup shredded provolone or gouda
- 8 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon minced fresh garlic (from your garden)
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 2 tablespoons sun-dried tomatoes (from your garden, drained if in oil)
- 1/3 cup green onions, thinly sliced (from your garden)
- 3/4 cup sour cream
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
How to Make Copycat Olive Garden Stuffed Chicken Marsala
- Prepare the StuffingIn a large mixing bowl, combine the shredded cheeses, breadcrumbs, minced garlic, crushed red pepper flakes, sun-dried tomatoes, green onions, sour cream, salt, and pepper. Set aside.
- Butterfly and Pound the ChickenButterfly each chicken breast by slicing through the thickest part to create two even lobes. Pound the chicken between two sheets of plastic wrap or waxed paper until it's about 1/4"-1/2" thick.
- Stuff the ChickenPlace the chicken breasts flat on a plate. Add the desired amount of stuffing to one lobe of each chicken breast. Gently press the stuffing down into a “hockey puck” shape. Fold over the other lobe to cover the stuffing.
- Dredge and Cook the ChickenIn a medium bowl, combine the flour, salt, pepper, and oregano. Dredge the chicken in the flour mixture, shaking off excess flour. Heat the olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook the chicken for 2 minutes on each side, until lightly browned.
- Cook the MushroomsAfter turning the chicken, add the sliced mushrooms and onions around the chicken in the skillet. Cook for an additional 2 minutes until the mushrooms are tender.
- Add Marsala WineDeglaze the pan by adding the Marsala wine. Scrape the bottom of the pan to release any browned bits (this adds extra flavor to the sauce!). Cover and simmer for 10 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Serve and EnjoyServe the chicken with mashed potatoes or your favorite side dish. The rich Marsala wine sauce and stuffed chicken will have you feeling like you're dining at Olive Garden.
Notes
Expert Tips
- Using fresh ingredients: Fresh garlic, onions, and herbs from your garden will make a world of difference in flavor.
- Don't skip the Marsala wine: While you can substitute with other ingredients, the Marsala wine is key to the dish’s unique taste.
- For crispy chicken: Lightly sear the chicken on higher heat before reducing the temperature to finish cooking through.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 907Total Fat: 59gSaturated Fat: 27gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 27gCholesterol: 227mgSodium: 1669mgCarbohydrates: 29gFiber: 3gSugar: 6gProtein: 63g
The Nutritional Information may not be accurate. This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.