This stuffed chicken marsala is an even more delicious twist on the classic Italian dish with melted mozzarella, sweet and savory tomato butter and fresh basil cooked inside the chicken.
Saturday is our 11 year anniversary. ELEVEN. Crazy.
I was recently looking back at our wedding photos trying to salvage a few for some frames in our newly redecorated bedroom (and I say salvage because our wedding photos are so badly done, like so so bad.
Now that I know how to take real photographs I’m floored our photographer had a legit business – long story on how and why he shot our wedding that I won’t get into…) and I don’t even know who that baby-faced 24 year old was.
In my head I haven’t changed in the past 11 years but looking at those pictures and the honeymoon ones in the same folder on my external drive have me realizing I have.
Thankfully, it’s mostly for the better. I was frumpy AF and a lot chunkier than I ever remember being but bikini pictures in Tahiti are telling me otherwise.
*This post for Stuffed Chicken Marsala is sponsored by partner, Nuts.com using their tomato butter. All content and opinions are my own.
When the idea to make this stuffed chicken marsala came to me, I was instantly taken back to that first year of marriage in our house in Florida.
This is totally a recipe I would’ve made back then.
I was a Food Network, Giada obsessed newlywed who printed one of her recipes off the internet at least 5 times a week to make for my new husband.
I followed directions verbatim and bought obscure ingredients when called for.
It’s a far cry from who I’ve morphed into today in the kitchen but my love for food and cooking remain unchanged.
This is a recipe I can see Giada having totally made back in the day on one of her tv shows.
It’s classic Italian (have you ever not seen chicken marsala on an Italian menu?) but it’s got a little modern twist to it with the use of tomato butter.
I was really excited to try out this tomato butter. Part tomato, part apple butter it’s like the perfect transitional ingredient from summer to fall.
*Update: It seems that Nuts.com no longer carries this tomato butter. This recipe is very similar to the product I used in this stuffed marsala which combines apples and tomatoes. This crock pot tomato butter uses just tomatoes. Either can be used for this recipe.
A bit savory, a bit sweet, I totally love it on something as simple as toast to something as complex as this stuffed chicken marsala.
Other dishes using ingredients from Nuts.com – strawberry granola rose hip ice cream, superfood brownies and yogurt tahini mediterranean carrot salad
For as “Italian” as I am, I hardly ever make the traditional kinds of Italian dishes you’d see on any Italian American restaurant menu at home (exceptions made for chicken sorrentino or baked chicken parmesan) but with this tomato butter twist, some (good) fresh mozzarella and the last of my summer basil, I think that might have to change because hot damn, this stuffed chicken marsala was a gooooood dinner.
I love how the thick and savory marsala mushroom sauce is perfectly offset by the freshness of the ingredients stuffed into the chicken.
For piccata fans, try this keto chicken piccata or cod piccata. This spinach stuffed chicken breast is another similar recipe as well.
It’s decadent and traditional while updated and modern at the same time and it totally explains why 24 year old newlywed me was just a taaaaad bit heavier than I probably should’ve been, eating things like this 5 times a week.
If you love this recipe for stuffed chicken marsala, try one of these recipes too:
Spinach and Cheese Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms
Cheesy chicken stuffed eggplant
Roasted Stuffed Heirloom Tomatoes
Tomato Butter Mozzarella Stuffed Chicken Marsala
Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds chicken breasts
- 4 ounces mozzarella, sliced
- 1/3 cup tomato butter, *see note
- 9-12 fresh basil leaves
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- salt and pepper
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup marsala wine, can substitute chicken broth
- 1/4 cup whole milk
- 1 cup sliced mushrooms
FOR GARNISH
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
- 1 sun dried tomato, not packed in oil, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Slice each chicken breast so that you butterfly the breast, creating a pocket for stuffing, do not slice all the way through.
- Season the inside of the chicken with salt and pepper. Spread tomato butter on the inside flesh, top with mozzarella slices, fresh basil and a little more tomato butter. Close the chicken up and secure with toothpicks around the entire opening (*see note for method). Repeat with remaining chicken breasts.
- Once sealed, season the tops of each chicken breast with more salt and pepper as well as the dried basil and parsley.
- Place the oil in a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the chicken to the skillet and cook for about 3 minutes on each side until browned. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside on a plate.
- To the same skillet, add the garlic, chicken broth, wine and milk. Whisk together until combined. Add the mushrooms, stir gently. Bring the mixture to a boil then reduce heat and let simmer for about 5 minutes. Return the chicken to the pan, spoon some of the liquid on top of the chicken then transfer to the oven and cook for 20 minutes until chicken is cooked through and sauce is reduced and thickened.
- Remove from the oven, garnish with parsley and sun-dried tomatoes and serve. (*see note for a thicker sauce)
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.
I went on nuts.com to find the tomato butter. After searching, it doesn’t come up. Sounds like a critical ingredient is missing. How can I make it??
Hi Brenda – looks like they must’ve recently stopped carrying it which is frustrating. I found this homemade recipe which looks similar.
It would be nice to know what tomato butter is. Never heard of it, never saw it sold. No information. Thumbs down on this recipe.
Sorry about that, it seems nuts.com no longer carries it as a product. As I mentioned in another comment, it was akin to what apple butter is vs applesauce. If you want to give it a try, this recipe seems similar to what I used.
What is tomato butter? Where would I find it?
It’s linked in the post – I got mine from Nuts.com
@Running to the Kitchen,
Nuts.com does not seem to be offering tomato butter and there’s no link to it
Suggestions?
Seems like they no longer carry it as an item. It was basically cooked down tomatoes with some sugar somewhere between tomato paste and tomato sauce. Kind of like what apple butter is vs. applesauce. This recipe seems most similar to the product they had.