Crock Pot Chicken Marsala

Tender mushrooms and juicy chicken simmer for hours in a rich marsala wine sauce in this Crock Pot Chicken Marsala. Easily made ahead, this meal is perfect for a busy weeknight but fancy enough for a dinner party. Serve over pasta, rice, risotto, or all on its own, everyone will love this delicious meal!

I love a good slow cooker recipe, don’t you? I have many crock pot recipes here on my website and it’s one of the categories I turn to first when I am pinched for time, yet I still want to get a wholesome meal on the table. Fix it and forget it until dinner time. We eat a lot of chicken in our house, and I am always excited to share a new chicken recipe with my readers. I hope that you love this one just as much as we do!

Slow Cooker Chicken Marsala

There’s nothing quite like a slow-simmered chicken with savory mushrooms, sweet Marsala wine, and heavy cream. Rich, creamy, and filling. This slow-cooker chicken marsala is a delicious dish for the whole family but fancy enough for your next dinner party. 

Crockpot Chicken Marsala Recipe

Crockpot recipes are my favorite, they make getting food on the dinner table a little easier. I suggest you bookmark this great recipe for cooking chicken. It will make those weeknights a little easier. You can also get this meal going when you meal prep and keep it in the fridge for a few days. It will taste great for 3-4 days. 

If you love this boneless chicken breast recipe,  you are sure to love these too: Sweet and Smoky Chicken, Crispy Honey Fried Chicken, and this Easy Lemon Chicken (pictured above). 

 

What is Chicken Marsala? 

Chicken Marsala is an American-Italian recipe that is reminiscent of veal scaloppini where the chicken is prepared in a wine sauce, similar to the preparation of veal piccata or chicken piccata recipe. However, chicken marsala is cooked in marsala wine and not white wine as are piccata recipes. Marsala wine is a fortified red wine that adds a deep savory flavor to the chicken. Though no need to worry if you are feeding kids as the liquor burns off as the chicken cooks. 

Ingredients for chicken marsala

For complete ingredients and instructions scroll to the bottom of this post for the full printable recipe. 

• Chicken: Use skinless, boneless chicken breasts to prepare this crock pot recipe.
• Seasonings: I used a combination of garlic powder, onion powder,  dried basil, Italian seasoning, paprika, salt, and black pepper.
• Olive oil: I like to use extra virgin olive oil but any type will work.
• Mushrooms: Fresh, sliced cremini mushrooms add texture and flavor.
• Garlic: Fresh minced garlic is best but jarred is a good substitute.
• Marsala wine: Sweet marsala wine is traditional in chicken marsala but you can use a light-bodied red wine if you don’t have marsala on hand.
• Water/cornstarch: A cornstarch slurry helps thicken the delicious sauce.
• Heavy cream: Heavy cream makes this chicken recipe a rich and comforting dish.
• Fresh parsley: Chopped fresh parsley makes a nice garnish.

Be sure to keep reading to find tips and tricks, substitutions, and answers to questions you may have about this crock pot marsala chicken recipe, 

How to make chicken marsala in the slow cooker

The slow cooker takes a lot of the work out of making this chicken marsala recipe. 

In a small bowl, combine the garlic powder, onion powder, basil, Italian seasoning, paprika, salt, and pepper and season chicken, coating both sides.

Place a skillet over medium heat, add the olive oil, and cook the chicken until golden brown on both sides.

Transfer to the slow cooker and add the garlic.

Sprinkle mushrooms, pour marsala wine into the slow cooker, and cook on high for 2-3 hours or low for 5 hours.

Remove the chicken from the slow cooker and set aside.

In a small bowl, whisk together the water and cornstarch.

Add the mixture to the wine mixture along with the heavy cream and whisk to combine.

Place the chicken back into the slow cooker, close the lid, and cook on high for another 20-30 minutes or until thick.

Serve with freshly chopped parsley.

To Store: Bring leftover chicken to room temperature and then transfer it to an airtight storage container. In the fridge, the chicken will keep for 3-4 days, and in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat in the microwave or over the stovetop.  

Stovetop: To reheat the chicken marsala on the stovetop, place in a saucepan over low heat. Stir occasionally until the dish is heated through. You may need to add a little water or chicken broth to prevent it from drying out.

Microwave: If you prefer a quicker method, you can use the microwave. Transfer to a microwave-safe dish and heat in short intervals, stirring in between, until thoroughly heated.

Love it? Pin it!

If you love this slow cooker chicken marsala recipe, make sure that you don’t lose it! Pin it to your favorite Pinterest recipe board before you go!

Substitutions

Remember that when it comes to making substitutions in recipes, you don’t need to be afraid to get creative and use ingredients that suit your personal taste and dietary preferences. Make it your own!

• Instead of chicken breasts, use chicken thighs to make this chicken dish. 
• If you don’t have marsala wine you can use vermouth though you will end up with a slightly different flavor.
• Play around with the seasoning blend and use whatever you have on hand. 
• Substitute cremini mushrooms for button mushrooms or a combination of different mushrooms. 

FAQs about this chicken marsala recipe. 

• Can you put raw chicken in a crock pot? Yes, you can put raw chicken in the crock pot but searing it before you put it in the crock pot locks in the moisture and adds to the favor. 
• Is dry or sweet Marsala better than chicken Marsala? Both dry marsala wine and sweet marsala wine will work for the chicken marsala sauce, it’s just a matter of what you prefer. Personally, I like the dry marsala wine as it gives the dish a richer flavor.
• Why is my chicken in the crockpot still tough? If your chicken is still tough it could be either you over or undercooked it.  
• Should chicken be cooked on high or low in a crockpot? For juicy moist chicken, I like to cook on low heat for an extended period of time. 
• Can you cook a whole chicken in the crock pot? Yes, you can cook a whole chicken in the crockpot. You can place it whole or cut it into smaller pieces. 
• How do you cook a whole chicken in the crockpot? To cook a whole chicken, season with your favorite seasonings, add some broth, and veggies, and let it cook.  Or, follow this recipe for crockpot rotisserie chicken.
• Can you make chicken Marsala ahead of time? Yes, you can make chicken marsala ahead of time. Prepare the recipe as per these instructions and store it in the fridge for 3-4 days.

Tips & Tricks

• The sauce may separate upon thawing and reheating. Gently heat it on the stovetop while stirring occasionally then add a splash of Marsala wine or chicken broth to help restore the consistency.
• Spray the crockpot with cooking spray so clean up is a little easier. 
• Use an instant-read thermometer to confirm the chicken is cooked thoroughly. Chicken should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Don’t substitute the heavy cream with low-fat milk, you won’t get a creamy marsala wine sauce

More Recipes to Love

This Slow Cooker Green Chili Chicken Enchilada Casserole,  this Slow Cooker Chicken Teriyaki (pictured above), or this Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Recipe are great options if you are looking for easy chicken recipes next time. If you’d rather not pull out the slow cooker then you may like this Easy Chicken and Mushroom Florentine Pasta, Chicken Piccata, or this Southwest Chicken Linguine. 

If you are looking for a simple recipe for your next chicken dinner, this crock pot version of chicken marsala is a must.