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    Home » Keto Dinner Ideas » Keto Chicken Marsala

    Published: May 9, 2023 by Carolyn

    Keto Chicken Marsala

    This post may contain Amazon or other affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    1.5K shares
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    This Keto Chicken Marsala is a classic recipe with a healthy twist. You can’t beat this golden pan-seared chicken topped with succulent mushrooms in a rich, velvety sauce. And it has only 4.5g of carbs per serving!

    Close up shot of keto Chicken Marsala in the pan.

    Gourmet meals do not necessarily have to be a lot of work. It can come as a surprise to discover that restaurant-style dinners are often quick and easy to prepare.

    Steak Diane, for example, takes 30 minutes, while Chicken Dijon whips up in 25 minutes. And you can prep, cook, and serve this delectable Keto Chicken Marsala in under an hour.

    I made this dish many times in the past but I recently decided to make it again with fewer carbs. It was easy enough to prepare on a weeknight but it felt like a special occasion dish. I know I will be making it again and again!

    A serving spoon lifting a piece of Keto Chicken Marsala out of the pan.

    You need to try this recipe!

    The magic of Chicken Marsala is all in the sauce! It’s velvety smooth and so mouthwatering, you might be tempted to push the chicken aside and just drink it straight.

    Okay, not really. But I dare you not to slurp your way through the saucy goodness. And contrary to popular belief, Marsala sauce does not have to contain a lot of sugar and carbs.

    Marsala is a fortified wine and comes in both sweet and dry varieties. Fortified simply means that a distilled spirit has been added to increase the alcohol content. The dry or secco version of marsala has a carb content similar to other dry red wines. Which is to say that it contains 3 to 4g of carbs per 5 ounce serving.

    In fact, most of the carbs in conventional Chicken Marsala actually come from flour. The chicken is often dredged in flour before pan-frying. But this step is actually unnecessary, as the chicken turns out just as delicious without it. And by skipping the flour, you save about 10 to 15 grams of carbs per serving.

    Ingredients you need

    Top down image of the ingredients for Keto Chicken Marsala.
    • Chicken: I like chicken tenders for this keto chicken marsala recipe because they are thin enough to cook through quickly. You can also take breasts and slice them in half to make two thinner cutlets.
    • Shallot: You could use onion or garlic, but I really love the milder flavor of shallot for this recipe.
    • Mushrooms: Use button or cremini mushrooms. Did you know that cremini mushrooms and baby bellas are the same thing?
    • Marsala wine: Marsala is a dessert wine, but it comes in dry or sweet varieties. The dry marsala has very little residual sugars left so it works best for this keto recipe. In a pinch, you can use another dry red such as Cabernet Sauvignon or merlot.
    • Chicken broth: Adding some broth helps to thin out and round out the sauce.
    • Heavy cream: The addition of cream makes a velvety sauce that pairs so nicely with the chicken and mushrooms. You could use coconut cream for a dairy-free version.
    • Pantry staples: Oil, butter, salt, pepper, sage or thyme.

    Step by Step Directions

    A collage of 4 images showing how to make Keto Chicken Marsala.

    1. Sear the chicken: Season the chicken on both sides with salt and pepper. Add the oil to a large skillet set over medium heat. Once hot, add the tenders and cook 5 to 6 minutes per side, until golden. Remove to a plate.

    2. Cook the mushrooms: Add the butter to the pan and let melt. Add the shallot and cook, stirring frequently, until translucent. Add the mushrooms and sauté until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and the sage.

    3. Add the wine: Pour the marsala over the mushrooms and let cook until the wine is reduced by about half. Add the broth and the whipping cream and bring to a boil. Let cook until sauce is beginning to thicken.

    4. Put it together: Add the chicken back to the pan and cook another 2 to 3 minutes to heat through.

    Top down image of Keto Chicken Marsala in a cast iron pan on a concrete table.

    Expert Tips

    Chicken tenders work well in Keto Chicken Marsala because they are thin and cook through quickly. But you can also take chicken breasts and turn them into tenders by laying them on a cutting board and slicing them horizontally. This creates to thinner chicken cutlets, which you can then slice into smaller tenders.

    You can also use boneless chicken thighs. Just be sure to open them up and lay them flat in the pan so that they cook through faster. Whatever chicken you use, make sure it reads 165ºF on an instant read thermometer to be sure it’s cooked through.

    If you can’t find dry Marsala, use another dry red wine such as Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot. They aren’t fortified wines so the flavor will be slightly different but it will taste great.

    You can’t really make Chicken Marsala without wine, but if you want to avoid it, simply replace the wine with more chicken broth. It won’t be quite the same, but you will have a delicious recipe for Chicken and Mushrooms!

    A spoon drizzling marsala sauce over chicken on a plate.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Is Chicken Marsala high in carbs?

    Conventional chicken marsala requires you to dredge the chicken in flour, which adds quite a few unnecessary carbs. However this Keto Chicken Marsala skips the flour and has only 4.8g of carbs per serving.

    It comes as a surprise to many people that dry Marsala Wine does not contain many carbs and can be used for cooking keto recipes.

    Does chicken marsala use dry or sweet wine?

    Dry Marsala Wine is the best choice for Chicken Marsala, as it deepens the flavor of the dish without making it too sweet or adding too many carbs. Dry Marsala Wine only has about 4g of carbs per 5-ounce serving.

    How do you store Keto Chicken Marsala?

    Store any leftovers in a covered container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Rewarm it gently in the microwave or oven.

    A pan of Keto Chicken Marsala sits on a concrete table with a black and white napkin and mushrooms in the background.

    What to serve with Keto Chicken Marsala

    • Turnip au Gratin
    • Caramelized Brussels Sprouts
    • Creamy Mashed Cauliflower
    • Twice Baked Spaghetti Squash
    • Easy Baked Asparagus
    Close up shot of keto Chicken Marsala in the pan.

    Keto Chicken Marsala Recipe

    This Keto Chicken Marsala is a classic recipe with a healthy twist. You can't beat this golden pan-seared chicken topped with succulent mushrooms in a rich, velvety sauce. And it has only 4.5g of carbs per serving!
    5 from 14 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: dinner
    Cuisine: Italian
    Keyword: Keto Chicken Marsala
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 35 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 50 minutes minutes
    Servings: 6 servings
    Calories: 419kcal

    Ingredients

    • 2 lb chicken tenders or breasts cut into tenders
    • Salt and pepper
    • 2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
    • 2 tablespoon butter
    • 1 medium shallot, thinly sliced
    • 8 ounces sliced mushrooms
    • 2 teaspoon fresh chopped sage or thyme
    • ½ cup dry marsala wine
    • ⅓ cup chicken broth
    • ½ cup heavy whipping cream
    US Customary – Metric

    Instructions

    • Season the chicken on both sides with salt and pepper. Add the oil to a large skillet set over medium heat. Once hot, add the tenders and cook 5 to 6 minutes per side, until golden. Remove to a plate.
    • Add the butter to the pan and let melt. Add the shallot and cook, stirring frequently, until translucent. Add the mushrooms and sauté until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and the sage.
    • Pour the marsala over the mushrooms and let cook until the wine is reduced by about half. Add the broth and the whipping cream and bring to a boil. Let cook until sauce is beginning to thicken.
    • Add the chicken back to the pan and cook another 3 to 5 minutes to heat through.
    Nutrition Facts
    Keto Chicken Marsala Recipe
    Amount Per Serving (1 serving = ⅙th of recipe)
    Calories 419 Calories from Fat 176
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 19.6g30%
    Carbohydrates 4.8g2%
    Fiber 0.3g1%
    Protein 47.1g94%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    1.5K shares

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    Nutritional Disclaimer

    Please note that I am not a medical or nutritional professional. I am simply recounting and sharing my own experiences on this blog. Nothing I express here should be taken as medical advice and you should consult with your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program. I provide nutritional information for my recipes simply as a courtesy to my readers. It is calculated using MacGourmet software and I remove erythritol from the final carb count and net carb count, as it does not affect my own blood glucose levels. I do my best to be as accurate as possible but you should independently calculate nutritional information on your own before relying on them. I expressly disclaim any and all liability of any kind with respect to any act or omission wholly or in part in reliance on anything contained in this website.

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Sarah says

      November 22, 2023 at 7:06 pm

      Just tried this recipe, it is AMAZING! I doubled the sauce, and I’m glad I did, it was so good. Thank you Carolyn!

      Reply
    2. Cassandra Dethomas says

      November 15, 2023 at 1:10 pm

      Can you use anything besides heavy cream or coconut cream ? Would a milk substitute work ?

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        November 15, 2023 at 1:47 pm

        It won’t thicken enough.

        Reply
    3. Mitzi Zornow says

      November 15, 2023 at 12:40 pm

      can you use marsala cooking wine ?

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        November 15, 2023 at 12:40 pm

        Sure.

        Reply
    4. Holl says

      November 13, 2023 at 9:25 pm

      5 stars
      Made this tonight for my 17 year old daughter and I, oh yummy! Good thing my husband is out of town since my daughter and I can’t wait for the leftovers tomorrow night. 😌

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        November 14, 2023 at 10:58 pm

        Glad you enjoyed it!

        Reply
    5. Liz says

      November 01, 2023 at 4:51 pm

      5 stars
      Oh my gosh this was so good! Way better than expected! I used thyme instead of sage and 1/3 c half n half because I didn’t have heavy whipping cream. It was fantastic and will definitely be making again!

      Reply
    6. Kymber says

      October 23, 2023 at 7:39 pm

      5 stars
      Absolutely delicious! Easy dinner that the family loved. Hubby licked the plate! He told me to make this again soon…and to double the sauce! It will be on a normal rotation of dinners at our house.

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        October 24, 2023 at 8:56 am

        Fantastic!

        Reply
    7. Angela Leonard says

      October 18, 2023 at 11:43 am

      5 stars
      Fantastic recipe, I will make it again.

      Reply
    8. donna jankowski helms says

      September 30, 2023 at 9:56 pm

      Holy cow! What a fantastic recipe, so easy to prepare. Completed our meal with fresh green beans. Will definitely make this again.

      Reply
    9. Amy Supple says

      September 25, 2023 at 8:33 pm

      5 stars
      yum. thats all I can. absolutely yummy.

      Reply
    10. Heike Rice says

      August 02, 2023 at 11:33 am

      5 stars
      This is amazing. Chicken Marsala is one of my favourite dishes. I served it with miracle noodles and it was pretty amazing. but I have a question. I made way too much. Can I freeze the leftovers in a vacuum sealed container?

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        August 02, 2023 at 2:57 pm

        I haven’t tried freezing it. Wish I could say for sure!

        Reply
    11. Cheryl Geller says

      July 30, 2023 at 11:44 am

      I love the fact that you give alternative ingredient options within you recipes. I don’t always have the exact ingredients, but usually will have the alternative one. I don’t want to have to run to the st, at the last minute, to pick up 1 or 2 items, to fix dinner.

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        July 30, 2023 at 2:53 pm

        I feel the same way, that’s why I try to help!

        Reply
    12. Cassandra Condon says

      June 02, 2023 at 10:41 am

      5 stars
      absolutely devine! so easy and delicious

      Reply
    13. Cheryl Alvino says

      June 01, 2023 at 10:13 pm

      5 stars
      I have Marsala cooking wine, could I use that! No, I didn’t realize cremenis were actually baby Bella’s!

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        June 02, 2023 at 7:28 am

        Yes, you can use the cooking wine!

        Reply
    14. Theresa Milanese says

      June 01, 2023 at 1:38 pm

      Hi Carolyn!

      Is there a specific brand you use of Marsala wine? I know some contain added sugar.

      Thank you!

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        June 01, 2023 at 6:10 pm

        The dry marsala wine shouldn’t contain any added sugar.

        Reply
    15. Becky Calaway says

      May 31, 2023 at 4:39 pm

      5 stars
      Finally remembered to get boneless/skinless chicken breasts to make this. Didn’t have the wine so followed your recipe and added more chicken broth. It was delicious! My husband was impressed. I tend to make the same recipes over and over, which for us, thats fine. But it was nice to have something different. Have yet to be let down by one of your recipes. Thanks so much!

      Reply
    16. Linda Hughes says

      May 10, 2023 at 10:51 am

      Thank you Carolyn for all the delicious recipes you give us, they are so good, I have not made many so far, but I really want to make the chicken Masala, and the chicken with the topping, so I will let you know how they turn out.
      thank you once again

      Reply
    17. Lynne Cresswell Lopes says

      May 09, 2023 at 5:03 pm

      Sounds fantastic! Figures I had no lunch today lol. Had salsa chicken last night, so wondering how this sauce would do over grilled pork chops tonight? So I’ve figured out dinner-grilled chops with this sauce plus turnip au gratin, which is a fave of ours. will let you know!! Thanks so much for all you do!

      Reply
    18. Deanne Hamlette says

      May 09, 2023 at 11:52 am

      Can I sub more chicken broth for the marsala wine?

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        May 09, 2023 at 2:04 pm

        Please read the blog post!

        Reply

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