Kitchen notes · a little help before you start
Slow Cooker Chicken Marsala
Mushrooms and Marsala give this creamy chicken a mellow, savory character. The sauce gathers around the chicken before a little cream rounds it out at the end. A scattering of parsley brings some freshness to a dinner that feels especially comforting on the plate.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 330 min
- Total
- 345 min
- Original yield
- Serves 6
- Ingredients
- 11 listed
Make it part of your week
Recipe categories & planning details
- Meal type
- Main course
- Primary protein
- Chicken
- Cuisine
- Italian
- Cooking method
- Slow cooker
- Preparation & total time
- Prep: 15 minutes or less · Total: over 60 minutes
A few quick notes
1. Brown before slow cooking
Give the seasoned chicken its first pan cook before placing it in the slow cooker.
2. Remove chicken for thickening
Lift the chicken out before stirring the cornstarch-and-water mixture into the cooking liquid.
3. Cream goes in last
Add the cream after the chicken returns and the sauce has thickened.
Get to know the ingredients
Sliced mushrooms
Place the sliced mushrooms in the slow cooker with the chicken, garlic, wine and broth.
Marsala wine
The Marsala goes into the slow cooker with the broth after the chicken's first browning stage.
Cornstarch slurry
Whisk the cornstarch into cold water separately before adding it to the sauce.
Let’s make it
Choose your servings, then check things off as you go.
Original recipe: Serves 6. Original quantities shown.
Check ingredients as you prepare them. These checks stay on this page.
How to make it
0 of 7 steps completeMake room for Slow Cooker Chicken Marsala
Review ingredients in your pantry before anything is added. Meal plans use your household size; grocery-only additions use the servings selected above.
The last little job
Cream, seasoning and parsley
Stir in the cream, taste for salt and pepper and finish with chopped parsley.
A little more help as you go
An optional shortcut
You can skip the first browning stage when pressed for time.
A stovetop option
A separate stovetop method is included below, with its own sauce and thickening stages.
A few questions you might have
Can I use chicken thighs?
You can use boneless skinless chicken thighs instead of breasts.
Does the cream slow cook from the beginning?
No, stir it in after the sauce-thickening stage near the end.
When do I mix the cornstarch?
After the first slow-cooker stage, remove the chicken and whisk cornstarch with cold water separately.
Can I skip browning?
You can skip browning as a shortcut, though browning is recommended when you have time.
Is there a way to cook it on the stove?
Yes, follow the separate stovetop directions below.
Any more cooking tips?
If you're really pressed for time, you can skip browning the chicken breasts, but I highly recommend taking the time to brown them! You can use boneless skinless chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts if you prefer. Adapted from Creme de la Crumb Stove top instructions: Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium high heat. Season the chicken with salt and pepper on both sides. Add the chicken to the pan and cook for 5-6 minutes on each side or until cooked through. Remove the chicken from the pan and cover with foil to keep warm. Add the mushrooms to the pan and cook for 4-5 minutes or until tender. Add the garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds. Add the marsala wine and chicken broth to the pan and simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in 1 tablespoon of cornstarch that's been mixed with 2 tablespoons cold water. Simmer until just thickened. Stir in the cream and simmer for 2 more minutes. Add the chicken back to the pan and spoon the sauce over the top. Sprinkle with parsley and serve.
Storage & reheating safety
For cooked, perishable leftovers, refrigerate within 2 hours (1 hour above 90°F), using shallow containers for prompt cooling. Keep the refrigerator at 40°F or below, use refrigerated leftovers within 3–4 days, and reheat hot leftovers to 165°F, checked with a food thermometer. Follow any shorter package limit.
These are general safety limits, not a tested storage or freezing recommendation for this particular dish. USDA leftovers guidance · Safe cooking temperatures
Recipe source: dinneratthezoo.com. Ingredient names and quantities may be adapted for the pantry.
Preparation notes follow the recipe shown here.
