Stuffed Chicken Marsala
Ingredients
Cheese Stuffing:
- 1 cup (114 g) smoked provolone or gouda cheese, shredded
- 1 ½ cups (171 g) mozzarella cheese, shredded
- ½ cup (57 g) Parmesan cheese, shredded
- ½ cup Panko or regular bread crumbs
- 3 cloves garlic, finely minced
- Pinch of red pepper flakes, crushed
- 5-6 sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil, rinsed, patted dry and chopped
- 3 green onions, white and green parts finely chopped
- ¾ cup sour cream
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Sauce and Chicken:
- 6 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 16 ounces white button or baby bella mushrooms, sliced
- ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
- 1 cup 100% white grape juice
- 1 ½ cups good-quality beef broth or stock
- ½ cup heavy cream
- Garlic mashed potatoes, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a medium bowl, combine all the stuffing ingredients and mix until combined.
- Take each chicken breast, pat it dry and season it lightly on both sides with salt and pepper. Butterfly the chicken through the thickest part (don't slice all the way through) so it opens up into one large, thinner piece of chicken (see pictures below, if needed).
- Divide the filling into six portions. Press the stuffing onto one side of each chicken breast, covering as much of that side as possible and compressing the stuffing lightly with your hands so it stays together. Fold the other side of the chicken over tightly. It doesn't need to seal completely.
- In a large nonstick skillet, heat the butter and olive oil over medium to medium-high heat until it is hot and rippling. Add the chicken, top-side down to the hot oil in a single layer without crowding the pan too much (you'll probably need to do this in two batches) and brown on each side for about a minute, flipping carefully. Repeat with the remaining chicken.
- Place the browned chicken in a lightly greased 9X13-inch baking dish. Bake for 20-30 minutes until the chicken is baked through and the juices run clear (the center of the chicken, not the cheese stuffing, should reach about 160 degrees F on a thermometer).
- While the chicken bakes, add the mushrooms to the hot skillet (don't clean it out beforehand, let the mushrooms cook in the remaining oil/butter), scraping up any bits of chicken on the bottom of the skillet. Sprinkle a little salt and pepper over the mushrooms. Let them cook down, stirring occasionally, until they have released their juices, 5-6 minutes. Crank the heat up a bit to medium-high.
- Stir together the balsamic vinegar, grape juice and beef broth. Pour into the skillet and use a wooden spoon to scrape up any bits on the bottom of the pan. Simmer the sauce until it reduces by half. This may take a while, 20 minutes or so, but be patient - it will concentrate the flavor and help thicken. Stir in the cream. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve immediately; place a chicken breast over a large scoop of garlic, mashed potatoes and top with a spoonful or three of the mushroom sauce.
Notes
Marsala: ok, so I know that this recipe is called chicken "marsala" but you'll notice there's no Marsala wine in the ingredient list. That's because I don't drink or cook with alcohol; I always sub grape juice + balsamic vinegar for recipes calling for wine (in different amounts and with different varieties of grape juice depending on the recipe). However, if you want to use Marsala wine, omit the vinegar, grape juice and beef broth/stock and replace it accordingly.
Sauce: also, if you want your sauce a bit thicker, whisk in a couple teaspoons of cornstarch into the broth mixture before adding it to the skillet.
Make Ahead: the stuffing can be prepped a day or so in advance - as well as the chicken (butterfly, stuff, fold over and refrigerate for up to a day before proceeding).