Easy Instant Pot Chicken Marsala

This Easy Instant Pot Chicken Marsala is made in no time when you use the pressure cooker. These juicy chicken breasts are served with a rich and decadent wine sauce. This meal is perfect for weeknight dinners or freezer meals.

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This recipe was originally published in 2017. It has since been updated.

Oh, how I used to love the chicken marsala from Olive Garden! This dish is a classic favorite. Whenever you’re craving a nice home cooked meal, this is the one!

What Type of Chicken to Use

The dish is made using skinless chicken breasts. You can slice each breast in half (crosswise) to create smaller cutlets. Feel free to tendorize the cutlets if you wish.

You can substitute chicken thighs and the cook time will remain the same.

How to Make Instant Pot Chicken Marsala

1. Add the chicken breasts to the Instant pot and season. Sear each side of the breasts for a couple of minutes.
2. Remove the chicken from the pot. Add garlic and shallots. (Use additional olive oil here if necessary). Cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
3. Add the mushrooms. Cook for 1-2 minutes.
4. Add the chicken broth to the pot.
5. Add the marsala wine and Better Than Bouillon to the pot and stir. Add the chicken breasts back to the pot.
6. Seal the pot with the lid. Pressure cook.
7. When the pot indicates it is finished, do not perform a quick release. Allow the steam to release naturally for 5 minutes.
8. Combine cornstarch and water in a small bowl. Create a slurry by mixing the two.
9. Open the pot. Place the pot on the saute function. Add the slurry and heavy cream. Stir. This will thicken the sauce.

What Type of Wine to Use in the Recipe

What wine is best to use for chicken marsala? Dry, marsala wine. Marsala wine has a deep, smokey flavor. It is perfect for really savory dishes like this one.

The Difference Between Wine and Cooking Wine

Marsala wine comes from Sicily, Italy and is used in a lot of Italian dishes. I prefer to use actual wine in the recipe vs cooking wine. If you want to use cooking wine, you can find it usually near the vinegar or sometimes in the baking aisle in the grocery store.

Cooking wine has preservatives and usually also has added sweeteners and salt. Using it can result in an altered taste in the dish. You can read more about Marsala Cooking Wine here. Cooking wine does also have alcohol.

If you want to substitute Marsala wine you can substitute 1 cup of dry white wine along with 2 teaspoons of sherry. It won’t taste like the real thing, but is an option.

How to Thicken the Sauce

To thicken the sauce you will need to create a slurry using 1 part cornstarch and 1 part water. Combine the two in a bowl and then add it to the finished dish.

For a low carb substitute you can use 1/4 teaspoon of xanthan gum. Take 1 tablespoon of the sauce from the finished dish and combine it with the xanthan gum in a bowl. Stir until the mixture thickens and then add it to the finished dish.

Freezer Tips

You can freeze the dish tightly sealed up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge overnight before serving.

Side Dishes to Pair with this Meal

Instant Pot Southern Green Beans
Air Fryer Garlic Green Beans
Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
Instant Pot Scalloped Potatoes
Keto Low Carb Cauliflower Mash
Air Fryer Asparagus
Scalloped Corn
Roasted Ranch Potatoes

More Take Out Style Recipes

Keto Low Carb Orange Chicken
Keto Beef and Broccoli
Chick-Fil-A Chicken Sandwich
Red Lobster CopyCat Shrimp Scampi
Healthy Pad Thai
Panda Express Kung Pao Chicken
Instant Pot Teriyaki Chicken

More Amazing Instant Pot Recipes

Instant Pot Risotto
Instant Pot Tuscan Chicken
Instant Pot Gumbo
Instant Pot Red Beans and Rice

Don’t have an Instant Pot? Check out my Slow Cooker Chicken Marsala here.