With its creamy sauce, and American style deep-fried chicken cutlets, it is no wonder why chicken marsala has become an all-time favorite family meal not just in Europe but also in the greater part of the US.
Although high in calories, you can always balance this dish with good and healthy sides and complementing dishes.
Since we have gone that route, what can be served with chicken marsala? In this post, you will know 25 foods to serve with chicken marsala so read on.
Table of Contents
What is chicken marsala?
This dish is an Italian American fusion inspired by the traditional Italian Scaloppine. It is basically made of deep-fried chicken cutlets, mixed in mushrooms, and sauced with rich Marsala wine, heavy cream, and chicken broth.
It is creamy, tangy, and a classic dish in many restaurants. But because it is easy to make too, there have been a lot of homemade variations.
25 chicken marsala side dishes
#1. Citrusy Jasmine rice
Just rice is more than enough for this creamy dish but if you can notch it a bit, why not right? For citrus Jasmine rice, first, rinse the rice thoroughly.
Bring to a boil and add bouillon, salt, minced garlic, orange, and lemon zest. Put heat to low and slowly simmer for 10mins. Top with green onions. Serve.
#2. Blender polenta
For another back-to-back Italian dish, try this easy cooked polenta. First, make fine polenta grains through the blender.
Bring to high simmer and stir in between. Make it thick and creamy. Take off from the stove and whisk in olive oil and salt. Garnish with green onions and serve.
#3. Italian mushroom risotto
This one makes a delightful Italian on Italian vibe. First, cook mushrooms in olive oil, and then add butter and onions. Stir in the risotto rice and cook until light brown.
Add wine and then the warm broth. Stir in between for 20mins. Now, add the cooked mushrooms, parmesan, salt, and pepper. Garnish with herb of choice. Serve.
#4. Crispy roasted potatoes
This is an all-time favorite for any Italian dish. Just arrange thinly sliced potatoes in a baking sheet and then season with garlic, salt, pepper, and olive oil. Bake for 55mins. Season again and the garnish with parsley.Â
Related: 27 Popular Types of Potatoes: Varieties, Uses
#5. Nutty almond noodles
This one is a lighter, nuttier version of classic Italian noodles. To make this, saute onion, and then add the cabbage after and season.
Add garlic and tomato, and then mix in soy sauce, sriracha, rice vinegar, and veggie broth. Add the almond noodles and cook at 30mins. Stir in almond butter, coconut nectar. Drizzle with chili sauce and lemon juice. Serve.
#6. Hearty garlic parmesan roasted carrots
This hearty and healthy side is perfect for the creamy chicken marsala. First, spread foil in a baking sheet and arrange the carrots there. Saute garlic in melted butter and add Italian seasoning as well as salt and pepper.
Coat the carrots with the mixture along with parmesan. Bake for 25mins and serve with parsley garnish.
#7. Easy cooked spinach
This decadent meal does not take 15mins to prepare. To prepare, heat olive oil and cook for 5min.
Season with garlic and salt and cook for another 5mins. Top with lots of parmesan cheese and then serve warm.
#8. Crisp and gritty roasted asparagus
For this fine, and easy whip dish, you must first arrange the asparagus in a baking sheet. Drizzle with salt and olive oil and bake for 10-15mins.
Serve with lots of parmesan and a kick of lemon juice. You could also use butter and balsamic vinegar. Serve.
#9. Skillet green beans
Fresh and crispy green beans always leave us with that countryside feel and it only takes less than 10mins to do this one.
Just heat oil in a skillet and then add red pepper flakes. Stir in the green beans and cook for 7mins. Season with salt and garlic, add water, and bring to boil for 2mins. Serve warm.
#10. Earthy roasted broccolini
This earthy, and healthy side dish is nothing but flavorful and easy to prepare. It starts with washing the broccolinis and cutting them in medium sized pieces.
Coat the cuts with garlic powder and olive oil and season with salt, and pepper. Roast for 25mins. Serve warm.
#11. Coastal feel caprese salad
Everyone loves caprese salads as they are fleshy, gritty, and refreshing. First, prepare a platter and arrange mozzarella cheese and tomatoes alternately in it and top with fresh basil.
Season with salt and black pepper and then finally drizzle with balsamic glaze and olive oil. Serve.
#12. Classic American mashed potatoes
To fully embrace the flavor fusion of chicken marsala, you can always serve it with mashed potatoes. First, boil the potatoes until tender. Drain and dry. Next, simmer butter and milk.
Mash the potatoes in a separate bowl and mix the cream mixture until you get a thick and creamy mix. Season with salt, pepper, and a bit of grated cheese and serve.
#13. Vegan parmesan garlic noodles
This easy mix of vegan noodles is everything you need for your chicken marsala cutlets. Melt butter in olive oil, add garlic and season with salt and pepper. Add the chicken stock and bring to boil.
Add the pasta and stir in lots of parmesan. Add another half of pasta, along with milk and parsley. Continue cooking to be ticker. Serve warm.
Related: 48 Types Of Pasta and Their Uses
#14. Refreshing grilled fennel and parmesan salad
This salad bowl looks straight out of the Mediterranean and it is refreshing as it gets. For this, brush fennels with a lot of olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
Grill until slightly charred and sides are tender. Drizzle with herbs, olive oil, lemon juice and zest and top with Parmigiano shavings. Serve.
#15. Herby greens, nuts, and pancetta bowl
For this herby, earthy mix, combine choices of greens and lightly cook in a skillet. Fry pancetta and then drain. In the pancetta fat, saute nuts and shallots.
Add the vinegar and the pancetta bits. Pour the mixture over the cooked greens. Serve warm.
#16. Tasty French bread
You can go traditional or make a homemade version, but you can never go wrong with bread and chicken marsala. To make French bread, make the dough and knead until smooth. Coat with olive oil and then let rest.
After this, cut the dough in half and make a cylinder-shaped pastry. Let rise for 45mins and make small slits across. Bake for 20mins. Brush with butter and then serve warm.
#17. Buttery soft garlic bread
We will never get enough of garlic bread and that is on period. First, cut bread across the length and make the butter, garlic, and parsley combination on the side.
Spread butter mixture in each slat. Wrap the bread with aluminum foil and bake for 15mins. Slice and serve warm.
#18. Decadent tomato, orange, and gorgonzola salad
This is another salad that you can make with no sweat. Just mix in lettuce, grape tomatoes, mandarin oranges, avocados, green onions, and gorgonzola cheese.
Mix and squeeze in some orange juice and top with croutons. Stir in balsamic vinegar, serve.
#19. Roasted bacon wrap enoki
Who says Korean enoki would not go well with the creamy chicken marsala? To make this, line bacon strips and enoki mushrooms and top with pepper and scallions.
Secure with toothpicks and roll the foil up. Roast for 18mins, drain, remove the toothpicks, and then serve.
#20. Asian bok choy and shiitake mushroom
This one puts an Asian flair to an Italian dish. Saute garlic, onions, mushrooms, in olive oil. And then stir in the soy sauce, scallions, bok choy, and simmer.
Add vegetable broth, and ginger in medium heat. Stir in sesame oil and sesame seeds. Serve.
#21. Traditional Leipziger Allerlei
This traditional German dish is perfect for the Italian taste of chicken marsala. It starts with boiling cauliflowers in seasoned hot water, and then adding the carrots and beans next, and then the peas last.
Saute onions in butter, and then add mushrooms. Stir and coat with butter. Add the cauliflower mix. Serve with parsley garnish.
#22. Five-bean salad with mustard dressing
For the best side for potlucks or picnics, this five-bean salad is one of the best choices. First, cook the green beans in seasoned water.
And then make the salad by tossing in chickpeas, black beans, red kidney beans, cooked green beans, and Cannellini beans. Add some grit by tossing in bell peppers, cucumber, and parsley. Drizzle with mustard dressing and serve.
#23. One pot veggie orzo soup
This is another Italian on Italian mix that should be on your radar for chicken marsala. First, melt butter on Dutch pot. Saute onion and then add garlic, celery, and beets and cook for next 5mins.
Next, toss in veggie stock, orzo, thyme, tomatoes, oregano, rosemary and then put down to simmer for 10mins. Top with blanched spinach and then serve.
#24. Farm fresh seven-layer salad
For summer picnics and potluck dinners with friends, do not forget to bring the fresh goodness of this seven-layer salad. To prepare, bring out your flat Pyrex dish and layer romaine lettuce at the bottom.
Season and then arrange peas, eggs, tomatoes, bacon, cheese, and onions. The next layer is made of sour cream, mayo, and sugar. Finally, sprinkle with bacon and cheese. Refrigerate for 8hrs and then serve.
#25. Lots of wine selection
Yes, chicken marsala is already cooked in wine, but still, there is a huge wine selection that perfectly pairs with it for a more balanced taste. If you want reds, go for zinfandel, cabernet, and sangiovese. For white wines, go for chardonnay, chenin blanc or viognier.
Conclusion
For the unknowing ears and taste buds, chicken marsala might sound or taste complex but really, it is an easy to cook hearty meal, complete with the grit of the fried chicken cutlets and the creamy Italian sauce. The best part is that it comes with many side dishes to serve with.
Tell us what you think in the comment box. If you have enjoyed sifting through these 25 foods that you can serve with chicken marsala, do not forget to react, like and share this post.
Other side dishes:
