The Ultimate One-Pot Chicken Marsala with Orzo

Are you searching for the ultimate comfort food dinner that delivers all the rich, savory flavor of a restaurant classic but comes together in a single pot? Imagine tender chicken, earthy mushrooms, and pasta all simmering together in a luscious Marsala wine sauce, with only one pot to clean at the end. This incredible One-Pot Chicken Marsala is the weeknight dinner hero you’ve been waiting for.

This is your definitive guide to transforming a classic multi-pan recipe into a streamlined, efficient, and unbelievably delicious all-in-one meal. We’ll show you how to build the signature flavors of Chicken Marsala and cook the pasta right in the same pot, creating a dish that is deeply flavorful and incredibly easy to make.

What makes this recipe so special is that it’s a complete meal in a pot. The pasta cooks in the sauce, absorbing every drop of the savory flavor, while its starches naturally thicken the sauce to a perfect, creamy consistency. This is the ultimate comfort food hack, perfect for a cozy weekend dinner or a satisfying weeknight feast.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

The Magic of the One-Pot Method

This One-Pot Chicken Marsala isn’t just about saving dishes; it’s about creating a more flavorful meal. By cooking everything in one pot, you build layers of flavor that you just can’t get when the components are cooked separately.

• Building the Flavor Foundation: We start by searing the chicken and rendering the prosciutto in our pot. This creates a deeply flavorful foundation of browned bits, or fond, which is the secret to any great pan sauce.
• Cooking the Pasta in the Sauce: The true genius of this method is that the uncooked orzo pasta simmers directly in the Marsala-infused chicken broth. As the orzo cooks, it absorbs this incredibly flavorful liquid, ensuring every bite is packed with savory goodness.
• A Naturally Creamy Sauce: As the orzo cooks, it releases starches into the broth. This acts as a natural thickener, creating a beautifully creamy and emulsified sauce that perfectly coats the chicken and mushrooms—all without any extra steps.

The Key Ingredients for Your One-Pot Meal

This recipe for One-Pot Chicken Marsala uses a handful of classic, powerful ingredients to build its signature flavor.

• Chicken Breasts: Pounded thin into cutlets, they cook quickly and stay tender.
• Prosciutto: Adds a crispy, salty, and savory depth to the flavor base.
• Cremini Mushrooms: Provide a wonderful, earthy flavor and a meaty texture.
• Sweet Marsala Wine: The essential ingredient for that classic, rich, and slightly sweet sauce.
• Orzo Pasta: This small, rice-shaped pasta is the perfect choice for a one-pot dish. It cooks quickly and evenly in the simmering sauce, absorbing all the flavor.
• Chicken Stock: Provides the savory liquid needed to cook the orzo and create the sauce.
• Fresh Parsley: A final sprinkle of fresh parsley adds a burst of fresh, green, herbaceous flavor that brightens up the entire rich and savory dish.

Step-by-Step Guide to Your One-Pot Chicken Marsala

This entire meal comes together in one large, deep skillet or Dutch oven.

Part 1: Prepare and Sear the Chicken

1. Prepare the Cutlets: Place the chicken breasts between two pieces of plastic wrap and use a meat mallet to pound them to an even 1/4-inch thickness.
2. Dredge the Chicken: In a shallow dish, combine some all-purpose flour with a generous amount of salt and pepper. Lightly dredge both sides of the chicken cutlets in the seasoned flour, shaking off any excess.
3. Sear the Chicken: Heat the olive oil in a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the chicken cutlets (in batches if necessary) and cook for about 4-5 minutes per side, until golden brown. The chicken does not need to be fully cooked at this stage. Transfer the seared chicken to a plate.

Part 2: Build the Sauce and Cook the Orzo

1. Sauté the Prosciutto and Mushrooms: Lower the heat to medium. Add the thinly sliced prosciutto to the skillet and cook for 1 minute until it starts to get crispy. Add the mushrooms and sauté for about 5 minutes, until they are browned. Season with a little salt and pepper.
2. Deglaze and Build the Base: Pour in the sweet Marsala wine to deglaze the pan, scraping up any delicious browned bits from the bottom with a wooden spoon. Let the wine bubble and reduce for about a minute.
3. Cook the Orzo: Stir in the 1/2 cup of chicken stock plus an additional 3 cups of water or more chicken stock. Bring the liquid to a simmer. Stir in the uncooked orzo pasta.
4. Simmer: Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let the orzo simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it is almost tender.
5. Finish Cooking: Return the seared chicken cutlets to the pot, nestling them into the orzo. Cover the pot again and continue to cook for another 5 minutes, until the orzo is perfectly tender and the chicken is cooked through.
6. Serve: Turn off the heat. Stir in the 2 tablespoons of butter until it melts into the sauce. Garnish your One-Pot Chicken Marsala generously with fresh chopped parsley and serve hot.

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Conclusion: A Comfort Food Classic, Made Incredibly Easy

This One-Pot Chicken Marsala with Orzo is the perfect solution for anyone who craves a rich, comforting, and deeply flavorful meal without the fuss and mess of multiple pots and pans. It’s a smart, efficient, and incredibly delicious recipe that brings all the beloved flavors of a restaurant classic to your table with absolute ease. This is destined to become a new favorite in your weeknight dinner rotation.

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