Chicken marsala is an amazing Italian-American dish of chicken served in a marsala wine sauce.

Contents show

What To Serve With Chicken Marsala 13 Incredible Side Dishes

It consists of slices of chicken breast coated in flour, sauteed and then served up with a marsala sauce that pours like syrup and is then added with garlic.

Sounds delicious, right?

But before you grab your apron and start cooking, have you thought about a side dish to go alongside your incredible chicken marsala?

If you are struggling for ideas, then we have got 13 amazing side dishes that pair well with chicken marsala so you can combine the two together and cook up a filling meal to satisfy bellies all round.

Take a look below and pick out the side dish that suits your tastes best!

Pasta

Seeing as chicken marsala has Italian roots, it only makes sense to pair this dish with Italy’s most iconic food – pasta!

Chicken marsala is such a creamy and indulgent sauce that it only makes sense to use it as a pasta topping.

As for which pasta, most cooks agree that fettuccine or linguine works best with such a thick sauce, however other pastas like penne work just as well too.

By serving chicken marsala with pasta, you really get to evoke strong Italian vibes that will make you feel like you’re in Italy itself.

Rice

Chicken marsala is definitely at its best when served up with moisture retaining foods – just like rice!

Both white and brown rice taste amazing when paired with chicken marsala, and you can even add spices like saffron or jasmine to really bring out more flavors and tastes with your meal.

Serving rice alongside your chicken marsala will help bulk up the meal and really fill up your guests’ stomachs so if you are hoping to serve a large meal after a long day, then choosing rice as your side dish with chicken marsala is a great choice.

Bread

No matter what you are serving, bread should always be somewhere on your table. It goes well with any kind of meal – chicken marsala included!

We really recommend you try making your own garlic bread as not only is it delicious, but it evokes a strong taste of Italy when eaten alongside chicken marsala.

Plus, garlic bread is just the best bread. That’s not an opinion, just a fact.

Potatoes

For a quick and easy side dish that fills bellies and tastes amazing, you should try out adding some potatoes to your chicken marsala.

A lot of people make the mistake of writing potatoes off as bland and boring, but they are so easy to make and when cooked correctly, they can taste delicious all on their own.

Try out this recipe for boiled potatoes with parsley, as it will leave you with a bunch of buttery potatoes that will bulk up your chicken marsala meal and satisfy your taste buds after a long day.

Risotto

Another Italian classic to serve alongside your chicken marsala, we really recommend you try out making your own risotto dish.

Not only is it filling, but it brings a bunch of extra flavors to really spice up your meal. The recipe we have recommended here adds extra flavors including chives, basil, onion, garlic and even a sneaky little bit of parmesan cheese!

Overall, if you want a rice dish that tastes like Italy, then this is the one for you!

Caprese Salad

For a side dish that is lighter and more refreshing, why not try eating your chicken marsala alongside some classic Caprese salad?

Named after the beautiful island of Capri, this salad is made by combining a bunch of healthy and fresh ingredients like tomatoes, mozzarella, basil and olive oil.

It is the perfect salad side dish to serve alongside chicken marsala as both have similar origins and compliment each other perfectly.

Sweet Potatoes

You may be thinking – hey, didn’t we already cover potatoes?

Sweet potatoes are a completely different experience than normal potatoes, plus you have to cook them differently. We have included a recipe specifically for sweet potatoes that will make them crispy and delicious.

The best way to serve up sweet potatoes with chicken marsala is to roast them so they are charred on the outside yet soft in the middle, soaking up the marsala sauce when you cut them in half.

Plus, if you season them with typical Italian ingredients like garlic and parmesan cheese.

Spinach

Another vegetable side dish, sometimes all you need to serve up alongside your chicken marsala is a healthy helping of greens – like some spinach.

I personally love spinach and it is so easy to whip and up prepare to go alongside a more complicated main dish.

Sauteeing spinach can be done in 15 minutes tops, letting it infuse with the flavors of garlic and olive oil to bring that little extra flavor to your side dish.

It’s perfect and is a healthy side dish to try out.

Noodles

Although noodles are more commonly associated with some Asian dishes and cuisine, they also pair well with a lot of Italian dishes including chicken marsala.

This is because noodles are basically the softer version of pasta and are generally cooked with more butter, so they work great as a pasta substitute.

You can even try out making your own homemade egg noodles to go alongside your chicken marsala. They taste amazing, and are definitely a side dish to try out.

Broccoli

A lot of people instantly refuse to eat broccoli but if cooked properly, it can taste absolutely stunning.

My favorite way to cook broccoli is to caramelize it, making it completely tender and cooking it alongside some garlic to tone down the strong broccoli taste.

It’s a great way to get those who usually hate vegetables to eat them without any complaints, plus it only takes a few minutes to cook.

Basically, broccoli is a great choice to serve as a side dish alongside your chicken marsala as it is healthy and tastes amazing once caramelized with garlic.

Give it a try and you may find your new favorite broccoli recipe!

Asparagus

Another light side dish that pairs well with a meat and saucy dish like chicken marsala is asparagus.

You can bake asparagus to make a delicious merge of flavors including garlic and parmesan and it only takes 15 minutes!

I really recommend using your asparagus side dish as a bed for you to rest your chicken marsala on top, as it is sure to wow your guests with its appearance and it also makes cutting into your meal easier.

This way, you get a small taste of asparagus with every bite of your meal.

Polenta

Polenta is another classic Italian side dish that pairs perfectly with chicken marsala – it is creamy, light and fluffy which makes it ideal to go with meat dishes.

Those who are not already familiar with polenta may not be convinced at first glance. It is very similar to porridge but it tastes strongly of cheese and tastes a lot like a gritty cheese sauce that is delicious alongside meats like chicken.

Green Beans

And finally, we have another veggie side dish that goes well with chicken marsala – green beans.

I was not a fan of green beans when I was younger, but once they are sauteed alongside some garlic and olive oil – it goes down a treat. Now, I eat it alongside most of my meals, especially ones that feature poultry or white meats – like chicken marsala.

So, I definitely recommend you give sauteed green beans a try with your chicken marsala. It is bound to be delicious!

Conclusion

And those are our top 13 recommendations for side dishes to serve alongside chicken marsala.

There is something here for everyone as we have included Italian side dishes, vegetable side dishes to contrast and compliment the chicken, and even alternatives to classic Italian sides like pasta.

So pick one or two side dishes that have caught your eye and serve them up with your very own homemade chicken marsala!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Eat Chicken Marsala On Its Own?

Of course! If you don’t want to eat a side dish alongside your chicken marsala, then no one can force you to eat something you don’t want to.

Also, chicken marsala is not always cooked just with the chicken and sauce alone – some people add mushrooms, tomatoes or peppers to their recipes to bulk it up a bit so you can eat it on its own perfectly fine.

Where Does Chicken Marsala Come From?

Chicken marsala is classed as an Italian-American dish as it is a variation of traditional Italian scaloppina dishes that has been adapted for consumption in the US.

Most Italian-American dishes are made by Italian migrants who have moved to the US and transformed their traditional recipes to suit American tastes.

Are There Vegetarian Or Vegan Versions Of Chicken Marsala?

Of course! All you need to do is switch out the chicken, cream and butter for vegetarian and vegan substitutes.

The rest of the recipe should be all vegan-friendly ingredients.

What To Serve With Chicken Marsala: 13 Incredible Side Dishes

Chicken marsala is a delicious dish but sometimes it is just not enough on its own. We have a list of 13 amazing side dishes to serve with chicken marsala.

Ingredients

Directions

Pick a recipe from the list above
Click the recipe name and visit the website
Collect the ingredients and cook the food
Enjoy – don’t forget to leave a review

Recipe Video

Author
Recent Posts

Jess Smith

Hi, my name is Jess Smith, and I love cooking in my spare time. Around three years ago, I decided to give up my day job as a teacher to pursue my passion for food. While I have enjoyed sharing tips and tricks on Social Media, I have decided to expand my horizons through this blog.

Through this blog I hope to help others learn the basics and more intricate details of cooking. I know from personal experience how frustrating it can be to cook a meal, only to realize you are missing one ingredient from your list. This is why I love to write articles chatting readers through some great substitutes that can be used in an emergency.

I hope you will find this blog useful, and that it will help you to develop your culinary skills, to help you cook up a storm!