Description
Chicken Madeira is a flavorful dish featuring tender seared chicken breasts topped with a rich mushroom and Madeira wine sauce, asparagus, and melted mozzarella cheese. This comforting recipe is perfect for a special dinner and pairs wonderfully with mashed potatoes.
Ingredients
Scale
Sauce
- 1 cup chicken broth
- ½ cup beef broth
- ½ chicken bouillon cube
- 1 tablespoon heavy cream
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon mustard powder
Chicken
- 2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts
- Salt
- Pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ cup flour
- 1-2 tablespoons olive oil
Vegetables and Cheese
- 12 spears asparagus
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 ½ cups Madeira wine
- 8 oz cremini/baby bella mushrooms
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Prep Work: Combine the sauce ingredients in a large measuring cup with a spout and set aside. Remove the mozzarella cheese from the fridge to bring it to room temperature for easier melting. Measure all remaining ingredients before starting.
- Cook the Asparagus: Trim the ends off the asparagus and cut them in half. Boil asparagus in water for 4 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water until cooled. Set aside.
- Prepare the Chicken: Slice each chicken breast in half lengthwise to create thinner cutlets. Cover with plastic wrap and pound to ½ inch thickness using the textured side of a meat mallet. Pat the chicken dry. Season both sides with salt and pepper. Mix garlic powder with flour, then coat the chicken evenly with this mixture, working it into the surface.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. In batches, sear the chicken for 5 minutes per side until golden crust forms. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
- Make the Sauce: Turn heat off, add butter and minced garlic to the skillet, then return to medium heat and cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Add Madeira wine and scrape the bottom of the skillet to release flavorful browned bits. Add mushrooms and simmer gently, allowing the liquid to reduce by half over about 13 minutes. Preheat oven to 400° F if planning to melt cheese in the oven.
- Thicken the Sauce: Sprinkle flour gradually into the sauce, whisking continuously and cooking for 2 minutes to eliminate raw flour taste. Slowly add the prepared sauce mixture in small splashes, stirring constantly. Bring sauce to a boil, then reduce to simmer uncovered for 13 minutes until thickened. Lower heat and stir in grated Parmesan cheese.
- Combine and Finish: Return chicken to the skillet and spoon sauce over each piece. Top with asparagus and shredded mozzarella cheese. Heat over medium-low and cover to melt cheese, about 5 minutes, or transfer the skillet to the oven for 4 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serve: Serve Chicken Madeira hot, ideally with mashed potatoes for a complete meal.
Notes
- Use authentic Madeira wine for best flavor; affordable bottles from liquor stores work well.
- Substitutes for Madeira wine include vermouth, dry marsala, dry port, or dry sherry. Adding 1 tablespoon brandy or cognac to dry white wine works too.
- For a non-alcoholic version, use ½ cup white grape juice, ¼ cup sherry vinegar, and 2 tablespoons vanilla extract.
- Cremini or baby bella mushrooms provide better color and texture than white button mushrooms.
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese enhances umami flavor and melts better than pre-grated cheese.
- Use whole milk, low moisture mozzarella shredded from a block for best melting and flavor; avoid fresh or part-skim mozzarella variants.
- Always use freshly minced garlic for best aroma and flavor.
- Allow sauce ample time to simmer and reduce to develop a rich, concentrated flavor.
- Serve with homemade mashed potatoes for a true restaurant-quality experience.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
- To reheat frozen leftovers, thaw overnight then bake covered at 350° F for 20-25 minutes.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 520 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 680 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 45 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg
