Nothing draws people together like culinary delights, especially a hearty dish like Chicken Marsala.
The recipe is pure perfection: chicken, mushroom sauce, and wine — but not just any kind of wine — you’ll need Marsala, one of Italy’s most famous wines, from which the dish derives its name.
Today’s menu has a plethora of mouth-watering delicacies that go perfectly well with Chicken Marsala. They are easy, nutritious, and bring out the best in the Italian masterpiece.
The best side dishes for chicken marsala:
- Garlic Turmeric Rice
- Rice & Lentils With Caramelized Onions
- Roasted Sweet Potatoes With Herbs
- Roasted Broccoli With Garlic & Parmesan
- Roasted Carrots With Paprika & Herbs
- Honey-Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts
- Cauliflower Fried Rice
1. Garlic Turmeric Rice
One of the most satisfying dishes to pair with Chicken Marsala is a bowl of warm and fluffy rice. You can cook it with many different ingredients to adjust the taste to your liking.
We recommend a rice recipe with red bell pepper, broccolini, corn, onion, and garlic. It’s incredibly flavorful, simple to make, and pleasing to the eye, thanks to the colorful veggies.
You can accentuate the flavors with crushed pepper flakes and turmeric.
Plus, you don’t need to be a master chef to make this. All you need to do is chop the red bell pepper, onion, broccolini, and garlic, or use store-bought minced garlic. Medium heat is the best temperature for this one. Stir fry the veggies, starting with garlic and onions first, over medium heat.
Move the rice to the pan, add spices, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Add water and let it cook as usual. When it’s ready, plate the dish and top with extra crushed pepper flakes. Bon appetite!
Prep time: 20 minutes
Tip: Rinse the rice a couple of times to remove the excess scratch and let it rest for a few minutes before frying.
2. Rice & Lentils With Caramelized Onions
A blend of rice, lentils, spices, herbs, and caramelized onions offers a nutritious and flavorful combo worth trying. Rice by itself is a good source of nutrients, but when combined with the all-mighty, protein-rich lentils, it makes a tasty and balanced meal.
This recipe comes alive when you boil the store-bought lentils with diced red onions and crushed garlic. You can use a garlic press to save time for this one.
Season with spices like cumin, cinnamon, and salt for a richer taste. Add bay leaf as well; the heat will help bring out some of the hidden flavors of the herb.
The star of the dish is no other than the caramelized onions, but what is the secret to such a unique flavor? Long yet thin slices of onions, low heat, and non-stop stirring for 30 minutes straight. When done, the caramelized onions will have a dark brownish color and sticky texture.
Congrats, you are all done! Serve the lentils and rice with the caramelized onions on top and garnish with lemon wedges and fresh parsley.
Prep time: 1 hour and 15 minutes
Tip: To increase the sugar content of the onions and hasten the caramelization process, sprinkle a little sugar over them.
3. Roasted Sweet Potatoes With Herbs
Chicken Marsala is already very flavorsome, so a simple and tasty side dish like roasted sweet potatoes is a great choice. Sweet potatoes are one of those vegetables with a taste equal to 100 ingredients, and that’s something you need to look for as a side dish — one or two ingredients that are cooked in the simplest of ways yet give the most magical flavors once done.
And if the side dish is as nutritious as sweet potato, you’ve hit the jackpot. When it comes to nutrition, roasting veggies is the ideal method if you want to retain all of the healthy fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
Our preferred mix for roasted sweet potatoes is rosemary, salt, and pepper. Like sweet potato, rosemary has a taste equal to 100 herbs combined.
It gives notes of citrus, mint, pepper, lavender, evergreen, pine, and sage notes. So, yes, you don’t need anything else except salt and pepper. Make sure to roast the potatoes at 400°F (200°C) and serve with Chicken Marsala after five minutes of cooling.
Prep time: 45 minutes
Tip: The potato skin is just as healthy as the potato itself and doesn’t alter the taste much, so you don’t need to peel your potatoes.
4. Roasted Broccoli With Garlic & Parmesan
Many people eat broccoli because of its nutritional properties, but it can also taste divine once you know how to prepare it correctly with the right ingredients.
We have the perfect combo for roasted broccoli — parmesan cheese, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. The results are yummy, especially when that mouth-watering parmesan cheese melts.
But hold your horses; we have one more ingredient to share with you: lemon.
Once you have preheated the oven to 400°F (200°C) and sprinkled the veggies with the ingredients mentioned above, squeeze a lemon and drizzle 1 tbsp of juice over the broccoli. Whisk everything, then bake for 35 to 40 minutes. Once done, let the veggies cool down a bit and serve. Enjoy, you’ll thank us later.
Prep time: 45 minutes
Tip: Broccoli stems may also be used, but be sure to remove the bottom 1 — 2 inches.
5. Roasted Carrots With Paprika & Herbs
Carrots are a versatile veggie that can be combined with any dish. This humble veggie is a superfood, not only in taste but in nutrients as well. However, they grow underground, so washing is crucial. We recommend peeling the carrots’ skin after washing them.
For the perfect taste, roast the carrots with paprika, parsley, salt, and pepper before you bake them. Right before you put them in the oven, massage the vegetables to ensure that each slice is evenly coated with spices.
Roasted carrots are best when sliced in long diagonal slices; the ideal temperature should be around 400°F (200°C). Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, let them cool for five more, and voila — your delicious side dish is all done.
Prep time: 30 minutes
Tip: The carrots should be quickly simmered in water before roasting. This will prevent the carrots from becoming too tough, dried, or wrinkled.
6. Honey-Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Brussels sprouts are an acquired taste for some since they are the cousins of cabbages and look and taste like them. But after this recipe, they will become a staple side for many of your main courses.
The trick to reducing their dominant bitter taste is sprinkling them with store-bought honey, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper before baking. Sugary and acidic ingredients like honey and vinegar are known to reduce bitterness and neutralize the overall flavor of the veggie.
Make sure to cut the Brussels sprouts in half so they can roast evenly and soak up all the flavors. Mix the ingredients well, then bake for 15 to 20 minutes at 425°F (220°C). Once done, remove the vegetables from the oven and give them a few minutes to cool. Serve and enjoy the magic!
Prep time: 25 minutes
Tip: The size of the Brussels sprouts affects their overall flavor. Smaller brussels sprouts have a sweeter flavor, whereas larger ones have a more bitter flavor.
7. Cauliflower Fried Rice
You can make a delicious rice substitute with cauliflowers. Just like rice, they can be combined with various ingredients and spices to increase flavor and satiety. We recommend bell peppers, mushrooms, and onions.
The preparation is quite simple. To get a rice-like texture, chop cauliflower into tiny florets and remove all the leaves. Then, puree it in a food processor and use a towel to absorb any extra moisture.
Once the “rice” is done, throw everything into a large skillet and cook on medium heat. Don’t forget to season with salt and pepper. Here’s the best and most crucial part of the recipe — once the veggies are cooked, spread them outward across the pan and create a well in the middle.
Pour two beaten eggs into the well and stir only them until they are fully cooked. Then combine the rest of the mixture. The end result? A perfect texture, rich flavors, and a yummy side dish.
Prep time: 15 minutes
Tip: Don’t overprocess the cauliflower in the food processor, or it may get mushy.
Conclusion
Are you planning a big dinner and want to serve versatile side dishes? Our chicken marsala side dishes will leave your guests wanting more. The garlic turmeric rice is a tried-and-true meal that goes well with various main courses.
If you’re looking for something more flavorful, the rice and lentils with caramelized onions will not disappoint. You can also surprise your guests with cauliflower “rice” and make it a dining experience they won’t easily forget.
You can’t live a full life on an empty stomach, and you can’t have Chicken Marsala without a tasty side dish. Which one is your personal favorite?
