Description
Chicken Exquisito is the ultimate comfort food—crispy golden chicken, smothered in a buttery brandy-Marsala sauce, and topped with melty mozzarella. Served over pasta with a squeeze of lemon, it’s a show-stopping meal that’s surprisingly easy to make at home!
Ingredients
1 pound pasta (vermicelli or your choice)
3 – 3½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
1½ teaspoons kosher salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 cups all-purpose flour
6 large eggs
¼ cup whole milk
9 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
7 tablespoons cold butter, divided
2 tablespoons fresh garlic, finely minced
½ cup good quality brandy
1 cup sweet Marsala wine
1 cup low sodium chicken stock
3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
1 lemon, cut into 8 wedges
Instructions
Cook the pasta per package directions, cool in cold water, and set aside.
Preheat oven to 200°F to keep chicken warm between batches.
Butterfly chicken breasts, cut in half, and pound to ¼ inch thickness. Season with salt and pepper.
Set up a breading station with flour in one bowl, and eggs mixed with milk in another.
Dredge each chicken piece in flour, then egg, then flour again.
Heat 4 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook 3 pieces at a time, 2 minutes per side. Keep warm in the oven and repeat with remaining chicken, adding more oil as needed.
Wipe the pan clean. Add 1 tbsp olive oil and 1 tbsp butter, then cook garlic for 1 minute.
Off heat, add brandy and Marsala. Return to heat, reduce to ½ cup, about 5 minutes.
Add chicken stock, simmer 5 minutes, then whisk in remaining cold butter.
Pour sauce over chicken, top with mozzarella, and broil 2 minutes until melted and bubbly.
Reheat pasta, serve topped with chicken, fresh parsley, and lemon wedges.
Notes
Always turn off the burner before adding alcohol to avoid flare-ups.
Use a good-quality Marsala and brandy—they really make a difference!
Don’t skip the broiler step—it brings everything together beautifully.
- Prep Time: 30 mins
- Cook Time: 30 mins
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop, Broil
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 680 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 630 mg
- Fat: 38 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 42 g
- Cholesterol: 230 mg