SKILLET CHICKEN WITH SAUTEED MUSHROOMS MARSALA

Skillet Chicken With Sauteed Mushrooms Marsala image

This is not your same-old, same-old chicken dish. Take a simple wine-based pan sauce - layered in the flavors of sweet Marsala, hickory-smoked bacon, woodsy wild mushrooms, rich and creamy butter, a spritz of lemon juice to add a pleasing hint of acid - Spoon it over tender, moist chicken breasts and you have a dish that will liven up a routine mid-week meal or impress your favorite weekend dinner guests. Serve over thin spaghetti and round out with warm, crusty Italian bread, a fresh green salad, and a glass of your favorite white wine.

Provided by Feast Your Eyes

Time 1h

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 16

Ingredients

4 medium chicken breast halves, skinless, boneless
2 eggs
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
kosher salt
fresh ground black pepper
1 teaspoon dried oregano, rub between fingers to waken flavor
1 tablespoon olive oil
6 tablespoons butter, divided
2 ounces hickory smoked bacon, chopped
1 lb assorted wild mushroom, washed and sliced (shiitake, portabella, crimini)
1 large shallot, finely chopped
1/4 cup chicken broth
1 cup marsala wine
juice, from lemon half
snipped fresh basil
lemon wedge

Steps:

Place chicken-breast halves between 2 sheets of plastic wrap. With meat mallet or rolling pin, pound breasts to an even 1/2-inch thickness.
Beat eggs well in shallow plate. Place chicken breasts in egg mixture; let stand for 30 minutes.
Season flour with salt, pepper and oregano. Drain the chicken and dredge well.
Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil and 2 tablespoons butter in a large, heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat. Once the butter has melted and is foamy (it should not be brown), place the egg/flour coated chicken into the skillet. Cook for approximately 4 minutes per side, turning over only once. Cook until golden brown on both sides and no longer pink in color throughout.
Transfer the chicken breasts to a platter; cover with foil to keep warm.
Add the chopped bacon to the skillet and cook until crisp, stirring occasionally. Remove and drain on a plate covered with several layers of paper towels.
Next, heat 2 tablespoons of butter in the skillet until foamy. Add the mushrooms, shallot, and 1/4 teaspoons salt. (Add a little more olive oil if the pan seems too dry.) Saute for 3 minutes, or until the shallots soften and the mushrooms are tender, stirring occasionally. Make sure to scrape up any bits left in the bottom of the skillet from the chicken and bacon. Transfer mushrooms to a bowl.
Pour off any oil from the skillet, add the chicken broth, Marsala wine, lemon juice and any juices from the platter of chicken. Turn the heat to high and bring the sauce to a vigorous simmer. Continue cooking about 3 - 4 minutes until the sauce slightly thickens and is reduced by one-third, stirring occasionally. Whisk in the remaining butter.
Lower heat to a slow simmer; return the mushrooms and chicken to the skillet and coat with sauce.
Serve immediately. Spoon sauce and mushrooms over the chicken breasts; sprinkle with some of the cooked bacon and the snipped basil. Garnish with lemon wedges.
COOK'S TIP: If choosing to serve over thin spaghetti, drain the pasta and tossed it in the sauce for the last minute or two of cooking.