Marsala wine and mozzarella cheese got together and decided to skip the traditional chicken marsala on the menu, instead upping the ante with a buttery pan seared chicken & mushroom dish called Chicken Lombardy. It sounds fancy, but you’ll soon discover it’s shockingly simple. It’s the best use of both wine & cheese in a single recipe!
I can honestly say this chicken lombardy isn’t a native dish, or even a family heirloom. Surprising, right? Since it’s Italian sounding?
This is one of those much loved recipes that nobody is quite sure where it originated. We all seemed to find the ingredients & the instructions on Facebook though. Nothing wrong with that since there doesn’t seem to be an original source to give credit where credit is due. Disappointing though for the very same reason.
Since then though, there’ve been a good many theories on where this recipe actually originated from. It’s automatically the best, classic Italian American thing to come out of my kitchen in the last 5 years. It really is that good.
I’d heard a story that it was once on Olive Garden’s menu, but I haven’t found anything to back that account up. I mean, they do have a habit of naming their main chicken dishes after regions in Italy. Lombardy is a region in Northwest Italy too. So on that front, it’s a good guess.
Still there’s another school of thought (and fans) that claim it originates from Wisconsin. The home of the late, great Vince Lombardi- infamous player and coach.
Whichever version, whether true or not, they’re both great origin stories. Sometimes that’s all we can hope for. And this Chicken Lombardy is just about everything I could’ve hoped for and more.
First off, this dish gives me an excuse to cook with wine. Wine is great for relaxing & enjoying, but it’s even better when used to cook with a meaty dish. I’m a sucker for a good recipe that includes wine. I offer no apologies either- wine makes virtually any dish’s flavor factor exponentially better.
This dish is braised in it. Making it a natural to be at the top of my list. It also helps that it tastes amazing!
You add in the bonus of sauteed mushrooms, green onions, and a heaping helping of cheese? Sign me up. Sign me up on all the rosters!
Not only did I immediately have to make this Chicken Lombardy, but I had to shout it’s praises from the roof tops. It is that good. Not a single bite disappointed. In fact, each bite left me aching for more!
SO much more, that for the first month- it was a regular star on our weekly menu. I kid you not, every single week. Not once did it lose it’s luster either.
Around the two month mark though, we tucked it into the trusted family recipe box- and decided we’d wait awhile to enjoy it again. It still makes an appearance at least once a month though. I’ll be darned too if it isn’t one of those meals that every single son manages to show up for. I’m always pleased, and they still haven’t figured out they’re secretly encouraging me.
Plump chicken breasts are sliced in half, length wise, and dredged in flour. They’re then browned in a hot skillet with melted butter, and set aside to wait on a plate.
The butter and browned bits are whisked together with a mixture of broth & marsala wine to deglaze the pan. This mixture’s left to simmer, thickening slightly. A cornstarch slurry’s stirred in to really let it thicken into a hearty sauce.
The browned chicken breasts are piled into a lightly greased 9×13″ baking dish. Overlap the edges a bit, if necessary, so they all fit. Careful not to actually pile them on top of one another. A layer of sauteed baby bella mushrooms is spread evenly out over top of the chicken, then the sauce is poured on. Topped with both shredded mozzarella & Parmesan cheeses, and a sprinkle of thinly sliced green onions- it’s already shaping up to be one heck of a dish.
The Chicken Lombardy is then baked at 450 degrees for 15-20 minutes, just until the cheese is melted, bubbly, & beginning to turn golden brown at the edges. The dish is removed from the oven, with the chicken being served immediately. This entree pairs perfectly with a side salad, and your favorite pasta.
An explosion of flavor in every bite, this Chicken Lombardy is a gourmet dinner made on a budget in a fraction of the time you’d imagine.
Other Delicious Chicken Recipes To Savor:
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Chicken Lombardy
Ingredients
- 8 oz pkg sliced baby bella mushrooms
- 2 tbsp butter, melted
- 3 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1/3 cup butter
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/4 cup Marsala wine
- salt & pepper, to taste
- 1/2 tbsp corn starch + 1 tbsp water
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- 2-3 green onions, thinly sliced
Instructions
- Cut each chicken breast evenly in half, lengthwise. One at a time, place a piece of chicken in between two sheets of heavy duty plastic wrap. Using the flat side of a meat mallet, flatten the breast out to a 1/4" thickness. Repeat for all the pieces of chicken.
- Melt the two tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add in the mushrooms and saute for 3-5 minutes, or until tender. Remove the cooked mushrooms to a waiting plate or bowl, and set aside.
- Add the flour to a flat plate. Dredge each piece of chicken in it, making sure there's an even coat.
- In the same skillet you cooked the mushrooms in, melt two tablespoons of the remaining butter. Add two pieces of chicken, and up the heat to medium high. Let the chicken cook until nicely browned on one side, flip and repeat. Transfer the browned breasts to a waiting plate.
- Add another tablespoon of butter to the skillet, and brown another two breasts. Repeat the steps until all the chicken is browned, and all transferred to the waiting plate.
- Stir the broth and wine into the drippings in the skillet, whisking to deglaze the pan and get up all those yummy browned bits. Season with salt & pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes, or until thickened slightly.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the corn starch and water to make a slurry. Whisk this into the skillet sauce, and let it simmer another 1-2 minutes- until nicely thickened. Remove the skillet from heat, and set aside.
- Transfer the chicken breasts to a lightly greased 9x13 baking dish, overlapping a bit if necessary to fit them all. Spread the sauteed mushrooms evenly out over top.
- Pour the sauce evenly out over top of the chicken. Then sprinkle the cheeses evenly out over top, followed by the sliced green onions.
- Bake the prepared chicken at 450 degrees for 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and slightly golden brown. Remove the dish from the oven, and serve immediately.
Nutrition
Dianna says
Super tasty and easy to make.
Deb says
Excellent recipe the Marsala added such a good flavor
Kris Shepherd says
Check Southern Living November 1978 submitted by Joe Broussard of Lafayette, LA.
Charlene Marley says
Very good and easy. I also doubled up on the sauce.
Nickie says
This is really good. Will make it again for sure. Easy to make and make sure you double the sauce.
Tracey says
Absolutely brilliant- simple to make and full of flavour!
Jeanne says
Since the chicken was pounded thin then browned on each side, I couldn’t imagine cooking an additional 15-20 min in the oven. I added the cheeses then broiled at 450 just a few min until cheese was melted and slightly browned. Any longer would have over cooked the chicken.. it was fabulous!
Brent says
One of my favorites discovered only months ago. The family loves it served with a side of spaghetti . So easy to prepare too.
Melanie says
I’m so excited to find this recipe. It does sound very similar to what Olive Garden’s “Chicken Marsala” used to be. It was a lightly breaded breast with mushrooms and Marsala sauce served over Angel hair pasta. It was my favorite but has come and gone and been through several revisions since then. I can’t wait to try it!
Carol Ganter says
Easy to make and so delicious. We have shared this recipe with others to enjoy as we did. Looking forward to making other recipes of yours.
karen bragg says
This was excellent. Served it with angel hair pasta and green beans. I made less chicken since there was just 2 of us but made all the sauce and actually increased it a little. This had a nice deep flavor with the marsala. It would be perfect for company. We will have this again.
Doreen says
I don’t like mushroom ,what do I substitute it with
4sonsrus says
There isn’t really a good substitute for it in this recipe that I can think of. If you’re really opposed to including it, then I’d just omit it.
Terry D. says
This recipe is EXCELLENT!!! I have been making it for a couple years and each time it gets RAVE reviews, with everyone wanting the recipe! Thank you for sharing! Terry
Patricia says
Delicious, I double the sauce, big family favourite!
Kathie Peffer says
YUMMALICIOUS!
Nikki Ham says
Made this recipe , doubled up sauce and placed it on top of angel hair pasta sprinkled a dash of fresh rosemary and thyme … mmmmmmm
Wendy says
Is there a way to prepare ahead of time when entertaining and just pop in the oven?
Chris says
Was wondering same thing, gonna try to make ahead and stop when time to bake…anyone else try it this way? Want to just pop it in the oven before company arrives.
Alyssa says
I’m so excited to try this! I love chicken lombardy! I used to work at Olive Garden and it was featured in the “northern tour of Italy.” I don’t know if it was ever it’s own dish, but yes! It was at Olive Garden!