Introduction:
Chicken Madeira is a luxurious dish made famous by restaurants like The Cheesecake Factory. It features tender chicken breasts sautéed to golden perfection, smothered in a creamy Madeira wine sauce with mushrooms and topped with melted mozzarella. Served with buttery mashed potatoes or crisp asparagus, this dish strikes the perfect balance between elegance and comfort food.
🛒 Ingredients:
For the Chicken:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 cup all-purpose flour (for dredging)
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter
For the Sauce:
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 8 oz cremini or white mushrooms, sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup Madeira wine (sweet variety)
- 1 cup beef broth (or chicken broth)
- ½ cup heavy cream
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Topping:
- 4 slices mozzarella cheese
- Fresh chopped parsley (optional, for garnish)
Optional Sides:
- Steamed asparagus or green beans
- Mashed potatoes or roasted baby potatoes
👩🍳 Instructions & Method:
🔪 Step 1: Prepare the Chicken
- Flatten the chicken breasts to an even ½-inch thickness using a meat mallet or rolling pin.
- Season both sides with salt and pepper.
- Dredge the chicken lightly in flour, shaking off excess.
🔥 Step 2: Cook the Chicken
- Heat 3 tbsp olive oil and 1 tbsp butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Cook the chicken breasts for 4–5 minutes on each side until golden brown and cooked through (internal temp: 165°F / 74°C).
- Transfer to a plate and cover with foil to keep warm.
🍄 Step 3: Make the Mushroom Madeira Sauce
- In the same skillet, add 2 tbsp butter and 1 tbsp olive oil.
- Sauté the sliced mushrooms over medium heat for 5–7 minutes, until golden and tender.
- Add the minced garlic and sauté for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour in the Madeira wine and simmer for 5 minutes, allowing the alcohol to cook off and the sauce to reduce slightly.
- Add the beef broth and simmer for another 5–7 minutes.
- Stir in the heavy cream and season with salt and pepper to taste. Let it simmer until the sauce thickens slightly (3–4 minutes).
🧀 Step 4: Assemble and Melt Cheese
- Return the chicken breasts to the skillet, nestling them into the sauce.
- Top each breast with a slice of mozzarella cheese.
- Cover the skillet with a lid or foil and cook on low until the cheese melts (about 2–3 minutes).
🌿 Step 5: Serve
- Spoon the rich Madeira mushroom sauce over the chicken.
- Garnish with chopped parsley if desired.
- Serve hot with mashed potatoes or asparagus on the side.