As a popular Italian chicken dish, Chicken Marsala is commonly found at many grocery stores and restaurants. With Costco being a major wholesale retailer, many shoppers wonder if Costco carries this tasty chicken entree. In this article, we’ll take a look at what Chicken Marsala is, its popularity, and whether shoppers can find it at their local Costco warehouse.
What is Chicken Marsala?
Chicken Marsala is a classic Italian chicken dish made with chicken breast, mushrooms, and Marsala wine sauce. It likely originated in Sicily and was later popularized in Northern Italy and abroad. The dish features pan-seared chicken breasts seasoned with salt, pepper, and Italian herbs like oregano. Sliced mushrooms are sautéed in a pan along with shallots or onions. Chicken stock and sweet Marsala wine are then added to make a rich sauce.
The Marsala wine is what gives this dish its signature flavor. Marsala is a fortified wine that has an earthy, smoky taste and rich amber color. When cooked down into a glaze-like sauce, it provides a lovely complement to the sautéed mushrooms and tender chicken.
Chicken Marsala is usually served with pasta or mashed potatoes to soak up the delicious sauce. It’s a simple yet elegant Italian chicken recipe that’s perfect for dinner parties or romantic meals.
Popularity of Chicken Marsala
Chicken Marsala has become very popular on restaurant menus across America. It’s frequently seen at Italian restaurants as a classic menu item. The sophisticated yet approachable flavors of chicken, mushrooms, and Marsala wine sauce appeal to many diners.
The dish is also popular because it’s relatively easy to make at home. Home cooks can find Chicken Marsala recipes in many cookbooks and online. While the sauce requires some skill to perfect, the ingredients are everyday pantry items like chicken, mushrooms, butter, and wine. This makes it an accessible special dinner to prepare at home.
In grocery stores, consumers can find prepared frozen Chicken Marsala meals to heat and serve. Major brands like Bertolli and Marie Callender’s sell these for convenient home dining. The popularity of the frozen options speaks to the widespread appeal of Chicken Marsala.
Availability of Chicken Marsala at Costco
Costco offers a wide range of Kirkland Signature frozen prepared meals. However, Chicken Marsala is not currently part of their stable lineup of frozen entrees. Shoppers will not find this specific dish sold under the Kirkland brand.
That said, Costco does sell frozen Chicken Marsala fromthird-party brands in select locations. This availability varies by warehouse. Some locations have sold frozen Chicken Marsala from brands like Sweet Baby Ray’s and Marie Callender’s for a limited time.
If not available year-round or promoted in weekly sales ads, Chicken Marsala may be found during certain holiday promotions. Costco shoppers can check with their local warehouse to see if it is currently in stock from another manufacturer.
Additionally, Costco has started offering more fresh prepared meal options under brands like Costa Verde Kitchen. These fresh meals are found in the refrigerated sections of some warehouses. While not confirmed, Costco may expand their prepared meals to include fresh Chicken Marsala in the future.
Alternative Chicken Entrees at Costco
For shoppers unable to find Chicken Marsala, Costco offers many other prepared chicken dinner options:
- Kirkland Chicken Alfredo
- Kirkland Chicken Risotto
- Kirkland Tuscan-Style Chicken
- Kirkland Chicken Parmesan
- Kirkland Chicken Pot Pie
- Kirkland Chicken & Bowtie Pasta
There are over a dozen Kirkland Signature frozen chicken meals covering a variety of cuisines. Shoppers can also find third-party frozen chicken entrees from Marie Callender’s, Sweet Baby Ray’s, and other brands. Costco often stocks prepared chicken dishes for fast family meals.
Ways to Create Your Own Chicken Marsala from Costco Products
For Costco shoppers who want to enjoy homemade Chicken Marsala, the good news is that Costco sells all the ingredients needed:
- Chicken breast: Raw chicken breast fillets are sold fresh and frozen.
- Mushrooms: Buttons, cremini, portobello mushrooms available.
- Marsala wine: Kirkland Signature Marsala is sold in stores.
- Produce: Onions, shallots, garlic, herbs.
- Pasta or rice: For serving underneath chicken.
With these quality ingredients on hand, home cooks can find a Chicken Marsala recipe and prepare this delicious dish easily. While Costco doesn’t sell the finished product, they provide everything needed make it from scratch.
Conclusion
Chicken Marsala is a popular Italian chicken specialty loved by many. While Costco does not regularly stock this specific meal, it does sell high-quality ingredients to create your own. Check local warehouses for potential seasonal or limited-time Chicken Marsala offers from third-party brands. With a recipe and ingredients from Costco, home cooks can serve up restaurant-worthy Chicken Marsala any night of the week.