Chicken parmigiana is the dish most diners default to at an Italian restaurant, but it’s only one of several ways Italian kitchens prepare chicken. Some recipes are sautéed in wine, some are simmered with vegetables, and some are breaded and finished with garlic butter.
Knowing the difference makes ordering easier. This guide walks through common Italian chicken dishes using the menu at Red Devil Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria, a family-owned restaurant that has served Phoenix since 1960, as a reference. Their menu lists seven chicken preparations beyond the standard parm.
What Is Chicken Marsala?
Chicken Marsala is chicken sautéed with Marsala, a fortified wine from Sicily, usually with mushrooms. The wine reduces into a glossy sauce that tastes slightly sweet and savory at the same time.
Red Devil’s version uses a large chicken breast sautéed with butter, Marsala wine, mushrooms and seasoning. Their menu describes it as sweet in taste, which makes it a good pick for diners who prefer rich sauces over tomato-based ones.
What Is Chicken Romano?
Chicken Romano takes its name from Romano cheese, a sharp, salty hard cheese. It’s a breaded chicken dish, like parm, but without the marinara and mozzarella.
At Red Devil, the chicken breast is breaded and fried, then finished with garlic butter, a hint of lemon, green onions and Romano cheese. The lemon and garlic make it lighter and brighter than chicken parm, while keeping the crispy coating.
What Is Chicken Cacciatore?
Cacciatore means “hunter” in Italian, and the dish is a rustic, hunter-style preparation. It’s typically chicken cooked with onions, peppers, mushrooms and tomatoes.
Red Devil serves it as tender strips of chicken breast sautéed with onions, mushrooms, bell peppers, sherry wine and marinara sauce, over a choice of pasta. It’s one of the heartier Italian meals on the menu, with plenty of vegetables in every bite.
What Other Chicken Dishes Are Worth Knowing?
Several lesser-known dishes round out a traditional Italian food menu. Each one pairs chicken with a different set of ingredients.
- Pollo Basil: chicken strips sautéed with fresh Roma tomatoes, fresh basil and garlic over pasta. It’s the lightest and simplest of the group.
- Pollo Siciliano: chicken breast sautéed in white wine, garlic and onions with spinach, artichoke hearts and fresh Roma tomatoes, served over pasta.
- Chicken Di Parma: chicken strips sautéed with prosciutto, white wine, garlic, onions, artichoke hearts and sun-dried tomatoes, tossed with pasta and topped with fresh mozzarella. It’s the richest of the sautéed dishes.
- Grilled Chicken: a large chicken breast marinated in an herb dressing. It’s the plainest option and a good choice for anyone who wants chicken without a heavy sauce.
How Do You Choose the Right Chicken Dish?
The easiest way is to start with the sauce or flavor you’re in the mood for.
- For something sweet and rich: Chicken Marsala.
- For crispy and bright: Chicken Romano.
- For a tomato-based dish with vegetables: Chicken Cacciatore.
- For something fresh and light: Pollo Basil.
- For white wine and greens: Pollo Siciliano.
- For the most indulgent plate: Chicken Di Parma.
- For a simple, sauce-free meal: Grilled Chicken.
Diners who love chicken parm and want something close should try Chicken Romano first. It keeps the breaded coating but swaps the sauce for garlic butter and lemon. During Phoenix’s long, hot summers, lighter dishes such as Pollo Basil and Grilled Chicken often feel more comfortable than cream-based or fried options.
What Comes With Italian Chicken Dishes?
Most Italian chicken dishes come either as a plated entrée or tossed with pasta. At Red Devil, entrées such as Chicken Marsala and Chicken Romano are paired with fresh bread, while dishes like Cacciatore and Pollo Basil are served over a choice of spaghetti, capellini, linguine, penne or fettuccine.
Diners watching carbs can substitute zucchini noodles for pasta for an extra charge. It’s worth asking about this when ordering.
What Should Phoenix Diners Know Before Going Out?
Phoenix has no shortage of Italian dinner places, and menus vary widely from one Italian cuisine restaurant to the next. A few habits make it easier to find a good fit:
- Read the full menu online before going, especially the dish descriptions.
- Look for dishes beyond the standards to see the range of the kitchen.
- Ask the server how a dish is prepared if the description is short.
- Check whether entrées come with pasta, bread or sides.
Anyone looking for a family-owned Italian restaurant in Phoenix can review the full menu and location details before planning a dinner out.
Which Chicken Dish Should You Try First?
Start with whatever is closest to what you already like, then branch out. Chicken parm fans can move to Romano, cream-sauce fans to Marsala, and anyone who loves marinara to Cacciatore. After that, Pollo Siciliano and Chicken Di Parma show how much range a single protein can have.
