Chicken Alfredo Recipe
This chicken alfredo recipe is creamy and quick to make. Perfect for busy nights, it uses pantry staples and tastes like your favorite Italian restaurant
Ingredients
- For the Chicken:
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 1 lb total)
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- For the Alfredo Sauce:
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- ¾ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese or Parmigiano Reggiano
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Optional: ¼ cup reserved pasta water for thinning the sauce
- For the Pasta:
- 8 oz fettuccine pasta or any pasta you love
Instructions
- Cook the pasta
- In a large pot of salted water, cook pasta according to package instructions. Reserve ¼ cup of pasta water before draining. (10 minutes)
- Season and cook the chicken
- Pat the chicken breasts dry and season both sides with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook the chicken 5–6 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Remove and let it rest. Then slice thinly or dice. (12–14 minutes total)
- Make the Alfredo sauce
- In the same skillet, lower heat to medium-low. Add butter and minced garlic. Sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant (don’t burn it!). Pour in the cream, stirring well. Let it simmer for 2–3 minutes. Then slowly whisk in the parmesan cheese until melted and smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste. (5–6 minutes)
- Combine and serve
- Add the cooked pasta and chicken into the sauce. Toss gently to coat. If the sauce is too thick, stir in a bit of reserved pasta water until it’s silky and smooth.
- Plate it up!
- Serve hot, topped with extra parmesan and a sprinkle of parsley if you like.
Notes
- Use freshly grated parmesan—pre-shredded can clump.
- Let the chicken rest before slicing so it stays juicy.
- Add the cheese gradually and stir constantly for a smooth sauce.
- Reserve pasta water—it’s magic for adjusting sauce thickness.
- Overcooking the chicken—it gets tough fast.
- Boiling the sauce—keep it at a gentle simmer to avoid curdling.
- Using too much cheese at once—it can make the sauce gritty.
- Top with grilled shrimp or crispy bacon.
- Stir in steamed broccoli for a veggie-packed meal.
- Serve with garlic bread for extra comfort.