Description
Creamy Italian Chicken Alfredo Pasta is a rich and comforting dish featuring tender chicken and fettuccine pasta coated in a velvety homemade Alfredo sauce. Balanced with garlic and freshly grated Parmesan, it delivers authentic Italian flavors with an indulgently smooth texture. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or cozy weekend meal, this recipe is simple to prepare yet impressively delicious.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces or thin strips
Pasta
- 12 oz fettuccine pasta
Alfredo Sauce
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 3 garlic cloves, minced finely
Seasoning & Oil
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Garnish (Optional)
- Fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Prep Your Ingredients: Mince the garlic and grate the Parmesan cheese. Cut chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces or thin strips to ensure quick and even cooking.
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the fettuccine and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta, reserving 1 cup of pasta water, and set aside.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken pieces with salt and pepper. Cook the chicken until golden brown and fully cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
- Make the Alfredo Sauce: Reduce heat to medium and add butter to the skillet. Sauté the minced garlic until fragrant, about 1 minute. Pour in the heavy cream and gently simmer. Gradually whisk in the Parmesan cheese until the sauce thickens and becomes silky smooth.
- Combine and Finish: Add the cooked chicken and drained pasta into the Alfredo sauce. Toss gently to coat everything evenly. If the sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water a little at a time to reach your preferred consistency.
Notes
- Use fresh Parmesan cheese for a smoother, creamier sauce—pre-grated cheese may contain additives that hinder melting.
- Don’t overcook chicken; remove it from heat when internal temperature reaches 165°F to keep it juicy and tender.
- Combine pasta with the sauce immediately after draining to prevent drying out.
- Reserve pasta water as its starch helps loosen sauce without diluting flavor.
- Simmer sauce on low and slow heat to prevent cream from curdling and keep the texture smooth.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 650 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 650 mg
- Fat: 40 g
- Saturated Fat: 25 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 140 mg
Keywords: Chicken Alfredo, Italian pasta, creamy pasta, fettuccine Alfredo, comfort food, weeknight dinner, creamy chicken pasta