Easy Creamy Chicken Alfredo Pasta
Make a rich and creamy chicken alfredo sauce from scratch with this simple, quick recipe perfect for a weeknight dinner.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 20 min
- Total Time: 30 min
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound fettuccine pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 teaspoon salt, divided
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, divided
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese, packed
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 cup reserved pasta water
Instructions
- Cook the fettuccine according to package directions until al dente. Before draining, reserve about 1/2 cup of the starchy pasta water. Drain the pasta and set aside.
- Season the chicken pieces with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5 to 7 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Reduce the heat to medium. Add the butter to the same skillet and let it melt. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Do not let the garlic brown.
- Pour in the heavy cream and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Reduce the heat to low. Gradually whisk in the grated Parmesan cheese until the sauce is smooth. Stir in the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and the nutmeg.
- If the sauce seems too thick, whisk in a few tablespoons of the reserved pasta water until you reach your desired consistency.
- Return the cooked chicken and the drained pasta to the skillet. Toss everything together until the pasta and chicken are fully coated in the creamy sauce.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- For extra flavor, use freshly grated Parmesan cheese; pre-shredded cheese often contains anti-caking agents that can make the sauce grainy.
- To prevent the sauce from breaking, keep the heat low when adding the cheese and avoid boiling the sauce once the cheese is incorporated.
- You can substitute chicken thighs for breasts if you prefer a richer flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 750
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 45
- Saturated Fat: 25
- Unsaturated Fat: 20
- Trans Fat: 1
- Carbohydrates: 55
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 35
- Cholesterol: 160