Learn how to make Creamy Fettuccine Chicken Alfredo. A deliciously easy chicken pasta dinner idea perfect for busy weeknights.
This easy Chicken Alfredo Recipe is the perfect weeknight meal and one the entire family will love.
Best of all, it comes together in just 30 minutes!
This easy Chicken Alfredo recipe is comfort food at its best. Fettucine pasta is tossed in a homemade alfredo sauce and topped with perfectly tender chicken. This classic family favorite is perfect for busy days and sure to please any picky eater.
Why This Recipe Works
EASE - This recipe is a great midweek meal that serves big flavor without much effort. We love easy recipes with big flavor that don't take hours of prep. This recipe checks all those boxes.
LEFTOVERS - It's a great way to use up leftover chicken. You can even use rotisserie chicken. Plus, this recipe holds up well overnight, and you can serve any leftover the next day.
RESTAURANT QUALITY FOOD AT HOME - You don't need to plan a trip to Olive Garden to enjoy amazing classic Chicken Alfredo Pasta. Homemade meals are really so much better.
You know what goes into each recipe and can make adjustments to suit your own needs. It's easy to swap traditional fettuccine with your favorite gluten-free pasta.
Ingredients
For the complete, printable list of ingredients, please use the recipe card below.
PASTA - I like fettuccini pasta best with this recipe. But if you don't have any on hand, you can substitute. Both long kinds of pasta like spaghetti or short pasta like penne pasta work really well, too. Angel hair pasta works well, too.
CREAM - You can choose to use just heavy cream. Doing this will result in the most creamy sauce. But if you want to easily slice off some calories, you can do as I do and use a combination of whole milk and heavy whipping cream.
TIP: If you're looking to reduce some calories substitute whole milk with chicken broth.
CHEESE - This recipe is all about cheese. My favorite combination these days is to use equal amounts of Parmesan cheese and Pecorino Romano cheese. To get the best flavor, make sure to use freshly grated cheese. Any regular household grater will do. If you have this one, use the fines side to do all your grating.
GARLIC - Use a combination of fresh garlic and garlic powder. Use garlic powder to season the chicken and fresh, minced garlic for the alfredo sauce.
Variations and Additions
One of the things I love about easy pasta recipes is that they tend to be quite forgiving. Unlike in baking, you have a little more room to play.
SHRIMP - If you want a break for chicken, sauteed shrimp. Who could say not to Shrimp Alfredo? And if you want the best of all worlds go for Chicken and Shrimp Alfredo.
GLUTEN-FREE PASTA - If you or someone in your family is staying off gluten, you can substitute traditional fettuccine with gluten-free pasta.
CHEESE - You can experiment with different cheeses. Instead of using Parmesan Reggiano cheese, you can also try Pecorino Romano. Pecorino is a bit saltier and a bit more pungent. If you're using that instead of Reggiano instead of Parmesan, you will want to adjust the seasoning and reduce the amount of salt.
As always, I highly recommend using freshly grated parmesan cheese and freshly grated Mozzarella. You'll avoid unwanted fillers, and the cheese will melt much better.
Did you know that Parmesan is made with cow's milk and Pecorino Romano with sheep's milk?
How To Make Chicken Alfredo
- PASTA - Cook pasta in a large pot al dente according to package instructions. Before draining, reserve one cup of pasta water. Drain, cover, and set the cooked fettuccine aside.
- CHICKEN - Season the chicken and saute for 6-8 minutes on each side. Once golden brown and fully cooked, remove the chicken from the skillet. Cover with aluminum foil to keep warm.
FOOD SAFETY: The internal temperature of the chicken should always be equal to or greater than 165º Fahrenheit.
- SAUCE - Using the same skillet, melt the 3 tablespoons of butter, and sauté the garlic until fragrant; whisk in milk and cream and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat and add parmesan cheese and mozzarella cheese. Whisk until fully combined.
- COMBINE - Slice the chicken into ¼-inch strips. Toss the cooked pasta into the creamy Alfredo sauce. Plate and top the pasta with the grilled chicken slices. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
Do you want an egg-based cream sauce? Be sure to check out my other Alfredo Sauce recipe.
Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Reserve some of the pasta water. I like to reserve one cup, but I don't expect to use everything. This is an easy way to thicken the sauce.
- Avoid overcooking the pasta. Use the package instructions for guidance. You'll want to cook the pasta al dente. If the instructions offer a range of cooking times, choose the lowest.
- When pasta is cooked al dente, there should still be a hint of firmness. It should be fully cooked and tender on the outside but have a bite on the inside.
Store and Keep
You can safely keep Chicken Alfredo in the fridge for 3 days; for best results, use an airtight container like this one.
Cooked chicken lasts for about 3-4 days in the fridge. And cream sauces can last for up to 7 days.
I hope this helps if you want to store things separately. However, personally, I try to use up any leftovers on or before day 3.
More Easy Dinner Recipe Ideas
SHRIMP CARBONARA - deliciously decadent pasta dinner.
LASAGNA ROLL UPS - a fun twist on classic lasagna.
BAKED FETA PASTA - this easy, viral TikTok recipe is now part of our dinner rotation.
CHICKEN AND RICE CASSEROLE - Chicken and rice casserole is a classic comfort food dish that is easy to make and perfect for feeding a crowd.
CHICKEN PARMESAN - another restaurant classic you can easily make at home.
Chicken Alfredo
Ingredients
- 12 ounces fettuccine
- 2 large chicken breast skinless, boneless, 1-1 ¼ pounds
- Salt and pepper preferably kosher salt and cracked pepper
- ¼ cup olive oil extra virgin
- 2 tablespoons butter unsalted, divided
- 3-4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup milk
- 1 ½ cup Parmesan grated
- 1 ½ cup Mozzarella grated
- 1 parsley optional for garnish
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions. Reserve 1 cup pasta water. Drain and set aside.
- Season chicken with salt and pepper..
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet. Once hot, add one tablespoon of butter. Cook chicken is golden-brown and fully cooked; about 6-8 minutes per side (depending on the thickness of your chicken breast).*
- Transfer cooked chicken onto a plate and cover with aluminum foil to keep warm.
- Add the remaining butter to the skillet. Once melted add garlic and stir until fragrant. Add milk and cream and bring to a simmer.
- Whisk in Parmesan and Mozzarella cheeses. Stir until the cheeses have melted and the sauce becomes thick and creamy. If your sauce looks a little too thick, add some of the reserved pasta water. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Remove the sauce from heat and add in the cooked fettuccine. Use a set of tongues to combine the pasta with the sauce. Make sure the pasta is well coated.
- Slice chicken breast and add to the pasta. Garnish with parsley, serve and enjoy.
Notes
Nutrition
Hi There, I’m Maike!
A German girl turned American sharing hundreds of easy, homemade comfort food recipes perfect for everyday cooking.