Description
This Easy Chicken Alfredo recipe combines tender, thinly sliced chicken breasts with a creamy Parmesan sauce tossed with fettuccine pasta. Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s a comforting and satisfying Italian-American classic perfect for weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 oz fettuccine pasta
Chicken
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced thin
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Sauce
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg (optional)
Garnish
- Chopped parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Cook fettuccine according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta.
- Prepare the chicken: Season the thinly sliced chicken breasts with salt and black pepper. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat and cook the chicken for 4 to 5 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Sauté garlic: In the same skillet, melt the butter and sauté the minced garlic for about 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
- Make the cream sauce: Stir in the heavy cream and bring it to a simmer. Let it cook for 3 to 4 minutes to thicken slightly.
- Add cheese and season: Whisk in the grated Parmesan cheese and nutmeg (if using) until the sauce is smooth. If the sauce becomes too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water to loosen it.
- Combine chicken and pasta: Slice the cooked chicken and return it to the skillet. Add the drained pasta and toss everything together until the pasta and chicken are well coated in the Alfredo sauce.
- Serve: Serve the chicken Alfredo immediately, garnished with chopped parsley and extra Parmesan cheese if desired.
Notes
- For a lighter version, substitute half-and-half for heavy cream.
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese works best for a smooth sauce.
- You can add steamed broccoli or sautéed mushrooms for extra veggies.
- Use nutmeg sparingly as it has a strong flavor; it’s optional but adds warmth to the sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
