Description
A quick and easy one-pot chicken Alfredo pasta recipe that delivers creamy, cheesy, and comforting flavors with minimal cleanup, perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 medium boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 12 oz (340 g) uncooked fettuccine or linguine pasta
- 4 tablespoons (60 g) unsalted butter
- 3–4 garlic cloves, minced
- 3 cups (720 ml) chicken broth
- 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream
- 1 cup (100 g) grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- Pinch of nutmeg (optional)
- Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Cut chicken breasts into 1-inch bite-sized pieces and season lightly with salt and pepper.
- Heat 2 tablespoons unsalted butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook for 5-6 minutes until golden but not fully cooked. Remove chicken and set aside.
- Lower heat to medium. Add remaining 2 tablespoons butter to the pan, then add minced garlic. Stir for about 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
- Pour in chicken broth and heavy cream. Stir to combine.
- Add uncooked pasta, breaking strands if needed to fit, and push down gently to submerge.
- Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer for 12-15 minutes, stirring every few minutes to prevent sticking, until pasta is tender and sauce thickens.
- Return cooked chicken to the pan. Stir in grated Parmesan cheese, dried Italian seasoning, and nutmeg until cheese melts and sauce coats pasta and chicken evenly.
- Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
- Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and serve immediately.
Notes
If sauce is too thick, stir in reserved pasta water or extra broth to loosen. If too thin, simmer uncovered a few minutes but watch carefully to avoid drying out. Use freshly grated Parmesan for best flavor and texture. For gluten-free, use GF pasta and adjust cooking time. For lighter sauce, substitute half-and-half for heavy cream. Avoid burning garlic by adding it after removing chicken.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1.5 cups per s
- Calories: 575
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 700
- Fat: 25
- Saturated Fat: 15
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 35
Keywords: one-pot, chicken Alfredo, creamy pasta, easy dinner, weeknight meal, comfort food