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The Ultimate Creamy Restaurant-Quality Chicken Alfredo Pasta (Ready in 30 Minutes)

A close-up of creamy chicken alfredo pasta tossed with fettuccine and topped with herbs.
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Make the best creamy Chicken Alfredo right at home. This recipe delivers tender chicken and a rich, velvety Parmesan cream sauce that rivals any restaurant. It is simple enough for a weeknight dinner.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound fettuccine pasta
  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
  • 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
  • Pinch of nutmeg (optional)

Instructions

  1. Cook the fettuccine pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of the starchy pasta water before draining. Set the drained pasta aside.
  2. While the pasta cooks, season the chicken pieces lightly with salt and pepper.
  3. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until golden brown and cooked through, about 5 to 7 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside.
  4. Reduce the heat to medium. Add the butter to the same skillet. Once melted, add the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Do not let the garlic brown.
  5. Pour in the heavy cream. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, stirring constantly. Let it simmer for 2 to 3 minutes until it starts to thicken slightly.
  6. Reduce the heat to low. Gradually whisk in the grated Parmesan cheese until the sauce is smooth and velvety. Stir in the salt, pepper, and nutmeg, if using.
  7. If the sauce seems too thick, add a few tablespoons of the reserved pasta water until you reach your desired consistency. This step helps create a truly rich parmesan cream sauce.
  8. Return the cooked chicken and the drained fettuccine pasta to the skillet. Toss everything gently to coat the pasta and chicken evenly in the sauce.
  9. Serve immediately with extra grated Parmesan cheese on top. This is an easy weeknight chicken pasta ready fast.

Notes

  • For the creamiest sauce, use freshly grated Parmesan cheese; pre-shredded cheese contains anti-caking agents that can make the sauce grainy.
  • To achieve restaurant style alfredo texture, always add the cheese off the heat or on very low heat to prevent the sauce from breaking or clumping.
  • If you want a one pan chicken alfredo variation, you can cook the pasta directly in the sauce using extra liquid, but this requires careful monitoring.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://cookingbyjade.com/easy-chicken-alfredo-creamy-recipe/