Chicken Alfredo is a beginner-friendly dish that truly anyone can master. With a creamy, cheesy sauce and tender chicken breasts, it's the pasta dish we turn to time and time again when we're craving the ultimate comfort meal. This one-pot dinner comes together in 30 minutes, making it a perfect easy meal to whip up for any occasion, whether you're searching for a romantic meal for two or the most satisfying weeknight dinner. Never made Alfredo before? Follow our top tips and tricks for acing this homemade dish.
Top tips for making perfect chicken Alfredo:
— Master your Alfredo sauce. For this recipe, we create our Alfredo sauce by first simmering milk, chicken broth, and garlic, then cooking our noodles in the mixture. Once the noodles are cookies, we add heavy cream and Parmesan to complete our creamy sauce. This method is slightly different from our classic Alfredo sauce recipe—we love to cook our noodles in the flavorful mixture here, but if you’d prefer to keep things simple (or have some leftover Alfredo!), feel free to refer to our basic recipe.
—Switch up the protein. Swap in chicken thighs for breasts! Just make sure you give them ample cooking time. Thighs take much longer in the pan, and actually cook best with a quick trip to the oven. If you want to change the protein altogether, check out our recipe for shrimp fettuccine Alfredo.
—Get experimental with the noodles. Fettuccine is a classic, but angel hair or spaghetti would work just fine! Just make sure whatever pasta you choose can be completely submerged in your cooking liquid.
—Add some veg. After the pasta is cooked, stir in a couple of big handfuls of spinach and some halved grape tomatoes if you're looking to add some color.
—Missing crunch? Toast up some panko bread crumbs in a skillet with butter and garnish with a handful. This trick works for any pasta—the added texture really takes it over the top.
—Amp up the heat. Sprinkle in some red pepper flakes or Cajun seasoning.
—Avoid grainy sauce! Using freshly grated (not shredded) Parm will help turn your sauce into a luscious, creamy dream. Pre-shredded cheeses are usually dusted with anti-coagulants that will prevent the cheese from getting smooth and melty.
What should I serve with chicken Alfredo?
This indulgent pasta dish pairs well with a classic veggie side like roasted asparagus or garlic-Parmesan roasted carrots, but you also can't go wrong with garlic bread to sop up all of that delicious Alfredo sauce. Check out our favorite side dishes for pasta for even more inspo!
Variations:
As you may have noted by now, this dish is extremely versatile. Get creative with all of our top tips above, or check out some of our other Alfredo options. Swap out the sauce here for our cottage cheese Alfredo if you're looking to up the protein or our vegan Alfredo if you want to cut down on the diary, or check out our chicken tikka Alfredo if you're craving a dinner mash-up.
Storage:
If you have any leftovers, store them in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
Made this? Let us know how it went in the comment section below!
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- Yields:
- 4 serving(s)
- Prep Time:
- 10 mins
- Total Time:
- 30 mins
- Cal/Serv:
- 690
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp.
extra-virgin olive oil
- 2
boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
- 2 c.
low-sodium chicken broth
- 2 c.
whole milk
- 2
cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 8 oz.
fettuccine
- 1 c.
finely grated Parmesan (about 2 oz.)
- 1/2 c.
heavy cream
Chopped fresh parsley, for serving
Directions
- Step1In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat oil. Add chicken; season with salt and pepper. Cook, turning occasionally, until golden brown and cooked through, about 8 minutes per side. Transfer to a cutting board. Let rest 10 minutes, then slice.
- Step2In same skillet over medium heat, combine broth, milk, and garlic; season with saltand pepper. Bring to a simmer. Add fettuccine and cook, tossing occasionally, until barely al dente, about 10 minutes.
- Step3Stir in Parmesan and cream. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring frequently, until sauce thickens and pasta is al dente, 2 to 3 minutes.
- Step4Remove from heat and stir in chicken. Top with parsley.
Lena Abraham
Contributor
Lena Abraham is a freelance contributor with Delish, and was formerly Senior Food Editor, where she developed and styled recipes for video and photo, and also stayed on top of current food trends. She’s been working in the food industry for over 10 years, and will argue that the best fish tacos in the world are made in New York. Don’t @ her.
