Hey, welcome back . Chicken Alfredo is a beginner-friendly dish that truly anyone can master. With a creamy, cheesy sauce and tender chicken breast , it’s the pasta dish we turn to time and time again when we’re craving the ultimate comfort meal . This comes together in about 30 minutes, making it a perfect easy meal to whip up for any occasion, whether you’re searching for a romantic dinner for two or the most satisfying weeknight for the family . Never made Alfredo before? Well we’re here to help .
You’ll have two pans going at one time — a four-quart pot for cooking the fettuccine and a large skillet for cooking the chicken breasts and building the sauce.
- Boil the pasta in a large pot of salted water. Get this going before you start cooking the chicken and you can add the dried pasta right around the same time you start cooking the chicken breast. Save a cup of the pasta water to thin the sauce if needed.
- Cook the chicken breasts in a combination of oil and butter for golden crispness. This is our favorite golden, crispy chicken technique. You can cover the chicken breasts with foil while you finish the sauce to keep them warm.
- Pasta is ready, chicken is ready, make your sauce. Once your pasta is cooked and drained, and your chicken is cooked and sliced, the actual Alfredo sauce takes just a few minutes to make in the same skillet you cooked the chicken in.
- Toss it all in the sauce skillet. When the sauce is nice and thick, add the pasta and a splash of pasta water and toss to coat. You can add the chicken here as well, if desired. Serve immediately.
- Ingredients
- 8 ounces dried fettuccine pasta
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 pound total)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
- 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, divided into 8 slices
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese (2 1/2 ounces), plus more for serving
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- Coarsely chopped fresh parsley leaves, for serving
- Directions
- Cook the pasta, drain, and reserve cooking water. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the fettuccine and cook until al dente, 8 to 10 minutes. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta.
- 1. Dry the chicken and season with salt and pepper. Meanwhile, pat both sides of the chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Season with 3/4 teaspoon of the salt and 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper.
- 2. Heat the oil over medium-high in a large frying pan. Heat the oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat until shimmering, 2 to 3 minutes. If you have a pan that has straight sides, here’s the time to use it. Do not use a nonstick pan.
- 3. Add the chicken to the hot pan, and cook for 5 to 7 minutes. Swirl the pan just before adding the chicken to distribute the oil. Add the chicken and leave it alone for 5 to 7 minutes, until the bottom is golden-brown. If you try to turn the chicken and it feels stuck, it isn’t ready to flip.
- 4. Flip the chicken and cook for another 5 to 7 minutes, until the chicken reaches 165°F. Flip the chicken over and add 1 tablespoon of the butter right between them. Pick up the pan and give it a gentle swirl to distribute the melting butter. Cook the chicken until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F, 5 to 7 minutes more.
- 5. Slice the chicken and cover to keep warm. Transfer the chicken to a plate or clean cutting board and let rest for 3 minutes. Cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Cover with aluminum foil while you prepare the rest of the dish.
- 6. Melt the rest of the butter and sauté the garlic. Add the remaining 7 tablespoons butter to the same pan used for the chicken and place over medium heat until melted. Add the garlic and sauté until fragrant, 30 seconds to 1 minute
- 7 .Make the Alfredo sauce. Whisk in the cream, Parmesan, nutmeg, remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Simmer for 3 to 4 minutes. If the sauce is too thick, add some of the reserved pasta cooking water, a few tablespoons at a time, to thin it out.
- 8. Add the drained pasta and toss to coat in the sauce. Add the drained fettuccine to the sauce and toss to coat. Divide the pasta among serving bowls and top with a few slices of chicken. Garnish with parsley, more Parmesan, and black pepper if desired.
- You can also add in some veggies like chopped broccoli for some extra flavor if you like .Can be refrigerated for up to 3 days in an airtight container for delicious leftovers. Thanks for stopping by . Tune in next time for more tips n tricks
