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Overhead view of chicken alfredo in the skillet.
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4.69 from 29 votes

Chicken Alfredo

This Chicken Alfredo recipe features pasta drenched in an ultra-rich and creamy sauce, topped with juicy strips of seared chicken.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time35 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Total Cost: $10.62 recipe / $2.66 serving
Servings: 4
Calories: 756kcal
Author: Beth Moncel

Ingredients

  • 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts about 1.3 lb. total, $6.49
  • 2 tsp Italian seasoning $0.20
  • 1 Tbsp cooking oil $0.04*
  • 2 Tbsp butter $0.22
  • 4 cloves garlic minced, $0.32
  • 1 cup heavy cream $1.25**
  • ¾ cup grated Parmesan $1.08***
  • ¼ tsp salt $0.02
  • ¼ tsp pepper $0.02
  • 1 Tbsp parsley chopped, optional garnish $0.10
  • 8 oz. fettuccine $0.88****

Instructions

  • Season both sides of the chicken breast with Italian seasoning and a pinch of salt.
  • Heat a large skillet over medium. Once hot, add the cooking oil and swirl to coat the surface. Add the chicken to the skillet and cook for about 7-8 minutes on each side, or until browned on the outside and cooked through.
  • Remove the chicken to a clean plate and turn the heat under the skillet down to medium-low.
  • Add the butter and minced garlic to the skillet. Stir and cook the garlic in the melted butter for about two minutes, dissolving the browned bits from the bottom of the skillet as you stir.
  • Add the heavy cream and whisk to combine, dissolving any remaining browned bits. Allow the cream to come up to a simmer.
  • While waiting for the cream to simmer, bring a pot of water to a boil for the fettuccine. Once boiling, add the pasta and continue to boil until tender (about 7 minutes). Reserve about ½ cup of the starchy cooking water just before draining the pasta.
  • Once the cream is simmering, add the grated Parmesan to the skillet. Continue to whisk and stir until the Parmesan has melted into the sauce and the sauce has begun to simmer. Simmer the sauce for a few minutes, or until it becomes slightly thicker. Add salt and pepper to the sauce to taste.
  • Add the drained pasta to the skillet with the creamy sauce and toss to combine. If the sauce becomes too thick, add a couple of tablespoons of the reserved pasta water and toss to combine with the sauce.
  • Slice the cooked chicken breasts and serve it atop the creamy pasta. Garnish with chopped parsley, if desired.

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Notes

*You can use any neutral flavored oil suitable for frying, such as vegetable, canola, or avocado oil.
**While authentic Alfredo doesn't use any heavy cream, our American Alfredo uses it as the base for the sauce, which helps the Parmesan melt in smoothly instead of clumping or sticking to the bottom of the pan. Other dairy products or dairy substitutes contain too much water and won't have the same effect. I don't suggest substituting the heavy cream!
***I made sure this recipe tastes great even when using less expensive Parmesan (like the canned stuff!). But if you have room in your budget for a wedge of fresh Parmesan, by all means, use it! But just know that you can still make a tasty Alfredo even if you can't afford the good stuff.
****My preferred pasta for this recipe is fettuccine. Linguine or spaghetti also works in a pinch; just make sure to adjust the cooking time according to the package instructions.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 756kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 47g | Fat: 42g | Sodium: 719mg | Fiber: 2g