This homemade chicken fettuccine alfredo is hearty, creamy, and so flavorful! It tastes like the classic Italian dish. Great for family dinners, holidays, meal prep, and leftovers. Both kids and adults love this homemade recipe!
This Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo is a classic Italian dish that is total comfort food! The chicken is tender and juicy, while the homemade Alfredo sauce is extra creamy. This family favorite recipe will become your new favorite. This recipe is relatively easy to make at home, and it is a great option for a weeknight meal or a special occasion. Kids love it too!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- This chicken fettuccine alfredo is restaurant-quality pasta.
- This Olive Garden copycat recipe is special. Serve it for a special occasion like a birthday or an anniversary.
- Your guests will be impressed with this homemade chicken Alfredo sauce!
- This dish takes under 40 minutes.
- This easy chicken recipe can be whipped up in no time.
- This dish is the perfect midweek family dinner.
- It is creamy and delicious.
- It is the ultimate comfort food. Cozy and warming.
- Kids and picky eaters love it!
- Easily make it gluten-free with gluten-free fettuccine pasta.
- Check out this Homemade Alfredo Sauce for more expert tips and tricks!
Ingredients & Substitutes
These are the ingredients and substitutions for chicken fettuccine alfredo. Scroll down to the recipe card for the entire recipe.
We love using whole wheat pasta for our recipes. Whole wheat fettucine pasta is great for this alfredo recipe. If you are gluten-free, use gluten-free fettuccine.
Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are easy to work with and accessible. Try boneless chicken thighs as an alternative to breasts. Do not use bone-in.
Olive oil adds great flavor, but feel free to use any neutral tasting oil. We also regularly use avocado oil.
Fresh garlic adds so much flavor to this dish! Use garlic powder as an alternative but fresh garlic is recommended for the ultimate flavor.
Use heavy cream for a thick sauce. This yields a much more creamy result than regular milk.
Grated parmesan cheese thickens the sauce and seasons it beautifully.
Use unsalted butter if possible. If you only have salted butter, adjust the amount of salt in the recipe.
Season the chicken with salt and pepper.
Fresh parsley is delicious. You can also use other fresh herbs like thyme, basil, or oregano.
Taste & Texture
This chicken fettuccine alfredo is a creamy, rich pasta that is well-seasoned and brightened up with fresh parsley!
This classic comfort food recipe is satisfying and full of garlicky and cheesy flavors.
The soft texture of the cooked pasta and velvety cream sauce are so delicious!
How to Make
Step 1
First, cook the fettuccine pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
Step 2
Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper on both sides. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken breasts and cook for about 6-7 minutes per side, or until cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside to rest.
Step 3
In the same skillet, add the minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute, until fragrant. Reduce the heat to medium-low.
Step 4
Add the heavy cream and butter to the skillet, stirring constantly until the butter has melted and the mixture is well combined. Allow the sauce to simmer gently for 2 to 3 minutes.
Step 5
Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese and continue stirring until the cheese has melted and the sauce has thickened. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Step 6
Slice the cooked chicken breasts into thin strips.
Step 7
Add the cooked fettuccine pasta to the skillet with the sauce, tossing gently to coat the pasta evenly. Add the sliced chicken to the skillet and toss again.
Step 8
Remove the skillet from heat and let it sit for a few minutes to allow the sauce to thicken further.
Step 9
Finally, serve the Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo hot, garnished with chopped fresh parsley.
Expert Tips for Success
Follow these expert tips to make the best homemade chicken fettuccine alfredo recipe!
Do not overcook the chicken. Use a meat thermometer to test the internal temperature.
Chicken is safe to eat when it has reached 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Add steamed green broccoli and turn it into a tasty chicken broccoli Alfredo! Mushrooms, bell peppers, fresh green peas, and edamame are great additions.
Cook the pasta until al dente. To keep the texture firm and prevent the dish from becoming mushy, do not cook pasta too long.
Season well. The cream sauce and chicken require adequate seasoning. Taste the sauce as you go and before serving to make sure it is delicious.
Flavor Variations & Add-Ins
Consider these fun flavor variations to your creamy chicken fettuccine alfredo.
Bacon or ham Alfredo: Cook a little ham or bacon and mushrooms in a pan until golden brown and add them to the creamy sauce.
Basil pesto and sun-dried tomato Alfredo: Stir in a dollop of basil pesto and some chopped sun-dried tomatoes. Garnish with fresh basil.
Spicy chicken Alfredo: Stir in chopped bell peppers and cayenne pepper.
Lemon and thyme: Add a splash of freshly squeezed lemon juice and freshly chopped thyme.
Green veggie chicken Alfredo: Fold in some bright green blanched broccoli, asparagus, and peas.
How to Serve & Store
This chicken fettuccine alfredo pasta pairs well with a light and simple salad. Caesar salad is a great option.
Serve with some whole wheat garlic bread.
To store leftover chicken Alfredo, let it cool completely first. The chicken needs to cool completely before it goes into the refrigerator.
The leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to four days. The leftovers can be frozen but the texture will change slightly upon thawing.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
You can use any pasta with this sauce. Long, thin noodles are typically used in chicken Alfredo, such fettuccine, linguine or spaghetti. We recommend using whole wheat pasta.
Pair with a light citrusy salad or another mild salad. Serve with whole wheat garlic bread or by itself.
Add a little extra Parmesan cheese to quickly thicken the sauce.
Yes, you can make this dish without cream. Simply use whole milk instead of cream. You may need to add a little more cheese to the sauce to make it creamy.
Yes, you can make this dish ahead of time. Simply cook according to the recipe instructions and then assemble the dish. Cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. When you are ready to serve, reheat the dish in a skillet over medium heat until warmed through.
Chicken fettuccine alfredo is a complete meal, but you can serve it with a side salad or whole wheat bread if you like.
Equipment Needed
Wooden Spoon: Mix the sauce and chicken with a wooden spoon.
Large Nonstick Skillet: This nonstick skillet is large enough for this chicken fettuccine alfredo recipe.
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Enjoy this easy chicken fettuccine alfredo!
