Description
Make rich, restaurant-style Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo from scratch in under 30 minutes for a satisfying weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound fettuccine pasta
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 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
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- Pinch of nutmeg
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Cook the fettuccine according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water before draining.
- While the pasta cooks, season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper.
- Heat the olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Reduce the heat to medium. Add the minced garlic to the same skillet and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour in the heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Remove the skillet from the heat. Gradually whisk in the grated Parmesan cheese until the sauce is smooth and velvety. Stir in the salt, pepper, and nutmeg.
- Add the drained fettuccine and the cooked chicken back into the skillet with the sauce. Toss to coat everything evenly.
- If the sauce is too thick, add the reserved pasta water, one splash at a time, until you reach your desired consistency.
- Serve immediately, garnished with extra Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley.
Notes
- Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese for the best melting and flavor in your sauce. Pre-shredded cheese often contains anti-caking agents that prevent smooth melting.
- Do not boil the sauce after adding the cheese; this can cause the sauce to separate or become grainy.
- For a richer sauce, you can substitute half of the heavy cream with half-and-half, though the texture will be slightly thinner.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 20 min
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 750
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 550
- Fat: 45
- Saturated Fat: 25
- Unsaturated Fat: 15
- Trans Fat: 1
- Carbohydrates: 55
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 35
- Cholesterol: 150