How to Cook Chicken Alfredo

Chicken alfredo might seem like an indulgence that you can only order in a restaurant, but it's easy to make at home. Start by cooking fettuccine and seasoning chicken breasts. Then sauté the chicken breasts until they're golden brown and slice them into strips. To make the sauce, cook garlic with cream, butter, and Parmesan cheese until it thickens. Toss the pasta with the sauce and serve the chicken strips on top. Garnish the chicken alfredo with freshly chopped parsley and enjoy!

EditIngredients

of dried fettuccine
of boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 teaspoon (6 g) of kosher salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon (1 g) of freshly ground black pepper, divided
of canola oil
8 tablespoons (113 g) of unsalted butter, divided
2 cloves of garlic, minced
of heavy cream
1 cup (100 g) of finely grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
1/4 teaspoon (0.5 g) of freshly grated nutmeg
Coarsely chopped fresh parsley leaves, for serving

Makes 2 to 4 servings

EditSteps

EditCooking the Pasta and Seasoning the Chicken

Boil of dried fettuccine for 8 to 10 minutes. Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Stir in the dried pasta and set a timer according to the cooking time recommended on the package.^[1]
- Stir the noodles occasionally as they cook to prevent them from clumping together.
Reserve of the pasta water and drain the rest. Turn off the burner and scoop out of the water from the pasta pot. Set it aside and place a colander in the sink. Carefully pour the pasta into the colander so the rest of the water drains.^[2]
- You'll use the reserved pasta water when you make the sauce.
Sprinkle the chicken with salt and pepper. Get out of boneless, skinless chicken breasts and pat them completely dry using paper towels. Set the chicken on a plate or cutting board and sprinkle 3/4 teaspoon (4.5 g) of the kosher salt and 1/4 teaspoon (0.5 g) of the pepper evenly over the chicken.^[3]
- Turn the chicken over so you can season the other sides as well.

EditCooking and Slicing the Chicken

Heat the canola oil over medium-high heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Pour of canola oil into a large skillet or pot. Turn the burner to medium-high and let the oil heat until it shimmers.^[4]
- Avoid using a nonstick pan because it will prevent the chicken from developing a nice crust.
Lay the chicken in the skillet and cook it for 5 to 7 minutes. Slowly lower the seasoned chicken breasts into the hot oil and leave them to cook without moving them around.^[5]
- Leaving the chicken undisturbed will help it develop a crisp brown crust.
Flip and cook the chicken until it reaches . Use tongs or a spatula to flip the breasts over and put 1 tablespoon (14 g) of the butter in between them. Leave the chicken to cook undisturbed for another 5 to 7 minutes.^[6]
- To ensure the chicken is finished cooking, insert an instant-read meat thermometer into the thickest part of a breast. It should reach .
Remove and rest the covered chicken for 3 minutes. Turn off the burner and transfer the chicken breasts to a cutting board. Lay a piece of aluminum foil over the chicken and leave it to rest before you cut it.^[7]
- The juices will redistribute within the meat as it rests.
Slice the chicken into 1/2 in (1.3 cm) strips. Use a sharp knife to cut each chicken breast into evenly sized strips. Leave these on the cutting board and lay the aluminum foil back over them while you make the sauce.^[8]

EditMaking the Alfredo Sauce

Sauté the garlic in the butter for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Put the remaining 7 tablespoons (100 g) of unsalted butter into the pan you used to cook the chicken. Turn the burner to medium heat so the butter melts. Stir in 2 cloves of minced garlic and cook it until it becomes fragrant.^[9]
- Watch the garlic closely as you sauté it because it can burn easily.
Whisk in the cream, cheese, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Slowly pour in of heavy cream as you whisk. Continue to whisk as you add 1 cup (100 g) of finely grated Parmesan cheese, 1/4 teaspoon (0.5 g) of freshly grated nutmeg, the remaining 1/4 teaspoon (1.5 g) of kosher salt, and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon (0.5 g) of pepper.^[10]
- You can also use cream labeled as "heavy whipping cream."
Simmer and stir the alfredo sauce for 3 to 4 minutes. Keep the burner at medium heat and stir the sauce occasionally as it bubbles gently. If the sauce gets thicker than you'd like, stir in a few spoonfuls of the pasta water that you set aside earlier.^[11]
- It's important to stir the alfredo sauce every once in a while so it doesn't stick to the bottom of the pan.
Stir the drained pasta into the sauce. Turn off the burner and put the cooked fettuccine into the pot with the sauce. Use tongs or a spoon to toss the noodles so they're completely coated with the sauce.^[12]
Top with the chicken and parsley before you serve the dish. Divide the pasta among your serving dishes and divide the chicken strips between them. Sprinkle a little freshly chopped parsley and serve the chicken alfredo immediately.^[13]
- If you like, add extra Parmesan cheese and black pepper.
- While you can refrigerate the leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days, the pasta sauce may separate.

EditTips

To make spicy alfredo, consider stirring 1 tablespoon (15 g) of pureed chipotle peppers in adobo sauce into the alfredo.
Add sautéed mushrooms or steamed broccoli florets to the pasta for an extra serving of vegetables.
For a stronger herb flavor, stir in more chopped fresh oregano, thyme, or parsley.
If you're serving picky eaters, consider leaving the noodles, sauce, and chicken separate. Then let your guests serve themselves.

EditThings You’ll Need

Large pot with a lid
Colander
Measuring cups and spoons
Knife and cutting board
Large skillet or pot
Tongs or a spatula
Spoon

EditRelated wikiHows

EditSources and Citations

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