This easy Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo recipe has the most dreamy parmesan garlic cream sauce that perfectly coats the pasta. Golden pan-fried garlic chicken takes this dish to the next level!
You've been loving my Shrimp Alfredo, so I figured it was time to make a chicken version! The recipe is very similar because why fix what ain't broken. 😉 I included easy instructions for how to cook chicken for Fettuccine Alfredo. Just season it with salt & pepper and garlic powder, coat it in flour (this makes it less likely to stick to the pan and gives it a nice golden coating), pan fry it, then slice it up and add it to the pasta when it's done. You could also use rotisserie or cooked chicken if that's easier for you.
Alfredo sauce is simply a mix of cream, butter, and parmesan cheese, but I also add cream cheese to it, and it's a game changer. It helps thicken the sauce and adds a delicious bit of tanginess to it. I also add garlic... obviously.
Chicken Alfredo ingredients
- Fettuccine pasta (or use whatever you have on-hand)
- Two chicken breasts (slice them in half lengthwise to cook them faster and keep them tender)
- Flour (it helps give the chicken a delicious crust)
- Butter (unsalted)
- Cream cheese (for added texture and tangy taste)
- Heavy cream (rich, delicious, and much less likely to curdle than other options)
- Chicken broth (more flavor!)
- Garlic (I use both fresh cloves and garlic powder in this recipe)
- Parmesan cheese (it's not Alfredo sauce without it)
- Olive oil (for pan-frying the chicken)
How to make Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo
- Prep the chicken: sprinkle it with salt & pepper and garlic powder, then coat it in flour;
- Cook the chicken: pan-fry it in the oil & butter for 5 minutes/side or until it's cooked through;
- Make the sauce: use the same skillet you cooked the chicken in. Add the remaining butter, cream cheese, heavy cream, chicken broth and garlic. Stir to incorporate the cream cheese then let it thicken for 5 minutes or so. You then stir in the parmesan;
- Finish it up: drain the pasta and toss it with the sauce. Top with the sliced chicken.
The full ingredients list and instructions are in the recipe card below.
Can I substitute the cream for something else?
I don't recommend it as the sauce may not thicken properly and may curdle. Alfredo sauce is notorious for curdling if you use milk... so use any substitutions at your own risk. This is definitely a treat meal, and a delicious one at that (this tastes like something you'd get at the Olive Garden or Cheesecake Factory).
What to serve with Chicken Alfredo
Try some garlic bread or a salad.
Recipe notes & tips:
- If your Alfredo sauce isn't thick enough, cook it for a few more minutes. If it ends up too thick, add a splash of the hot pasta water to it.
- Chicken can easily go from underdone to overdone in recipes like this. I recommend using an instant read thermometer to take the guesswork out of it. Chicken is safe to eat at 165F (keep in mind its temperature will keep rising a few degrees after you stop cooking it).
- I always like to suggest grating your own parmesan cheese. It tastes much better, and some of the pre-grated stuff doesn’t melt into the sauce as well. I love this cheese grater. I always keep a wedge of parm in my fridge.
- The cream cheese really needs to be soft to make this recipe go much smoother, so I recommend taking it out of the fridge 30+ minutes prior to starting the recipe, or microwaving it for 20-30 seconds or until it's very soft and pliable.
Other creamy recipes you'll love:
- Chicken Tortellini Alfredo
- Creamy Garlic Chicken
- Lemon Parmesan Chicken Alfredo Recipe
- Creamy Cheesy Chicken Tetrazzini
- 15 Minute Creamy Alfredo Gnocchi
I hope you will love this Chicken Alfredo as much as I do!
Questions? Made this recipe? Leave me a comment below and tag me #saltandlavender on Instagram so I can see your creations.
Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts cut in half lengthwise
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt & pepper to taste
- Flour for dredging
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 tablespoons butter divided
- 8 ounces uncooked fettuccine
- 4 ounces cream cheese (I used 1/2 block of Philly) softened
- 1 cup heavy/whipping cream
- 1/4 cup chicken broth
- 2 large cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Take the cream cheese out of the fridge to soften up at least 30 minutes (or longer) prior to starting the recipe, or microwave it for 20-30 seconds. Grate the parmesan cheese. I prep other ingredients while I'm going along.
- Boil a large, salted pot of water for the fettuccine. Cook it al dente according to package directions.
- Meanwhile, cut the chicken breasts in half lengthwise so you have 4 thinner cutlets. Sprinkle them with the garlic powder and salt & pepper on both sides. Coat them in flour.
- In a deep skillet over medium-high heat, add the olive oil and 1 tablespoon of the butter. When the pan is hot, cook the chicken for 5 minutes/side or until golden and cooked through. Take the pan off the heat, and remove the chicken to a plate and set it aside.
- Wipe out the skillet/give it a quick rinse if there's a lot of extra grease (no need to wash it unless you really want to). Add in the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter, the cream cheese, cream, chicken broth, and garlic. Return the pan to the burner over medium heat. Once the butter has melted and the pan has heated up, use your spoon to help the cream cheese melt into the sauce. This will take a couple of minutes.
- When the cream cheese has been incorporated into the sauce, let it gently bubble for 5 minutes until the sauce has reduced somewhat. You can give it the occasional stir. Slice the chicken into bite-size strips while it's cooking.
- Stir the parmesan into the sauce. Let it cook for about a minute. The sauce should be thick enough by now, but if you want to reduce it further, let it cook for a little longer. If at any point the sauce gets too thick, simply add a splash of the hot pasta water to it. Give it a taste and season with salt & pepper as needed.
- Drain the fettuccine and add it to the skillet and toss with the sauce. Dish it up with the chicken on top (or mix it in) and grate on more parmesan cheese as desired.
Notes
- I do not recommend subbing the heavy cream for anything. Alfredo sauce can easily separate if you're making it with milk or something with a lower fat content. This is definitely a treat meal.
Cynthia Tucker says
This has been a go to meal for my family since it's been published. Also your shrimp Alfredo. I keep trying to convince my grown step daughters it's as easy as faking it from a jar. They love to eat it and deprive their husbands of their portions but won't make it themselves 🙃 This is off the meter in stars but I gave it five.
Natasha says
I'm so happy to hear that, Cynthia!! 🙂 Hahahha your comment made me smile.
Tina says
It was great we will make it again. I made homemade pasta to go with it with my KitchenAid pasta extruder it was great.
Natasha says
Fantastic!! Homemade pasta is the best!
Janita says
My daughter does not handle dairy well so I usually exchange HWC for full-fat coconut cream. Do you think this would work in this recipe?
Natasha says
Hi Janita! I really can't say for sure. It will taste a bit coconutty, and I can't say what the texture will be, unfortunately. It's really hard to guess on recipes like this without actually testing. If you're adding a splash to soup, that's usually quite predictable, but a sauce like this that's been tested to produce the right texture can be more tricky. If you do try, let me know how it goes... I am sure other readers are curious too. 🙂
Sean says
This is has become my go-to pasta recipe. I have made it several times in the last year. Sautee a few diced onions and then brown a little fresh garlic in the butter before adding the rest of the sauce ingredients and it is just incredible.
Natasha says
So pleased you enjoyed it, Sean!
Jane says
Plan to make this tonight. Can I add jar of artichokes?
Natasha says
You could... I mean that'll definitely change the flavor, though, but if you're a big artichoke fan then I don't see why not. I'd be sure to drain them thoroughly. Let me know how it goes! 🙂
Marisa says
Easy and delicious recipe. I doubled the sauce and it turned out fabulous. I’ll be using this recipe again and again.
Natasha says
Thank you!! Glad it was a hit! 😀