Description
Creamy chicken alfredo pasta brings classic Italian comfort directly to dinner tables with its rich, cheesy sauce and tender chicken. Succulent pasta strands embrace savory chicken pieces, creating a delightful meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins and Pasta:
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 lb (450g) fettuccine or penne pasta
Seasonings and Spices:
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg (optional)
Dairy and Sauce Ingredients:
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (optional)
Additional Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare a generously salted water bath in a large pot, bringing it to a rolling boil. Submerge pasta and cook until it reaches a perfect al dente texture. Carefully extract the pasta, preserving a portion of the starchy cooking liquid for potential sauce adjustment.
- Season chicken breasts with a robust blend of salt, pepper, and aromatic Italian herbs. Warm olive oil in a spacious skillet over moderate heat. Sear the chicken until it develops a golden exterior and reaches complete internal doneness, approximately 6-7 minutes per side. Allow the meat to rest briefly before transforming it into elegant, thin strips.
- Utilize the same skillet to create a luxurious sauce base. Melt butter gently, then introduce minced garlic, allowing its fragrance to bloom for a brief moment. Stream in heavy cream while maintaining constant circular motion, coaxing the mixture toward a delicate simmer.
- Incorporate Parmesan and mozzarella cheeses, stirring methodically until they meld into a silky, uniform sauce. Consider adding a whisper of nutmeg for nuanced depth. Fine-tune the seasoning with strategic salt and pepper additions. Should the sauce appear overly dense, introduce reserved pasta water to achieve ideal consistency.
- Marry the cooked pasta with the velvety Alfredo sauce, ensuring each strand receives a luxurious coating. Tenderly fold in the previously prepared chicken strips, creating a harmonious culinary composition.
- Transfer the completed dish to an inviting serving vessel. Embellish with a sprinkle of freshly chopped parsley and an optional cascade of additional Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately to capture the dish’s peak temperature and textural perfection.
Notes
- Achieving perfectly cooked pasta requires careful timing, so test for al dente texture by tasting a strand a minute before package instructions suggest.
- For tender chicken, pound breasts to uniform thickness before seasoning to ensure even cooking and prevent dry edges.
- Create a lighter version by substituting half-and-half for heavy cream and using Greek yogurt to maintain creamy texture with reduced calories.
- Enhance flavor complexity by adding a splash of white wine or a pinch of red pepper flakes during sauce preparation for subtle depth and mild heat.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 1045
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 62 g
- Saturated Fat: 31 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 29 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 80 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 40 g
- Cholesterol: 190 mg