Description
This Garlic Butter Chicken Alfredo is a creamy, flavorful pasta dish featuring tender strips of chicken sautéed in garlic butter, combined with a rich Alfredo sauce made from heavy cream and Parmesan cheese. It is a comforting and satisfying meal perfect for a weeknight dinner or special occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Pasta
- 1.5 lbs boneless chicken breasts, cut into strips
- 12 oz fettuccine pasta
Sauce and Seasonings
- 6 tbsp butter
- 6 cloves fresh garlic, minced
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
- 1 tsp Italian herbs
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- Extra Parmesan for serving
Instructions
- Prep: Gather all ingredients, cut the chicken breasts into strips, mince the garlic, and prepare salted water to boil for the pasta.
- Season Chicken: Season the chicken strips evenly with salt, pepper, onion powder, and Italian herbs. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil for the pasta.
- Cook Chicken: In a large skillet, melt 3 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add the seasoned chicken strips in a single layer and cook until they are golden brown and cooked through, about 6-8 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Make Sauce: In the same skillet, add the remaining 3 tablespoons of butter and sauté the minced garlic until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes. Pour in the heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until melted and the sauce is smooth. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.
- Cook Pasta: While making the sauce, cook the fettuccine pasta in the boiling water according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve about ½ cup of pasta cooking water before draining the pasta.
- Combine: Add the cooked pasta and chicken back into the skillet with the Alfredo sauce. Toss well to coat everything evenly. Add reserved pasta water a little at a time to loosen the sauce if needed.
- Finish: Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and extra Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately for the best flavor and texture.
Notes
- Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese for the best melting and flavor.
- Reserve pasta water carefully; it helps to adjust sauce consistency.
- To make the dish lighter, substitute half-and-half for heavy cream but note the sauce will be less rich.
- Chicken strips can be substituted with diced chicken thighs for more juiciness.
- To enhance garlic flavor, you can roast garlic beforehand.
- Leftovers keep well refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheat gently to avoid sauce separation.
