Description
Creamy One Pot Chicken Alfredo Pasta delivers comfort straight from Italian kitchens with minimal cleanup. Parmesan-kissed noodles and tender chicken create a quick weeknight dinner that will satisfy hungry families in less than 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 lb (454 grams) chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
Main Dairy Products:
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 ½ cups (360 milliliters) heavy cream (or half-and-half)
- 2 tablespoons (30 grams) butter
Pasta and Seasonings:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) fettuccine or penne pasta (uncooked)
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Additional:
- 2 cups (480 milliliters) chicken broth (low sodium)
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare a spacious pot or deep skillet, warming olive oil over medium-high temperature for optimal heat distribution.
- Introduce chicken pieces seasoned with salt, pepper, and Italian herbs, cooking until a golden exterior develops and interior reaches complete doneness, approximately 5-7 minutes.
- Incorporate minced garlic, allowing aromatic compounds to release and infuse the protein with delectable flavor profiles.
- Stream chicken broth and heavy cream into the pan, creating a luxurious foundational liquid for pasta cooking.
- Gently submerge uncooked pasta within the creamy mixture, ensuring complete liquid coverage for uniform cooking.
- Elevate heat to generate a vigorous boil, then immediately reduce to a gentle simmer to prevent excessive liquid evaporation.
- Allow pasta to cook, periodically stirring to prevent adherence to cooking vessel, until noodles reach tender consistency and sauce transforms into a velvety texture.
- Introduce butter, creating additional richness and smooth consistency.
- Fold in Parmesan and mozzarella cheeses, stirring continuously until sauce achieves a silky, uniform appearance.
- Perform final seasoning assessment, adjusting salt and pepper to personal taste preferences.
- Let mixture rest momentarily to allow sauce to further thicken and flavors to harmonize before serving.
Notes
- Use boneless, skinless chicken breasts for uniform cooking and easier cutting into bite-sized pieces.
- Select short pasta like penne or rotini to help capture the creamy sauce better and ensure even cooking.
- Keep the heat low when adding cheese to prevent separation and maintain a smooth, silky texture.
- For gluten-free version, substitute regular pasta with gluten-free pasta and ensure all ingredients are certified gluten-free.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 250 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 31 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg