Creamy One-Pot Chicken Alfredo Pasta
A quick and easy one-pot chicken Alfredo pasta recipe that delivers a rich, creamy dinner with minimal effort and cleanup. Perfect for busy weeknights and cozy dinners.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or unsalted butter
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 4 cups chicken broth (low sodium preferred)
- 1 ½ cups heavy cream
- 8 ounces uncooked fettuccine or linguine pasta, broken in half
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Optional: chopped fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Cut chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces and season lightly with salt and pepper (about 5 minutes).
- Heat olive oil or butter in a large deep skillet or heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add chicken pieces and cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until browned but not fully cooked through. Remove chicken and set aside.
- In the same pan, add minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant but not browned.
- Pour in chicken broth and heavy cream, stirring to combine and scraping any browned bits from the bottom.
- Add broken pasta to the pot, pressing gently to submerge it in the liquid.
- Bring mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered for 12-15 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent sticking and allow pasta to absorb liquid and thicken the sauce.
- Add chicken back to the pot during the last 5 minutes of cooking to finish cooking through (internal temperature should reach 165°F).
- Remove from heat and stir in freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve hot, garnished with chopped fresh parsley if desired.
Notes
Stir frequently to prevent pasta from sticking and ensure even cooking. If sauce is too thick, add a splash of chicken broth or cream to loosen. If too thin, simmer a few more minutes. Use freshly grated Parmesan for best flavor and meltiness. Let the dish rest off heat for a minute or two to thicken the sauce and meld flavors. Can substitute chicken thighs for juicier meat or use gluten-free pasta for dietary needs.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1/4 of the rec
- Calories: 575
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 27.5
- Saturated Fat: 15
- Carbohydrates: 42.5
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 37.5
Keywords: one-pot, chicken Alfredo, creamy pasta, quick dinner, easy recipe, weeknight meal, comfort food