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Easy One-Pot Creamy Chicken Alfredo Pasta

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This Easy One-Pot Creamy Chicken Alfredo Pasta is a quick weeknight dinner that tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen. The pasta cooks directly in the creamy sauce, absorbing all that savory chicken flavor for a cohesive, satisfying meal that comes together in about 30 minutes.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 2 medium breasts; cut into bite-sized pieces)
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 12 ounces fettuccine or penne pasta
  • 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (for garnish, optional)

Instructions

  1. Season and Brown the Chicken (5 minutes): Pat the chicken pieces dry with paper towels. Season them generously with the salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Heat the butter in your large pot over medium-high heat. Once it’s sizzling and foamy, add the chicken in a single layer. Don’t overcrowd the pan—if needed, work in two batches. Let it cook undisturbed for 3-4 minutes until golden brown on the bottom. Flip and cook for another 2-3 minutes until cooked through. The chicken should reach an int…
  2. Sauté the Garlic (1 minute): Reduce the heat to medium. Add the minced garlic to the pot and stir constantly for about 30 seconds, until fragrant. Be careful not to let it burn—burnt garlic turns bitter and will ruin the whole dish. If it starts to brown too quickly, add a splash of chicken broth to cool it down.
  3. Build the Sauce and Cook the Pasta (15 minutes): Pour in the chicken broth and heavy cream. Use your wooden spoon to scrape up all those delicious browned bits from the bottom of the pot—this is called deglazing, and it’s where the flavor comes from. Bring the liquid to a gentle boil. Add the pasta, making sure it’s mostly submerged. Reduce the heat to a simmer, cover the pot, and let it cook for 12-15 minutes, stirring occasionally. The pasta will absorb the liquid and release its starch, which…
  4. Finish with Cheese and Chicken (2 minutes): Once the pasta is tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed (it should look like a creamy, slightly loose sauce), remove the pot from the heat. Stir in the freshly grated Parmesan cheese until it’s fully melted and the sauce is smooth and velvety. Return the cooked chicken to the pot, along with any juices that have accumulated on the plate. Stir everything together gently.
  5. Rest and Serve (2 minutes): Let the pasta sit for 2 minutes off the heat. This allows the sauce to thicken to the perfect consistency. Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt and pepper if needed. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately.

Notes

Don’t skip browning the chicken—it adds flavor. Grate your own Parmesan cheese for a smooth sauce. Watch the garlic carefully to avoid burning. Resist the urge to stir constantly. The 2-minute resting period is mandatory for the sauce to thicken properly. For reheating, add a splash of milk or broth to loosen the sauce.

Nutrition

Keywords: one-pot pasta, creamy chicken alfredo, easy weeknight dinner, chicken pasta, alfredo sauce, one-pot meal

Find it online: https://breezybake.com/easy-one-pot-creamy-chicken-alfredo-pasta-recipe/