Description
This Best One-Pot Chicken Alfredo Pasta is a creamy, comforting, and easy-to-make meal perfect for busy weeknights. Tender bite-sized pieces of chicken are seared to perfection and cooked together with fettuccine in a rich and luscious Alfredo sauce made from milk, chicken stock, cream, garlic, parmesan, and a pinch of nutmeg. The dish combines simplicity with classic Italian flavors, all cooked in one pot to minimize cleanup and maximize flavor infusion.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 8 oz chicken breast, cut into 1-inch bite-sized pieces
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- 1 tbsp olive oil (Bertolli Extra Virgin recommended)
Pasta and Liquids
- 10 oz fettuccine
- 2.25 cups milk (room temperature)
- 1.5 cups chicken stock (Swanson recommended)
Flavorings and Sauce
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/2 cup cream
- 1 cup parmesan cheese, freshly grated from a block
- Pinch of nutmeg
- Parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare Chicken: Season the bite-sized pieces of chicken breast with salt and black pepper. Heat olive oil in a large pot or deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken pieces and sear them until golden brown on all sides and cooked through, about 5-6 minutes. Remove the chicken from the pot and set aside.
- Sauté Garlic and Spices: In the same pot, add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes. Stir and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant but not burnt.
- Add Liquids and Pasta: Pour in the milk and chicken stock into the pot. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Add the fettuccine pasta, pressing it down to submerge in the liquid as much as possible.
- Cook Pasta: Let the pasta cook uncovered, stirring frequently to prevent sticking, for about 10-12 minutes until the pasta is al dente and has absorbed most of the liquid.
- Create Alfredo Sauce: Stir in the cream, freshly grated parmesan cheese, and a pinch of nutmeg. Mix well until the cheese melts and the sauce thickens and becomes creamy, coating the pasta evenly.
- Combine Chicken and Finish: Return the cooked chicken pieces to the pot and stir to combine everything. Cook for another 2-3 minutes to let flavors meld and the chicken to warm through.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle chopped parsley over the pasta for a fresh finish. Serve the chicken Alfredo pasta hot and enjoy your delicious one-pot meal.
Notes
- Use room temperature milk to prevent the sauce from breaking while cooking.
- Freshly grated parmesan cheese melts more smoothly than pre-grated varieties.
- Adjust red pepper flakes according to your preferred spice level.
- Constant stirring while cooking the pasta prevents it from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
- This recipe makes cleanup easier by cooking everything in one pot.
