Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo

Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 6 servings

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This Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo is made in one pan with just a few simple ingredients! Ready in 30 minutes, it really doesn’t get easier or more flavorful than this.

tongs twirling chicken fettuccine alfredo around in the pan.

I love this Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo because I feel like there is some misconception that it’s hard or time consuming to make.

It is not at all, and while this version isn’t entirely authentic (yes, I know Italians don’t make one pan pastas!), it’s simple and flavorful and a hit with anyone who tries it.

It’s cozy, and comforting, and creamy, and the perfect dinner for when you just need a big plate of carbs. (It’s all about balance, right?)

See what people are saying:

“So easy and very good! We added roasted broccoli to the recipe. Will definitely make again. Thanks!” Sarah

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Love anything Alfredo? Try this Chicken Tortellini Alfredo, this make-ahead friendly Chicken Alfredo Pasta Bake, this Easy Alfredo Sauce or this Chicken Broccoli Alfredo next!

overhead image of chicken fettuccine alfredo in white skillet.
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How to make Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo:

This is an overview to get you started! Check the full recipe card below for detailed instructions.

  1. Start with the chicken: we want to give our chicken a bit of a head start so that it is cooked when our pasta is ready. Cook the chicken briefly on each side — it may not brown (depending on how moist it is), but it will still be delicious.
  2. Add the broth (after the garlic, of course): If there are any browned bits stuck on the pan after cooking the chicken, adding the broth to a hot pan will help pick those tasty bits off the bottom.
  3. Add the fettuccine — yes, dry! I’m a big fan of one pot pastas and they can be done well if you’re paying attention 😉 Because fettuccine noodles are long and somewhat wide, they will clump together if you don’t stir enough. Try to stir every couple minutes!
  4. Once the pasta is cooked and most of the broth is absorbed, add the cream and Parmesan and simmer. The heavy cream thickens beautifully and is all we need to finish our sauce.

How do I make this Fettuccine Alfredo vegetarian?

You can easily make this Fettuccine Alfredo vegetarian by skipping the chicken (try sauteeing some mushrooms in its place before adding the pasta!) and using vegetable broth to cook the pasta.

Feel free to add in additional veggies near the end if you prefer (frozen peas or broccoli are some of our favorite additions!).

Can I use pasta other than fettuccine in this one pot pasta?

No fettuccine? No problem!

You can use linguine, spaghetti, or a short cut of pasta, as long as the weight of your pasta is roughly the same as is called for in the recipe.

When using any long pasta, be sure to stir and separate the pasta often so you don’t get any stuck together.

With short cuts of pasta, this isn’t an issue, but regular stirring is still recommended.

overhead image of a plate of chicken fettuccine alfredo with a fork stuck in.

Variations on this Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo:

  • Swap the chicken for crumbled Italian sausage (or turkey sausage) for a fun, flavorful twist, or try this Creamy Shrimp Linguine if you’re a seafood lover.
  • Swap the heavy cream for half and half to cut out some of the fat (keeping in mind it won’t have as rich a flavor, but it will still be delicious).
  • Add in some extra shredded cheese if extra cheesy is your thing! Keep in mind that additional cheese will thicken the sauce further, so you may need to add additional broth to compensate.

What to serve with Chicken Alfredo:

Although you don’t necessarily need a bunch of sides, I do like to add something green like these Roasted Green Beans or this Air Fryer Broccoli.

If we have a bit of extra time I also love adding this Easy Breadsticks recipe or some Cheesy Garlic Bread.

More one pot pastas you’ll love:

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Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo

5 from 13 votes
This Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo is made in one pan with just a few simple ingredients! Ready in 30 minutes, it really doesn't get easier or more flavorful than this.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Cuisine American, Italian
Course Main Course
Servings 6 servings
Calories 520cal

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons oil
  • 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts sliced
  • 3 cloves garlic finely minced
  • 4 cups low sodium chicken broth
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 375 grams uncooked fettuccine pasta (about 13 ounces)
  • cups heavy whipping cream
  • ¼ cup shredded Parmesan cheese

Instructions

  • In a large, deep skillet (one that will fit all the liquid and the pasta), heat oil over medium-high heat and brown chicken, roughly 2-3 minutes per side.
  • Add the garlic and cook 1 minute.
  • Add broth, salt and pepper, and scrape and bits off the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon.
  • Add the fettuccine and stir well, pressing all of the pasta into the liquid. Bring to a simmer and reduce heat to medium low. Cover and cook until most of the liquid is absorbed and pasta is nearly cooked, stirring and separating noodles often so they do not clump.
  • Stir in heavy cream and Parmesan. Cook over medium heat until it reaches a simmer and thickens slightly. If necessary, add a splash of broth or cream to make the sauce come together. Serve.

Notes

Ingredients and Substitutions:
Chicken: you can swap the chicken for another meat, just cook in the pan before adding the broth. You can also omit for a meatless Fettuccine Alfredo, or stir in leftover Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken or chopped Baked Chicken Breasts at the end.
Seasonings: I kept the seasonings simple in here, but you can add in as many dried or fresh herbs as you like. Start small and build as needed.
Cream: Heavy whipping cream doesn’t curdle and thickens into a luxurious sauce without corn starch, so I don’t recommend swapping it in this recipe. if necessary, combine a lighter cream with 1 teaspoon corn starch before adding to the pan.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 228grams | Calories: 520cal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 138mg | Sodium: 623mg | Potassium: 444mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 705IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 151mg | Iron: 2mg
Keywords chicken alfredo, chicken fettuccine alfredo

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*This post was originally published in March 2020 but has been updated to give you the best information possible. The recipe is still the same.

Meet Ashley

My name is Ashley Fehr and I love creating easy meals my family loves. I also like to do things my way, which means improvising and breaking the rules when necessary. Here you will find creative twists on old favorites and some of my favorite family recipes, passed down from generations!

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Comments

    • The Recipe Rebel says

      Hi Kelly! Possibly? The texture of the cream might change when you freeze it. If you decide to experiment, I’d love to know how it goes!

    • The Recipe Rebel says

      Hi Elizabeth! You could probably use spaghetti as well. I am unsure how the ramen noodles but you could try. They cook very quickly so I would suggest adding them at the very end.

  1. Kathi Paxton says

    Can you make this with noodles that have already been cooked? Would you just use less chicken broth? I have some noodles I need to use up.

  2. RLela Potter says

    Hi, Ashley we made this Chicken Alfredo last night but we also made some shrimp on the side (yuck) lol.
    I just want to say O.M.G it was amazing my family loved it, even my husband said it was definitely a keeper. All through dinner they just kept saying hmmm this is really good… so this is going in my recipe book for sure. You have been a saving grace for me for sure so from the bottom of my heart Thank You!!!!

      • RLela says

        Oh absolutely!! You’re most welcome! Like I said you’ve been a saving grace for my dinner table, I have found myself especially sneaking over to your desert options as well.

  3. Diana says

    I love this recipe, however, I have a question that may sound silly: Is it normal for the sauce to splatter while eating? For some reason, I have a hard time getting the fettuccine to wrap around my fork without the sauce splattering all over. And the fettuccine keeps slipping off my fork. Any tips? Am I twirling my pasta wrong or does my sauce need to be thicker? Delicious in any case – just trying to stop the splatters!

    • The Recipe Rebel says

      Hi Diana! I’m sorry but I am not really able to give advice on how to eat fettuccine. Your sauce shouldn’t be runny if you “Cook over medium heat until it reaches a simmer and thickens slightly.”

    • Ashley Fehr says

      Hi Christine! Heavy cream works best because it thickens so much in the pan without any need for flour or corn starch. You could definitely sub some of the cream for milk or half and half, or even do a little more broth and just add a bit of cream. I would still add some though!

  4. Diana says

    I tried this recipe and it was absolutely delicious! Everyone else loved it too! Thank you for sharing.

5 from 13 votes (5 ratings without comment)

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