Description
This Garlic Butter Chicken Alfredo recipe combines tender, golden-brown chicken strips with a luscious, creamy Alfredo sauce made from butter, garlic, heavy cream, and Parmesan cheese. Tossed with perfectly cooked fettuccine pasta and garnished with fresh parsley, this comforting Italian-American classic is ready in just 40 minutes—perfect for a satisfying weeknight dinner for two.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 1.5 lbs boneless chicken breasts, cut into strips
- 6 tbsp butter
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp Italian herbs
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Pasta
- 12 oz fettuccine pasta
Sauce
- 6 cloves fresh garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
Garnish
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- Extra Parmesan for serving
Instructions
- Prep: Season the chicken strips with salt, pepper, onion powder, and Italian herbs. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil for the fettuccine pasta. Mince the garlic cloves finely.
- Cook Chicken: In a large skillet over medium heat, melt butter. Add the seasoned chicken strips and cook until golden brown and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.
- Make Sauce: In the same skillet, add the minced garlic and sauté in the remaining butter for about 1-2 minutes until fragrant but not browned. Slowly pour in the heavy cream, stirring continuously. Gradually add the grated Parmesan cheese, stirring until the sauce thickens and becomes creamy.
- Cook Pasta: Meanwhile, cook the fettuccine in the boiling water according to package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta, reserving some pasta water.
- Combine: Add the cooked chicken back into the Alfredo sauce. Toss the cooked fettuccine into the sauce and chicken mixture. Add reserved pasta water a little at a time if the sauce needs thinning to coat the pasta evenly.
- Finish: Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and extra Parmesan cheese before serving.
Notes
- Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese for best flavor and a smoother sauce.
- If sauce thickens too much, add reserved pasta water gradually to achieve desired consistency.
- Ensure not to burn garlic when sautéing as it becomes bitter.
- Chicken breasts can be substituted with thighs for a juicier texture.
- You can add steamed broccoli or mushrooms for added veggies.
