Creamy Chicken Alfredo Pasta

Ingredients

• 500 g Penne pasta (or 1 lb)
• 2 Chicken breast (cubed)
• 2 tbsp Olive oil (for sautéing chicken)
• 2 tbsp Butter (unsalted)
• 3 clove Garlic (minced)
• 2 cup Heavy cream (double cream)
• 0.5 cup Parmesan cheese (freshly grated)
• Salt (to taste)
• Black pepper (to taste)
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning (dried herbs)
• Fresh parsley (chopped, for garnish)

Steps

1. 1

   Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the penne pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve about 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining.

2. 2

   While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the cubed chicken breast and season with salt and black pepper.

3. 3

   Sauté the chicken until golden brown and cooked through, approximately 5-7 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.

4. 4

   In the same skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.

5. 5

   Pour in the heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer. Stir in the Italian seasoning.

6. 6

   Gradually whisk in the grated Parmesan cheese until the sauce is smooth and slightly thickened.

7. 7

   Add the cooked chicken and drained pasta back into the skillet. Toss everything together until the pasta is well-coated in the sauce. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water.

8. 8

   Garnish with fresh chopped parsley and serve immediately.

Notes

For a richer flavor, use freshly grated Parmesan rather than pre-shredded. You can also add mushrooms or spinach during the garlic sauté step for extra vegetables.

Nutrition per serving

• main
• pasta
• chicken
• alfredo
• dinner
• easyrecipe
• comfort food