This is how to make a One Pot Chicken Alfredo Pasta with al dente pasta and a silky creamy sauce. The secret? Simple. Add the cream and parmesan at the end to avoid gluggy sauce and unevenly cooked pasta. Watch the video and see how easy this is!
One Pot Chicken Alfredo Pasta
This is not meant to be an authentic Italian pasta. It’s a quick mid-week meal that you can get on the table in just over 15 minutes and is stellar for effort vs output.
I don’t want to offend pasta-purists (or the entire nation of Italy for that matter!), and to be honest, I never thought I would ever share a (long-strand) one-pot-pasta recipe. I’ve previously declared on multiple occasions that I’m not a fan. I tried a couple of recipes, ended up with unevenly cooked pasta and a gluey sauce. Once it was so gluey that I was able to make fritters without using egg to bind them. 😳
So I gave up, and stuck to the classic way of making Alfredo. It wasn’t until a friend (who’s a huge fan of all things one pot) bluntly asked me “have you tried to fix it?” that it even occurred to me that maybe, just maybe, there was a better way to make a creamy long-strand pasta in one pot.
And so I experimented. And fixed it.
For fellow food nerds out there, here was my thinking: With the classic way of cooking pasta, the sauce and just-under-cooked pasta is tossed in the same pan with a splash of the pasta cooking water. What happens is that the oil in the sauce and starch in the pasta cooking water transforms into a glossy sauce that clings to every strand of pasta (it’s called emulsification). So when you serve it, there is no watery pool of sauce on the bottom of the bowl, it’s all in your mouth via the pasta!
If you dump cream with milk/broth/water into a large pot / skillet with the pasta, the reason you end up with a gluey rather than silky sauce at the end is because you’ve been emulsifying the sauce for the entire pasta cooking time (i.e. fat in cream, starch in pasta). Plus, the cream makes the cooking liquid thicker which makes the pasta cook unevenly.
Solution: Cook the pasta in just milk + chicken broth, add cream at the end.
End result: Near perfectly* cooked al dente pasta + silky sauce.
* I say “near perfect” because the fact is, pasta cooks more evenly in a large pot of boiling water than in a skillet with the sauce. Just being honest!
I was so paranoid about ensuring this One Pot Chicken Alfredo Pasta delivers on my promises, I made it four times last week to quadruple check that it works as I’m describing. I filmed it three times – once making a plain Alfredo, once using cubes of chicken and once searing whole chicken then slicing it.
I was contemplating sharing the version with bite size pieces of chicken that stays in the sauce while the pasta cooks. And that’s an even easier variation, but you’ll end up with slightly overcooked chicken with far less caramelisation. So I opted for my favourite way which is to sear chicken until golden brown, rest it for optimum juiciness before slicing and tossing through the pasta.
I know there are many people out there who are thinking “how hard is it to cook pasta in a separate pot??”. And sure, it sounds easy. But you know those crazy days when your household is in chaos and you’re trying to get dinner on the table for your family? When you’ve just had an awful day at work, you hate your boss, you’re tired and tempted to order a greasy pizza?
This is for those days. I know boiling a pot of water and cooking pasta isn’t a big deal. But when you can cook it all one pot, it’s just one less thing to think about, one less pot to wash.
And know this is easy – and it works as promised. Watch the video below! – Nagi xx
PS Just to clarify, I’ve always been a fan of one pot short pastas – risoni, penne/ziti, macaroni etc because the shape makes them easy to stir and cook evenly in a sauce. Like stove top Mac N Cheese, One Pot Vegetable Pasta, Cheeseburger Casserole and Chili Mac. And this Italian Chicken & Risoni/Orzo. Long strand pastas are where I always had an issue!
More ways to get your creamy pasta fix!
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Baked Mac and Cheese – and try the Shrimp version!
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Browse all pasta recipes
WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
One Pot Chicken Alfredo recipe video!
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One Pot Chicken Alfredo Pasta
Ingredients
- 200 g / 7oz chicken breast, cut in half horizontally
- Salt and pepper
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 250 g / 8 oz fettuccine
- 2 cups milk, any fat %
- 1 1/2 cups chicken stock / broth
- 1 large garlic clove, minced
- 1/2 cup thickened / heavy cream (Note 1)
- 3/4 cup freshly grated parmesan (Note 2)
- Parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Sprinkle both sides of the chicken with salt and pepper.
- Use a skillet large enough to fit the pasta.
- Heat oil over medium high heat. Add chicken and cook for 2 minutes on each side until golden and cooked through. Remove onto plate and rest for 5 minutes, then slice while pasta is cooking.
- Add milk, chicken broth and garlic. Bring to simmer then add pasta.
- Move pasta around every 30 seconds or so until it is softened (around 3 minutes) so it doesn't stick. Once pasta is softened, reduce heat to medium and stir every couple of minutes.
- At about 9 - 10 minutes, the pasta should be almost cooked but there should still be liquid covering the base of the skillet. Add cream and parmesan and mix.
- Simmer, stirring occasionally, for ~2 minutes, until sauce is thickened and pasta is cooked. If you cook it too long and the sauce goes gluggy, add a splash of hot tap water - will go back to silky with a few tosses.
- Adjust salt and pepper to taste and serve immediately, garnished with freshly grated parmesan and parsley!
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
LIFE OF DOZER
It was one of those days when I just couldn’t deal with a soaking wet dog at the end of a long, tiring day. So I popped a rain jacket on him before taking him out to the dog park, intent on keeping him on the grassy area and out of the water.
Honestly, I don’t know why I bothered.
Victorious24 says
Thanks so much for this recipe. Made it for dinner tonight and my kids and I love it.
I doubled the recipe using my 5qt deep pan. Instead of chicken, I used shrimp.
This ones a keeper 👍🏻👍🏻
Nagi says
LOVE hearing that!!! So glad you enjoyed it! N x
Monika says
Hello Nagi !!
I want to thank you so much for this tasty recipe ! Turned out fantastic
Found your blog one night while searching for easy carbonara sauce and bumped into creamy chicken and bacon pasta recipe. Not having any bacon at home though, I decided to give this one a try to make a nice Sunday dinner for me. There are only two things I changed: cooked pasta the traditional way (silly reason because I don’t have a pot that would fit spaghetti without me having to break it in half 🙂 ) and added a small onion. So this is hands down the best chicken pasta I have ever had in my life ! Not kidding! I loved the cheesy silky sauce, and I praise you for letting me know that I actually can fry the chicken first and then slice it.
And what I think it’s great in your blog and your recipes is that they really look (and taste, like this one) like expensive take out from a restaurant but take little time to make at home and are full of homey ingredients. And I, (as a student who likes to cook a bit but ain’t always got time) love it !! Also the amount of heart I can see you put into the making and all the pictures of food and the doggy!!
I’m definitely going to check out other pasta recipes from your site ! And other dinner ones.
Thank you very much again !!! 🙂 🙂
P.S – I also have your books- surely going to look closer at 15 Minute Meals !
Greetings from Poland
~~~Monika
Nagi says
Hi Monika! Thanks so much for your lovely message. I’m so glad you enjoyed this pasta and like other recipes you see on my blog!! N xx PS AND my doggy!
Jesica says
I loved this recipe ! I changed it up a little to be healthy . Instead of heavy cream I used a little bit of whole wheat flour for thickness & used fat free milk & veggie pasta . It was so good !!!!
Nagi says
That’s terrific to hear Jessica! Thanks for letting me know! N xx
Ronaldo Ribeiro says
Nagi, thank you so much for the AMAZING recipe.
You made it so easy with all your notes and attention on details.
I made exactly how you showed and it came out incredibly delicious.
Thank you again.
Please keep feeding is with your fantastic recipes.
X
Nagi says
I’m so glad you enjoyed this Ronaldo! Thanks for letting me know – N x
Andrew says
Hi Nagi,
First time commenter here. I found your site a while ago with your pulled pork carnitas: absolute winner!!! Then I tried your Greek chicken gyros/marinade. Also stellar!!
I’ve never made an alfredo (or carbonara) recipe before, but I trust you and your site and once again, you did not fail to deliver :). So simple yet legit restaurant quality!!! I settled on this one tonight because I only had chicken breast, although I have at least a dozen tabs open of recipes with chicken thighs I’m salivating over…
Seriously, I’ve never subscribed to a food blog before, let alone commented. I used to crowd source my recipes with Taste.com.au but you have become my first port of call when its my turn to cook. My only complaint is that it is too difficult to decide on which single recipe to cook… 🙂
p.s. I also came across your ramen noodle enhancer recipe. Why am I not surprised your favourite instant noodles are Nong Shim ramen?!? The Kimchi flavour are the best noodles ever! I’ve literally given presents of packets of these just to get people onto them…
Nagi says
I’m blushing from such a high praise!!! Thank you Andrew 🙂 You made my evening! N xx
Debra says
Nagi, You saved the day. My son’s 17th birthday and he requested a “creamy chicken pasta” for dinner. I was low on energy.. I went to your site and lo and behold this fit the bill. We had it tonight and it delivered. Restaurant quality. I garnished it with fresh herbs. My family is always polite, thanking me for dinner whether they liked it or not, but tonight it was “thank you for dinner, that was A-W-E-S-O-M-E!!!”
Thanks for making my world a better place. (:
Nagi says
That’s so great to hear Debra! Thanks for letting me know – N x ❤️
Sandra Touch says
It was delicious!!! Absolutely loved it!
Nagi says
That’s so great to hear Sandra! Thanks for letting me know – N x ❤️
Christine says
Yummy, yummy, yummy. I was a little skeptical about making this one pot dish but I was desperate for a quick and easy meal with the simple ingredients I had to work with. Well, It was really good and very easy to make. I omitted the heavy cream and used lactose free milk with flour to thicken the sauce. I also used thin spaghetti since I didn’t have any fettuccine noodles . This is a winner and I will definitely make this again!
Thanks a million
Nagi says
I’m so pleased to hear you enjoyed this Christine! N x ❤️
Brittany says
I would love to add fresh broccoli to this dish. Any suggestions on how best to do so?
Nagi says
Hi Brittany! I would chop it up pretty small then boil or steam, then stir it through right at the end 🙂 N x
Jeje says
Hi!
I’d like to follow baked chicken alfredo recipe from Tasty but slightly hesitate about cooking the pasta with chicken, broth and heavy cream altogether. I found yours to be more acceptable! But can you tell me what the milk is for? Can I just boil the pasta in broth, skip the milk and add heavy cream towards the end?instead? Thanks!
Nagi says
Hi Jeje! Use water instead of milk, don’t increase the broth because otherwise the broth flavour will be too strong 🙂
Joy says
My 13 year old wanted to cook dinner and we found this recipe. It was so simple, low mess, and DELICIOUS! She and I both agree that there is no reason to ever buy jarred “Alfredo sauce” (using the term loosely) ever again. This is a great recipe. Thank you for posting!
Nagi says
I’m so pleased to hear that Joy! Thank you for letting me know! N xx
Esperanza says
I can’t believe how wonderful this turned out. You fixed the one pot recipe that I have been trying to tweak to my daughter’s liking. You are a genius, our dish was soo creamy and a hit. Thanks a bunch.
Nagi says
Fantastic to hear Esperanza! N x ❤️
Mike b. says
Dear Nagi,
Thank you soooooo much for the recipe! I love chicken Alfredo and so does my girlfriend so I’ve used your recipe to satisfy the both of us.
Nagi says
That’s great to hear Mike! Thanks for leaving a review! N x
natasha says
Hey Nagi,
The Chicken Alfredo Pasta looks too tasty in the pictures. Yumm Yumm!
Nagi says
I hope you try it Natasha! It is SO good! 😂
Fiona says
Nagi, this one is a keeper. Perfect for a quick dinner on a weeknight! I make this even easier by using leftover rotisserie chicken and (don’t hate me) minced garlic from a jar. Noms!
Nagi says
No judgement here! Always good to have the jarred garlic on hand! N xx
Cass P says
LOVE your recipes! My boyfriend is a type 1 diabetic so needs to manage his carb intake which is hard to do sometimes with main meals that have a variety of ingredients in them. However your recipes provide the nutritional values AND
they taste amazing! This recipe is one of his favourites 🙂 Thanks again!!
Nagi says
So fantastic to hear that Cass, thanks for letting me know! N xx
Carolina says
Looks really good! Will this recipe still work if I cook the pasta separately?
Nagi says
Hi Carolina! Yes of course but the sauce just needs to be cooked down before adding the cooked pasta. 🙂
Fretz says
Hi! What type of milk should I use? Sorry, I’m new at cooking. Should I use fresh milk, evaporated milk, all purpose cream? Would be more than happy if you could help me out
Nagi says
That’s ok! 🙂 Any drinking milk is fine – full or low fat. N xx
Marcia says
Hi Nagi. Very yummy I just added abit more stock/milk to make more sauce but yes great receipe, enjoyed by all
Nagi says
So pleased to hear you enjoyed it Marcia! 🙌🏻 Thanks for letting me know. 🙂 N xx
Jenny says
I made a double batch so I am hoping it freezes well. The expected teenagers all bailed on dinner.
We loved this, perfect flavours.
Generous portions, I think this would do 4 portions for us with garlic bread and salad.
We are still trying to lose the Christmas kilos ( I am starting to claim I am laying down my winter fat layer, so I don’t have to lose the Christmas kilos).
Nagi says
So pleased you enjoyed it Jenny! Thanks for letting me know! N xx❤️ PS I’m still trying to lose my Christmas kilos too 😂