You may make this from-scratch hen Alfredo recipe in simply 40 minutes! My model isn’t genuine, however it’s creamy and satisfying and makes for an incredible gourmet-style dinner. It’s additionally versatile — be at liberty so as to add broccoli, swap the hen for shrimp, or add cream cheese!
Simple Weeknight Hen Alfredo
A simple dinner choice, this hen Alfredo recipe pairs my Alfredo sauce and fettuccini Alfredo with hen for an entire meal with loads of protein. It’s indulgent and completely creamy, making it excellent for nights while you desire a extra substantial, hearty dinner.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- 100% from-scratch, and really easy too! You received’t attain for a jar of store-bought sauce once more after making my recipe.
- Completely creamy, because of heavy cream. No, this isn’t genuine, nevertheless it works and is so tasty (I do know this can ruffle some feathers however Alfredo is simply higher with cream)!
- Quick! It takes lower than an hour to arrange, so it’s excellent for a weeknight meal. Need to add some greens on the facet? Attempt my roasted brussels sprouts or brussels sprouts salad!
- Can simply be became shrimp Alfredo by swapping the hen for shrimp. And be at liberty to toss in some blanched/steamed broccoli too.
What You Want
Let’s focus on the inside workings (ie. elements) of this recipe earlier than we dive in.
- Garlic. Up to now I’ve typically reached for a shallot when making Alfredo sauce. You should utilize that right here in the event you desire, however one thing about hen Alfredo simply works rather well with the extra intense taste of minced garlic as a substitute.
- Heavy cream. Cream isn’t a standard ingredient in genuine Italian Alfredo (I do know, I do know), nevertheless it is in American Alfredo recipes. Whereas conventional Alfredo sauce will get its creaminess from high-quality parmesan, many shops within the US don’t carry this identical high quality of cheese. Utilizing heavy cream is the answer! I’ve discovered that cream additionally safeguards the sauce from breaking, which is a superb additional benefit.
- Parmesan. Freshly grated parmesan cheese, fairly than pre-shredded is vital. Pre-shredded varieties (particularly that one offered within the plastic inexperienced canister — keep away from that!) typically embrace anti-caking brokers, which might maintain the cheese from melting correctly and the sauce received’t be as clean accurately. In the event you’ve made my simple mac and cheese earlier than, you already know I’m an enormous advocate for grating your individual cheese!
- Nutmeg. I do know this may occasionally seem to be an odd addition, however only a tiny pinch of nutmeg balances the flavour of hen Alfredo and retains it from being too wealthy. I take advantage of this spice in my poultry seasoning and meatballs too!
SAM’S TIP: Whereas I don’t embrace it right here, I do embrace directions for including cream cheese to Alfredo sauce in my standalone Alfredo sauce recipe, and people directions apply right here, too (simply minimize 2 oz of cream cheese into small cubes and add into the sauce with the parmesan). This isn’t conventional by any stretch, nevertheless it does add a beautiful richness to the sauce that we get pleasure from occasionally!
Bear in mind, that is simply an outline of the elements I used and why. For the total recipe please scroll right down to the underside of the publish!
Methods to Make Hen Alfredo
Sear the Hen
- Sear the seasoned hen in olive oil in a sizzling skillet till golden brown and cooked by means of. Take away to a plate and canopy with foil whilst you put together your sauce.
Saute the Garlic
- Add the butter to your pan, and as soon as melted, add the garlic. Prepare dinner till aromatic, about 30 seconds–don’t let it burn!
Add the Cream
- Whisk within the cream till integrated. Maintain cooking (and whisking) till the sauce begins to thicken. This normally takes about 5 minutes. Ensure you don’t crank up the warmth throughout this time– we don’t need the sauce to boil.
Add the Cheese
- Add the remaining elements and whisk to mix. Style take a look at; in case your sauce is bland, add extra salt, pepper, or nutmeg as wanted.
Toss the Noodles
- Add the cooked pasta and a splash of pasta water. Toss till the sauce begins to cling to the noodles. End by including the hen and parsley, and luxuriate in!
SAM’S TIP: In the event you plan to have leftovers, be sure you save a few of your pasta water too! It will assist the sauce come again collectively while you reheat it.
Incessantly Requested Questions
Heavy cream is a vital ingredient in my hen Alfredo recipe, so I don’t have any strategies on easy methods to make this recipe with out it. I speak extra about my selection to make use of heavy cream within the elements part above.
Positive! You may add some steamed or blanched broccoli while you add the hen, or toss it with the sauce while you add the noodles. You may even prepare dinner your broccoli in the identical water you prepare dinner your pasta in, in the event you like.
I don’t advocate freezing many pasta dishes as they don’t are inclined to thaw very effectively, and as a result of finicky reheating talents of Alfredo I actually don’t advocate it right here. You could possibly strive freezing simply the sauce, however know it might separate because it thaws. This dish actually is finest when loved immediately.
Pairing strategies
Between the pasta and hen, that is actually a whole meal by itself (particularly in the event you toss some broccoli into the dish. Nonetheless, to spherical issues out much more, add a inexperienced side-salad or caprese salad to the facet, serve bruschetta or tapenade as an appetizer, and undoubtedly, all the time serve with a facet of bread. Home made breadsticks or crusty sourdough bread or artisan bread are nice for sopping up any leftover sauce in your plate 😋
Take pleasure in!
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Hen Alfredo Recipe
You may make this from-scratch hen Alfredo recipe in simply 40 minutes! My model is not genuine, however it’s creamy and satisfying.
Servings: 4 servings
Energy: 966kcal
Forestall your display screen from going darkish
Directions
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Put together the noodles: Carry a big pot of well-salted water to a boil and, as soon as boiling, prepare dinner pasta in response to bundle directions. Start getting ready hen whereas pasta cooks. Earlier than draining, reserve 1 cup of pasta water. Set pasta apart and maintain heat.
8 oz (226 g) linguine pasta
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Prepare dinner the hen: Season hen throughout with a sprinkling of salt and pepper.
1 lb (453 g) hen breast, Salt and pepper
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Add oil to a big skillet and warmth over medium-high warmth till oil is shimmering. Add hen, searing on all sides (about 3-4 minutes per facet, hen ought to be golden brown). As soon as cooked by means of (inside temperature of hen ought to be 165F/74C), take away to a plate and canopy plate with foil to maintain heat.
2 Tablespoons olive oil
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Make the Alfredo sauce: Wipe out pan if wanted. Add the butter to the pan and warmth over medium-heat till melted.
6 Tablespoons (85 g) unsalted butter
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Add garlic and prepare dinner till aromatic, about 30 seconds.
1 ½ Tablespoons minced garlic
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Slowly whisk in cream till mixed, then prepare dinner, persevering with to whisk (don’t permit it to boil) till sauce is starting to thicken (about 5 minutes).
1 ½ cups (354 ml) heavy cream
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Add parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, and nutmeg and stir till cheese is melted. Stir till totally mixed. Style-test and add further spices if wanted.
1 cup (55 g) grated parmesan cheese, ½ teaspoon desk salt, ¼ teaspoon floor pepper, Pinch of nutmeg
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Add pasta to the sauce together with a splash (about 2-4 Tablespoons) of the reserved pasta water. Stir effectively and prepare dinner over low warmth, stirring, till sauce clings to the noodles. Return hen to the pan.
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Serve heat, topped with recent parsley for garnish, if desired.
Parsley for garnish
Notes
Storing/reheating notes
Hen Alfredo is finest served instantly and doesn’t retailer effectively because the sauce turns into fairly thick and doesn’t reheat effectively. The best choice for reheating is to take action in a saucepan over low warmth (I’ll normally save my reserved pasta water and add just a few splashes of this to the sauce as effectively) or to reheat lined with foil in a 350F (175C) oven. Stir effectively earlier than serving.
Diet
Serving: 1serving | Energy: 966kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 42g | Fats: 67g | Saturated Fats: 37g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 4g | Monounsaturated Fats: 20g | Trans Fats: 1g | Ldl cholesterol: 240mg | Sodium: 890mg | Potassium: 696mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 2088IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 309mg | Iron: 1mg
Dietary data is predicated on third-party calculations and ought to be thought-about an estimate solely. Precise dietary content material will fluctuate based mostly upon manufacturers used, measuring strategies, cooking technique, portion sizes, and extra.
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