Ingredients
Chicken
- 2 medium chicken breasts
- 1 Tablespoon garlic and herb seasoning
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
Sauce
- 2 Tablespoons butter
- 3-4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Pasta
- 8 oz fettuccine
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Fill a large pot with water, add a generous amount of salt, and bring to a boil. Add the fettuccine and cook until al dente according to package directions. Reserve about ½ cup of pasta water before draining.
- Prepare the chicken: While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large heavy-duty skillet over medium-high heat. Cut chicken breasts in half horizontally to create 4 thin cutlets. Season both sides of the chicken with garlic and herb seasoning. Cook chicken for 4-5 minutes per side until cooked through and golden brown. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
- Make the Alfredo sauce: In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium and add butter and minced garlic. Sauté for a few seconds until fragrant. Whisk in the heavy cream and about ¼ cup reserved pasta water. Bring to a gentle simmer, then gradually whisk in the Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth. Season with salt, pepper, nutmeg, and cayenne pepper, adjusting seasoning to taste.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Add the drained fettuccine directly to the skillet with the Alfredo sauce. Toss to combine, adding additional reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce for desired consistency.
- Serve with chicken: Chop the cooked chicken breasts and either toss them into the pasta or serve the pasta with chicken on top. Garnish with extra freshly grated Parmesan and chopped parsley if desired. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- Reserve pasta water to help loosen the sauce and enhance flavor.
- Cut the chicken thinly for quicker cooking and better sauce coverage.
- You can use pre-minced garlic or garlic powder if fresh is not available.
- Adjust the seasoning to your preference, especially the cayenne for heat.
- For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or whole milk, but the sauce will be less thick.
- Adding parsley garnish adds color and freshness to the final dish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
