Description
A classic Italian-American dish featuring silky fettuccine pasta in a rich, creamy sauce with juicy chicken, perfect for family dinners or impressing guests.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 ounces fettuccine pasta
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup chicken broth (low sodium recommended)
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Start by boiling a large pot of salted water. Once it reaches a rolling boil, add the fettuccine. Follow the cooking time on the package, usually around 8–10 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
- While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken strips and season with salt and pepper. Sauté until the chicken is cooked through and golden brown, approximately 5–7 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- In the same skillet, add minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Make sure not to burn the garlic—it can turn bitter quickly!
- Slowly pour in the chicken broth and heavy cream, mixing well. Bring the mixture to a simmer and allow it to reduce for about 3-4 minutes.
- Gradually whisk in the Parmesan cheese until it’s melted and the sauce is smooth. Taste, then adjust the seasoning with more salt and pepper as necessary.
- Drain the pasta, reserving a bit of the pasta water (about a 1/4 cup). Add the cooked fettuccine to the sauce, tossing to coat.
- Finally, fold in the cooked chicken, allowing it to heat through in the sauce for a minute. Serve hot, garnished with freshly chopped parsley.
Notes
For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or coconut milk. This dish can also be made vegetarian by using sautéed mushrooms instead of chicken.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 70mg