Garlic Butter Chicken Alfredo 🧄🧈🍗🍝 Creamy, Comforting, and Loaded With Golden Garlic Butter and Juicy Chicken Over Pasta
This is Alfredo dialed up — instead of plain cream sauce, it starts with a base of garlic butter that soaks into the chicken and becomes the soul of the sauce. You get richness, depth, and a savory edge in every bite.
It’s a crowd-pleaser that works for weeknights, date nights, or impress-the-guests pasta nights.
Ingredients (Serves 3–4)
For the chicken
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts, sliced or pounded thin
- Salt and black pepper
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning or paprika
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp butter
For the Alfredo sauce
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ¾ cup freshly grated Parmesan (plus more to taste)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Optional: pinch of red pepper flakes or lemon zest
For the pasta
- 10 oz fettuccine or pasta of choice
- Salted water for boiling
Garnish
- Chopped parsley or basil
- Extra Parmesan
- Optional: squeeze of lemon or drizzle of truffle oil
Instructions
Step 1: Cook the pasta
Boil fettuccine in well-salted water until al dente. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water, then drain and set aside.
Step 2: Cook the chicken
Season chicken with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Heat olive oil and butter in a skillet over medium-high. Sear chicken 3–5 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Remove and let rest.
Step 3: Make the garlic butter Alfredo sauce
In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium. Add butter and garlic. Sauté 1–2 minutes until fragrant. Pour in cream and simmer 2–3 minutes. Stir in Parmesan gradually until smooth and glossy. Season to taste.
Step 4: Combine
Slice chicken. Add pasta to the sauce and toss with tongs until coated. Add reserved pasta water as needed to loosen. Add sliced chicken back on top or stir through the pasta.
Step 5: Finish and serve
Top with parsley, extra Parmesan, and a crack of pepper. Serve hot, with lemon wedges or garlic bread on the side.
Flavor Variations
- Use blackened or Cajun-spiced chicken for more heat
- Add sautéed mushrooms or spinach to the sauce
- Replace chicken with shrimp or salmon for a surfy twist
- Swap cream for half & half + cream cheese for a lighter version
- Add sun-dried tomatoes or roasted red peppers for color and tang
Pro Tips
- Use freshly grated Parmesan — pre-shredded won’t melt smoothly
- Don’t boil the sauce after adding cheese — keep it low and gentle
- Season at each step — pasta water, chicken, sauce — for depth
- Slice chicken after resting to keep it juicy
- Toss pasta in the sauce while it’s hot to help it absorb flavor
Final Thoughts
Garlic Butter Chicken Alfredo is creamy comfort done right — rich but balanced, savory with a hit of garlic, and deeply satisfying. It’s the pasta that turns a normal night into something memorable.
Sear it. Simmer it. Swirl it through. 🧄🧈🍗🍝🔥
🧄 Garlic Butter Recipes Collection
Explore them all → Rich, golden, and versatile — garlic butter is the flavor bomb your weeknight meals (and fancy dinners) need.
🔥 Garlic Butter Proteins (Main Dishes)
- Garlic Butter Shrimp – Fast, juicy shrimp with bold garlic butter flavor.
- Garlic Butter Chicken – Crispy thighs smothered in a buttery garlic glaze.
- Garlic Butter Chicken Bites – Bite-sized skillet gold.
- Garlic Butter Steak Bites – Quick-seared steak cubes in sizzling garlic butter.
- Garlic Butter Tilapia – Mild fish with a rich, buttery finish.
- Garlic Butter Salmon – Buttery, flaky salmon perfect for weeknight dinner.
🍝 Garlic Butter Pastas & Noodles
- Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta – Seafood and carbs in harmony.
- Garlic Butter Pasta – Minimalist magic with max flavor.
- Garlic Butter Noodles – A simple classic that pairs with anything.
- Garlic Butter Lobster Mac & Cheese – Rich, decadent, and over-the-top good.
- Garlic Butter Parmesan Fettuccine – Creamy, cheesy, and craveable.
- Garlic Seafood Pasta Bake – Bubbly and golden with garlic and seafood.
- Garlic Butter Seafood Lasagna Rolls – Creamy, rolled seafood pasta baked in butter sauce.
🍚 Garlic Butter Sides, Bases & Sauces
- Garlic Butter Rice – Buttery rice with bold flavor and fluff.
- Garlic Butter Sauce – Base for seafood, pasta, and more.
- Garlic Butter Seafood Boil Sauce – Bold, spicy, and ready for dunking.
- Garlic Butter Mashed Potatoes – Creamy with a garlicky punch.
- Garlic Butter Green Beans / Asparagus – Your favorite veg made crave-worthy.
- Garlic Bread with Homemade Garlic Butter Spread – Essential upgrade for any carb lover.
🌶️ Garlic Butter Fusion Recipes (Flavor Bombs)
- Garlic Butter Cajun Shrimp – Spicy, buttery, and bold.
- Garlic Butter Shrimp Tacos – Crispy shells, buttery shrimp.
- Garlic Butter Chicken Alfredo – Creamy fusion of two comfort classics.
- Garlic Butter Shrimp Scampi – Bright lemon and rich butter make magic.
- Garlic Butter Ramen Noodles – Lazy, comforting, deeply satisfying.