When the whole family is craving comfort food, this crispy chicken fettuccine Alfredo will satisfy their craving. And the best part is that it is so simple to make! Being tasty is a major plus too. There are only seven ingredients in the entire recipe. The full recipe is below, with step-by-step photos to make it easy for you to follow.
For dinner tonight, try this easy chicken Alfredo recipe with tender chicken breasts smothered in an Alfredo grated Parmesan cheese sauce mixture, or for a non-breaded chicken version, try our Chicken Alfredo Linguine with Cream Cheese.
🍴 Full Ingredients
- About half of a 64 ounce bag (4 pounds) of Kirkland lightly breaded chicken breast chunks (or your favorite brand)
- 1.5 pounds Fettuccine pasta – that’s one 16 ounce package and half of another package
- 2 and 1/2 cups of Heavy whipping cream
- 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter – 4 tbs = 1/4 cup of butter or 1/2 stick of butter (if you prefer, salted butter is okay)
- 1 and 1/2 tablespoons of minced garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
🐔 How to Make Crispy Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo
These step-by-step instructions are accompanied by detailed photos for enhanced clarity and guidance.
Step 1. Prepare the Lightly Breaded Chicken Breast Chunks
Optionally, put a piece of parchment paper with holes in it on the air fryer basket. This is a personal preference. The parchment paper helps make clean up easier, but it’s not necessary to cook the chicken.
Take about half of the frozen lightly breaded chicken breast chunks out of the bag, or your desired amount, depending on how much chicken you want added to the prepared fettuccine noodles (we like lots of chicken). Then, in a single layer, fill the air fryer tray with the chicken.
Put the tray in the air fryer at 385 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes until golden brown, or as instructed on the back of the bag.
Note: If you don’t have an air fryer, follow the instructions on the bag for oven cooking. These chicken breast chunks are fully cooked before you even open the package, but if you prefer, you can check the internal temperature of the chicken. Insert a meat thermometer in the center of one piece to check. The internal temperature should reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit, recommended by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), whatever cooking method you choose.
Step 2. Make the Homemade Alfredo Sauce
In the meantime, while the chicken breast chunks are cooking in the air fryer, measure out 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter and 1 and 1/2 tablespoons of minced garlic. Then, put the butter and minced garlic into a large skillet.
Tip: Four tablespoons of butter equals 1/4 of a cup of butter, or 1/2 stick of butter. You can substitute salted butter if that’s all you have.
Step 3. Sauté the Minced Garlic
Turn the burner on medium-high heat. Sauté the minced garlic while the butter melts. It only takes a couple minutes or less for the butter to melt. That is sufficient time for the garlic to sauté.
Tip: If your burner produces a higher heat, go ahead and turn the burner down to medium heat.
Step 4. Add the Heavy Whipping Cream and Black Pepper
After the butter has melted, add 2 and 1/2 cups of heavy cream and 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper together with the butter and sautéed minced garlic.
Bring the heavy cream and black pepper mixture to a boil while stirring constantly. Reduce the heat to medium-low heat after the mixture starts to boil. Remember to keep stirring.
Step 5. Pour in the Parmesan Cheese
With the heat turned down to medium-low, put 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese in the skillet with the heavy cream mixture.
Step 6. Mix and Simmer Sauce until it Thickens
Continue to simmer the creamy sauce while combining the Parmesan cheese thoroughly together with the heavy cream mixture. It won’t take too long for it to thicken, about 2-3 minutes, since it has already been simmering for a bit. Reduce the heat to low, while we prepare the fettuccine noodles in the next step. Keep an eye on the Alfredo sauce, though, and give it a stir now and then.
Step 7. Prepare the Fettuccine Noodles
To cook the fettuccine noodles, follow the instructions on the back of the package. We filled a large pot with water. Then we turned the burner on high and brought the water to a boil. After that, we added the fettuccine noodles while stirring. We cooked them al dente style. That means they aren’t mushy, but firm and chewy. When the noodles are done cooking, pour them in a colander over the sink to drain the water from the pot.
Do not rinse the noodles under cold running water. After the water has drained, put the noodles back into the pot.
Note: You can cook the fettuccine noodles in a large pot of salted water (salt to taste) if you prefer. We didn’t do that. Also, do not add any kind of vegetable oil to the water while cooking the fettuccine noodles because then the sauce won’t stick to the fettuccine noodles.
Step 8. Add in the Prepared Alfredo Sauce
After the Alfredo sauce has thickened to your liking, pour it in the pot with the fettuccine noodles.
Step 9. Combine the Alfredo Sauce with the Noodles
Toss Alfredo sauce around in the pot with the fettuccine noodles. Continue to heat on low while stirring, so the noodles won’t stick to the bottom of the pot.
Step 10. Cut Chicken Chunks into Smaller Pieces
After the chicken breast chunks are done cooking, cut each piece in bite size pieces. Usually cutting them in half will suffice, but you can cut them a little bit smaller if you prefer to do so.
Step 11. Put the Cooked Chicken Chunks in the Pot
Dump the cooked cut chicken chunks into the pot with the fettuccine noodles and Alfredo Parmesan mixture.
Step 12. Give it a Good Stir
Mix the chicken fettuccine Alfredo thoroughly until all is blended well, and heated through. Serve in a large dish, or scoop out individual servings right out of the pot.
🛒 Recipe Variations for Crispy Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo
- You can add any of your favorite seasonings or herbs to this delicious dinner, such as garlic powder, onion powder, fresh parsley or parsley flakes.
- Top off your serving with fresh Parmesan cheese or red pepper flakes.
🙋 FAQs
Put any leftover chicken fettuccine Alfredo in an airtight container, then place it in the refrigerator. Finish eating it within a day or two.
Put the leftover chicken fettuccine Alfredo in a saucepan and heat it up on the stove. A good idea is to save a cup of pasta water from the day before when you cooked the noodles, and then add just a little bit of it to the leftovers to so it’s not too dry when it comes time to heat it up on the stove. You can also put any leftovers in the microwave and heat until hot.
📌Final Thoughts
This delicious recipe is for the entire family to enjoy, even the little ones if they know how to chew.
Take dinner to the next level with this tasty dish the next time you are short on time in the kitchen, or you just want something amazing to serve to your family. The creamy pasta and crispy chicken chunks go well together.
📑 Recipe Card
Crispy Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo Recipe
🫕 Equipment
- Air Fryer (if you don't have an air fryer, cook chicken in the oven)
🧂 Ingredients
- 1/2 bag lightly breaded chicken breast chunks (in the freezer section)
- 1½ pounds fettuccine pasta (One 16 ounce package and half of another)
- 2½ cups heavy whipping cream
- 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter (salted butter okay – 4 tbs = 1/4 cup of butter or 1/2 stick of butter)
- 1½ tbsp minced garlic
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
👩🍳 Instructions
- We laid parchment paper with holes in it, on the air fryer basket, although not necessary. Put the frozen breaded chicken breast chunks in a single layer on top of the parchment paper. Air fry the chicken breast chunks at 385 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes.
- In a large frying pan, add the unsalted butter and minced garlic. Sauté on medium-high heat just until the butter is melted.
- Add the heavy cream and black pepper to the frying pan. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, then reduce the heat to medium-low.
- Add in the Parmesan cheese. Mix thoroughly and keep stirring until the mixture thickens. Reduce the heat to low and stir occasionally so it won't stick to the bottom of the skillet.
- Prepare the fettuccine pasta according to instructions on the package.
- Add the thickened Alfredo sauce to the fettuccine pasta. Stir until all is blended well.
- When the chicken breast chunks are done in the air fryer, remove them and cut each piece in half.
- Add the chicken breast chunks to the fettuccine Alfredo. Mix thoroughly on low heat until all is heated through.
*️⃣ Recipe Notes
- If you like hot and spicy, sprinkle your serving with hot red pepper flakes.
- Put any leftovers in the refrigerator.
- Depending on your preference, you can use more or less lightly breaded chicken breast chunks to add to the fettuccine noodles.
💑 More Recipes You Will Love
- Chicken and Broccoli Lasagna Recipe – Layers of lasagna, shredded rotisserie chicken, chopped broccoli, mozzarella cheese, and homemade Alfredo sauce with minced garlic, black pepper, and Parmesan cheese.
- Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole (Instant Pot) – A creamy casserole with brown rice, premium chunk chicken breast, extra sharp cheddar cheese, cream of chicken soup, chicken flavored bouillon, garlic powder, green beans, carrots, corn, and broccoli florets.
A wife, a mother to a son and a daughter, and a grandmother to three granddaughters. Flo loves sharing recipes passed down from her own mother, her mother-in-law, and her grandmother as well as new recipes created with her daughter, Tamara Ray.
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