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Chicken Alfredo is one of the really great and classic pasta dishes featuring tender chicken with that perfect blend of creamy sauce and just perfectly cooked pasta. The traditional Alfredo sauce contains butter, heavy cream, and Parmesan cheese.

But cream cheese brings a new level of richness and flavour, creating an ultra-creamy sauce easy to make and delicious. Perfectly good for a weeknight dinner or a special occasion when you are looking for something hearty yet simple to prepare.

Ingredients for Easy Chicken Alfredo with Cream Cheese

Here’s what you’ll need to make this delicious Chicken Alfredo:

• 2 chicken breasts
• Salt and pepper
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 4 ounces cream cheese
• 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
• 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 4 cloves garlic
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 8 ounces fettuccine or your favorite pasta
• Fresh parsley

Instructions for Chicken Alfredo with Cream Cheese

Cook the Pasta

Cook your pasta by following the instructions on the package. Bring a big pot of salted water to a rolling boil, and add fettuccine or any pasta you like. Cook the pasta until it reaches an al dente texture. Drain your pasta and set it aside. Then cook the chicken and prepare the sauce.

Cook the Chicken

Sprinkle both sides of the chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Using a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium high. Add the breasts of chicken in the skillet and cook 6-7 minutes on each side, until the breasts are browned and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and let it rest a few minutes before slicing.

Cook the Alfredo Sauce

Add butter and minced garlic in the same skillet. Stir and sauté garlic for a minute over medium heat until fragrant. Be careful not to let it burn. Add softened cream cheese. Stir it and then let it melt and become smooth.

Add the Cream and Parmesan

Pour in the heavy cream and whisk together until the cream cheese is well incorporated and you’ve created a silky, creamy base. Grate in some Parmesan cheese and stir it into the sauce until it melts and dissolves into the sauce. If you’d like to give this an extra oomph of warmth and depth, add a pinch of ground nutmeg. Simmer the sauce on low for 3-4 minutes, stirring every minute or so, until it has slightly thickened.

Mix the Chicken, Pasta, and Sauce

Add the sliced chicken back to the pan, coating each piece with sauce. Then, add pasta in the pan, and gently mix everything in. Continue mixing until the pasta is all coated by the creamy Alfredo sauce.

Garish and Serve

Transfer Chicken Alfredo to your serving platter, garnishing it with fresh parsley. Then, serve immediately. Sprinkle a bit more Parmesan if you want more flavor.

Tips for Making the Best Chicken Alfredo

• Use room-temperature cream cheese:  It blends much better with the sauce and hence doesn’t make lumps.
• Don’t overcook the pasta: Pasta should be cooked al dente-that is, firm to the bite so that it holds better when mixed with creamy sauce.
• Add vegetables: Add some color and nutrition through some steamed broccoli, spinach, or mushrooms at the time of service.
• Season well: Since Alfredo sauce is a rather rich and creamy sauce, taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper.

How to Serve Chicken Alfredo With Cream Cheese

• With a Side Salad: Chicken Alfredo is served with a simple green salad dressed with a light vinaigrette. This is great texture and freshness for a good balance from the richness of the Alfredo sauce.
• With Garlic Bread: Serve chicken Alfredo with homemade garlic bread or a warm baguette. The bread is great for soaking up the rest of the sauce in your plate.
• With Roasted Vegetables: The dish can be served with roasted vegetables such as asparagus, zucchini, or Brussels sprouts for a healthy, well-rounded meal.
• As a Casserole: Simply combine the chicken and pasta with the sauce and top with shredded mozzarella or Parmesan. Bake until bubbly and golden.

Variations to Try

• Shrimp Alfredo: Replace the chicken with shrimp, and cook the shrimp until it turns pink. Throw those in the sauce.
• Vegetarian Alfredo: Completely delete the meat portions and add in some extra vegetables like zucchini, bell peppers, or peas to make a vegetarian rendition that’s quite good.
• Spicy Alfredo: Add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper into the sauce for that little kick.

FAQs

• Can I use milk instead of heavy cream?

If you want the sauce to be less rich, you can make the substitution with whole milk. However, the sauce would be slightly runnier and less creamy than it would have been had you used the heavy cream.

• Can I make the Alfredo sauce ahead of time?

Yes, you could make the sauce one day ahead of time and refrigerate it, and then heat it over low, stirring to loosen it up, adding a little more cream or milk.

• What do I serve with Chicken Alfredo?

Chicken Alfredo does well with garlic bread, a simple green salad, or roasted vegetables like asparagus or Brussels sprouts.

Conclusion

Chicken Alfredo recipe with cream cheese that is more than perfect for a cozy dinner. This sauce, in addition to the richness of the pasta, is extra-rich because of the cream cheese.

This recipe is great for a family dinner or special occasion. Besides, it is really easy and fast to make, so you can enjoy a restaurant-quality meal at home without further ado.