This Chicken Alfredo Penne Pasta recipe made with homemade Alfredo sauce cooks in one pot for an easy meal perfect for busy weeknights. Your whole family will love this delicious dinner! Best of all, it takes less than 30 minutes to make!
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I just love one pot meals, especially on busy weeknights! This creamy chicken Alfredo penne pasta recipe is the stove-top version of one of our favorite Instant Pot recipes -- Instant Pot Chicken Alfredo. It's quick, easy, and you only have 1 pot to clean!
So last week, I made One Pot Spaghetti and Meat Sauce and my One Pot Creamy Chicken Pasta. Then, the family requested that I make a one-pot Alfredo pasta, and here it is!
Even though this is a quick chicken dinner, I like to make Alfredo sauce from scratch using heavy cream. It's just as easy as making chicken Alfredo with jarred sauce but tastes even better -- promise!
Personally, I like to use penne pasta when I make chicken Alfredo in one pot or in the pressure cooker. It's just a little easier to manage than fettuccine, although you can definitely use longer noodles if you want.
Ingredients
You only need a few simple ingredients for easy chicken Alfredo pasta. You can find them in your grocery store if they're not in your pantry or fridge:
- Olive oil
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts -- cubed
- Sea salt
- Garlic powder
- Ground black pepper
- Box penne pasta
- Water
- Heavy cream
- Butter
- Ground nutmeg -- enhances the flavor
- Parmesan cheese -- grated
- Italian seasoning -- optional
How to Make Chicken Alfredo Penne Pasta
To make one pot chicken Alfredo, cut your chicken into cubes. Then, season chicken and cook in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat to medium-high heat until it's no longer pink.
Next, add your uncooked pasta and water or chicken broth. Cover and cook until the penne starts to get soft, stirring every so often.
You just want to make sure the pasta doesn't stick together.
Add the butter and heavy whipping cream and a pinch of nutmeg. Nutmeg is traditionally used in white sauce, and it just adds to the overall flavor.
If you're not a fan of nutmeg, don't worry -- You don't really taste it.
Stir in grated Parmesan cheese, and cook the chicken pasta uncovered until the pasta is done.
You can add more cream for a thinner sauce if you want. This recipe is super easy to customize!
The creamy Alfredo sauce thickens as it cools, and it sticks to the chicken and pasta perfectly. Tastes amazing, too! You can garnish the chicken Alfredo with a little fresh parsley and more Parm for extra flavor.
You guys -- My entire family absolutely loved this one pot chicken pasta dish. In fact, they said it was even better than the Instant Pot Alfredo, which is quite a compliment!
What to Serve with Chicken Alfredo
Serve this creamy chicken Alfredo with your favorite green vegetables or fresh greens.
- Broccoli -- You can add fresh broccoli florets before the pasta finishes cooking or serve it on the side.
- Peas -- Just stir frozen or thawed peas into the pasta right before it's ready to serve.
- Spinach -- Stir into the pasta before serving.
- Salad -- Arugula is a nice complement to mild Alfredo, but any green salad works here.
- Garlic bread -- The classic side for all pasta main dishes!
How to Store and Reheat
Store leftover chicken Alfredo in an airtight container in the refrigerator, where it'll last for 3 to 4 days.
For longer storage, freeze leftovers in a freezer safe container.
Reheat individual portions in the microwave. For larger portions, you could reheat on the stove, though the microwave is probably easier.
Variations and Substitutions
There are a couple ways to customize this delicious meal to your tastes.
Instead of water, add chicken broth, or a mixture of both, for a little bit of extra flavor.
If you don't want to make homemade Alfredo sauce, just use your favorite jarred sauce.
Similarly, feel free to use rotisserie chicken or already cooked chicken breasts instead of cooking it with the pasta. Just cook the pasta alone and add the chicken when it's done.
I like penne noodles, but any kind of pasta will woke for this recipe. If you're going to use a longer pasta, such as fettuccine, I would recommend breaking the noodles in half, just so that they don't clump up.
Recipe
Chicken Alfredo Penne Pasta
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1.5 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts cubed
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 16-ounce box penne pasta uncooked
- 3 cups water
- 1.5 cups heavy cream
- ½ cup butter cut into large pieces
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven, add chicken, season with sea salt, garlic powder and pepper, and cook over medium heat until no longer pink
- Add uncooked penne pasta and water, pushing down with spoon so that pasta is mostly submerged, then place lid on pot, and bring to a boil over medium high heat, stirring frequently so that pasta doesn't stick to pot
- When pasta starts to soften, remove lid, and stir in butter and heavy cream
- Stir in ground nutmeg and Parmesan cheese, reduce heat, and cook, stirring frequently, until pasta is cooked to al dente or your liking
- Remove from stove, taste, and season with additional salt or pepper if needed. Top with fresh parsley and more Parmesan cheese, if desired
Notes
Nutrition information is estimated. Please do your own calculation to fit special diets.
Nutrition
This One Pot Chicken with Alfredo sauce recipe is the best way to make this classic dish in your own kitchen. It's a go-to easy weeknight meal in my home!
If you're looking for easy chicken Alfredo penne pasta recipes, I hope you'll like this one!
For more delicious recipes for family dinners, chicken recipes, and easy dinner recipes, subscribe to the newsletter and follow me on social media!
Published in 2019 and updated in 2022.
Kristin Crook says
This is so easy and it was a total hit at our house. Definitely on the biweekly rotation!
Dee says
So glad you liked it, Kristin. Thanks for the wonderful review!
Betty says
This was easy. Love the all natural better than the jarred sauce any day. The grandkids approved!
Lynda says
This recipe is great for weeknights. My kids are all in high school now and it gets hard to cook sit down dinners because they all have different schedules. I have been looking for easy meals to make because of this. I made this pasta dish last night and all my kids loved it. 5 stars
James says
Our new favorite. Full bodied flavor, the kids loved it and no leftovers! Making this often!
Dee says
I am So glad to hear this, James. Thank you so much!
Lora says
One pot to make such a comforting meal that everyone loves!! Great for any night of the week!
Chrissie Baker says
This dish was superb! I loved your detailed instructions too. Thanks!
Dee says
So glad you liked the chicken Alfredo, Chrissie. Thanks a bunch! 🙂
Tisha says
One pot meals are my favorite! Less clean up and so simple! Love chicken alfredo!
Dee says
Same here, Tisha. This is a new family favorite!
Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert says
This One Pot Chicken Alfredo is looks absolutely delicious! Yummy!
Dee says
Thanks so much, Erin. We loved it!
Dorothy Reinhold says
This is the kind of dish that I just love for school nights. It comes together quickly and it will taste great!
Michelle says
I make alfredo often and use 2-3 pots/pans every time. This is going to same me so much time. Thanks.
Dee says
One pot Alfredo is so much easier! Hope you like it! 🙂
Sara Welch says
This was such a delicious and satisfying meal, and perfect for busy weeknights! Going to be making this again next week!
Dee says
Thanks, Sara! I'm so glad you liked it!