Creamy Garlic Butter Chicken & Linguine in Alfredo Sauce is a rich, comforting pasta dish made with tender seared chicken, silky Alfredo sauce, and perfectly cooked linguine. It’s loaded with garlic, butter, and Parmesan for a restaurant-style meal you can easily make at home in under an hour.
Prep Time
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25–30 minutes
- Total Time: ~45 minutes
- Servings: 4–6 servings
Equipment
- Large pot (for pasta)
- Large skillet or sauté pan
- Knife and cutting board
- Whisk
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Tongs
Ingredients
Pasta & Chicken
- 12 oz linguine
- 2 large chicken breasts, sliced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
Garlic Butter Alfredo Sauce
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon chili flakes (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Optional Garnish
- Fresh parsley
- Extra Parmesan cheese
Ingredient Notes
- Linguine: Holds creamy sauce well, but fettuccine also works.
- Heavy cream: Essential for a rich Alfredo texture.
- Parmesan: Freshly grated melts best and gives smooth sauce.
- Chicken: Slicing helps it cook faster and stay juicy.
Instructions
1. Cook Pasta
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Cook linguine until al dente.
- Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain and set aside.
2. Cook Chicken
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.
- Season chicken with salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder.
- Cook 5–7 minutes until golden and fully cooked. Remove and set aside.
3. Make Alfredo Sauce
- In the same pan, melt butter.
- Add garlic and sauté for 30–60 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour in heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer.
- Stir in Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth.
- Add salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and chili flakes (if using).
- Simmer 2–3 minutes until slightly thickened.
4. Combine
- Add cooked linguine to sauce and toss well.
- Add chicken back into the pan.
- If needed, add reserved pasta water to loosen sauce.
- Mix until everything is coated and creamy.
Nutrition Facts
(Approximate per serving)
- Calories: 620
- Protein: 38g
- Carbohydrates: 52g
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Sodium: 780mg
Tips
- Don’t boil the Alfredo sauce—keep it at a gentle simmer.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan for a smoother sauce.
- Save pasta water to adjust thickness.
- Let chicken rest before slicing for juiciness.
Variations
- Shrimp Version: Replace chicken with shrimp.
- Spinach Alfredo: Add fresh spinach at the end.
- Mushroom Garlic Alfredo: Sauté mushrooms with garlic.
- Extra Cheesy: Add mozzarella for a thicker, stretchier sauce.