Chicken Alfredo Linguine

Chicken Alfredo Linguine is an incredibly easy and delicious dinner recipe for the whole family. It's creamy and cheesy, and when prepared properly, the chicken melts in your mouth. You definitely must try it!

Chicken Alfredo Linguine is incredibly tasty. Perfectly composed spices will make you come back to this recipe often. It's a simple combination of parmesan, garlic, and heavy whipping cream that you can prepare in 15 minutes! Chicken Alfredo Pasta is one of the most popular Italian recipes.

How to choose the best ingredients for Chicken Alfredo Linguine

Chicken breasts: Use medium-sized, skinless chicken breasts—ideally up to 8 oz (250 g) each. Even size helps them cook evenly in the air fryer. If they’re larger, slice them lengthwise to ensure they cook through without drying out.

Pasta: Choose good-quality pasta—authentic Italian pasta often has a slightly rough texture, which helps the sauce cling better. Fettuccine works beautifully for Alfredo, but you can use any pasta you like.

Heavy cream: Always use fresh, full-fat heavy cream for the best creamy texture. For an authentic Alfredo-style dish, avoid low-fat milk or substitutes like cream cheese or sour cream.

Parmesan cheese: Use high-quality cheese like Parmigiano Reggiano or Grana Padano. Parmigiano Reggiano has a richer, more intense flavor, while Grana Padano is milder and more delicate.

Butter: Use unsalted, good-quality butter—it’s one of the key ingredients and adds richness to the sauce. Since Parmesan is already salty, there’s no need for salted butter.

Italian seasoning: This blend usually includes oregano, basil, and thyme, sometimes with sage. If you don’t have a ready mix, you can easily make your own at home.

Fresh parsley: Fresh, finely chopped parsley is best—it adds color and freshness. You can use frozen if needed, but avoid dried parsley, as it lacks flavor and vibrancy.

Pepper: Freshly ground black or white pepper adds depth and aroma. White pepper has a milder, slightly more delicate flavor, while black pepper is bolder and more pronounced.

Sides To Serve Chicken Alfredo Linguine

You can serve this easy pasta recipe with a Salad with Roasted Seeds. I like to add vegetables to the dish, but there are no vegetables in the recipe. So, such a portion of salad will be perfect and will additionally emphasize its taste. Also ideal for the dish are Green Asparagus in Garlic Butter or cooked, blanched broccoli (You can learn how to do it in the Blanched Broccoli Quinoa Salad recipe). You can also add these vegetables during the recipe (at the end). I am sure that the whole family will be delighted with this simple pasta dish.

Substitute for Chicken Alfredo Linguine

All recipes based on heavy cream can be a substitute for this recipe, Creamy Pasta alla Carbonara, or the version without meat, Creamy Spinach Pasta. Indulge in the exquisite taste of the Lemon Alfredo pasta, a modified version of Alfredo Sauce. Served with asparagus, dried tomatoes, and parmesan-breaded meat, this recipe will transport you to the finest restaurants. Its rich flavors will surely stay in your memory for a long time, so it will be a good option for a date night..

How to store Alfredo Sauce

• You can prepare the sauce in advance and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days in an airtight container—an empty jar works perfectly.
• While the sauce can be frozen for up to 2 months, I don’t recommend it, as dairy-based sauces may lose their smooth texture after thawing. However, if the alternative is wasting food, it’s absolutely fine to freeze it.
• This sauce is best made fresh—it takes only about 15 minutes and tastes much better than reheated or frozen versions.
• Avoid freezing the sauce mixed with pasta. The pasta will absorb the sauce during thawing, which affects both texture and flavor.
• If you do freeze the sauce, reheat it gently and add a splash of milk or cream to help restore its creamy consistency.

Chicken Alfredo Linguine Step-by-Step

Alfredo pasta is a very easy and quick recipe. When making this dish, it's helpful to have a list of the steps to make the most of your time. Once you try this classic chicken alfredo, your taste buds will crave this recipe for more than just special occasions.

You can marinate the chicken breasts a day or a few hours earlier and bake them later in the air fryer, but this is not necessary.

Remember to multitask when cooking to ensure that everything is ready at the same time. While the pasta is boiling, I use the air fryer to bake the chicken breasts. You can try my recipe, Air Fryer Chicken Breast. You can try my recipe for juicy chicken breasts ready in just 15 minutes with simple ingredients!

This way, both the pasta and the chicken will be ready to serve simultaneously, making the dining experience more enjoyable.

Step 1: Before starting the sauce, prepare all the ingredients so that you have everything ready. Slice the garlic cloves, chop the parsley, and grate the parmesan.

Step 2: The next step prepare a large pot of salted water. When the water is boiling, cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Cook pasta until al dente. The sauce is quick to make, and the pasta should be added while it's still warm. Sometimes, you can also add some of the pasta water to the sauce as it thickens.

Step 3: In the next step, we will prepare authentic alfredo sauce. Melt butter on medium-low heat. Once the butter is completely melted, add the garlic and stir constantly to prevent it from burning. Don't worry about using a lot of garlic, and it doesn't need to be grated or crushed. This method reduces the risk of burning and allows the garlic to caramelize, giving the dish a wonderful aroma. Trust me, everyone loves garlic in Alfredo Pasta!

Step 4: I prefer to slightly brown the butter until it takes on a nutty flavor, which pairs well with the parmesan. When the butter and garlic reach the perfect color, which usually takes about 6 minutes on low heat, they should be ready at the same time.

Step 5: In the next step, add the cream and mix everything gently so that the cream combines with the butter.

Step 6: Then add the Parmesan cheese and stir vigorously until it dissolves. at this point, the cream sauce is already being created

Step 7: You have two options in this step: either you drain the pasta and add it to the alfredo sauce, or you absolutely have to reserve pasta water. The second option is the one I practice - I cook the linguine pasta close to the burner with the sauce and put it directly into the creamy sauce. Could you transfer the al dente linguine to the pan with the great sauce and continue mixing? I always cook the pasta on the burner next to it so I can quickly transfer it to the sauce.

Step 8: If the sauce is very thick, add ½ cup of pasta water and continue to mix. Add fresh but not cooked parsley and mix well.
Meanwhile, roast the Air Fryer chicken breasts. If you need to season with kosher salt and white pepper (you can also use black pepper, although it gives a spicier flavor)

Remove the Alfredo pasta from the hot burner and set it aside to prevent it from boiling any longer.
After removing the chicken breasts from the air fryer, slice them and place a piece of chicken in the pan with the alfredo pasta linguine. Then, serve. Believe me, this delicious creamy sauce is my favorite meal, my family!

Everyone adds their preferred ingredients, whether it's chicken or pasta. But one thing is for sure: everyone, even my children, fights over those caramelized garlic slices!
Enjoy!

FAQ

Can I use other types of pasta instead of linguine?

Yes! Depending on your preference, you can substitute linguine with other pasta types, such as fettuccine, spaghetti, or penne. For me, fettuccine is the closest in taste, but tagliatelle would also work perfectly.

Is Chicken Alfredo Linguine gluten-free?

Traditional linguine pasta contains gluten, but you can easily make a gluten-free version by using gluten-free pasta. Also, make sure that any sauces or additional ingredients are gluten-free. As a rule, we do not add products containing gluten to the sauce itself. However, to be sure, check the ingredients provided by the manufacturer.

Can I make Chicken Alfredo Linguine ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare it ahead of time, but the sauce may thicken as it sits. When reheating, add a splash of milk or cream to loosen up the sauce and bring it back to its creamy consistency. Another way to prevent the sauce from becoming too thick is to avoid adding the pasta water while cooking. However, I believe my recipe will only take 15 minutes to prepare, so there's no need to make it earlier; it will taste the best when made fresh.

Is there a dairy-free version of Chicken Alfredo Linguine?

Yes! To make a dairy-free version, you can use:

• Coconut milk or cashew cream for the sauce base.
• Dairy-free butter and Parmesan substitutes. There are many plant-based alternatives available to create a creamy Alfredo sauce.

I only have a little experience with vegan recipes, but I know that there are substitutes that you won't taste. If you make such a recipe, please share the result with me!