Copycat Olive Garden™ Chicken Alfredo

Prep 10 min
Total 20 min
Ingredients 11
Servings 4

Break out the breadsticks and get your pasta bowls ready, because this recipe tastes just like your favorite restaurant-style chicken alfredo. A big pot of creamy fettuccine—enough to serve the whole family—made for a smidgen of the price of one plate? Consider this recipe your new weeknight favorite.

By Brooke McLay

Updated January 14, 2021

Ingredients

12

oz fettuccine pasta
2

tablespoons olive oil
1/2

cup + 2 tablespoons butter
2

boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 1/2

teaspoons salt, divided
1 1/2

teaspoon fresh ground pepper, divided
3

cloves garlic, very finely chopped
1 1/2

tablespoons flour
2

cups heavy cream
3/4

cup grated Parmesan, plus more for topping if desired
2

tablespoons chopped parsley, for garnish (optional)

Steps

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1

Cook and drain pasta according to package directions.
2

Add olive oil to a cast-iron grill pan over high heat. Add 2 tablespoons butter to hot pan, then quickly add chicken breasts to the pan, seasoning with 1 teaspoon each of the salt and pepper.
3

Cook chicken breasts until golden on first side, then flip over. Cover the pan and reduce heat to medium, cooking until chicken is no longer pink in the center, about 5 to 7 minutes on the second side. Place on a plate and cover with foil until cool enough to slice into strips.
4

In a large, deep-sided skillet, melt remaining 1/2 cup butter over medium heat. Add garlic to pan, cooking until aromatic, about 30 seconds. Reduce heat to medium-low. Season with remaining salt and pepper.
5

Whisk flour into butter, stirring until no chunks remain. Slowly whisk in cream.
6

Continue to cook just until sauce is steaming and slightly thickened. Whisk 1/2 cup Parmesan into sauce, stirring until smooth. Remove pan from heat and cover until ready to serve.
7

To serve, place pasta in a serving bowl or on plates. Top with sliced chicken and drizzle with sauce. Garnish with parsley and top with additional Parmesan, if desired.

Always salt your pasta water before cooking to ensure a depth of flavor. When straining cooked pasta, run the noodles under cold water immediately. Otherwise, the heat from the noodles will cause them to keep cooking even after they’ve been drained of hot water.
When preparing the sauce, pay special attention to the temperature of the stovetop. For a truly silken sauce, you’ll want to keep the heat low, and cook the sauce slowly.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 Serving

Calories: 1100
Calories from Fat: 720

% Daily Value

Total Fat: 80g; 123%
Saturated Fat 44g 220% Trans Fat 2 1/2g
Cholesterol: 325mg; 108%
Sodium: 1570mg; 65%
Potassium: 380mg; 11%
Total Carbohydrate: 63g; 21%
Dietary Fiber 3g 12% Sugars 4g
Protein: 32g

% Daily Value*:

Vitamin A: 45%; 45%
Vitamin C: 0%; 0%
Calcium: 15%; 15%
Iron: 25%; 25%

Exchanges:

3 Starch; 0 Fruit; 1 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Skim Milk; 0 Low-Fat Milk; 0 Milk; 0 Vegetable; 0 Very Lean Meat; 3 1/2 Lean Meat; 0 High-Fat Meat; 13 1/2 Fat;

Carbohydrate Choice

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

If Olive Garden’s™ chicken alfredo is the kind of dish you crave on days when you don’t want to leave your house, then this copycat recipe is the solution to your dinner daydreams. Create a complete Olive Garden™ experience in your home by pairing this easy pasta dinner with copycat breadsticks.