Name: Easy Grilled Chicken Alfredo Recipe - 3 Ingredients
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 30 min
Ingredients: 2 large skinless chicken breasts; 1/2 cup salted butter; 1/2 cup heavy cream; 1/2 cup parmesan; 1/2 lb fettuccine; 1 tablespoon salt; Salt and pepper to season chicken breasts

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Buttery, creamy sauce, with only 3 ingredients, poured over juicy grilled chicken breasts and your favorite noodles for an easy dinner that the whole family will love. This easy Grilled Chicken Alfredo Recipe produces decadent flavors in just 30 minutes.

4 pieces of sliced grilled chicken breast on top of alfredo sauce covered fettuccine noodles in a white bowl

Chicken alfredo is a classic Italian restaurant dinner. But there is no need to go out to eat at a restaurant to enjoy a family favorite meal, instead enjoy this easy recipe around your own dinner table. Create a better-than-restaurant quality meal at home with everyday ingredients by following the simple steps below.

The best part, it takes a total time of 30 minutes from start to finish to create a rich alfredo sauce, juicy grilled chicken, and perfect al dente pasta. I promise after making this recipe you will never want a jar of premade alfredo sauce again. Prepare this irresistible homemade alfredo sauce in the same amount of time it would take to empty and heat up a jar of bland premade sauce.

sliced grilled chicken breast on a wooden cutting board with a knife and fork in the background

Why you will love this:

Easy grill recipe – First time grilling? No worries, follow the step by step instructions below for perfectly juicy chicken breasts. Grill expert? Awesome, grill experts and pasta lovers unite!
Easy to substitute ingredients – This dinner is versatile and easy to add or change ingredients to create a unique, personalized meal that’s perfect for you.
5 minutes – That’s all it takes to create the AMAZING homemade alfredo sauce.
Gluten free – the decadent alfredo sauce is gluten free and gluten free noodles can easily be substituted
Protein and Carbs – enjoy this perfect balance of protein and carbs for a complete meal

Tools needed:

Grilling tools -a basic grilling set is all you need
Large size pot – for the pasta water
Medium saucepan – to heat up and create the delicious alfredo sauce
Cutting board and knife – to cut the grilled chicken up
Whisk – to create a smooth, creamy alfredo sauce.
- Note: if you are using a non-stick pot, then use a silicone whisk to avoid scratching the pot
Meat thermometer – optional. Checking the temperature of the chicken breasts is a great way to avoid overcooking and drying out the chicken.

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Alfredo Sauce ingredients:

a bowl of grated parmesan, fettuccine noodles in a mason jar lying down, bottle of heavy whipping cream standing up, and a stick of salted butter all on a wood cutting board

Salted Butter – nothing can replace the golden, richness of real butter. Unsalted butter can be substituted, just taste the sauce and add a pinch of salt if needed.
Heavy cream – (or heavy whipping cream) helps to create the creamy texture and rich taste. Half and half can be substituted but it may be difficult to create the creamy texture because it has less fat.
Parmesan – to create the silky smooth look and texture use freshly grated parmesan cheese. In a pinch, pre-shredded parmesan can be used. Just note, pre-shredded parmesan has anti-clumping ingredients that also prevent the cheese from melting well which may result in a lumpy sauce.

Pasta:

Fettuccine pasta – the long, flat shape of fettuccine noodles provide more surface area for the alfredo sauce to cling to.
Salt – adding salt to the pasta water adds flavor to the noodles which will ensure the overall flavor of the meal

Chicken:

It is important to have uniform thickness with the large chicken breasts to ensure even grilling. There are 2 options to creating uniform size:

Option 1 – press down with your clean hand or pound the chicken breasts to a uniform thickness, about 1/2 inch to 1 inch.

Option 2 – for chicken breasts more than 1 inch thick, slice in half horizontally to make 2 uniform cutlets.

Salt & Pepper – season both sides of the skinless chicken breasts with salt and black pepper

How to make Grilled Chicken Alfredo:

Because this recipe is so quick to make, it can take a little multitasking. Follow these steps for effortless grilling and cooking that will produce a perfectly complete meal.

Step 1: It’s grilling time!

Preheat your grill – the goal is to heat your grill to 375-400 degrees. If your propane grill does not have a thermometer then turn the dial to medium heat or the middle. Note: if there are any leftover bits from the last time you grilled be sure to scrape them off. This will help the chicken to not stick.

2 raw chicken breasts with salt and pepper on a grill

Place the seasoned chicken breasts on the grill. Close the lid of the grill so heat does not escape. Leave the chicken breasts on the grill for 6-8 minutes.

Step 2: Pasta time!

While the chicken breasts are cooking for 6-8 minutes, bring a large pot of water to boil. Once the water is boiling, dump 1 tablespoon of salt into the water. Place the fettuccine noodles in the water. Cook according to the package instructions for al dente noodles.

Note: when the hot alfredo sauce and chicken are added to the noodles, they will cook a tad bit more. If you prefer perfect al dente pasta then cook 1 minute less than the package says.

a slotted pasta spoon holding cooked fettuccine noodles over a boiling pot of noodles

Step 3: Flip the chicken

After 6-8 minutes, flip the chicken breasts with tongs to cook on the other side. Try to only move or flip the chicken breasts this one time. This will allow neat grill marks to sear into the meat. Continue to grill the chicken breasts for an additional 6-8 minutes.

2 grilled chicken breasts with salt and pepper on a grill

Step 4: Sauce time!

While the pasta is cooking and the chicken is grilling on the other side, start the alfredo sauce. Place a medium saucepan on the stove on medium heat then melt the butter in the pan. Add the whipping cream and mix with a whisk. Slowly add the parmesan as you stir the mixture, this will allow the cheese to incorporate and create a smooth, buttery alfredo sauce. Add 1/4 cup of pasta water to the sauce and mix. The starch in the pasta water helps the sauce stick to the noodles. Decrease the temperature to low heat and allow the sauce to simmer until the pasta and chicken are done.

shredded parmesan being dropped in a black saucepan with melted butter and whipping cream in it

Step 5: Rest the chicken and drain pasta

Check on the chicken after grilling the other side for 6-8 minutes, use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. The temperature will be 165 degrees when the chicken is done. Remove the chicken breasts from the grill, place on a plate, and cover tightly with foil. Allow the chicken to rest for a minimum of 5 minutes to ensure the chicken breasts remain juicy. After allowing the chicken to rest, cut the chicken breasts into strips or according to your own preference.

2 grilled chicken breasts resting a white plate with foil on top

When the fettuccine is done cooking, drain the water out of the noodles. Note: do not rinse the noodles with water, this will rinse off the starch that helps the sauce stick to the noodles.

Step 6: Combine and enjoy!

Pour the hot alfredo sauce over top of the pasta and stir. Place the chicken on top and serve immediately. Enjoy!

fettuccine noodles covered in alfredo sauce with 4 slices of grilled chicken

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Grilled Chicken Alfredo Substitutions or Variations:

Protein – exchange chicken for shrimp to make shrimp alfredo
Different pasta – easily substitute other noodles: gluten free, penne pasta, linguine, cavatappi
Vegetarian – leave the chicken out for a delicious vegetarian meal
Vegetables – add in broccoli, spinach, peas, mushrooms, or asparagus for an extra flavor boost
Side dishes – steam broccoli, garlic bread, or a simple side salad pair great with grilled chicken alfredo
Save time – use rotisserie chicken instead of grilled chicken

Try out these other delicious dinner ideas!

Easy Cast Iron Pork Chops – Gluten and Dairy Free

Spicy Chinese Chicken 3 Ingredient Chili Garlic Sauce

Sweet and Sour Meatballs

5-Ingredients Chicken Casserole

Homemade Ranch

Homemade Sloppy Joes

Easy Chicken Pot Pie

Dairy-Free Chicken Noodle Soup

FAQs:

Can you make grilled chicken alfredo sauce ahead of time? – The chicken and pasta can be made ahead of time and reheated but the alfredo sauce needs to be served right away. When alfredo sauce cools down it breaks, meaning the butter and fat separate from the cream. When the sauce breaks it becomes thin and greasy not smooth and creamy.
How to store chicken alfredo? – Leftover grilled chicken alfredo needs to be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Any leftovers need to be eaten within 2-3 days. Due to the alfredo sauce cooling down in the refrigerator and breaking (the butter and fat separate from the cream), the consistency and look will be different but the taste will stay the same.
How to thicken alfredo sauce? – If the consistency of the alfredo sauce is to thin continue to simmer the sauce on the stove until the desired thickness of achieved. High-fat creams will automatically thicken the longer they are cooked.
Can the chicken breasts be baked? – Yes. Place the chicken breasts in an oven safe pan. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Bake for 20 minutes. The chicken breasts internal temperature is 165 degrees when they are done baking.