Description
How to make creamy honey BBQ chicken alfredo with tender chicken and rich sauce that combines comfort food favorites in one satisfying dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Base
- 1.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 12 oz fettuccine pasta
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium onion, diced
Creamy Alfredo Base
- 4 tbsp butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Honey BBQ Flavor
- 1/3 cup BBQ sauce
- 3 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
Seasonings and Garnish
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 2 green onions, chopped for garnish
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Boil salted water and cook fettuccine according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup pasta water before draining completely.
- Season Chicken: Toss chicken pieces with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika. Heat olive oil in large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering.
- Cook Chicken: Add seasoned chicken to hot skillet and cook 6-8 minutes until golden brown and cooked through. Remove to plate and set aside.
- Build Sauce: In same skillet, melt butter and sauté onion until soft. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant but not browned.
- Create Alfredo: Slowly whisk in cream and milk, then simmer 3-4 minutes. Gradually add Parmesan cheese, whisking constantly until smooth and thickened.
- Add BBQ: Whisk together BBQ sauce, honey, and vinegar in small bowl. Stir into alfredo sauce until completely combined and heated through.
- Combine Everything: Return chicken to skillet and add drained pasta. Toss everything together, adding pasta water if needed for perfect consistency. Garnish with green onions.
Notes
- Remove pan from heat before adding BBQ sauce to prevent curdling.
- Store leftovers in refrigerator for up to 3 days in airtight container.
- Substitute penne or rigatoni if you don’t have fettuccine pasta.
- Double the recipe easily for meal prep or larger families.
- Fresh Parmesan melts much better than pre-shredded cheese.
- Pasta water helps create the perfect creamy sauce consistency.
Allergy Information: Dairy, Gluten
Nutrition
- Calories: 485 calories
- Fat: 22g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Protein: 32g