How to make quick chicken alfredo for a fast and simple dinner!
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Combine running a photography business, keeping up with a busy daughter, and maintaining a household, and you’ve got the perfect recipe for a really busy mom. That’s me. Now, throw in a broken dishwasher and what you’ve got is a really busy and really frustrated mom who’s ready to throw all of the dishes away. Not that I would ever actually do that, of course… or would I? No, probably not.
I’m not really going to trash our dishes but situations like this do call for some quick fixes. I usually put a lot of time and effort into making nightly dinners for my family but that process usually creates a lot of clean-up work later on. That usually isn’t much of a problem when I have a properly working dishwasher, but I don’t right now. And washing all those dishes by hand? I think not!
We ordered another one immediately after the discovery, but that doesn’t help the predicament for right now. I still need simple dinner recipes that require dirtying up fewer dishes until we get the situation fixed. Lucky for me, I have a few easy recipes that are perfect for situations like this, or just for those busy nights when I want to make an easy and minimum-mess dinner. In times like this, simple recipes like my Quick Chicken Alfredo Pasta come in to save the day!
This easy recipe is actually already one of my favorite go-to’s for so many reasons! This Quick Chicken Alfredo Pasta only takes 15 minutes to make, only requires 2 cooking dishes, and, best of all, my daughter absolutely loves it! In fact, my daughter loves this meal so much that I even pack it up for her in Bento Boxes for lunch on-the-go! Packing this pasta dish properly makes it easy to carry a satisfying homemade lunch to school or work. I call this one parenting win!
Not only is this recipe quick and delicious, but it is excellent for providing a meal packed with protein and carbs along with some yummy peas added in for a healthy twist. A quick and satisfying meal that can be made without dirtying a lot of dishes and still tastes scrumptious? Yes, please! Whether facing a dishwasher dilemma or just needing a no-fuss, no-mess dinner that can be made in a flash, this quick chicken alfredo is the simple and satisfying solution!
Quick Dinner Equipment
As I mentioned, this quick chicken alfredo recipe only requires pulling out 2 cooking dishes. A simple start to a delightfully simple recipe! Here are the kitchen tools that I use:
Simple Ingredients for Quick Chicken Alfredo
As for the ingredients? I just use a handful of them to prepare this insanely satisfying meal! Now the secret to making this chicken pasta dish so fast is using pre-cooked, grilled chicken. Don’t have any prepared? If needed, you can use frozen, pre-cooked chicken but it needs to be cooked thoroughly according to the instructions on the package and might add some more time onto the recipe. Here are the ingredients that I use for my quick chicken alfredo:
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp Olive Oil
- 1 box Rigatoni pasta – 1 lb box
- 1 jar Alfredo sauce 22 oz
- 1 lb Grilled chicken, chopped – about 2 chicken breasts
- Here’s how to make easy Baked Chicken Breasts.
- 1 bag frozen green peas
Pasta Garnishes:
- Parmesan cheese – optional
- parsley – optional
How to Make Easy and Quick Chicken Alfredo Pasta
Now let’s get down to the moment I know you’ve been waiting for: making the dinner magic happen! I’m sure you need to get this recipe ready fast, so without further ado here is how I make this quick chicken alfredo pasta:
- First, round up all of the quick alfredo ingredients.
- Next, bring water to a boil in a dutch oven, or large pot, and boil the pasta according to the instructions on the package. Then, thoroughly drain the pasta.
- I like to add a little bit of olive oil and salt to the water while it’s boiling.
- Cook the frozen peas in the microwave according to the instructions on the bag.
- After draining the pasta, pour the jar of alfredo sauce and chopped grilled chicken into the hot pot and combine with the sauce using a wooden spoon. Bring it to a boil and remove it from the heat.
- Then, return the cooked noodles to the pot with the sauce and chicken and mix again.
- Next, stir in the cooked peas.
- Finally, scoop the quick chicken alfredo into serving bowls and top with parmesan cheese and, if desired, chopped parsley. Enjoy!
How to Store Chicken Alfredo
To store chicken alfredo: first, transfer the pasta to a shallow, airtight container or to a heavy-duty Ziploc bag. Then, label the date on the outside of the container or bag. The chicken alfredo can be stored in the fridge for 3 to 5 days, or in the freezer for up to 2 months. Remember to thaw the frozen pasta for 24 hours before reheating! This chicken alfredo is best reheated in the oven, in an oven-safe dish, but can also be reheated in the microwave for a quick meal.
More Pasta Recipes
Quick Dinner Fixes
While this is a fantastic quick dinner fix, it’s also a lovely lunch solution like I mentioned. My daughter absolutely loves it when I pack up some of this quick alfredo in a Bento Box for lunch on-the-go. If you need more easy lunch ideas then check out my Packed Lunches for Kids. if you need more quick dinners, here are some of my other favorite quick recipes for dinner or sides ready in minutes:
Quick chicken alfredo pasta
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp Olive Oil
- 1 Box Rigatoni pasta 1 lb
- 1 Can Alfredo sauce 22 oz
- 1 Lb Grilled chicken Or baked. About 2 chicken breasts
- 1 Bag green peas frozen
Garnish
- Parmesan cheese optional
- parsley optional
Instructions
- First, round up all of the quick alfredo ingredients.
- Next, bring water to a boil in a dutch oven, or large pot, and boil the pasta according to the instructions on the package. Then, thoroughly drain the pasta.I like to add a little bit of olive oil and salt to the water while it’s boiling.
- Cook the frozen peas in the microwave according to the instructions on the bag.
- After draining the pasta, pour the jar of alfredo sauce and chopped grilled chicken into the hot pot and combine with the sauce using a wooden spoon. Bring it to a boil and remove it from the heat.
- Then, return the cooked noodles to the pot with the sauce and chicken and mix again.
- Next, stir in the cooked peas.
- Finally, scoop the quick chicken alfredo into serving bowls and top with parmesan cheese and, if desired, chopped parsley. Enjoy!
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