Description

Get ready to impress with this rich and flavorful Savory Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken Bites with Alfredo Fettuccine — a perfect dish for an easy dinner, quick weeknight meal, or hearty comfort food indulgence. Juicy seared chicken bites bathed in a garlicky lemon-butter sauce are paired with velvety Alfredo fettuccine for the ultimate pasta experience. It’s an easy recipe that’s high in protein, packed with bold flavors, and delivers restaurant-quality results at home. Whether you’re looking for new dinner ideas, quick comfort food, or savory food ideas to wow your guests, this dish delivers every single time.

Ingredients

1 ½ lbs boneless skinless chicken breast

2 tablespoons olive oil

3 tablespoons unsalted butter

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 tablespoon lemon zest

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1 teaspoon paprika

½ teaspoon onion powder

Salt and pepper to taste

1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped

12 oz fettuccine pasta

2 tablespoons butter

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 ½ cups heavy cream

1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Salt and black pepper to taste

¼ cup reserved pasta water (optional)

1 tablespoon chopped parsley

Extra shredded mozzarella or Italian blend cheese (optional)

Instructions

1. Fill a large pot with salted water and bring it to a boil.

2. Add the fettuccine and cook until al dente. Reserve ¼ cup pasta water before draining.

3. Drain and set aside, tossing with a bit of oil or butter to prevent sticking.

4. Pat the chicken dry and season with salt, pepper, paprika, and onion powder.

5. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and sear chicken in a single layer, 4–5 minutes per side. Remove and set aside.

6. In the same skillet, melt butter and sauté garlic for 30 seconds.

7. Add lemon zest and juice, then return chicken to the pan and toss in the sauce. Sprinkle parsley on top.

8. In a saucepan, melt butter and cook garlic until fragrant. Add heavy cream and simmer.

9. Slowly whisk in Parmesan cheese until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.

10. Add pasta to Alfredo sauce and toss to coat. Use pasta water if needed to loosen.

11. Optional: sprinkle mozzarella on top to melt.

12. Plate pasta and top with chicken. Garnish with lemon zest, black pepper, and parsley. Serve hot.

Notes

Fresh garlic, lemon, and grated cheese make a noticeable flavor difference — skip the bottled and pre-shredded shortcuts.

Save your pasta water — it helps emulsify and loosen the Alfredo sauce.

Don’t overcrowd the pan while searing chicken — batch cooking gives better browning and texture.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Category: Dinner
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: Italian-American

Nutrition

Serving Size: About 1 ½ cups
Calories: 730
Sugar: 2g
Sodium: 620mg
Fat: 41g
Saturated Fat: 21g
Unsaturated Fat: 17g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 45g
Fiber: 2g
Protein: 48g
Cholesterol: 180mg

Keywords: easy dinner, creamy pasta, garlic butter chicken, comfort food, quick dinner, chicken pasta, lemon chicken