Sharing our favorite chicken alfredo today! My Creamy Chicken Alfredo Taco Pasta is such a great weeknight dinner idea for the whole family. Perfectly seasoned with chicken and creamy pasta!
Easy Chicken Alfredo Pasta Recipe
If you haven’t made homemade chicken alfredo before, don’t worry, my recipe is so simple and tastes like it’s out of a gourmet restaurant! You can add different flavors to my homemade alfredo sauce, like sun dried tomatoes or even salsa for a Mexican version. You’re going to love it.
Try my Chicken Caprese Pasta Bake recipe too! Follow Picky Palate on Instagram for daily recipe inspiration.
Chicken Alfredo Ingredients
Here are the main ingredients you’ll need for my chicken alfredo recipe. I made mine taco flavored, which was so good! For the sauce, you’ll need heavy cream, butter and cream cheese and Parmesan Cheese. You’ll add seasonings once melted and smooth. Much easier to make homemade than you might think.
How To Make Chicken Alfredo
- Cook pasta according to package directions. I generally cook one minute less than package says so that my pasta stays al dente. Drain and set aside for a moment.
- To prepare homemade alfredo sauce, place butter, cream cheese and heavy whipping cream into a large skillet or saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir and whisk until melted and combined. Whisk in Parmesan cheese, Ranch seasoning and black pepper. Reduce heat to low and stir until creamy and thickened.
- Place olive oil into a large skillet over medium heat. When hot, saute onion for 5 minutes or until softened. Add chicken, stirring until hot. Transfer cooked pasta, onions and chicken to alfredo sauce, stirring to combine. Stir in cilantro. Garnish with cherry tomatoes and more chopped cilantro.
Chicken Alfredo Sauce Recipe
- To prepare homemade alfredo sauce, place butter, cream cheese and heavy whipping cream into a large skillet or saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir and whisk until melted and combined. Whisk in Parmesan cheese, Ranch seasoning and black pepper. Reduce heat to low and stir until creamy and thickened.
Trust me on this one, just one teaspoon, seasons the sauce so perfectly!
In goes the fresh grated Parmesan Cheese. Making homemade alfredo sauce is super easy!
Whisk until nice and smooth. Only takes a minute or two.
Once smooth, reduce heat to low to simmer.
Transfer the cooked pasta to the sauce. I found these fun pasta shaped noodles from Target.
Add the cooked shredded chicken and sautéed chopped onions.
Just a few sprinkles of ground cumin for that “taco” flavor.
I love adding a handful of fresh chopped cilantro to the pasta. Such a nice freshness.
Garnish with quartered cherry tomatoes if desired. Love the color it brings and I add a couple more sprinkles of chopped cilantro before serving.
Tips How To Cook Perfect Pasta
- Use a large pot. Pick a roomy pot that gives the pasta plenty of space to move.
- Load up the pot with lots of water. You want five or six quarts for a standard package of pasta.
- Salt the water. Then salt, salt, and salt again! Don’t just give a single tap of the shaker—you want to use at least a tablespoon.
- Bring the water to a full, rolling boil
- Keep stirring. The benefit: Occasionally stirring the pot will keep your pasta from clumping.
- Test the pasta two minutes before it’s “ready” No matter your preference, it’s better to err on the side of al dente, as overcooked pasta will break down and become mush.
Creamy Chicken Alfredo Taco Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 pound small pasta
Homemade Alfredo Sauce
- 1 stick salted butter
- 4 ounces cream cheese don't use low-fat
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 1 cup fresh grated Parmesan Cheese
- 1 teaspoon Ranch Dressing Seasoning Mix
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 cup finely chopped white onion
- 3 cups shredded cooked chicken I used a rotisserie chicken
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 cup fresh chopped cilantro
- 1 cup quartered cherry tomatoes for garnish
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro for garnish
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions. I generally cook one minute less than package says so that my pasta stays al dente. Drain and set aside for a moment.
- To prepare homemade alfredo sauce, place butter, cream cheese and heavy whipping cream into a large skillet or saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir and whisk until melted and combined. Whisk in Parmesan cheese, Ranch seasoning and black pepper. Reduce heat to low and stir until creamy and thickened.
- Place olive oil into a large skillet over medium heat. When hot, saute onion for 5 minutes or until softened. Add chicken, stirring until hot. Transfer cooked pasta, onions and chicken to alfredo sauce, stirring to combine. Stir in ground cumin and cilantro. Garnish with cherry tomatoes and more chopped cilantro.
This is so good, I’ve made it 3-4 times now. Instead of cumin I add a package of Saxon Goya, it really makes this dish amazing! ❤️
Sounds delicious. Saved to Yummly. (I will have to make with brown rice for slower carbs than pasta.)
Holy Cow ! That looks great but so unhealthy but good. I would put out bowls ot taco toppings to add to the fun