This light, creamy meal reminds me that spring is just around the corner and all is well with the world. It's delicious comfort food for every day.
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❤️ Why you'll love it
- A great way to feed the whole family in less than a half hour
- No one can resist creamy, cheesy sauce and tender pasta
- Uses my favorite time-saver for busy weeknights: a rotisserie chicken
Comforting, easy dinners that don't require hours of cleaning up—that's what I'm all about.
This one-pot creamy chicken alfredo with peas combines simple ingredients into a hearty dish that satisfies after a long day.
🧾 Ingredients
This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the green recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.
🔪 Instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. Full instructions are in the green recipe card at the bottom of the page.
- Combine the penne pasta, hot water, and evaporated milk in a large pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce to medium-high heat.
- After seven minutes, add the chicken, cream cheese, and alfredo sauce.
- Stir in the parmesan cheese, green peas, salt, and black pepper.
- Cover and let rest for five minutes, off of the heat, before serving.
🥫 Storage
Prep dinner for, not one, but two busy weeknights by making an extra large batch of this yummy one-pot chicken alfredo with peas.
To package up your leftovers, spoon the cooled pasta into an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator and enjoy within three or four days! Reheat the leftover alfredo pasta in the microwave for a quick and easy meal.
However, if you're warming up leftovers for the entire family, I recommend doing so in a large saute pan over medium-low heat. Add a splash of warm water to smooth out the creamy sauce, if need be. Stir often until it's all warmed up.
📖 Variations
- You don't have to use rotisserie chicken if you have some other kind of leftover meat in the fridge! Chop up some of last night's chicken strips or microwave frozen (precooked) chicken bites for an easy alternative.
- Substitute the chicken with cooked, sliced sausage or chopped ham. Or, treat yourself to some precooked shrimp when it goes on sale—yum!
- Feel free to use your favorite pasta shape! Rotini and ziti pasta are tasty and hold onto alfredo sauce really well.
- Swapping the warm water with chicken broth adds an extra savory touch to the pasta if you have some in the pantry!
- For a garlicky chicken alfredo with peas, mince a few garlic cloves and stir them in at the beginning of the recipe.
- Not so much a fan of peas? Swap them with frozen broccoli florets or a block of spinach—if using either option, thaw it, first.
- Want to add more veggies? Instead of making a side dish, stir them into the pasta! Chopped asparagus, mushrooms, or diced peppers and onions would all make a scrumptious addition.
- Red pepper flakes add a perfect amount of spice if you like a touch of heat.
💭 Things to know
Expert Tip: Use a kettle to heat the water quickly while you start prepping the rest of the dish. This saves time and prevents you from needing to pull out another pot!
- I like to use a heavy enamel dutch oven for one-pot chicken alfredo because it retains a lot of heat. This allows everything to cook evenly.
- If you don't have a big pot, an extra-large skillet should work.
- Usually, it's a good idea to follow package directions. However, in this case, be sure to pay attention to the timing in the recipe, so that the pasta and everything else cooks at the correct pace.
- Remember, don't drain your pasta! We use just enough water that the pasta absorbs most of it. Any starchy water that remains after the pasta cooks will help thicken up the sauce.
- Chicken alfredo with peas can be served as a yummy side dish if you omit the shredded chicken. Serve it with breaded cutlets or fried chicken to make an easy, yet fancy dinner for family or friends!
👩🍳 FAQs
If you'd like to use raw chicken, you must cook it first. I recommend poaching it in boiling water or letting it cook in the crockpot on low for 6-8 hours. Either way, it'll shred super easily for use in your pasta!
Great question! It all depends on the seasoning. If it has a little bit of Italian seasoning or even some Mexican spice, you can definitely toss it in. The spices will flavor your alfredo a bit differently, but, in that case, you can just say it's a fun, fusion recipe!
Nope, not really! Chicken fettuccine alfredo simply highlights the type of noodle used: long, flat fettuccine pasta. Our one-pot recipe is still alfredo, just with a different noodle!
You can, but dairy-based sauces don't always taste quite as smooth after thawing. Sometimes, the pasta is a little mushier, too. However, if you like to save your delicious dinners longer than a few days, you can get away with freezing this one for up to three months.
📚 Related recipes
- When you're craving something smokey and satisfying, look no further than this mouthwatering, twenty-minute Sausage Alfredo Skillet Dinner.
- Crockpot Angel Chicken is a buttery, creamy pasta that's easy enough for weeknight dinners, but so tasty you'll crave it on weekends, too!
- Another one-pan favorite, this Copycat Panera Tortellini Alfredo is creamy, hearty, cheesy, and (best of all) done in just twenty minutes.
- With not one, nor two, but three types of delicious cheese and so much Italian flavor, Angel Chicken Mac & Cheese pleases kids and adults!
- Chicken Lasagna with Alfredo Sauce is a great prep-ahead/make-ahead meal and it's a fun twist on the classic, layered pasta favorite!
🍽️ Serve with...
- I just love a crunchy bite of fresh veggies alongside a warm, creamy alfredo dinner—this Italian Green Bean Salad makes the perfect pairing.
- Pasta without bread is like brunch without biscuits: plain 'ol sad. Try making Garlic Breadsticks and you'll be amazed at how easy they are!
- Wash down a hearty meal with some decadent, smooth Microwave Chocolate Pudding. It only takes ten minutes and is well worth the time!
🥄 Restless Chipotle recommends
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You'll need the following items to make this recipe successfully.
This one pot dish is so easy you really only need a dutch oven!
📞 The last word
Pasta is my go to comfort food. When I was in Italy last year I was thrilled to eat it every single day...
More than once.
While this isn't specifically an Italian recipe it's got that same welcome home flavor. It's a simple dish and since it's made in one pot - minimal cleanup.
I bet you can't just eat this once.
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need. Don't forget that you can click on "add to collection" to save it to your own, private recipe box!
If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
One Pot Chicken Alfredo with Peas
Print Pin Recipe SaveEquipment Needed
Ingredients
- 1 pound penne pasta
- 4 cups water, boiling
- 12 ounces evaporated milk
- 15 ounces Alfredo pasta sauce
- 4 ounces cream cheese
- 2 cups rotisserie chicken, shredded
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup peas, frozen not canned
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
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Instructions
- In large dutch oven, heat evaporated milk, 4 cups hot water and the pasta.
- Bring to a boil over high heat.
- Once it comes to a boil, reduce to medium-high heat.
- Cook 7 minutes, stirring frequently; do not drain.
- Next reduce to medium heat.
- Add chicken, cream cheese and Alfredo sauce.
- Continue to cook and stir for three additional minutes stirring frequently while the pasta cooks and you have a smooth sauce.
- Remove from heat; stir in parmesan cheese, season with salt and pepper.
- Cover and let rest for 5 minutes. Remove cover and stir in peas and serve!
Notes
- Use a kettle to heat the water quickly while you start prepping the rest of the dish. This saves time and prevents you from needing to pull out another pot!
- I like to use a heavy enamel dutch oven for one-pot chicken alfredo because it retains a lot of heat. This allows everything to cook evenly.
- If you don't have a big pot, an extra-large skillet should work.
- Usually, it's a good idea to follow package directions. However, in this case, be sure to pay attention to the timing in the recipe, so that the pasta and everything else cooks at the correct pace.
- Remember, don't drain your pasta! We use just enough water that the pasta absorbs most of it. Any starchy water that remains after the pasta cooks will help thicken up the sauce.
- Chicken alfredo with peas can be served as a yummy side dish if you omit the shredded chicken. Serve it with breaded cutlets or fried chicken to make an easy, yet fancy dinner for family or friends!
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