Copycat Recipe: Olive Garden's Chicken Alfredo (2024)

Copycat Recipe: Olive Garden's Chicken Alfredo (1)

This is another great recipe from Aunt Mary!

I have always loved Olive Garden and everything they have on their menu. Although I think they are very reasonably priced, I don't have the opportunity to dine out very often because of the economy. So I came up with my own.

I fixed dinner one night for my sister Ruth, and my niece, Andrea and her family. Andrea wanted Chicken Alfredo, so I thought I would try this recipe out on them – yes, I used them for my own personal gain :)

To my surprise, Andrea said she thought it was better than the real thing!!

Chicken Alfredo Ingredients

  • 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast (cut up into 2″ pieces)
  • 4 tbsp Olive Oil (divided in half)
  • 1/2 tsp Red Pepper Flakes
  • 1/2 cup Onion (chopped and divided)
  • 2 Garlic Cloves (chopped and divided)
  • 1 tsp Oregano (dried)
  • 1 cup White Wine (or chicken broth)
  • 1/2 cup Whipping Cream (or Half and Half)
  • 1/2 cup +1 tsp Parmesan Cheese (grated)
  • 1 lb Fettuccine or Linguine
  • 1 tsp Pepper (ground)
  • 2 tsp Parsley flakes (dried)

How to Make Olive Garden Chicken Alfredo

  1. Place6 quarts of water in a large pot and bring to a boil. Add salt and pasta and cook until done.
  2. While water is coming to a boil, heata large skillet over medium heat. Add 2 tsp olive oil, 1/4 cup onion, 1/2 garlic and red pepper flakes.
  3. Addchicken pieces to skillet and saute until done (about 4 minutes) Remove chicken.
  4. Add remaining oil, onion and garlic to skillet and saute about 1 minute. Add white wine (take skillet off stove while adding the wine to prevent fire) and continue to cook over medium heat until reduced in half (about 5 minutes).
  5. Lower heat to simmer and add cream(milk) and parmesan cheese. Stir until thickened (about 2 minutes) Add parsley flakes and stir.
  6. Drain pasta and reserve 1 cup of pasta water in case you need it. Add pasta to sauce and mix. (If pasta is too thick at this point add the reserved pasta water) Place all but a few pieces of chicken in the pasta.
  7. Pour pasta into a serving bowl, place remaining chicken on top.
  8. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and some parsley.
Copycat Recipe: Olive Garden's Chicken Alfredo (2)

Restaurant At Home Comparison

At Home: $9.22 total (family of 4)
Olive Garden: $10.75 each person = $43.00 (family of 4)

Thats about a 76% savings over eating out. And I didn't even count the tip!!

What is Olive Garden alfredo sauce made of?

You'll need heavy cream and parmesan cheese for this alfredo sauce made from scratch. Of course, the pan drippings from the chicken add some extra flavor with the onions and garlic. I've also subbed the parmesan cheese for cream cheese and it tastes great.

Does Olive Garden chicken Alfredo have garlic?

Yes! Garlic is in the restaurant recipe too! Don't skip on the garlic or onion. You can grab a bag of frozen chopped onions and keep the squeeze tube of garlic on hand so you can whip this alfredo sauce together quickly.

More Olive Garden Copycat Restaurant Recipes

Olive Garden Breadsticks

Olive Garden Zuppa Tuscano Soup

Olive Garden Minestrone Soup

Olive Garden Smoked Mozzarella Chicken and Penne Pasta

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Copycat Recipe: Olive Garden's Chicken Alfredo (3)

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Copycat Recipe: Olive Garden's Chicken Alfredo

  • Author: Savings Lifestyle: Andrea

Ingredients

Scale

  • 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast (cut up into 2″ pieces)
  • 4 tbsp Olive Oil (divided in half)
  • 1/2 tsp Red Pepper Flakes
  • 1/2 cup Onion (chopped and divided)
  • 2 Garlic Cloves (chopped and divided)
  • 1 tsp Oregano (dried)
  • 1 cup White Wine
  • 1/2 cup Whipping Cream (or Half and Half)
  • 1/2 cup +1 tsp Parmesan Cheese (grated)
  • 1 lb Fettuccine or Linguine
  • 1 tsp Pepper (ground)
  • 2 tsp Parsley flakes (dried)

Instructions

  1. Place6 quarts of water in a large pot and bring to a boil. Add salt and pasta and cook until done.
  2. While water is coming to a boil, heata large skillet over medium heat. Add 2 tsp olive oil, 1/4 cup onion, 1/2 garlic and red pepper flakes.
  3. Addchicken pieces to skillet and saute until done (about 4 minutes) Remove chicken.
  4. Add remaining oil, onion and garlic to skillet and saute about 1 minute. Add white wine (take skillet off stove while adding the wine to prevent fire) and continue to cook over medium heat until reduced in half (about 5 minutes).
  5. Lower heat to simmer and add cream(milk) and parmesan cheese. Stir until thickened (about 2 minutes) Add parsley flakes and stir.
  6. Drain pasta and reserve 1 cup of pasta water in case you need it. Add pasta to sauce and mix. (If pasta is too thick at this point add the reserved pasta water) Place all but a few pieces of chicken in the pasta.
  7. Pour pasta into a serving bowl, place remaining chicken on top.
  8. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and some parsley.
Copycat Recipe: Olive Garden's Chicken Alfredo (2024)

FAQs

What is Olive Garden chicken alfredo made of? ›

Creamy alfredo sauce made from scratch with ingredients like parmesan, cream, garlic and butter, served with fettuccine pasta and topped with sliced grilled chicken.

Is Olive Garden's Alfredo sauce really made from scratch? ›

Olive Garden's Alfredo sauce is made daily

The ingredients are simple: a blend of cream, milk, and butter all come together with flour to create the base, then garlic is added along with Parmesan and Romano cheeses to get that hearty Italian flavor that seems to keep customers coming back.

What is the secret to thick Alfredo sauce? ›

Add Cheese

The key ingredient in Alfredo sauce is cheese—generally Parmigiano Reggiano—and lots of it. To thicken Alfredo sauce, simply add more cheese than the amount called for in a recipe until you achieve the consistency you want.

Can you buy Olive Garden pasta sauce? ›

Olive Garden's To-Go Alfredo Sauce Saves Time And Money

Olive Garden's pint-sized Alfredo sauce might not be cheaper than the jarred sauce from the grocery store. However, purchasing it can be a money-saving alternative to eating at the restaurant.

Is Olive Garden chicken alfredo healthy? ›

Anything with cheesy alfredo sauce made from butter and cream is loaded with fat and calories. Olive Garden's Chicken Alfredo is no exception. It far exceeds your entire daily recommended intake of fat, much of it saturated fat.

Does Olive Garden make their sauce from scratch daily? ›

Our soup and sauce masters create dishes by hand and from scratch, every day. With fresh, whole ingredients like kale, peppers and squash. Because they know cooking that way – the Italian way- everything tastes better. to everything they make.

Is Olive Garden's Alfredo sauce frozen? ›

Our signature alfredo sauce made fresh in-house every morning with ingredients like parmesan, cream, garlic and butter, served over fettuccine.

What's the difference between white sauce and Alfredo sauce? ›

White sauce – also known as béchamel – is made with flour, milk, and butter. It's a basic sauce that can be used as a base for other sauces or as a topping for dishes like lasagna. Alfredo sauce, on the other hand, is made with butter, cream, and Parmesan cheese, and has a much richer flavour than white sauce.

How to keep butter from separating in Alfredo sauce? ›

Low and Slow: Cooking the sauce over low heat helps prevent the dairy from curdling. Take your time to slowly whisk the ingredients together for a smooth texture.

Should I add pasta water to Alfredo sauce? ›

After 12 ounces of fettuccine pasta noodles are finished cooking, reserve 2 cups of the pasta water to include in your sauce. The starchy water is essential to creating a thick, creamy sauce consistency.

How to make Alfredo sauce better? ›

Heartier herbs like thyme or oregano can be added in to simmer with the sauce. Add delicate herbs like parsley, basil, or chervil at the end to maintain their delicate, aromatic flavor. Quick tip: Swirl in a bit of leftover pesto to add another herbaceous twist to your Alfredo sauce.

What can I add to chicken alfredo to make it taste better? ›

Heartier herbs like thyme or oregano can be added in to simmer with the sauce. Add delicate herbs like parsley, basil, or chervil at the end to maintain their delicate, aromatic flavor. Quick tip: Swirl in a bit of leftover pesto to add another herbaceous twist to your Alfredo sauce.

What makes chicken alfredo thick? ›

Cornstarch

The easiest way to accomplish this is to mix about a spoonful of cornstarch to 2 spoonfuls of liquid – it could be water or chicken stock or even milk. You will add this mixture, also called a slurry to the sauce and as it starts to cook, the sauce will thicken.

What's the difference between chicken fettuccine alfredo and chicken alfredo? ›

What is the difference between Chicken Alfredo and Fettuccine Alfredo? Fettuccine Alfredo is just two things: fettuccine pasta and Alfredo sauce. Chicken Alfredo is three things: fettuccine pasta, Alfredo sauce, and pan-seared chicken.

What kind of pasta is chicken alfredo made of? ›

Chicken Alfredo is a dream-team combination of juicy, golden-brown slices of chicken breast and long, slurp-able strands of thick fettuccine pasta in a luxuriant classic creamy Alfredo pasta sauce.

Does Olive Garden alfredo have parmesan? ›

Our signature alfredo sauce made fresh in-house every morning with ingredients like parmesan, cream, garlic and butter, served over fettuccine.

Is chicken alfredo just carbonara? ›

Alfredo and carbonara are totally separate dishes. Carbonara traditionally consists of guanciale, beaten eggs, black pepper, and pecorino Ramano cheese. Traditional alfredo contains Parmigiano Reggiano and butter.

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