Smoked Paprika Chicken Feta Alfredo

This is my slightly unhinged love letter to pasta: creamy Alfredo that got dressed up in smoked paprika, hugged some grilled chicken, and ran off with a crumbly ball of feta. It’s indulgent without the pretension, smoky without smoking anything other than my patience when I forget to preheat the pan, and fast enough to make weeknight dinner feel like a flex. Try it because it tastes expensive and takes approximately the effort of ten standing memes about doing dishes.

Home Truth: My family eats almost anything that comes with cheese, and this one disappeared so quickly I considered charging rent. Also, yes—I once burned the garlic and pretended I meant to caramelize it. We all have our kitchen crimes.

Time-Saving Hacks

– Use pre-cooked rotisserie chicken. Nobody needs to know you didn’t sear it yourself.
– Jarred Alfredo sauce + a pinch of smoked paprika = acceptable deception. Add feta to prove you care.
– Boil pasta while you do everything else in one pan. Yes, I know that’s technically two pans if you count the pot. Math is flexible.
– Grate the cheese directly into the sauce to avoid fiddly measuring. Also, more cheese.
– Frozen peas or spinach dumped in at the last minute = instant veggie credentials.

Serving Ideas

– Serve with a crunchy side salad — or toss it with wine if the kids drove you nuts that day.
– Crusty bread to swipe every last drip, because shame is for unfinished bowls.
– Light a candle and pretend you didn’t feed everyone at 6:12 while still in yoga pants.
– Keep it simple: pasta, chicken, feta. No one needs a parade of sides every night.

What to Serve It With

Garlic bread, a crisp green salad, or a dramatic glass of red wine if you’re in the mood to behave fancy. Also works with a bowl of “I couldn’t find anything else” roasted veggies.

✔Tips & Mistakes

– Don’t overcook the chicken — dry chicken is the equivalent of getting socks for your birthday.
– Don’t let the sauce boil vigorously or it’ll split. Gentle simmering is the adulting part nobody told you about.
– If the sauce gets too thick, rescue it with a splash of pasta water. Yes, that weird starchy stuff is magical.
– If you forget the smoked paprika, go ahead and cry. Then add smoked paprika. Life is better smoky.

✔Storage Tips

Store it in the fridge… if there’s any left. Cold midnight leftovers? Sometimes better than fresh.
Reheat gently on the stove with a little splash of milk or cream — microwave will work in an emergency, but the sauce may sulk a bit.

✔Variations and Substitutions

Swap whatever you want—sugar ↔ honey, soy sauce ↔ tamari, or skip steps and call it “deconstructed.” It still counts.
– Use shrimp or mushrooms instead of chicken for a different vibe.
– Swap Greek yogurt for some cream to lighten things without calling it a salad.
– Add a squeeze of lemon if your feta is acting too salty and dramatic.

Frequently Asked Questions

Smoked Paprika Chicken Feta Alfredo

A creamy and flavorful chicken pasta dish featuring smoked paprika and feta cheese.

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Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes minutes

Servings: 4

Calories: 120kcal

Ingredients

 

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Main Ingredients

• ▢ 1.5 lb boneless chicken breasts
• ▢ 8 oz fettuccine pasta
• ▢ 1 cup heavy cream
• ▢ 4 oz feta cheese, crumbled for a tangy flavor
• ▢ 1 tbsp smoked paprika adds deep flavor
• ▢ 2 tbsp olive oil
• ▢ 3 cloves garlic, minced
• ▢ 0.5 tsp salt to taste
• ▢ 0.5 tsp black pepper freshly cracked

Instructions

Preparation Steps

• Cook fettuccine according to package instructions; drain and set aside.
• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute.
• Season chicken breasts with smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Add to the skillet; cook until browned and cooked through, about 6-7 minutes per side.
• Remove chicken from skillet; let rest for a few minutes before slicing it.
• Pour heavy cream into the skillet, scraping the bottom to release any browned bits. Bring to a simmer.
• Add cooked fettuccine and sliced chicken back into the skillet. Stir gently to combine.
• Mix in crumbled feta cheese, allowing it to blend into the sauce for extra creaminess.
• Serve hot, garnished with additional feta and a sprinkle of smoked paprika if desired.

Notes

Consider adding a sprinkle of fresh parsley for color. Pair with garlic bread for a complete meal!