One-Pot Chicken Alfredo with Peas & Carrots
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Creamy, Flavorful Alfredo Without the Salt Shaker
Comfort food doesn't need a salt shaker to be satisfying. This one-pot Chicken Alfredo uses herb-infused pasta water, tender chicken, a blend of Italian cheeses, butter, cream, and sweet peas and carrots to build rich, balanced flavor naturally.
It's another example of the noaddedsaltguy philosophy: using the ingredients within the meal to season the meal.
Ingredients
Serves 2–3
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8 ounces rigatoni
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½ pound boneless, skinless chicken breast, diced
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½ bag frozen peas and carrots
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3 cloves garlic, sliced
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Fresh parsley stems
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Fresh basil stems
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Freshly ground black pepper
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4 tablespoons unsalted butter
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½ cup heavy cream
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½ cup half-and-half
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½ cup freshly grated Parmesan, Asiago, and Romano cheese blend
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Fresh chopped parsley, for garnish
Instructions
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Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
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Add the parsley stems, basil stems, sliced garlic, and black pepper to the water. Let them infuse the water for a few minutes, then remove the stems.
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Add the rigatoni.
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A few minutes before the pasta is finished cooking, add the frozen peas and carrots and the diced chicken to the same pot.
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Cook until the rigatoni is al dente and the chicken is fully cooked.
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Drain the pasta, chicken, peas, and carrots, then return everything to the pot.
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Add the 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter and heat gently until completely melted.
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Pour in the heavy cream and half-and-half. Simmer for a minute or two until everything is heated through.
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Turn off the heat.
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Stir in the Parmesan, Asiago, and Romano cheese blend until the sauce becomes smooth, creamy, and coats the rigatoni.
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Sprinkle with freshly chopped parsley and freshly ground black pepper before serving.
Estimated Sodium
Approximately 400–475 mg per serving, depending on the cheese blend used and portion size.
What Makes This Work
This meal demonstrates that great flavor comes from technique and ingredients—not from adding salt.
The pasta begins by cooking in water infused with parsley stems, basil stems, garlic, and black pepper, giving it subtle flavor before the sauce is even made.
Cooking the chicken, vegetables, and pasta together keeps the meal simple while allowing the ingredients to share their flavors. Butter provides richness, while the blend of Parmesan, Asiago, and Romano cheeses adds depth and the savory character people often expect from salt. The peas and carrots contribute a gentle sweetness that balances the creamy sauce.
Instead of relying on a salt shaker at the table, every ingredient plays a role in seasoning the meal. That's the heart of the noaddedsaltguy method: using the ingredients within the meal to season the meal.
Watch the Video
Watch the accompanying YouTube video to see this one-pot meal come together and learn how simple techniques can create rich, satisfying flavor without relying on added salt.
Learn the Method
Recipes are examples. The real goal is learning the method behind them.
Join one of my live online cooking classes and cook along with me as I show you how to build flavor, simplify meal preparation, and cook with confidence—without relying on a salt shaker.
Less salt. More flavor. Every day.