By Becky Hardin
Updated Dec 2, 2024
This one pot chicken alfredo recipe with jar sauce is one of the easiest dinners I’ve ever made! I used jarred alfredo sauce to keep things simple and cooked everything in one pot for minimal cleanup. I also added tons of extra cheese because who doesn’t love cheese?! From start to finish, this recipe only takes 30 minutes, so it’s a great weeknight meal.
I cannot get enough of one pot meals. Less dishes to clean, quicker prep, and an all-around easy recipe. Everything about it is just perfect for me. This chicken alfredo with jar sauce is the ultimate one pot recipe filled with creamy alfredo sauce and freshly grated cheese. I added sun-dried tomatoes for a pop of color and umami flavor. My whole family is totally addicted to this dish!
What’s in This Chicken Alfredo Recipe with Jar Sauce?
- Italian Dressing : Adds classic Italian flavor to the chicken with so little effort. I recommend using an oily dressing rather than a creamy one.
- Chicken: I like boneless, skinless chicken breasts for a healthy source of protein, but thighs will also work.
- Pasta : I like penne pasta, but any short pasta shape will work.
- Alfredo Sauce : I used jarred sauce to keep things easy, but homemade also works well.
- Oregano: A little bit of dried oregano enhances the overall flavor of the dish.
- Cheese: A combination of freshly shredded mozzarella and freshly grated Parmesan cheeses infuse this dish with fresh cheesy flavor!
- Sun-Dried Tomatoes: While a totally optional addition, I love the savory flavor they bring to this dish!
Tips for Success
- The pasta in the middle of the skillet and underneath will be more tender than the outside pasta when done. It’s okay if those pieces are a bit toastier and less soft. The inside will be plenty soft.
- Feel free to add in more favorite ingredients such as prosciutto, onions, peas, or whatever your family might love.
How to Store and Reheat
Store leftover one pot chicken alfredo in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a pot set over medium-low heat until warmed through. I do not recommend freezing this dish.
Serving Suggestions
This chicken alfredo with jar sauce is so filling, which makes it the perfect quick dinner. I love serving it with a simple garden salad , some easy garlic bread , or even a side of roasted veggies if I didn’t add them into the pasta.
5-Star Review
“Was great. Very good. Added some extras. Garlic power and some green and red peppers. Would definitely make again” -Murphy
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 2 tablespoons Italian dressing not the creamy kind
- ▢ 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts cubed
- ▢ 16 ounces dry penne pasta (1 box)
- ▢ 24 ounces Alfredo sauce (1 jar or 3 cups if using homemade)
- ▢ 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- ▢ Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- ▢ ½ cup freshly shredded mozzarella cheese
- ▢ ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- ▢ 1½ cups sun-dried tomatoes optional
- ▢ Chopped fresh parsley for garnish
Video
Instructions
- Heat chicken and Italian dressing in a large 12 inch skillet over medium high heat (If you don’t own a large skillet, you can use a stock pot). Season chicken with salt and pepper to taste. 2 tablespoons Italian dressing, 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Cook chicken until browned and just cooked through, about 5 minutes depending on thickness of chicken.
- Add the box of pasta and the entire jar of alfredo (or 3 cups of homemade alfredo). Fill the empty marinara jar with water and add to the skillet. If using a stockpot, use 2 cups water. Add the salt and pepper to taste and the dried oregano. Lightly stir the mixture to combine. 16 ounces dry penne pasta, 24 ounces Alfredo sauce, Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- Bring mixture to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. Cover and cook for 15 minutes or until pasta is tender to your liking.
- Stir in the sun dried tomatoes. 1½ cups sun-dried tomatoes
- Cover with grated parmesan and then shredded mozzarella. No need to stir. Continue to cook for 2-3 more minutes or until cheese is fully melted. You can also broil the entire skillet for about 4 minutes to make the cheese extra melty! ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, ½ cup freshly shredded mozzarella cheese
- Top with chopped parsley and serve! Enjoy! Chopped fresh parsley
Becky’s Tips
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Chicken Alfredo with Jar Sauce Step by Step
Cook the Chicken: Heat 3 cubed boneless, skinless chicken breasts and 2 tablespoons of Italian dressing in a large 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat (If you don’t own a large skillet, you can use a stock pot). Season chicken with salt and pepper to taste. Cook the chicken until browned and just cooked through, about 5 minutes depending on the thickness of the chicken.
Add the Sauce: Add 16 ounces (1 box) of dry penne pasta and a 16-ounce jar of alfredo (or 3 cups of homemade alfredo). Fill the empty marinara jar with water and add to the skillet. If using a stockpot, use 2 cups water. Add salt and pepper to taste and 1 tablespoon of dried oregano. Lightly stir the mixture to combine.
Cook the Pasta: Bring mixture to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. Cover and cook for 15 minutes or until pasta is tender to your liking.
Add the Tomatoes: Stir in 1½ cups of sun-dried tomatoes if using.
Melt the Cheese: Cover with ½ cup of grated Parmesan and ½ cup of shredded mozzarella. No need to stir. Continue to cook for 2-3 more minutes or until cheese is fully melted. You can also broil the entire skillet for about 4 minutes to make the cheese extra melty!
Top and Serve: Top with chopped parsley and serve! Enjoy!
More Chicken Alfredo Recipes to Try!
Chicken Alfredo Pasta Bake Recipe
Chicken Alfredo Stuffed Shells
Chicken Alfredo Lasagna Roll Ups
Chicken Alfredo Gnocchi Bake Recipe
Chicken Alfredo Recipe with Jar Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons Italian dressing not the creamy kind
- 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts cubed
- 16 ounces dry penne pasta (1 box)
- 24 ounces Alfredo sauce (1 jar or 3 cups if using homemade)
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- ½ cup freshly shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1½ cups sun-dried tomatoes optional
- Chopped fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Heat chicken and Italian dressing in a large 12 inch skillet over medium high heat (If you don’t own a large skillet, you can use a stock pot). Season chicken with salt and pepper to taste. 2 tablespoons Italian dressing, 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Cook chicken until browned and just cooked through, about 5 minutes depending on thickness of chicken.
- Add the box of pasta and the entire jar of alfredo (or 3 cups of homemade alfredo). Fill the empty marinara jar with water and add to the skillet. If using a stockpot, use 2 cups water. Add the salt and pepper to taste and the dried oregano. Lightly stir the mixture to combine. 16 ounces dry penne pasta, 24 ounces Alfredo sauce, Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- Bring mixture to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. Cover and cook for 15 minutes or until pasta is tender to your liking.
- Stir in the sun dried tomatoes. 1½ cups sun-dried tomatoes
- Cover with grated parmesan and then shredded mozzarella. No need to stir. Continue to cook for 2-3 more minutes or until cheese is fully melted. You can also broil the entire skillet for about 4 minutes to make the cheese extra melty! ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, ½ cup freshly shredded mozzarella cheese
- Top with chopped parsley and serve! Enjoy! Chopped fresh parsley
Video
Notes
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
