Chicken alfredo is fettuccine tossed in a sauce of cream, butter and parmesan, topped with sliced cooked chicken. It is safe in pregnancy when served hot and the chicken is cooked through; richness, not safety, is the only reason to go easy.
Why it's good in pregnancy
Chicken breast gives lean protein and B vitamins, while cream and parmesan add calcium for your baby's bones, so a plate covers two of the nutrients pregnancy asks the most of. It is also a familiar comfort meal that is easy to order out, which matters on evenings when you need something you know you can eat.
Key nutrients
ProteinChicken breast and parmesan together give 30 g or more of protein per plate, supporting your baby's growing tissues.
CalciumCream and parmesan contribute calcium, which your baby draws on heavily for bone development.
B VitaminsChicken is rich in niacin and B6, and the pasta adds thiamin, all of which support energy and help ease nausea.
Serving ideas
Classic chicken fettuccine alfredo with cracked pepper
Lightened with broccoli florets and half the cream
With wholewheat pasta for extra fibre
A smaller portion beside a green salad
Made with spinach and mushrooms folded through
Safety
Safe when served hot with the chicken cooked through, no pink in the middle.The cream and parmesan are pasteurised or hard cheese; nothing to avoid there.It is rich, so a smaller portion with vegetables sits better later in pregnancy.
Cook chicken to 74 °C (165 °F) or until the juices run clear and there is no pink in the thickest part, then slice it onto the pasta. Cream, butter and the parmesan sold in shops are pasteurised, and parmesan is a hard cheese that is safe in pregnancy regardless, so the sauce needs no special treatment. Serve immediately, as the sauce thickens and splits on standing, and reheat leftovers once until steaming, adding a splash of milk to loosen them. If heartburn or nausea make rich food difficult, use half the cream and stir in broccoli, peas or spinach to lighten the plate.
Common questions
Can I eat chicken alfredo while pregnant?Yes, as long as the chicken is cooked through and the dish is served hot; the cream and parmesan are pasteurised or hard cheese and are fine.
Is alfredo sauce safe in pregnancy?Yes, alfredo sauce is made from cream, butter and parmesan, all of which are safe; the parmesan is a hard cheese even if unpasteurised, and the sauce is cooked anyway.
Is chicken alfredo from a restaurant safe when pregnant?Yes, restaurant alfredo is cooked to order and arrives hot; check the chicken is white throughout and send it back if you see any pink.
Did you know?
The original fettuccine alfredo, made in Rome in 1914, contained only butter and parmesan; the cream and chicken were added later in America.
A restaurant portion of chicken alfredo can top 1,200 kcal, which is why sharing or taking half home is a sensible move.
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