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Alfredo sauce is one of my most popular recipes EVER! The secret is a little cream cheese, and ohhh my gosh, the tangy creaminess takes it to the next level. You and your kids will inhale it, I promise!
A Reader’s Review
All I can say is OMGawd, Finally! Alfredo is my daughters favorite and I have tried so many “best” Alfredo recipes and none of them have been even close. This recipe is the end to a 10 year search! The sauce is super creamy and the flavor is spot on…better than your favorite restaurant. Thank you for sharing the recipe!
Why You Need to Make This Alfredo Sauce Today!
- It’s so good, I eat it with a spoon! I “test” it so many times while cooking that I’m usually full before dinner even starts. It’s that creamy, cheesy, and irresistible.
- Cream cheese makes it next-level! This is my secret ingredient! It adds the perfect tang and smooth texture that most Alfredo sauces are missing!
- You won’t believe how simple and fast this is! It tastes fancy, but it’s so easy. One pan, a few ingredients, and 20 minutes later, you’re a dinner hero.
Ingredients Needed
- Different Cheese: To switch up the flavor, use half Romano cheese or Asiago cheese instead of Parmesan cheese.
- Do I have to use cream cheese? You can omit the cream cheese, but I suggest replacing it with 1/2 cup of additional heavy cream.
- Freshly Grated or Canned Parmesan Cheese? Freshly grated Parmesan is a must! The stuff in a can will make the sauce grainy, and the pre-shredded kind will end up very clumpy.
- Can I substitute the heavy Cream? You can use milk or half & half instead. The sauce will be lighter, but still tasty.
- Make it Spicy! You can add in more spices and seasonings like red pepper flakes or paprika so your Alfredo has a little kick to it! Similar to this Cajun Alfredo pasta!
- What Protein Can I Add? Alfredo sauce goes so well with chicken or fish. Try this shrimp, crispy parmesan chicken or garlic brown sugar salmon!
How to Make Alfredo Sauce from Scratch
Not only does this Alfredo sauce use simple, everyday ingredients, but it also comes together in minutes.
- Melt: Add the butter, cream, and cream cheese to a medium pan and whisk over medium heat until melted.
- Whisk: Add the minced garlic, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper and whisk until combined. Make sure to whisk it together rather than stirring with a spatula. This will help your Alfredo sauce not to separate.
- Gradually Add Cheese: Continue to whisk until smooth before gradually adding the Parmesan cheese. (Overheating can cause the cheese to break and turn clumpy. Keep the heat low, stir gently, and avoid boiling. For best results, add the Parmesan off heat to help it melt smoothly.)
- Simmer and Serve: Bring to a simmer and whisk for about 3-5 minutes or until it thickens. Toss it with fettuccine noodles and serve immediately.
Alyssa’s Pro Tips
Want a thicker sauce? Add the cream cheese in small chunks while stirring. It melts evenly and enhances the texture. If needed, whisk together 2 teaspoons of cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of water and stir it in to thicken further.
How Many Cups Does It Yield?
When you are done making your alfredo sauce you will be able to fill a tall canning jar. This is about 14 to 16 ounces (1 pound) of pasta or 2 cups of sauce. I like to reserve a little sauce on the side for dipping breadsticks in.
Storing Leftover Alfredo Sauce
Alfredo sauce is a favorite at our house and I know that it won’t last long, even if I double it!
- In the Fridge: Store your homemade Alfredo sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Reheating: Reheat your sauce on the stove on low heat and stir often. If it starts to separate, slowly whisk it back together over low heat on the stovetop. It is best not to microwave this sauce because it can cause the sauce to break and turn oily.
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Homemade Alfredo Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream 1 pint
- 4 ounces cream cheese
- ½ teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Add ½ cup unsalted butter, 2 cups heavy whipping cream, and 4 ounces cream cheese to a medium saucepan and whisk over medium heat until melted.
- Add ½ teaspoon minced garlic, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper Continue to whisk until smooth before gradually adding 1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese.
- Bring to a simmer and continue to whisk for about 3-5 minutes or until it thickens. Toss it with your favorite pasta and serve immediately.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
All I can say is OMGawd, Finally! Alfredo is my daughters favorite and I have tried so many “best” Alfredo recipes and none of them have been even close. This recipe is the end to a 10 year search! The sauce is super creamy and the flavor is spot on…better than your favorite restaurant. Thank you for sharing the recipe!
I’m so sorry it took you 10 years to find me! I’m glad you did though, and I’m so glad you liked it!
Alyssa, this is tasty and easy. Do you think this would freeze ok?
Sadly it doesn’t. The sauce separates and when freezing cream the texture can become undesirable. I wish it was. It would be so nice to make a huge batch and freeze some for later.
Missing a dash of nutmeg, highly recommend not skipping the nutmeg. Otherwise best Alfredo recipe I’ve tried yet.
I love this recipe & use fusilloni noodles i get at Aldi’s so i have to 1 1/2 this recipe because they hold so much sauce. Then i make breaded chicken breast with ritz crackers & steamed broccoli. Delish
I need a really good sauce for Mac and cheese and Lobster dish
I would like to add chicken, mushrooms, artichokes, asparagus, and cherry tomatoes to this, do you think that would work okay?
Yes that works great! I also have a creamy spinach artichoke mushroom chicken recipe you could try as well, just replace the spinach with your asparagus!
Love this sauce! I have made it several times but with milk instead of cream so it is lighter (with homemade fresh fettuccine noodles). It’s so delicious!!
I made this for dinner and it was so good! Had a couple people try it and they thought it was delicious too, and it’s so simple to make! This is definitely my favorite recipe to make for Alfredo
I’m so glad you like it Audrey! It’s one of my favorites!
It taste good easy to make surprisingly I did have all the ingredients yay! Hoping my family will like it too!
Love this Alfredo Sauce.
So glad you like it! Thank you for the comment and review!
Absolutely stunning sauce!
My dad makes a version just like this, but he has been tinkering and perfecting it for years.
I’ve gotten him to text it to me once or twice, but never actually wrote it down.
This weekend I was planning to make it again, and while waiting for his reply(and recipe, again) I came across this one using keywords cream cheese and heavy cream, two major players in my dad’s creation.. made it last night and all I can say is.. WOW!
Major winner here! Thank you, and please don’t tell my dad I made your sauce instead.. lol
Yay! I’m so glad it met the standards of your dad’s sauce! Shhh, it’s our secret! Thank you for your comment and review!
Absolutely amazing! So easy to make but so creamy and full of flavor!!
Thank you so much for leaving a comment and review! I’m glad you liked it! It is seriously one of my favorites!
Honestly, so delicious and so creamy! My picky tween loves this dish and it’s my pleasure to make this dish in my kitchen! Thank you!
Thank you for taking the time to comment, it means a lot to me!
I don’t have any cream, will this work with milk?
Heather, yes milk will work, but it won’t be as thick and creamy if you use milk over cream.
Hi! I am planning on making for for a pasta bar party but I wanted to keep it in a heated chafing dish. Do you think the sauce would hold up for 30 minutes or so in that?
Ashley, I would think so.
I made this before and I made it just the other day. I love it. I used the heavy cream. It was delicious. I added broccoli and shrimp to mine with the fettuccine noodles!
Yum! Sounds delicious! Thank you for commenting! I’m so glad you like it!