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This is the most creamy and delicious homemade alfredo sauce that you will ever make! It’s a tried and true recipe that will take all of your favorite pasta dishes to the next level.
This is my most popular recipe for a good reason! If you love alfredo as much as I do try this Creamy Garlic Shrimp Alfredo Pasta, Instant Pot Chicken Alfredo Pasta or Asiago Garlic Alfredo Pasta.
Best-Ever Alfredo Sauce
This is probably one of my favorite recipes here on the blog. (It’s a reader-favorite, too!) If there is one thing I can always count on my family to eat it is my homemade alfredo sauce over pasta. With alfredo sauce this creamy, cheesy, and flavorful, it’s so hard to resist!
We recently had some company over for dinner and I made these Chicken Bacon Garlic Alfredo Roll Ups. They are always are a huge hit! This homemade alfredo sauce really makes any dish shine. It’s thick and creamy, coats pasta perfectly, and the flavor is out of the world. It is restaurant quality that you can make right at home!
Ingredients You Need to Make It
You only need a few simple ingredients to make the BEST alfredo sauce. This sauce just has a smooth, creamy texture that melts in your mouth. For the best possible flavor, using the freshest ingredients is key! Fresh parmesan cheese grated off the block is one of those key ingredients. This will create a smooth textured sauce rather than a grainy one.
- Butter: Both unsalted or salted work for this alfredo sauce recipe. If using salted butter, then just adjust the extra salt you use or omit it entirely.
- Heavy Cream: A must-add so your sauce is rich and creamy.
- Cream Cheese: My secret ingredient! This adds a nice, thick consistency to your alfredo sauce.
- Minced Garlic: For the best flavor, use fresh garlic.
- Garlic Powder: Because you can never go wrong with too much garlic! Add some of this in so your sauce has a little extra savory flavor.
- Italian Seasoning: My favorite blend of herbs! They make the sauce smell and taste amazing.
- Salt and Pepper: Add both to taste.
- Grated Parmesan Cheese: Using freshly grated parmesan cheese is best. Powdered cheese will create a grainy texture and does not melt through when heated. This is because of all the preservatives that are added.
How to Make Alfredo Sauce From Scratch
Not only does this alfredo sauce recipe use super simple ingredients, but it’s so quick and easy to make! Simply combine all of your ingredients in a skillet and achieve creamy, cheesy goodness. It’s so good!
- Whisk Dairy Ingredients Together: In a medium saucepan add butter, heavy whipping cream, and cream cheese. Then cook over medium heat and whisk until melted.
- Add In Seasonings: Add the minced garlic, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and salt and pepper. Then continue to whisk until smooth.
- Stir in Cheese: Add the grated parmesan cheese.
- Thicken Your Sauce: Bring to a simmer and continue to cook for about 3-5 minutes until it starts to thicken.
- Toss With Pasta: Toss alfredo sauce with your favorite pasta! I always go for fettuccine noodles to make the best fettuccine alfredo ever!
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.
Alfredo Sauce FAQ
This thick, cheesy, and flavorful sauce is a reader favorite for good reason! These are a few common questions I get asked, I hope they help you create the homemade alfredo sauce of your dreams!
- Can I Make Alfredo Sauce With Milk Instead of Cream? Adding milk is always an option. You will end up with a lighter and less thick consistency but it will work. Half and half is another option you can use. If you need to thicken your sauce up a little more, then add 1 to 2 teaspoons of flour until you reach your desired consistency.
- How Do I Make My Sauce Thicker? When adding cream cheese, slowly cut chunks of cream cheese as you are stirring. This helps create a thicker and creamier sauce. You can also use a roux by using an equal amount of butter to flour, about 1 teaspoon.
- Is This Alfredo Sauce Gluten-Free? This recipe is considered gluten-free! It has an amazing flavor without substitutions.
- Is Alfredo Sauce Made With Cheese? This is a cheese-based pasta sauce that is rich in flavor. It does not harden like cheese though.
- Can I Make it Dairy-Free? There are substitutions to make this dairy-free but I do not recommend it if you are looking for an authentic alfredo sauce. Having dairy in the recipe makes it rich, creamy, and smooth. If you absolutely must, then swap out the heavy cream for a dairy-free creamer or nut milk and use dairy-free or vegan cheese crumbles. Keep in mind that the texture may end up slightly different.
- What Protein Can I Add? Alfredo sauce goes so well with chicken or fish. Try this crispy parmesan chicken or garlic brown sugar salmon!
Tips and Variations
I think this sauce is even better than any restaurant that I have been to and the best part is- you can make it yourself! It’s thick, creamy, and rich. The perfect sauce for your favorite pasta. I know that you will quickly agree that it is the BEST! This will be a recipe that you make again and again, just like I do!
- Use a Whisk: Avoid separating your alfredo sauce when mixing it by whisking it together rather than stirring with a spatula.
- Cook Low and Slow: The most important rule is to not overheat your alfredo sauce. Slowly add ingredients on a low heat and for a short period of time. Melted cheese will break and separate once it gets too hot leaving your cheese clumpy. Do not boil or overheat. Boiling will separate and ruin the alfredo sauce. If you are worried about overheating, then add your parmesan with the heat off. This will also prevent clumping!
- Protein Choices: Grilled chicken, fish, shredded rotisserie chicken, or shrimp are great with this sauce!
- Extra Seasonings: Add in more spices and seasonings like red pepper flakes or paprika so your alfredo has a kick of heat, similar to this One Pot Cajun Chicken Alfredo Pasta.
- Different Cheese: To switch up the flavor, use half Romano cheese or asiago cheese instead of parmesan cheese.
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! Here’s how to store any leftovers so you can enjoy it again and again.
- Storing in the Refrigerator: I like to store my alfredo sauce in an airtight jar in the refrigerator. It will stay good for about 5 days. The ingredients may separate as it sits, so give it a quick stir before you use it.
- Reheating: Slowly is key! Use low temperatures 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. It becomes more oily and separates just as easily, if not more.
More Amazing Alfredo Recipes
If you love everything alfredo, here are a few more great dishes to try. They’re easy, cheesy, and picky eater approved! What could be better than that? So go ahead, try them out with that tasty batch of alfredo sauce you just made!
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The Best Homemade Alfredo Sauce Ever!
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter
- 1 pint heavy whipping cream or 2 cups
- 4 ounces cream cheese
- ½ teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan add butter, heavy whipping cream, and cream cheese. Cook over medium heat and whisk until melted.
- Add the minced garlic, garlic powder, italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Continue to whisk until smooth. Add the grated parmesan cheese.
- Bring to a simmer and continue to cook for about 3-5 minutes or until it starts to thicken. Toss it with your favorite pasta!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I just made this Alfredo sauce and it was the best Alfredo sauce I’ve ever tasted and very easy to make. The only ingredient I didn’t use was garlic powder because I didn’t have any on hand so I just added a little extra of finely minced garlic and it came out perfect! Thanks for this recipe, it will be the only Alfredo recipe I ever make again.
I ran across this recipe and made it this evening as I had everything on hand. I did not deviate one bit. It was AMAZINGLY DELICIOUS!! I will never, ever buy a jar of Alfredo sauce again. And I think this put most restaurant sauces to shame!!
My family thanks you!
Most wonderful Alfredo Sauce I’ve had! Very easy to make. Guests raved about it ~ a little sad there were no leftovers!
Yum! I mixed some homemade pesto into this sauce instead of the Italian seasoning (we need to cut the salt) WOW you have to try it, the basil and garlic compliments it. We served mixed with grilled chicken, cherry tomatoes and lightly cooked our zoodles right in the sauce so they soaked up that flavor.. the kids devoured it, so no lunch leftovers for me and they don’t even like zucchini! Thanks for a delcious recipe!
Just made it ,and it tastes wonderful. Beats every Alfredo sauce I ever bought from the grocery store by far. Very easy to make , tastes delicious and I might even have enough to refrigerate for tomorrow. I also used a bit more Parmesan,, just because we are big cheese lovers. This is highly recommended recipe,,and look no further. Simply delicious.
Whipping cream, is that like whip cream? Like cool whip ?
Heavy whipping cream is what you would use to whip cream. It is in a container by the milk. 🙂
Yes, it’s in the dairy section, by the milk. It comes in a pint container, which is the amount the recipe calls for,
This is the most awesome Alfredo sauce that I have ever had or made. I followed the recipe and it was perfect. I am making lobster ravioli for a baby shower and needed a good Alfredo sauce. I did a trial run this weekend for my family to make sure it would work with the lobster ravioli and they LOVED it! The recipe is super easy and Delish!!
Oh yeah, great stuff I halted the ingrediates for two people, only change was 1/4 tsp of nutmeg. Made it twice and it’s off the charts. Very rich.
I cant believe how easy and oh so delicious this is. I usually just shake in spices, but this time I did exactly as the recipe said. Oh wow…so good..
I will never buy jar alfredo again.
Thank you for this recipe, my family loves it!
I made this recipe to the T and I have a very picky family. We all loved it! My husband said he would eat it again ad long ad I made it exactly the same. It wad sinfully rich and better then Olive Garden!!! Thanks for a great recipe!!!!
This was the best alfredo sauce I ever made or ate! I have been cooking a lot for many many years, this was very easy to make. It was full of flavor! I made it with grilled chicken and broccoli. I will never order it out again!!!
I followed the recipe closely and all I can think is, it tastes like cream cheese. Won’t ever put cream cheese in Alfredo again. Marscapone cheese Might be a better choice if you want an extra-creamy sauce.
Marscapone is a sweet cheese, so if you like that flavor you can try it. By adding all the other cheese and spices it should take care of the cream cheese flavor.
If you make a double batch and put in refrig. How will it last? When you reheat the sauce will stay smooth?
Would like to see more pictures of the sauce making process. Looks great.
What is the Italian seasoning?
It is a seasoning blend you can pick up at the grocery store.
But does it mean the Italian Herb blend you get in the herb and spices section or the Italian Seasoning/Dressing mix? I’m assuming the herb blend but I would like to be sure.
I use the Italian Herb bottle found in the seasoning/spices section.