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Alfredo sauce is one of my most popular recipes EVER! This sauce is ultra creamy and belongs on everything. It’s so much better than store-bought and only takes 20 minutes to make!
A Reader’s Review
This was BY FAR the best alfredo recipe I have yet to find! If any of you are looking for online alfredo recipes, you can quit looking. This one is the richest/creamiest/most appetizing one I’ve found yet. I’ve trialed with several and this one beats them all. EXCELLENT recipe!! My husband cannot stop talking about how much ‘better’ my alfredo is this time!
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.
- Fresh or canned Parmesan? 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 shrimp.
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? Cut the cream cheese up into cubes and add in small amounts at a time 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 stovetop over low heat, stirring often. 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.
Awesome. Easy to make and affordable. I only used a 1/4 cup of butter though and thought it was plenty. Also I only had about a 1/4 cup of parmesan cheese so I added a cup of Gouda and it came out great. Thanks Alyssa
Made this but changed a few things it’s delicious I just made enough for me so I eyeballed ingredients and I didn’t have Italian season so I used oregano which works. I also just used garlic power & garlic pepper didn’t have minced garlic. I added cooked shrimp and poured over cheese and spinach ravioli perfect!
This is really good fresh but when I eat it as a left over all the butter separates from the cream and cream cheese.
Yes, you will want to stir it for a bit. It is separated due to overheating. It will still taste great just needs to be stirred really well.
Absolutely amazing! I HATE jar alfredo but have never found a recipe worth making for white sauce. So I unfortunately buy the jar white sauce and I just suffer through it lol! I have made this twice this week! Once with shrimp and tortellini and then with chicken and rigatoni! Its now a family favorite and i now NEVER have to but jar sauce again!
YAY! That is exciting to hear! I am so glad that you loved it! Thank you for following along and sharing with me! XOXO
I made this tonight exactly as the recipe calls and it was amazing. Instead of adding chicken, I added crabmeat and let me tell you… it was better than any restaurant I’ve ever eaten at. You have done an amazing job with this recipe. I will be making this for years to come!
-Kelly from Homespun And Yum
Indeed, the best! Almost too easy! Added chicken and broccoli and it’s a full meal with garlic bread of course. I cut the cream with a bit of milk to make it healthier ? lol
Hello! I’ve never put cream cheese in Alfredo Sauce, but I’ll tell you, that was the best sauce I’ve ever made! Thanks for the recipe! It’s a family hit!
Thanks S for the great recipe,my son has celiac disease so finding a creamy recipe without flour is alway hard. My family loved this. Made it with lemon garlic chicken. It was completely gluten free and delicious!
This sauce instantley became a family favorite the first time that I made it, and my son has taught both of his grandmotherts how to make it. I like to blacken Ahi Tuna on the grill and add it to the pasta and sauce. Delicious.
It’s a good recipe… however, if you’re adding meat to the sauce (such as chicken), I highly suggest cooking the chicken in the butter and spices first. During that step, I also recommend using marsala to give it a more savory flavor.
It was my first time making actual alfredo sauce (not just a creamy garlic sauce, which was also delicious) and my family loved it!! I can’t wait to make more next time my family is itching for an Italian dish.
How long can you store the sauce for?
Thank you!!! I really love it but I want to know if I can save it for more than 1 day in the fridge.
The sauce lasts for 3 to 4 days in the fridge.
You’re recipes look delicious! Going to try Alfredo sauce today! Hope it’s as good as it looks!
I’ve made this a couple of times. I love ihe taste. But the sauce breaks down when I used it for a casserole with penne pasta and cooked chicken and bacon. I left the casserole in the fridge over night and cooked it the next day. The sauce breaks down and separates. Can you tell me how to avoid that?
Yes, you don’t want to over heat it or it will break down. Also, just by stirring it up will help.
WHAT is that green stuff on top of the spaghetti Alfred sauce? I want to buy that?
You can either top it with basil or parsley to add an extra flavor.
How much sauce does this Make? 3 cups? And how many ounces of pasta do you serve with it?
It makes about a jar full-3 to 4 cups is about accurate.
This was AMAZING!!! Never buying jar sauce again!