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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’ve made this recipe several times. It’s super quick to make and easy to out together. Far better than store bought alfredo from a jar. My two kids (who can be picky) and husband love it. I don’t normally leave reviews, but this recipe I keep coming back to. The only thing I change is the amount of butter. 1/2 cup (1 whole stick) of butter is just way too much. It seperates from the rest of the sauce, especially when cooled/reheated. I’ll use half a stick or less and still same great flavor without so much of a butter flavor.
I’ve made this recipe several times. My two kids (who can be picky) and husband love it. I don’t normally leave reviews, but this recipe I keep coming back to. The only thing I change is the amount of butter. 1/2 cup (1 whole stick) of butter is just way too much. It seperates from the rest of the sauce, especially when cooled/reheated. I’ll use half a stick or less and still same great flavor without so much of a butter flavor.
This recipe is amazing. Better than any jar alfredo sauce from the store. I cut back a little on the garlic powder and salt but added more minced garlic and garlic salt. I also added chopped mushrooms. Thanks for the recipe!
Hubs loved it. Needed to use up some turkey breast that he had smoked. I didn’t have heavy whipping cream, so used 2% milk. Sauteed some onions in with the butter in the first step before adding the milk & cream cheese. Really good flavor!
Does anyone happen to know what change, if anything, by adding the cream cheese in after everything else started simmering, as opposed to with the cream beforebuts hot? I made this recipe and me and my mom liked it, however my husband and son said not so much it was a bit ‘off’ yet the didn’t know what it was. I just wanted thoughts on that change or any other. Also I didn’t have parm cheese so I used shredded mozzarella, maybe that was what it was. Thanks for ur thoughts
Add old bay seasoning and sazon, that off taste is the spice.
I would think it must of been from using mozzarella instead of parmesan cheese.
Yes the Mozzarella cheese will give it a completely different taste. That is quite likely the “off” they were detecting. I bet it made a great cheese sauce though.
This is the best Alfredo sauce ever! Better than any restaurant or store bought Alfredo sauce. My family loves it, and they request it frequently. I double the recipe so I have enough sauce for two meals, then I just change up the pasta and the protein choice. Thank you for sharing this easy to make family favorite!
This was truly the BEST alfredo sauce that I have ever made! So creamy and delicious! I pour it over fettuccine, chicken, and sauteed peppers and onions. Great meal!
Best receipt ever ! This is my Alfredo sauce for the rest of life now !
Thank you for the recipe! It is awesome in my family loves it! This is now the only sauce that I make for my pasta 🙂
I love this recipe. I have made it several times exactly as writen. It’s so easy and a great sauce. The whole family request this for dinner on a regular basis. Thank you for freeing us from bitter jarred Alfredo sauce.
This is my favorite Alfredo sauce I have used this recipe over and over ..
How much fettuccine pasta should I buy for this?
Our family of 6 uses about 1 pound (a box). Hope that helps!
…Seriously… the best sauce ever. So easy to make!
Nutritional information? Caleb’s, mainly. Thanks!’
Sorry, I meant CARBS.
I like to use skinnytaste.com or myfitnesspal.com for any nutritional information. Hope that helps you find what you are looking for too.
Without a doubt the best alfredo sauce I’ve ever tasted. The best part of this recipe is that it’s so easy to make. Everyone in my family raved about it. Thanks for such a wonderful recipe.
Easy and delicious! Definitely a keeper.
Can you make this the day before? What is the best way to reheat.
Yes, you can make it a day ahead. Reheat slowly and on low over the stove top, stirring. You do not want to overheat or it will separate.