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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.
I made this last weekend it is hands down the best I’ve ever had. Insanely good.
I’ a Foodie who has owned restaurants, bars and catering for over 20 years. Simply put this is one of my favorites and definitely a keeper. Will be keeping an eye on your site.
I love ,love ,love this recipe , I add sliced grilled chicken and broccoli to mine. The only thing I changed is instead of grated Parmesan cheese I use shredded Parmesan cheese and that seems to cook better. Thank you for this wonderful recipe.
I would like to know if you can Pressure can this recipe. It is delicious and I would love to be able to go to the pantry and grab a jar for a super quick meal
Wow! That’s all I’ve got to say…however, it bares repeating. Wow!
I made this last night and the family went gaga over it! They kept going back for more until it was gone like a freight train! Ha! I did use sour cream instead of cream cheese since it seems lighter and still delightful! Many thanks for a super flavorful alfredo!
Delicious! I added some extra toss in items like tomatoes, artichoke, chicken etc and it was perfect!
This is HANDS DOWN the best Alfredo Sauce. I have taught my oldest son to cook it as well. We have 5 kids with all different taste buds but they all love this recipe! Thank you for sharing. It has become a household staple in our family.
This was great! I used fresh grated parmesan and took her advice to slowly melt it in. It turned out amazing.
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese…by grating, do you mean grating (where you get lengthy like slices) or grating with a zester (where you get little bitty crumbs)? My wife made this before but it turned out rather thick.?
I prefer to use grated fresh parmesan.
Any substitute for parmesan cheese?
For most recipes I would have a substitute but for this homemade Alfredo sauce it is best to keep the parmesan cheese.
This is the best Homemade Alfredo Sauce that I’ve ever tasted!! My whole family loves it as well! Better than ANY Alfredo sauce that is off the shelf or in the refrigerator section in stores!
Have not tried it yet, but it looks delish. I have sour cream in fridge, can I sub that in instead of cream cheese?
You can but it will have a different textures and taste. It will not be a smooth consistency.
Fantastic? FYI, it’s all in the technique (as Spongebob once told Squidward)! You can’t throw the ingredients together all willy nilly and expect it to come out 5 stars. Try it again once more if it didn’t come out perfectly the first time?
Side Note: adding dry white wine = extra awesome
This sauce was delicious!!!!!!
I’ve been making Alfredo sauce for years and just tried your recipe.
Fantastic best I’ve tasted and my new go to recipe! Thank you
Amazing! I added shrimp to this recipe and it was soooooooo good!! I’ll definitely be using this recipe every time!
I made this sauce tonight for dinner and I doctored it up a little bit. 1st I got ALL fresh ingredients. Cost around $35 to get all fresh ingredients the most expensive part was the cheese. But I also made it with chicken, brussel sprouts, bacon, and mushrooms. I fried them on the side with truffle oil. And I added it to the top of the sauce once i plated it. And it was truly amazing!!