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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

Pouring alfredo sauce into a glass jar.

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!

  1. 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.
  2. Add In Seasonings: Add the minced garlic, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and salt and pepper. Then continue to whisk until smooth.
  3. Stir in Cheese: Add the grated parmesan cheese.
  4. Thicken Your Sauce: Bring to a simmer and continue to cook for about 3-5 minutes until it starts to thicken.
  5. 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.

4-photo collage of sauce ingredients being mixed together in a skillet.

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!
Top-down view of alfredo sauce being whisked in a blue and white skillet.

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.

Ways to Use Homemade Alfredo Sauce

With how easily this alfredo sauce comes together, you will never go back to the jarred sauce again! It’s awesome on top of just about any pasta but is also delicious used as a dip or even spread on pizza.

Using tongs to pick up fettuccine alfredo.

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.

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The Best Homemade Alfredo Sauce Ever!

4.91 from 737 votes
By: Alyssa Rivers
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.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 10 servings

Ingredients 

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

Updated on May 2, 2023
Original Post on February 18, 2016

Nutrition

Calories: 329kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 6gFat: 33gSaturated Fat: 21gCholesterol: 111mgSodium: 347mgPotassium: 67mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 1218IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 159mgIron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Tried this recipe?Mention @alyssa_therecipecritic or tag #therecipecritic!

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About Alyssa Rivers

Alyssa Rivers is the author of 'The Tried and True Cookbook', a professional food photographer and experienced recipe-developer. Having a passion for cooking, her tried and true recipes have been featured on Good Morning America, Today Food, Buzzfeed and more.

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Recipe Rating




1,637 Comments

  1. I will be trying this recipe. Glad you add spices…most alfredo sauce is so bland.I like to top my pasta and sauce with ground Italian sausage. DEElish!

  2. 5 stars
    Amazing!!!!!!! My all time favorite dish and now I can make my own sauce ??!!!!! Sooo creamy and rich !!!

  3. 5 stars
    I never usually leave reviews but this recipe was too delicious not to! Iโ€™ve been craving Alfredo for the past couple of weeks and I stumbled across this recipe. The cream cheese made me nervous because I donโ€™t like it usually, but I didnโ€™t want to alter the recipe. Iโ€™m glad I didnโ€™t because this was AMAZING! I added shrimp and it was so creamy and rich. And very easy to make!

  4. This recipe does not disappoint. Every time I serve it everyone (and I mean everyone) asks for the recipe, and I happily share.

  5. 5 stars
    I followed this recipe exactly, and the sauce came together well and has amazing flavor! I canโ€™t wait to serve this as part of our Christmas meal! Thank you for sharing!

  6. 5 stars
    I LOVE this recipe, it is a flavorful and flexible recipe. It serves as a good base, where you can add more spices and protein. I’m so happy I found this on google, now I have something to make this Christmas.

  7. 4 stars
    Be careful when using measures such as pint or quart. The terms mean different things depending on where you live. In the US a pint means 16 oz. Everywhere else it means 20 oz. In the US a quart means 32 oz. everywhere else it means 40 oz. The world has also gone metric with the exception of the US. there is no ambiguity with metric.

  8. 5 stars
    This is the best ever. Taking it for a family Christmas party tomorrow. By request from the host. Because โ€œitโ€™s the best Alfredo sheโ€™s ever had.โ€

  9. 5 stars
    I used this recipe as part of a pasta bar at my daughterโ€™s graduation party. We made a bunch of sauce a few days before the party, let it cool, then stored it in gallon sized zip bags in the refrigerator. We then reheated it slowly just before the party. It worked amazingly well! I was worried about how it would reheat and how it would keep in the server. It was a perfect consistency and we received a ton of compliments.

  10. 5 stars
    Best pasta alfredo ever!! I love my garlic so I go crazy with that!! I do have a question: If I put it on a crockpot on the lowest heat will that stay well?