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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.
About how many ounces of sauce does this recipe make?
It makes about 16 ounces. A jar full.
Perfection! (minus the cream cheese)
Awesome recipe! I’ve tried others but I like this one most. I was kind of scared of all the heavy whipping cream because I doubled the recipe and i ended up leaving 1/3 of it and it still turned out great! The only problem was cooking it to long caused it to begin to seperate. Next time I will be more careful.
I want to try this recipe but I would need to double it. When you doubled the recipe, did you double everything except the cream?
Love this sauce, I made it a few times and it’s always a favorite.
Recently I saved the sauce in the fridge for the first time (I usually use it all right away, never any leftovers), and it turned into a hardened paste in the fridge. I wasn’t sure if this is normal or if I did something wrong?
Hi Victoria,
Homemade Alfredo sauce does not last long in the refrigerator. When warming up, gently warm it up over the stovetop, continually stirring/whisking it together on a low temperature.
I absolutely love this Alfredo sauce, it truly is the best and I get excited every time I need to make it
I made this last night, I left out the Italian seasoning and added some onion powder and had sautéed shrimp with it, it was very good, Will definitely make it again
We love this recipe at home and typically add broccoli! I never seem to make enough lol
I just got a Ninja Foodi for Christmas, do you know if this can be modified for a ninja foodi/instant pot and how? It would make this recipe even better if I could make it in one pot! Figured it wouldn’t hurt to ask! Thank you for this amazing dish!
That is awesome you received a Ninja Foodi for Christmas. I have heard great things about it. For this recipe it is best not made in an instant pot. It is best to make it over the stove top.
Thank you 🙂 I attempted it that night I posted and it was no where near the original lol lots of ingredient separation. Stove top it is! This recipe is so yummy! Thank you again!
This was so good and so easy. I didn’t have whipping cream so I used 18% cream. Also didn’t use the Italian seasoning as not everyone in this house likes those flavours. It was still excellent and will become a staple going forward.
So, I made this sauce to go with bow tie pasta and chicken carbonara. I did cut down on the Italian seasoning, as a little goes a long way. The guys said it was the best sauce they’ve ever had! I must say – it was good! One asked where I got the recipe – I said off the internet.. my little secret!
This is the only Alfredo recipe that I ever tried and never had a need to look for another! I’ve been making it for years and my family loves it! We will be having it tonight and I can’t wait!!
Absolutely love this recipe. I send it out to everyone and tell them they’ll never buy jar Alfredo sauce again just like me haha. Thanks for sharing!
I have made this several times and each time it has been a hit! I’ve added broccoli and cauliflower to mine and even added some “chicken of the woods” mushrooms to it and it all added to the flavor! I’ve even shared the recipe with friends and they all say the same thing! BEST ALFREDO EVER!!! Thank you for sharing and letting the rest of us enjoy this delicious meal!!!
If I make a chicken Alfredo pasta bake with 12 oz of penne noodles, will there be enough sauce or would you recommend doubling the recipe?
It’s my favorite Alfredo recipe, hands down!!! I’ve tried many and I’ll never try another. Thank you!!!
This was the most amazing sauce ever! I’ve made enough in my life time and this is my favorite one to make my family! This beats any restaurants recipe I’ve ever had!
I wish I could make this in big batches and can it – but it’s good to make in small batches too.
Add some broccoli and toss it over your favorite pasta along with some garlic bread… perfect meal
Awesome Recipe! The whole family gobbled up their dinner! This was my first attempt at Alfredo sauce and it didn’t disappoint! Thank you!