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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.
Love it! Even my husband who is not a cheese fan gobbled it up. First time and I added shrimp. I don’t usually purchase grated Parm. My husband got it for me, not sure it’s a good brand but added about another 1/2 cup to the sauce, oh and a bit more garlic. Really great recipe. I read not to microwave it, to heat it slowly. I guess in a sauce pan??
Thanks so much! New menu item in our house.
This was fire! I added Cajun seasoning instead of Italian…. with shrimp and lump crab meat, super yummy!! Thanks for sharing!
I was initially intimidated by the process of making Alfredo sauce, but this was so simple and came together so fast. I didn’t actually measure anything, I just eyeballed the ingredients going light on the heavy cream at first and adding if I felt I needed to. The consistency was perfect and my pizza came out so good. I made 2 pizzas to split between 3 people and don’t have any leftovers.
I made this for a family get together, and I was told by multiple people that it was the best alfredo sauce they’ve ever had!! It was SUPER easy to make and was loved by everyone who tried it.
My first time making alfredo sauce and it was amazing! I was a little worried because my daughter is super picky about her alfredo pasta but the family loved it. I did add extra garlic, chicken and spinach.
Soooooo good! It is very easy to make. Everyone in my house loved it.
Amazing!
I make this as directed, and it is phenomenal. OUTSTANDING actually. I don’t have one complaint! So, many thanks for the best recipe… i just want to say, i have made this several times, and freeze the leftovers. I have never had a separation issue. Tastes just as good the second time as the first!!!
I typically don’t leave replies on these types of recipes sites, but I think this recipe warrants it.
It has been hands down our favorite Alfredo recipe in the house. Even my wife, who had a long history of dating Italians before unfortunately settling for me, said that the sauce I made with this recipe rivals hers.
Don’t worry, she knows it isn’t my recipe. Lol. I gave full credit to you and we’re thankful for it. It has livened up so many meals.
I love this recipe!! I usually eat it with chicken and cauliflower rice. I do have a question about the nutritional info. Is the calorie count and other info for the whole amount made, or 1/10th portion? I find that I use about a cup and I’m just trying to figure out how to log it.
Thank you!!
I just made this for the first time, and it was amazing, and my family loved it! I doubled the recipe, used a 16oz box of penne rigate pasta, and a whole rotisserie chicken. We’ll get a couple meals out of it. It really is the best, I’ll never buy alfredo sauce in the grocery store again!
Made this recipe and everyone LOVED IT!!! Other then adding the salt at the end to make sure it wasn’t too salty after adding the cheese, followed recipe as written and it came out so yummy. We added grilled chicken and roasted asparagus with the pasta and sauce. Thank you for the recipe. Will be making this again very soon.
The name is no lie: this is quite possibly the best Alfredo sauce I’ve ever tasted. I was initially puzzled by the call for cream cheese, but it adds SUCH a great flavor and consistency. This is the first recipe I’ve ever taken the time to rate, that’s how good it is.
Made it last night. Hubby loved. far better than any recipe that I have tried. Added some fresh steamed broccoli and chicken. Simple and delicious
My granddaughter is a fettuccini fanatic. She just turned ten and for her birthday she wanted Alfredo. I was going to just buy it from a restaraunt but it would had ran me 250 plus. So I decided to make it myself. 30 recipes later I picked yours. I dont know why but I’m so glad I did. This was hands down freaking yummy!!! I never follow a recipe to the T but I did this one and glad I did. The only con is I struggled following your descriptions which It almost made me find a different recipe. But then I watched the video and I went from that and it was very easy to make.
This one will be saved and used again! I would even say it’s better than most Restaraunt’s. Thank you!!
JUST WOW .. finally a trust worthy recipe. I HIGHLY recommend this, also I HIGHLY recommend to leave the salt out, butter and the cream have so much in it already. EASY TOO do it!