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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 night (cut recipe in half) and I had to take a spatula to the saucepan to get out every last drop for my hubby haha…It was really great! I did have to add about half a cup of milk towards the end to thin it out a bit but that was probably just a personal preference thing. Like others have said, I’ll never go back to the jar again 🙂 Thanks for the great recipe!
I absolutely love this recipe! I added some extra seasonings to give it that enhanced flavor. Including: garlic salt (substitute for garlic power), cayenne pepper, black pepper, oregano leaves and cilantro. I hope these seasonings help a bit. It truly enhances the alfredo sauce recipe. Ps the cayenne pepper really gives the sauce extra flavor without being spicy. Hope this helps:).
I also add garlic salt, oregano leaves, cilantro, cayenne pepper, and black pepper. I substituted the garlic power for garlic salt.
These extra seasonings enhanced the flavor a lot and made it taste absolutely delicious ?. I have never tasted something so yummy! Hope that this helps your cooking :). Ps. the cayenne pepper definelty enhances the flavor without giving your sauce too much spice.
This recipe is legit… No other way to say it… I have tried several variations of Alfredo sauces and this one is now the family favorite… Thank you for sharing! Only thing I changed was to simmer the sauce longer to thicken it up just a bit more but this is a winner!
How much does this make ? I am trying to make for a party but I am unsure of the amount that it makes … does anyone know in ounces / cups
About 2 cups of sauce and I found it best with a pounds of noodles. 🙂
Hi, will it be good if you skip the parmesan and add another cheese instead?
I highly recommend parmesan. But you could use another form of grated cheese if desired.
By far the best Alfredo sauce I’ve had in a while. I appreciate the fact that I didn’t need to tweak this recipe at all. Far better than any $16 plate that I’ve purchased from Olive Garden in the past. Definitely a winner!
This homemade Alfredo recipe is by far the best I’ve tried to date. It was quick, easy, and far better than any plate of Alfredo I could have gone to Olive Garden and purchased! Thanks so much for sharing this!
Oh. My. Gosh. I made this recipe (exactly) for my daughter to take to a potluck dinner date and almost wouldn’t let her leave with it. The best I’ve ever tasted–bar none. Now, if only I could replicate the taste in a low-fat version….
Hi! I will be making a chicken alfredo pasta for next week’s family dinner. I would just like to ask if how many servings does this make? Will this be enough for 8-10 servings? I don’t wanna fall short on the sauce. This will be my first time making chicken alfredo by the way, and I badly wanted to try this for the sauce because it seams very delicious! Thanks anyway 🙂
This is probably only enough for a family of 4-5. It makes about 2 cups of sauce and I used 16 ounces of noodles.
I was leery about the raw garlic, so I cooked it with the shrimp (*I have a picky husband and toddler that don’t like garlic as much as I do). This recipe was easy & awesome! I thought that it tasted better than any alfredo sauce that I’ve eaten in a restaurant or out of a jar. Can’t wait to try your other recipes now. Thank you!
how about using 1/2 and 1/2 as opposed to heavy cream? yes?
About how much pasta would that amount of sauce cover? The recipe doesn’t say, unless I missed something.
It covered 16 ounces in the picture that I posted. 🙂
I made this a few weeks ago. My husband wasn’t home from work yet, so i kept it simmering and it eventually separated (the butter and cream) i guess from cooking so long. I tasted it before it did though it was delicious. I want to make sure if i make leftovers for his lunch the next day will it do that if he heats it in the microwave?
thanks!
I just made this tonight and I have to say the best Alfredo sauce recipe I’ve tried. This will definitely be my go to for a quick and easy dinner. Thank you so much haha
How many serving is the sauce for?