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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.
Best Alfredo sauce recipe I have ever made
The Best Homemade Alfredo Sauce Recipe Ever It has been a long time since I had a delicious, homemade Alfredo sauce to douse on some of my favorite dishes. However, not anymore as I have found a great recipe. The best thing about this recipe is that it is so easy to make. It takes only three ingredients and no packets which makes it easier on people with dietary restrictions. The first thing that I do is coat a saucepan with a little bit of butter and then melt it on a stove-top on medium-high heat. Once the butter has melted, I pour in a cup of heavy cream and let it come up to a simmer on the stove.
I love soups, but I don’t always have time to make one. I’m super picky though and don’t like some of the pre-made soups. They always try to put lots of salt in them too. But I like soup and I like alfredo sauce and I like to make my own. I like to make a pot of alfredo sauce and freeze it. It makes it easy to make on a busy weeknight. All you need is alfredo sauce, cream, butter, and Parmesan cheese. Here’s how to make this amazing sauce. Place 2 tablespoons of butter in a large saucepan over medium heat.
Looks great! Does the cream cheese allow it to reheat without breaking?
Yes, just reheat very slowly.
The best sauce I’ve ever made, truly the most requested by my family! And let’s be serious folks, that’s what matters most, family!
A lot of people make the claim their recipe is the best and usually it’s not. This sauce however, HOLY COW. Admittedly my exposure to Alfredo is limited to jarred, Olive Garden, and this one small expensive Italian Restaurant, but this sauce is much much better! Thank you so much!
I made a double batch and I have to tell you, it’s close to the best I have ever tasted. I lost my wife to cancer a while back and I have been learning to cook for myself. I put broccoli in and added Penne pasta. I have enough to last me a while. Great with pan browned Texas garlic toast. Thank you for teaching an old man (61), how to cook for himself, I appreciate you very much Thank you for your good works.
BTW, I have a beautiful Australian shepherd named Sally. I gave her a plate also. She highly approves!
Thank you again.
John
So sorry about your wife, I bet she would be proud you’re learning how to cook! xo
This recipe is by far the best I’ve ever had!!! Even my son who is 1.5 and daughter who is 3.5 are obsessed as well as hubby. I used A2 Whole milk instead of heavy cream due to their tummies. We use A2 for everything. And added more cheese. Thank you so much for this recipe.
I have been making this Alfredo sauce for a little over 4 years now and it is by far the BEST Alfredo sauce I have ever had. Better than any restaurant!!! It is so simple to make and quick too! If you’re like me and like the sauce nice and fresh, but only need to cook for 2, halving this recipe works PERFECTLY for two! Could not recommend this recipe more. It’s definitely one of my absolute favorites!
Is this Alfredo recipe for one pound of pasta?
Yes, give or take some pasta depending on how much each person uses.
I made twice the amount of sauce and family and friends loved it.
Thank you so much! Yummy!
This is one of my favorite sauces I use over spaghetti squash! Recently, I used half the amount of butter and used 1/2 cup half and half and 1 1/2 cup almond milk and 1 T cornstarch to thicken it up. My husband felt it was too heavy last time, so this was my attempt to lighten it up:)
I am currently rating this as I am eating & wow…literally, the best! I am so happy I found this recipe. Thank you!
Can I freeze it? I was going to put in a airtight freezer bag.
Thanks Michele
No, this alfredo sauce does not freeze well.
This sauce was wonderful. The only thing I changed was to use Boursin Garlic & Herb cheese because our son isn’t fond of the taste of cream cheese, and I also went a bit light on the salt. Served with about 2 cups of nice lumpy freshly-picked crab meat, it made an incredibly satisfying and richly decadent meal. Recipe saved, and will likely use this one again and again. Thank you!
This really is THE BEST (I just added 0 salt because cheese is salty and I used salted butter)