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Alfredo sauce is one of my most popular recipes EVER! The secret is a little cream cheese, and ohhh my gosh, the tangy creaminess takes it to the next level. You and your kids will inhale it, I promise!
A Reader’s Review
All I can say is OMGawd, Finally! Alfredo is my daughters favorite and I have tried so many “best” Alfredo recipes and none of them have been even close. This recipe is the end to a 10 year search! The sauce is super creamy and the flavor is spot on…better than your favorite restaurant. Thank you for sharing the recipe!
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.
- Freshly Grated or Canned Parmesan Cheese? 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 fish. Try this shrimp, crispy parmesan chicken or garlic brown sugar salmon!
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? Add the cream cheese in small chunks 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 stove on low heat 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 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.
Where are the measurements for the ingredients?
They’re all in the recipe card at the bottom of the post. You can also click on ‘jump to recipe’ at the top of the page to get there!
Just made a double batch of this sauce and poured it over shrimp, calamari, and crab meat with noodles……it was a big hit. Everyone loved it and said it was the best Alfredo sauce they’ve ever had! Absolutely delicious!
I thought this recipe it was absolutely delicious ! I I sauteed some shrimp some onion and some bell pepper and removed the shrimp until I had all the cheese melted. Them I added the shrimp back in. My wife sampled it and said “WOW! This is out of this world !”
This alfredo sauce was tasty but I was surprised at how salty it was! I even left out the salt called for in the recipe, thinking the parmesan would add enough on its own. Alfredo was one ingredient in a larger dish so I adjusted the salt further in the overall recipe but still thought it was too salty. I might try it again but would try using a different cheese next time.
I have not gotten any compliments yet but it certainly looked good and tasted great. I wonder if there is a difference using grinder Parmesan as opposed to grated one.Thanks
Freshly grated parmesan melts better because it doesn’t have any caking agents added. ?
Easy, quick weeknight dinner Alfredo sauce that’s DELICIOUS!
Made it for a dinner party this past weekend. Set up a Fettucine Alfredo bar…fresh fettuccine pasta, sautéed mushrooms, steamed broccoli, roasted chicken and your wonderful sauce
w/ a little change…used a small head of Roasted garlic instead of the garlic powder and minced garlic. It was absolutely delicious and folks were going back for seconds and thirds.
Thank you for sharing your wonderful recipes!
Awesome recipe, I hardly ever eat Alfredo sauce, but my girlfriend does. According to her it’s the best she ever tasted. Thank you so much for the recipe. So good and easy to make.
I just this and I used more cheese than called for and I used 3 different kinds of cheese Asiago, Romano, and Parmesan and I used a little more garlic! Thank you for a wonderful recipe
I highly recommend
That sounds delicious!!
Excell ant
Did it exactly as the recipe stated. I thought it was a tad thin,… so I added a small handful of some shredded mozzarella,… and for me an Alfredo has to have a touch of fresh grated nutmeg. Then it was texturally what I prefer and it tastes great.
Rock On !!!! So simple to make.
Truly is the Best Alfredo Sauce according to my family. We eat this 3-4 times a month, or more!
“I WILL DO ANYTHING FOR YOU TO MAKE THIS AGAIN!” My boyfriend as you can read was a huge fan. lol This recipe was awesome, easy to follow instructions, very simple & short list of ingredient’s. I loved making this, super creamy, delish & flavorful Alfredo sauce. This was my first time making Alfredo sauce, glad your recipe was the first I used! Will definitely make it again.
Hi – the recipe turned out great! It’s the best Alfredo sauce I’ve ever had. I made 1/4 of the recipe, followed the recipe exactly, except I didn’t have the cream, so I used 2% milk. I added chicken and some small chunks of leftover chuck roast with an oz of GF fettuccine. I’m going to try making white lasagna with it. Thanks for the recipe!
Excellent recipe and easy to follow! I would like to know if the nutrition info is per serving or recipe. I don’t have instagram.
Per serving, and this recipe serves about 10. ?
Great quick Alfredo! Made for my husband’s birthday with fettuccine, garlic shrimp & broccoli. I measured the garlic & Parmesan with my heart and added some Romano. Was a huge hit- will definitely make this again!!
Everyone LOVED this sauce tonight!! My daughter, son, and husband all told me separately how good it was- just as good as a restaurant. 🙂