Alfredo Sauce

Rich, creamy and full of garlic Parmesan! This easy homemade Alfredo sauce recipe can be made in minutes and pairs with your fettucine perfectly.

If you love fettuccine Alfredo from a restaurant but have never made it at home, this post is for you! Alfredo sauce is really simple and you can have a batch made in less than 30 minutes! You can boil pasta while you make it for a quick meal when you’re craving pasta.

It’s such a rich and decadent sauce and perfect when you want to treat your family! It’s great tossed with hot pasta, or you can dress it up with other ingredients like meat and veggies.

My recipe is so easy, and you won’t believe how velvety smooth, and creamy the sauce is. Once you know how to make it, you’ll skip the restaurant! Oh, and you’ll definitely skip the jarred stuff – homemade Alfredo sauce is about ten thousand times better.

What Is Alfredo Sauce?

Keep in mind this is an American-style Alfredo sauce and not a traditional one. Authentic Italian Alfredo (from Rome) doesn’t have any cream – just butter, Parmesan, pasta, and a little starchy pasta water to help form the sauce.

This Americanized version has butter, garlic, cheese, and cream. The cream makes it easy to make a thick and smooth sauce. I add a few other ingredients to give it a boost of flavor, too! This is the kind of sauce I grew up eating – it’s super comforting!

Why This Recipe Works

• This recipe is really fast! You can have a delicious, creamy Alfredo sauce in about 20 minutes.
• You can make fettuccine Alfredo or toss it with your favorite pasta shape.
• You can also use this sauce for other dishes like lasagna, chicken alfredo roll ups, other baked pastas, or use it as a dipping sauce for breadsticks.

Ingredients

• Sliced butter – add 1/4 teaspoon of salt to the sauce if you use unsalted butter. 
• Heavy cream – I like cream because it’s rich and gives the sauce the best consistency. I don’t recommend using milk, but half and half will work. The sauce may not be as rich and thick.
• Garlic – We used both minced garlic cloves and garlic powder.
• Italian seasoning – You can also use dried oregano if that’s what you have on hand. 
• Salt and Ground black pepper – White pepper also works! The flavor is milder, and you won’t see the flecks in the sauce.
• Grated Parmesan cheese – Parm is traditional, but you can also use Romano cheese or Asiago cheese. Also, use freshly grated cheese, so your sauce isn’t grainy.

How to Make Alfredo Sauce from Scratch

Heat the butter and cream in a skillet over medium-low heat. Whisk until the butter is melted.

Add the garlic, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper and whisk them into the cream mixture.

Bring the sauce to a low simmer (not boiling) and cook the Alfredo, constantly whisking, for three to four minutes or until it thickens.

Stir in the cheese and whisk until it’s melted and the sauce is thick and creamy.

Use It to Make These Amazing Dinners

Don’t get me wrong, tossing this creamy Alfredo sauce with pasta is super delicious! But, you can add other ingredients to make it a new meal every time you make it. Here are some ideas:

• Chicken Alfredo: Cook some chicken breasts and slice or dice them. Stir them into the sauce at the end before you add the pasta. You can also use shredded rotisserie chicken to make it really easy.
• Shrimp Alfredo: Cook some shrimp in the skillet first before you make the sauce. Stir them in at the end or pile them on top of the pasta and sauce when you serve it.
• Broccoli Alfredo: Make a batch of my air fryer broccoli and add the cooked florets to the sauce before you serve it!

• Other Ideas: Use it to make a batch of Alfredo lasagna roll-ups! Or add it as a layer in homemade lasagna.

What is traditional Alfredo sauce made of?

Roman Alfredo is made with butter, finely grated Parmesan cheese, fresh homemade pasta, and a little starchy pasta water. When you combine the cheese, water, and butter it forms a sauce.

If you’re interested in trying this version be sure to check out Serious Eats – their article has all of the details you need!

How long can Alfredo last in the fridge?

You can store the sauce in the refrigerator for up to three to four days. Warm it slowly in a saucepan over medium-low to medium heat. Whisk it while it’s heating.

What is the difference between white sauce and Alfredo?

A white sauce, or béchamel, is a sauce made with milk that is thickened with a roux made with flour and butter. Alfredo sauce has cheese and is not made with a roux.

Side Dish Ideas

Bread: You can’t go wrong with my copycat Olive Garden breadsticks, garlic bread, or a batch of dinner rolls!

Salad: Make a tossed green salad with Italian dressing or Caesar dressing. Or try my antipasto salad.

Veggies: Pair it with Air fryer asparagus, roasted green beans, or skillet asparagus!

The first time I made this sauce it was love at first taste! Everyone will love it and no one will guess how easy it is to make. I can’t wait for you to try it – it’s the best Alfredo sauce recipe.

Easy Pasta Recipes

• Shrimp and Asparagus Pasta is a light pasta recipe with tons of fresh flavors!
• You have to try my Best Spaghetti and Meatballs! It’s always a family favorite.
• Carbonara is another super simple spaghetti recipe that you will love.
• Amazing, creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta that’s made in one pot for a quick and easy dinner recipe.
• Artichoke and Sun Dried Tomato Pasta is both creamy and delicious.