My Alfredo sauce recipe is a rich and creamy white sauce made with garlic, butter, heavy cream, and parmesan.
This savory cheesy sauce infuses garlic into the butter and can be used with all kinds of pasta or even on top of vegetables. Once you make this recipe, you will never again buy a jar of alfredo sauce from the store again!
Table of contents
Why This Is the Best Alfredo Sauce
This rich and creamy sauce can be used in so many dinner recipes to add flavor and richness.
- Only four ingredients are needed: The main ingredients are the only ingredients! The complete list includes butter, garlic cloves, heavy whipping cream, and real parmesan cheese.
- Quick and easy to make: If you're searching for an easy alfredo sauce recipe, look no further. This is an amazing recipe.
- Infused garlic: The fresh garlic is cooked low and slow into the melted butter to really infuse the incredible flavor into every bite. The infused garlic will also turn a beautiful golden brown and give your finished alfredo sauce a gorgeous color.
- Makes just the right amount: This recipe will make enough sauce for one pound of dried pasta and the recipe can easily be doubled if you need more
How to Make Alfredo Sauce
The best homemade alfredo sauce recipe is quick and easy to make! Even if this is your first time making this delicious cream sauce, you will get perfect results.
- Infuse garlic in butter: Melt butter in large shallow pan over a very low heat. Add minced garlic and stir frequently. By cooking the garlic and butter over a very low temperature, you're able to extract all of that wonderful flavor from the garlic without it burning. It will, however, turn a wonderful golden brown color. That intense flavor carries through all the way to the finished sauce.
- Add heavy cream: You will not add all of it. A small amount will be reserved to stir in at the end. You want this cream to come to a gentle simmer in the garlic butter. Mercy.
- Add parmesan: To finish the sauce, you'll remove it from the heat and stir in the grated parmesan as well as the remaining heavy cream.
Cooking Tips for Perfect Results
- Use Quality ingredients. The higher the quality ingredients you use, the better your sauce will be. Make sure the garlic is fresh and, if possible, grown locally. Kerrygold is my butter of choice, but there are so many great ones available. Be sure to buy real authentic aged parmesan cheese imported from Italy.
- Press the garlic. When garlic is minced through a garlic press instead of chopped, you expose the maximum amount of surface area. That means you'll extract the most flavor from it.
- Grate the parmesan yourself using a microplane. You can certainly use shredded parmesan, but it will not melt properly due to the large size of the pieces. Additionally, any ingredients added to the cheese to prevent sticking may interfere with its ability to easily melt. I highly recommend grating from a block of cheese using a microplane grater. It will make the parmesan melt instantly.
- Additional ingredients or seasonings: No other ingredients are needed, however, you could always add black pepper, salt, onion powder, or Italian seasoning. A great way to make this cream sauce even richer is by mixing in an egg yolk (similar to a Carbonara sauce).
How to Thin Alfredo Sauce
The secret to thinning cheese sauces is to mix in small amounts of starchy pasta water. If you are making Alfredo Sauce for pasta, simply use a measuring cup to scoop out about a cup of the salted pasta water just before you drain the pasta. Then, if the finished sauce seems too thick, stir in small amounts of this starchy water until you have the desired consistency.
Storage Instructions
Any leftover alfredo sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It is best used within a few days.
How to Reheat Alfredo Sauce
This alfredo sauce will thicken as it cools. Reheating Alfredo sauce can be a tricky process because if it gets too hot, it will separate.
This sauce must be reheated gently. There are three ways to do this properly.
- Stovetop: The sauce can be added to a saucepan and gently heated over very low heat. Be sure to stir the sauce frequently so that it gets heated at the same rate. As soon as it is heated through, remove the sauce from the heat source.
- Microwave: Leftover Alfredo sauce or pasta coated in Alfredo sauce can be heated in the microwave. Use 50% power in 1-minute increments. After each minute, stir the sauce, and continue heating this way until it is heated through.
- Super hot pasta: If you let leftover Alfredo sauce warm to room temperature, you can actually add super hot, freshly drained pasta to your sauce. The residual heat should be enough to warm the sauce.
Ingredient Substitutions
- Heavy cream substitutions: Many readers ask if part-skim milk (less than 1% fat), whole milk (3-4% fat) or half and half (10-12% fat) can be used in place of heavy cream (38-40% fat). The answer is YES, although I don't recommend it because you will have a thinner sauce due to the lower fat content. If you need to make this substitution and feel that the final sauce is too thin, you can always stir in a bit of mascarpone or cream cheese at the end to thicken it. You can also thicken the sauce by mixing a tablespoon of modified corn starch with a tablespoon of milk and whisking it into the finished sauce.
- Butter substitutions: If needed, butter can be replaced by olive oil. For best results, use a high quality Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
- Garlic substitutions: The infused garlic really does impart so much flavor, but if you are out of fresh garlic, you make use garlic powder in its place.
- Parmesan cheese substitutions: Authentic Italian alfredo sauce must have Parmigiano Reggiano, however you can also use Romano cheese or a parmesan/Romano blend.
Best Ways to Enjoy Homemade Alfredo Sauce
This rich, creamy, alfredo sauce is not only delicious but it is also versatile and can be used for so many delicious recipes!
- Use this sauce to smother homemade pasta. Throw some blackened chicken on top and you have an outstanding version of chicken fettuccine alfredo. Or turn it into everyone's favorite Cajun Shrimp Pasta.
- What about smothering your favorite veggies, like wilted garlic spinach or sauteed asparagus, with some of this warm cheese sauce. YUM!
- Parmesan chicken is traditionally covered in marinara sauce, but how delicious would it be if it were smothered in Alfredo sauce instead? You could always balance the richness with zucchini noodles. The possibilities are endless.
- Use it as a dipping sauce for fries or even better, zucchini fries.
Alfredo Sauce Recipe
Alfredo sauce is a rich and creamy white sauce made with garlic, butter, heavy cream, and parmesan. This savory cheesy sauce infuses garlic into the butter and can be used with all kinds of pasta or even on top of vegetables. This recipe is different, I dare say better, than an alfredo sauce recipe with cream cheese.
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Scale: servings
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 4 cloves garlic (finely minced or pressed)
- 1 ½ cups heavy cream (divided)
- 1 ½ cups parmesan cheese (finely grated)
Instructions
- Add butter and garlic to a saute pan and heat over low heat. Allow to cook until the butter is infused with the garlic, about 5 minutes.
- Add 1 cup of heavy cream, stir, and allow to come to a simmer. Increase heat to medium, if needed. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Remove from heat and immediately add in parmesan cheese and remaining heavy cream. (Note: the parmesan will easily melt if it was finely grated from a block. If you used pre-grated cheese that is thicker, you may have to continue heating over low heat to get it to melt.) Stir to combine. It will take several minutes for the cheese to melt. It will look goopy at first and then the sauce will be creamy and smooth. If sauce needs to be thinned, add additional heavy cream.
- To serve, toss with tossed pasta or use to cover vegetables.
Notes
Makes about 3 cups.
Cooking tips:
- Quality ingredients. The higher quality ingredients you use, the better your sauce will be. Make sure the garlic is fresh and, if possible, grown locally. Kerrygold is my butter of choice, but there are so many great ones available. Be sure to buy real authentic parmesan cheese imported from Italy.
- Press the garlic. When garlic is minced through a garlic press instead of chopped, you expose the maximum amount of surface area. That means you'll extract the most flavor from it.
- Grate the parmesan yourself using a microplane. You can certainly use shredded parmesan, but it will not melt properly due to the large size of the pieces and anything that has been added to the cheese to prevent sticking. I highly recommend grating from a block of cheese using a microplane grater. It will make the parmesan melt instantly.
- Reheating. This alfredo sauce will thicken as it cools. If it cools too much, it will get too thick. If it gets too hot, it will separate. The trick is to keep it just warm enough. This sauce must be reheated gently either on the stove over low heat, in the microwave on 50% or lower power, or by adding super hot, freshly drained pasta to your sauce.
- Substitutions. Many readers ask if whole milk (3-4%) or half and half (10-12% fat) can be used in place of heavy cream (38-40% fat). The answer is YES, although I don't recommend it because you will have a thinner sauce. If you need to make a substitution and feel that the final sauce is too thin, you can always stir in a bit of mascarpone or cream cheese at the end to thicken it.
NUTRITION INFORMATION
Calories: 186kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 59mg | Sodium: 245mg | Potassium: 37mg | Vitamin A: 650IU | Vitamin C: 0.5mg | Calcium: 170mg | Iron: 0.1mg
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This recipe was originally published in July 2014 and has been updated with helpful information, ingredient and process photos, as well as recipe tips. Don't worry - the recipe hasn't changed!
Shannon
Made this for dinner tonight and it was so easy and delicious. I added some chicken and broccoli to ours. Absolutely will be making this again.
Barbara
I used cereal cream in my sauce and 5 minced garlic cloves. Had to improvise with 1.5 cups of Kraft Parmesean. Great recipe.
Barbara
I used cereal cream with my sauce and 5 minced garlic cloves. Had to improvise witj 1.5 cups of Kraft Parmesean. Great recipe.
T
Absolutely Fantastic!!! So so easy and we all loved it! My daughter is very picky and loves Alfredo and THIS recipe was greeted with MUCH approval! Will be keeping it on the ready. Thank you!
Oh, you are very right about the shred of the cheese. It’s really good to be done with a microplaner so it’s a fine shred. The regular shred just doesn’t melt all the way no matter how long it’s kept on the heat. The taste isn’t altered at all but the finer shred the better! Much better.
I also thinned the Alfredo with boiling hot fettuccine water instead of cream or milk. That would’ve been more rich and still thick once it sat.
Krissy
The pasta water is such a great tip. I need to go back and update all my old recipes to include that because it's what I always do now!
Lisa E
Easy and delicious. I'd been winging it so long, but it was never quite right. Tried this recipe and it was amazing!
Stacy
Easy and delicious. I love that there's advice regarding use of pre-grated versus freshly grated.
B Baker
Great base. I add ham bits. I use 10% cream and add a little bit of cornstarch and water to thicken.
Melanie
My picky eater (husband) told me he LOVED this sauce and it was a KEEPER!!! Thank you so much!!!
Melissa Torres
This was delicious! I enjoyed how quick it was to put together, a great ratio of ingredients and we threw in red pepper flakes, next time I'll add mushrooms that are sauteed.
Annette
Delicious! Followed the recipe exactly. It turned out a little thin so I added more parmesan. It's a keeper.
Christy
My husband loved it!! It was delicious, added mushrooms and chicken!
Stacy
This is by far the best Alfredo sauce I have ever made. Being patient with the butter and garlic is so worth it!!! YUMMY:)
Shannon
Wonderful!! Made this tonight, and now this is the only recipe I will be using for alfredo. So easy and SO flavorful!!!
Judie
My go to Alfredo sauce! Super easy and so much flavor. Added grilled chicken and broccoli. Yum!!
Melanie
This is a great recipe! It’s a staple in our house! Usually add a little blackened chicken and broccoli.
Michelle
This was so delicious! And super easy. I grilled some chicken and added it to the pasta. Super easy and quick dinner
Kate
Fantastic every-single-time!
nicol
this is an excellent recipe. exactly like i've made this for years. id like to add, what i find makes it just a little over the top is to add a dash or two of fresh grated nutmeg. its the little something that makes you go "MMMMMMMMMMM!!"
Joe Nagel
I've been using this Alfredo sauce for about three years now. I taught my son this recipe and he has shared it with family members. It's a staple in our house. We have used porkchops in lieu of chicken which is an excellent alternative for a different floavor.
Tanya
So much better than packaged or store bought jar sauce! I slightly tweaked the recipe. Used amount of butter called for, 35% cooking cream (a total of 1.25 cups), 3 large cloves of garlic, approximately 2 cups of microplaned Parmesan, 1/2 tsp salt. It was great on both day one and on day two (reheated on low in microwave to warm it up).
Will make it again!
Michele Eairheart
Made this tonight, already had grilled chicken, super easy, tasted great
Tabitha
I’ve made this before and loved it, but was wondering if after I made it if could put in a crock pot to keep warm until I get to my event?
Krissy
Yes - that should work! But it should only be kept warm enough to keep it nice and melty and not too cooked.
Peg
I just made this and it turned out perfect!! Loved it! I’ll definitely be making it again. So easy
Vanessa
This recipe is amazing!! I had gnocchi Alfredo in Aruba and the sauce was amazing, I knew I wouldn’t find anything like that at the chain Italian restaurants in the states so I started searching online and came across this recipe. I followed the instructions and used all of the high quality ingredients and wow does that make a difference, this sauce is to die for! It’s a frequent request from family and friends when they come for dinner.
Christine
Thank you for this wonderful recipe and cooking tips 🙂
I have made this recipe a few times as listed, and my family and I love it .
This time I used imported from Italy Grana Padano cheese instead and it still tasted delicious!
I make this dish whenever I feel like indulging in a delicious, rich and decadent meal ♡
Britnie
Can sauce be freezed and used at another time?
Krissy
It works, but I'm not a big fan of freezing cream based sauces. You just need to allow them to fully thaw in the refrigerator and then reheat them slowly and gently.