This Alfredo liauce is made from a little bit of butter, minced garlic, cream, parmesan cheese and seasonings, it couldn’t be more simple! Don’t love the heavy cream? I have a slimmed down version for you down below!
Easy Alfredo Sauce
Alfredo Sauce is one of those things that seem super complicated and fancy, but let me tell you, making homemade Alfredo Sauce could not be more simple!
Homemade Alfredo Sauce is far superior to the jarred stuff you buy at the store. First, you can pronounce all of the ingredients plus it honestly takes about the same amount of time to heat up!
If you have an Instant Pot (let’s be honest, if you don’t have one yet, you really should!) make sure to check out my super popular Dump and Start Alfredo Recipe. Homemade sauce just like this only the noodles cook at the same time.. aaaand it only takes 20 minutes start to finish!
Pssst. See the super cute (and totally practical!) spout for my mason jar below?? That is called the Ergo Spout! My friend Kate is the Co-Founder and CEO of this brand new company! I LOVE the spouts. Check them out here if you are interested!
Can Homemade Alfredo Sauce be made ahead?
I guess technically it could be, but I highly suggest eating the sauce right after it is made. The sauce really thickens up once refrigerated and will need extra liquid to thin it out again. This will dilute the sauce which means it won’t be as flavorful. Also, once cheese is melted and then solidified, it never re-melts quite the same.
What is Alfredo Sauce Made of?
You won’t believe how easy it is to make your own Alfredo Sauce at home! You just need a handful of ingredients
- butter
- minced garlic, dried (can substitute fresh cloves, if desired)
- heavy cream (can substitute evaporated milk, if desired)
- parmesan cheese shredded
- salt and pepper to taste
What kind of cheese is used in Alfredo Sauce?
Alfredo Sauce is a white creamy sauce that is flavored with garlic and parmesan cheese. Parmesan cheese is used to both thicken the sauce and flavor it. Substituting a different kind of cheese would result in a very different flavored sauce.
It is very important to use shredded parmesan cheese that is found in the refrigerator section of the grocery store. The powdered parmesan cheese in the green can will not work in this recipe. Ideally, shredding your own from a wedge of parmesan cheese is best. It melts a lot smoother than the pre-shredded cheese. The pre-shredded cheese will work in a pinch though.
How to make Alfredo Sauce
To make this Alfredo Sauce recipe, you will first melt butter in a sauce pan. Add the garlic and saute for 1 minute. Add in the heavy cream and bring it to a boil. Reduce the heat and slowly whisk in the parmesan cheese. At first the parmesan cheese will be stringy, keep stirring over the reduced heat and it will completely melt into the sauce. Then season with salt and pepper! You can add parsley if you’d like, too.
Alfredo Sauce with no Heavy Cream
I would suggest substituting Evaporated Milk for the heavy cream. Evaporated milk has significantly less calories and fat, but still creates a very creamy sauce.
What should I serve with Alfredo?
Alfredo Sauce is a very versatile sauce. Classically it is eaten with al dente fettuccine noodles. You can also use this as a dipping sauce, on white sauce pizzas, or even use it to make stuffed shells!
As for sides, I like to serve oven roasted broccoli, garlic bread, and maybe a fruit salad.
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Love Pasta? Me, too! Here are some of my favorite Pasta dishes:
- Instant Pot Alfredo
- Instant Pot Chicken Alfredo
- Instant Pot Ziti
- Skinny Alfredo
- One Pot Five Cheese Ziti
- Chicken Alfredo Stuffed Shells
- Instant Pot Stuffed Shells
- Tomato Basil Pasta
- Chicken Spaghetti
- Chicken Florentine
- Chicken Lo Mein
Alfredo Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 tsp minced garlic, dried (can substitute 4 fresh cloves, if desired)
- 1 1/2 cup heavy cream (can substitute evaporated milk, if desired)
- 1 cup parmesan cheese shredded
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a sauce pan. Add the garlic and saute for 1 minute
- Add the heavy cream. Bring to a boil.
- SLOWLY add in the parmesan cheese, whisking until completely melted.
- Salt and pepper to taste. The sauce will thicken as it cools.
- Serve over pasta. Garnish with fresh parsley, if desired.
Alfredo Sauce Recipe
This Alfredo Sauce Recipe is so fast and easy! Made from a little bit of butter, minced garlic, cream, parmesan cheese and seasonings, it couldn’t be more simple! Don’t love the heavy cream? I have a slimmed down version for you down below!
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a sauce pan. Add the garlic and saute for 1 minute
- Add the heavy cream. Bring to a boil.
- SLOWLY add in the parmesan cheese, whisking until completely melted.
- Salt and pepper to taste. The sauce will thicken as it cools.
- Serve over pasta. Garnish with fresh parsley, if desired.
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Corinne Graham says
This is my all time favorite sauce and it’s soooo easy. Thank you. Where can we get the Spout. Are they for regular or wide mouth jars? Thank you.
karlibitner says
You can get the spout here:http://culinesco.com?afmc=1f&utm_campaign=1f&utm_source=leaddyno&utm_medium=affiliate
They are for regular mouth jars, they are manufacturing wide mouth jar spouts soon, though!
Suzy says
Hands down one of our favorite recipes to make to throw over pasta! So delicious!
Karli Bitner says
Thank you, Suzy!
Nellie Tracy says
This alfredo sauce is soo tasty!
Karli Bitner says
Thanks, Nellie! It’s a favorite at my house for sure!
ADRIENE DEPIETRO says
This was very good and easy to make. Will be making it again for the family.
Karli Bitner says
Thank you for the comment, Adriene! I am glad you and your family enjoyed this easy sauce. 🙂
Katie Giles says
How many people will this serve?
Karli Bitner says
Approx 4-6.
Carol says
If I’m fixing Chicken Alfredo using 16oz package of penne noodles do I need to double the Alfredo sauce recipe? Don’t want to skimp on the sauce for a larger noodle.
Karli Bitner says
Hi Carol- I would double the recipe just to be safe. It is so yummy, you’ll definitely want enough!
Carol says
Thanks Karli! My granddaughters just discovered how yummy chicken alfredo is but it works better for them to try and handle the penne pasta than fettuccine. Will make it to add to our Christmas dinner.
Jessica says
Yummers 😋
June Parracho says
delicious! I had left over grilled chicken tenders and steamed broccoli. I made this sauce (evaporated milk version) 1/2 pkg of wide egg noodles, added chicken and steamed broccoli. it was simple and delicious! i even improvised because i didn’t have full cup of shredded parmesan (added grated) YUM! highly recommend it
Karli Bitner says
I am so glad that it turned out well for you!! It sounds like an amazing meal! Thanks for the comment, June. 🙂
Jennette Toranzo says
Very delicious and not too many ingredients everyone loves it.💓
Karli Bitner says
Right on Jannette, I’m glad that they loved the recipe. Keep on cooking!
Judi says
You mention a slimmed-down version ‘down below’ but I don’t see it!
Karli Bitner says
Hey Judi, sorry about that here is the link to my skinny Alfredo recipe: https://cookingwithkarli.com/instant-pot-skinny-alfredo/
Karen says
Oh. My. Heavens. This turned out sooo good!!! I seriously want to eat it by spoonful 🤤 definitely the easiest and best Alfredo recipe I’ve ever tried! Thanks, Karli!!!
Karli Bitner says
I am so glad you loved this, Karen! ❤️
Sarah says
This might be a duh question, but just to make sure I don’t mess it up, do you use the same amount for the evaporated milk as you would for the whipping cream?
Karli Bitner says
Yes!