Homemade Alfredo Sauce
Alfredo Sauce is a classic creamy pasta sauce that only takes about 15 minutes to make and features lots of Parmesan cheese. It can be served with pasta, chicken, shrimp, broccoli, and many other dishes.
Alfredo Sauce is a fast and easy creamy Italian sauce made with a simple combination of heavy whipping cream, Parmesan cheese, butter, flour and garlic. This Homemade Alfredo Sauce is a classic pasta sauce that only takes about 15 minutes to make.
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“This is my go to Alfredo sauce! Thanks for the recipe!” ~Josh
“So darn delicious and super EASY!!” ~ Lesli”
This is my family’s absolute favorite sauce to have with pasta, chicken, seafood, and vegetables. (I’ve even made some Alfredo for a quick lunch to dip bread stick into.)
After many disappointing tastings of jarred sauces, I had to come up with my own recipe that my family will actually enjoy.
- My Alfredo Sauce has taken me years to perfect. I’ve tried a few different variation and this one is the best by far. I like using freshly grated Parmesan cheese off the block and dry pre-grated Parmesan. The combination of the two makes perfect texture and flavor.
- Like many other classic sauces, you can use Alfredo sauce with so many different dishes, so the whole jar of sauce can last through several different dinners.
- Alfredo is a classic sauce that is so creamy, cheesy, and comforting. It’s perfect with chicken, seafood, vegetable or to dip some bread sticks in it.
Ingredient Tips and Substitutions
- Heavy whipping cream – for the best rich and creamy Alfredo, it’s best to use heavy whipping cream and nothing with lower fat content. Do not substitute!
- Flour – use all purpose flour to thicken the sauce and if you need to make it gluten free, use 1:1 gluten free all purpose flour.
- Garlic – there is just one clove but it will give a very pleasant flavor to the sauce without overpowering it. If you have to, you can use a little garlic powder instead, but the flavor will be slightly different
- Parmesan cheese – a combination of fresh grated and dry pre-grated (not refrigerated) is perfect for the flavors and the texture because fresh grated Parmesan cheese melts better but pre-grated Parmesan will add a slightly different texture.
- See recipe card for complete information on ingredients and quantities.
How To Make Alfredo Sauce
- This sauce is a very easy sauce to make and will only take about 15 minutes and you can make it while pasta and meats are cooking. It’s always best to prepare and measure your ingredients ahead of time, especially in a fast recipe like this one.
- Use a medium sauce pot to prepare the Alfredo Sauce. Melt butter over medium heat and once butter is melted, add pressed garlic.
- Cook garlic until it’s fragrant and sprinkle flour over it. Stir and then slowly pour in heavy whipping cream.
- Gently stir the mixture together and let it heat through. (Don’t let it boil!) Once heavy cream is hot, whisk in sour cream, Parmesan cheeses, salt, and pepper. Lower heat to medium-low and gently stir until grated cheese starts to melt.
- Keep cooking over medium-low heat for about 5 minutes, stirring often. Once sauce is ready mix it with cooked pasta.
- PRO TIP: Remember, do NOT let the cream boil! If your stove runs too hot on medium, start to cook the sauce over lower than medium heat.
Recipe FAQs
How to make Alfredo Sauce gluten free?
Usually an Alfredo Sauce recipe is not gluten free since it contains flour as a thickener, BUT it is easily make gluten free by using gluten free all purpose flour. There is not much flour that goes into the sauce because the sauce gets most of its thick texture from Parmesan cheese and sour cream. So use the same amount of all purpose gluten free flour as calls for in the recipe.
Can I use other cheeses?
Of course! If you want to bump up the flavor of the sauce, add some fresh grated Asiago, Romano, or Pecorino.
Storing and Reheating Instructions
- Store Alfredo sauce in a glass jar with a lid in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.
- I don’t really recommend reheating Alfredo Sauce in a microwave because it separates easily if it is overheated. The key to reheating Alfredo sauce is low and slow.
- If you wish to try and reheat it in a microwave, use lower power setting and heat it up for 30 seconds at a time, stirring in between.
- The better way to reheat it though is in a small sauce pot, over medium-low heat. Let it warm up slowly, while stirring often.
- One more way to reheat the sauce is to mix cold sauce with hot, freshly cooked pasta. As soon as you drain the boiling water off pasta, add it back to the empty pot and add cold sauce. Mix it together and let hot pasta heat up the sauce.
Tips For The Best Fettuccine Alfredo
- Use heavy whipping cream! It’s the best option to use for the incredibly comforting, rich, creamy and delicious sauce.
- Use fresh grated parmesan cheese and some pre-grated parmesan cheese. This combination is quite delicious!
- You can cook the pasta while preparing the sauce. This way the whole dish will only take 15-20 minutes.
- You can prepare the sauce ahead of time and refrigerate it. When you’re ready to make the pasta, cook it according to the package instructions, drain, and stir the sauce into the HOT freshly made fettuccine. The hot pasta will re-heat the sauce!
- Be careful salting the sauce since the hard aged cheeses can be pretty salty.
- DO NOT bring the cream to boil! Cook over medium to medium-low heat. It’s okay to bring the cream to a low and slow simmer but turn the heat down right away.
- Feel free to add some extra parmesan cheese on top of Fettuccine Alfredo!
Classic Italian Sauce Recipes To Try
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Classic Alfredo Sauce Recipe
Alfredo Sauce is a classic creamy pasta sauce that only takes about 15 minutes to make and features lots of Parmesan cheese. It can be served with pasta, chicken, shrimp, broccoli, and many other dishes.
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Servings: 6 (Makes about 3 cups)
Calories: 400kcal
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp butter
- 1 large clove of garlic pressed
- 1 tbsp all purpose flour (can substitute gluten free flour)
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup dry Parmesan cheese
- salt
- pepper
Instructions
- Melt butter in a sauce pan over medium heat.
- Add pressed garlic and saute until fragrant (just a few seconds).
- Sprinkle flour over it, start whisking, and slowly add heavy whipping cream WHILE whisking constantly. (I suggest using a silicone covered whisk so it doesn't scratch the pot). Heat through over medium heat as you slowly stir.
- Whisk in sour cream, Parmesan cheeses, salt, and pepper. Lower heat to medium-low.
- Keep cooking on medium-low heat for about 5-7 minutes, stirring often. (Do not let it boil.) Take off heat.
Fettuccine Alfredo:
- This is one of the easiest pasta dishes you can make using this Alfredo sauce recipe. You can cook the pasta while preparing the sauce, drain off pasta water, and mix it with the desired amount of sauce.
- Or, prepare the sauce ahead of time and refrigerate it. When you're ready to make the pasta, cook it according to the package instructions, drain, and stir the sauce into the freshly made, still hot fettuccine. (No need to heat up the sauce because the hot pasta in a still hot pot will warm it up nicely.)Feel free to add some extra parmesan cheese on top of Fettuccine Alfredo!
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Notes
- Gluten Free: it is easily make gluten free by using gluten free all purpose flour. There is not much flour that goes into the sauce because the sauce gets most of its thick texture from Parmesan cheese and sour cream. So use the same amount of all purpose gluten free flour as calls for in the recipe.
- Heavy Whipping Cream: Heavy whipping cream is the best option for a rich and creamy Alfredo sauce. If you’re in a bind, you can use half and half but it will be slightly thinner and not as rich. To make the sauce thicker when using half and half, add another 1/2 tbsp of flour and use a little more parmesan cheese. Don’t use anything less rich than half and half!
- Lactose Free: If you need to keep this recipe lactose free, use lactose free half and half. Parmesan cheese is aged and aged cheeses are usually naturally lactose free. (As always double check the packaging for sugar content or lactose statement.)
- Storing: Store Alfredo sauce in a glass jar with a lid in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.
- Make Ahead: You can prepare the sauce ahead of time and refrigerate it. When you’re ready to make the pasta, cook it according to the package instructions, drain, and stir the sauce into the HOT freshly made fettuccine. The hot pasta will re-heat the sauce!
- DO NOT bring the cream to boil! Cook over medium to medium-low heat. It’s okay to bring the cream to a low and slow simmer but turn the heat down right away.
Nutrition
Calories: 400kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 39g | Saturated Fat: 24g | Cholesterol: 136mg | Sodium: 332mg | Potassium: 91mg | Vitamin A: 1480IU | Vitamin C: 0.7mg | Calcium: 253mg | Iron: 0.2mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @willcookforsmiles or tag #willcookforsmiles!
Originally published on Will Cook For Smiles on February 3, 2014.
All images and text ©Lyubov Brooke for ©Will Cook For Smiles. Please do not use my images without prior permission. If using my posts in collections and features, please link back to this post for the recipe.
Disclaimer: Nutrition information shown is not guaranteed to be 100% accurate as most ingredients and brands have variations.
This MIGHT be the yummiest alfredo sauce ever….pinning for next time my kids want alfredo!
Awww, so sweet! Thank you, Cathy!
nothing beats a classic alfredo! my favorite
Of course! Thank you, Heather!
I love the way you styled this decadent sauce for the photos, makes me want to run to the kitchen!!
Thank you, Jenna!!
Mmmm this looks great! I have been looking for a good alfredo recipe and this just might be it!
I hope you give it a try, Heather! Thank you!
I see you have it in a mason jar. Do you can yours? and if so how do you do it?
Oh no, Teri 🙂 Here, the mason jar is just for the photo. (I also keep it in the jar in the fridge.) Since it’s freshly made and cream based, the shelf life is not that long. I don’t think we can can it.
Is it weird that I kind of want to lick that jar?! Looks do die for!
No at all!! I did 🙂
Thank you, Julie!
Oops – I believe you mean a CLOVE of garlic (not a glove). LOL!!! Will have to try this – never used sour cream in my alfredo!!
Haha, thank you, Rachel!
Oh how I love alfredo!! I make mine a little different but I’m always looking for the latest & greatest ways to make it better. I will be putting this into the meal plan here soon. I can’t wait to try it. Thank you my friend!!
I hope you give it a try, Gina! Although I know that yours is killer too 🙂
Thank you!
I can’t wait to try your Alfredo recipe, this looks delicious! I saw this on the link up.
I hope you get a chance to try is soon! Thank you, Stephanie!
My hubby’s favorite is alfredo sauce and yours looks so awesome Lyuba! Love the pictures!
Thank you, Kelly!!
I love Alfredo sauce and so do my kids–hubby prefers tomato based sauces – heh! heh! heh! Kids and I have a feast. I will definitely make your recipe. Every recipe I have made of yours has been perfection. Thank you I have zipped it into the recipe box.
I hope you do, Marisa! Thank you so much 🙂
Yum! Looks great and I absolutely love how you have staged your pictures! Gorgeous.
Awww, thank you, Marisa!