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
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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.
When you say fresh grated Parmesan and dry Parmesan, what do you mean by dry? Is that the powdered graded cheese you get in the canister? Or is it just grated Parmesan that you buy in the tub by the dairy aisle I understand grated Parmesan fresh off the block. Just don’t know what the dry one is. Thank you. I can’t wait to try your recipe.
I just couldn’t wait to make this and taste it. I used all fresh grated cheese I had previously grated on a microplane. And I halved recipe only because I only needed 1 cup for the tortellini. It tastes awesome and amazing. I never knew how quick and easy it is to make this sauce. And I had all the ingredients at the ready. I won’t be using the jarred sauce anymore.
Hi, Elizabeth! Yes, Parmesan is the cheese in the container, but I am glad it came out good and you liked it! 🙂
I am cooking for a wedding. Having both red sauce and Alfredo. Guest list is 100 so I am trying to prepare as much as possible in advance. Can this be made 2 days in advance and warmed up or will it separate?
Thank you
Hi Deb!
You know, I’ve had it separate on me when I reheated it in the microwave before. You can test it out and make a small batch and then reheat it the next day in a pot. May be if it’s reheated slower, in a pot, it will hold together.
Best of luck with the catering!
Obviously it has to go in the fridge, right? I would love to give this as a Christmas gift. What do you suggest? If you have any suggestions! I like making food gifts!
I just loved the Alfredo sauce, as did my children. I have been on your site for hours at a time today. I have been looking for a delicious peanut butter cupcake recipe along with a peanut butter frosting, can you help me out…
Made this Alfredo sauce tonight — it was delicious. So easy and restaurant quality! My family loves it!
Oh, hearing that makes me so happy! I’m glad you guys loved it! Thank you 🙂
Thank you for your prompt reply, I appreciate it! I forgot to also ask, how much chicken and pasta do you suggest I use? I’ve never fed so many people before either, I’m kind of going crazy just thinking about it! Lol
Hmmm,
Well if it’s chicken with pasta, pasta will be pretty filling so I would estimate a cooked and sliced chicken breast to serve 2 people (depends on your budget and how much you like them 😀 , may be even 3). Check pasta box and, in nutrition box, it should say how many servings are in the box. That could be a good way to calculate how many boxes you will need. Also, take other food in consideration. Will there be appetizers, salads, bread or desserts? If yes, there will be other food to fill them so you can even stretch that a bit more. I would also triple the sauce recipe because it’s pretty heavy and filling but relatively cheap to make, at least in comparison with chicken. Pasta and sauce will be much cheaper than chicken and more filling.
Hi! I’ve been searching for an Alfredo sauce recipie everywhere and finally I found one that looks delicious!! I just have one question, I’m cooking chicken fettuccine Alfredo tomorrow for 60 peolple, how much sauce should I make? You didn’t say how many serving this quantity makes, please I need some help asap!! Thanks! :*
Hi! I’ve been searching for an Alfredo sauce recipie everywhere and I finally found one that looks and sounds delicious!! I just have one question, I’m making chicken fettuccine Alfredo tomorrow for 60 people, how much sauce should I make? You didn’t say how many sservings this quantity makes, please I need some help ASAP, thank you!!:*
Hi Bernice!
This makes a little more than a 16 oz jar. That is a 16 oz mason jar in a photo and there was a little leftover in a pot.
60 people, of goodness! I don’t think I’ve fed a crowd like that before. May be double the recipe, so you will have 2 to 2 1/2 jars.
Good luck!!
Thank you!
does this make equivalent of a 16 oz store bought jar? I am about to attempt an applebee’s copycat recipe that calls for alfredo sauce today and am thinking to make fresh sauce…
I’m so sorry for a late response! Yes, that is a 16 oz mason jar above and it definitely filled it. I believe there was actually about 1/2 cup more.
Again, sorry for the late response!
I really liked this recipe. For sure I’m gonna try it because my family loves pasta/spaghetti, specially with Alfredo souce. Thank you for shering it.
Thank you, Gayane! I hope you all like it 🙂
This sounds yumtastic!
You ROCK for linking up this week to Tip Me Tuesday. {high fives}
Just a heads up, Tip Junkie can help you index your blog more effectively if you upload at least 2 images, 2 steps, and blog post URL into your Tip Junkie craft room!
Simply login and click “add a project” on your profile page to get started. {yep I’ve got your back!}
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Thank you, Laurie 🙂
Thank you for this recipe!! I can’t wait to try it out. My family loves alfredo but I don’t like the jarred kind. I’ve tried other recipes but they haven’t worked for me and I just know that yours will be awesome!
I really hope that you will like it! Let me know 🙂
Thank you, Tonia!