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.
The best sauce for your favorite pasta like Chicken Alfredo, Shrimp Alfredo, or to dip breadsticks, and many other uses.
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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 some bread stick into.) 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.
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 fresh grated Parmesan cheese and dry pre-grated Parmesan. The combination of the two makes perfect texture and flavor.
Among all the classic sauces, Alfredo is my favorite one because it’s so creamy, cheesy, and comforting. It’s perfect with chicken, seafood, vegetable or to dip some bread sticks in it. Yes, this sauce can even be served as an appetizer or a dip!
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“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.” ~ Elizabeth
“This is my go to Alfredo sauce! Thanks for the recipe!” ~Josh
“So darn delicious and super EASY!!” ~ Lesli
Ingredient Notes
Heavy whipping cream – for the best rich and creamy Alfredo, it’s best to use heavy whipping cream and nothing with lower fat content.
Butter – I recommend using unsalted butter. That way, you can control how much salt is in your dish.
Sour cream – the small amount will add some flavor balance to the cream with it’s tartness.
Flour – use all purpose flour to thicken the sauce and if you need to make it gluten free, use 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.
Parmesan cheese – a combination of fresh grated and pre-grated 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
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.
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!
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.)
Of course! If you want to bump up the flavor of the sauce, add some fresh grated Asiago, Romano, or Pecorino.
Storing Instructions
Store Alfredo sauce in a glass jar with a lid in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.
Reheating Instructions
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
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
Originally published on Will Cook For Smiles on February 3, 2014.
Bob N. says
Super easy to make from ingredients readily available in any grocery store/supermarket and beats ANY AND ALL JARRED SAUCES hands down. Will work with any protein (I tried shrimp, lobster and chicken) or vegetable like broccoli and asparagus. You’ll make this a part of your cooking rotation immediately, I promise you!
LyubaB says
I am so glad to hear you like it, Bob! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment! 🙂
Cindy says
This is the best alfredo sauce ever. I do not buy jar sauce anymore. It’s very easy and quick to make. And it is sooooo good. Thank you for all your recipes.
Cindy says
This sauce was so delicious and very quick and easy to make plus it’s so much better than what you buy in the store. I love this recipe thank you.
LyubaB says
You are so welcome, Cindy! I am so glad you liked it!
Brenda says
Soooo good and it’s easy to make!! For me the key is to have all ingredients ready before I start making the sauce. My grandson loves this better than the Alfredo at Olive Garden. I use lots of garlic and it sure makes a difference…like 6 to 8 cloves.
LyubaB says
I’m so happy to hear that you liked the recipe and find it easy to make! It’s a great tip to have all the ingredients prepared beforehand – it really does make the cooking process smoother. I love that your grandson prefers this homemade version over the Alfredo at Olive Garden – what a wonderful compliment! Thank you for sharing your positive experience and your helpful tips. I hope you and your grandson continue to enjoy many delicious meals together! 😊
LyubaB says
You can your sauce will just be thinner.
Jeanie says
Could I omit the sour cream?
Lesli Holt says
So darn delicious and super EASY!!
LyubaB says
Thank you, Lesli! I am so glad you liked it!
Diane says
Just found your alfredo sauce recipe. I was wondering can we double or triple this recipe? My family are big pasta eaters so I need tio make sure have enough….love all you recipes. Never disappointed.
LyubaB says
Sure, you can double or triple it by using 2 or 3x as much as the recipe calls for and cooking it the same way. I hope you enjoy it!
Sharon S says
Do you have to use heavy cream? Has any one tried it with 1/2 & 1/2 or whole milk? Heart condition in the family
Aleisa says
Hi! I don’t have any fresh Parmesan. Is it possible to just use a full cup of dry Parmesan for this recipe?
LyubaB says
Hi Aleisa,
I do not recommend it because dry parm does not melt as well or have the same smoothness so it’s really best to get a block and grate it.
Kathy says
Really good. Great recipe! Made a super small change. My family likes a little heat added. crushed red pepper flake. I have never used sour cream in Alfredo Sauce. Really glad I found your recipe.
LyubaB says
Thank you, Kathy! I am so glad you like it!
Jess says
This is my go to Alfredo sauce! Thanks for the recipe!
LyubaB says
Thanks for letting me know, I am so glad you liked it!