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Nothing is better than homemade. This simple recipe for Homemade Alfredo Sauce is my favorite thing to serve with pasta. It is rich and creamy and a perfect traditional Italian Alfredo Sauce.
I have always loved Fettuccini Alfredo. Honestly, I love Alfredo Sauce more than a traditional Red Pasta Sauce. This creamy sauce is rich and full of flavor.
This is my Homemade Alfredo Sauce that I have perfected over the years. Serve it with fettuccini noodles or regular spaghetti noodles.
This is a great sauce that everyone will love!
Table of Contents
- How to make Homemade Alfredo Sauce:
- Ingredient Notes:
- Directions:
- Recipe Tip
- Recipe Tip
- Recipe Tip
- How to Store Homemade Alfredo Sauce:
- What Pasta is Best for Alfredo Sauce:
- Can I use milk instead of cream?
- Other alternatives to heavy cream:
- Try some of my other favorite pasta dishes:
- Homemade Alfredo Sauce Recipe
How to make Homemade Alfredo Sauce:
This recipe for Alfredo has taken me a while to get it perfected, but I believe I have mastered it.
This Alfredo sauce is rich and creamy. You want to make it low and slow.
Cook Low and Slow: Not too high of heat, and not too fast. You can’t rush this sauce, or you will ruin it.
I use a low to medium heat and am constantly stirring the sauce to prevent things from sticking and burning.
Add Slowly and Mix: Make sure to stir when adding in your additional ingredients throughout the cooking process.
Ingredient Notes:
- Butter: I used unsalted butter but if you use salted, I suggest you just add less salt when seasoning.
- Heavy whipping cream
- Garlic: Use freshly minced or jarred garlic. Add more to taste.
- Parmesan cheese: Freshly shredded works best but you can also buy a bag of shredded.
- Salt and pepper: Add this to taste.
Directions:
Step one: If you will be serving this on pasta go ahead and prepare that while you cook your Alfredo.
Any noodles will work with Alfred sauce. Fettuccine is the classic noodle type served with alfredo but anything you enjoy will work. You can also make your sauce and stir it for later.
Step two: Melt butter in a saucepan over low/medium heat.
Recipe Tip
When making alfredo low and slow is the way to work. This will help prevent burning.
Step three: Slowly mix in heavy cream once butter is about melted.
Heavy cream will make your sauce rich and thick. The perfect dairy for Alfredo sauce!
Step four: Next add in your garlic. Then slowly add in shredded parmesan cheese whisking until cheese is melted and sauce is creamy.
Recipe Tip
I add my garlic after the cream to help prevent burning.
Step five: Last season with your Alfredo with salt and pepper.
Recipe Tip
At this point you can add more or less seasoning to taste.
How to Store Homemade Alfredo Sauce:
Place in a mason jar with a lid or any airtight container.
Keep in the fridge 3-4 days. Stir constantly when reheating on low heat.
What Pasta is Best for Alfredo Sauce:
I serve my alfredo with fettuccini but any pasta you enjoy will taste great with it.
I tried very hard to keep this recipe as traditional as possible, so that is also why fettuccini is the best pasta to use.
Can I use milk instead of cream?
So cream is ideal for this recipe, but if you do not have it available you can use other dairy options.
One thing I will add is that using other dairy alternatives will change the taste and flavor of the alfredo sauce.
Milk, however, will not make the sauce as rich in flavor and the sauce would not be as thick. I would suggest adding some flour or corn starch to your sauce to thicken it up if you use milk.
Other alternatives to heavy cream:
Again, using heavy cream is the more traditional option for alfredo sauce, but here are some other alternatives besides milk if you don’t have enough cream or milk.
- Half and Half
- Greek Yogurt – a nice healthier alternative.
- Cream Cheese – this will make it very cream and also thicken the sauce up if you need.
- Evaporated Milk – not the best alternative and you may want to add some water or broth to it with this. This would greatly change the taste though.
Try some of my other favorite pasta dishes:
Easy Taco Pasta Salad – Seasoned with taco seasonings this Easy Taco Pasta Salad is the perfect summertime side dish. It’s filled with green onions, bell peppers, corn, Mexican shredded cheese, and completely delicious!
Chicken Fajita Pasta – Creamy and cheesy Chicken Fajita Pasta. My two favorites coming together, Mexican and pasta combined in a flavorful cream sauce.
One Pan Taco Pasta – This simple One-Pan Taco Pasta means fewer dishes for you after dinner and a happy family during dinner.
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Homemade Alfredo Sauce
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 2 cups parmesan cheese, (shredded)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, (or to taste)
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper, (or to taste)
- 12 oz fettuccine, (optional for serving)
Instructions
- Prepare pasta according to the package directions. Drain and set aside.
- Melt butter in a saucepan over low/medium heat. Slowly mix in heavy cream once butter is about melted.
- Add in garlic. Slowly add in shredded parmesan cheese whisking until cheese is melted and sauce is creamy.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Optional: serve with pasta and grilled chicken
Hi Jenny I’m hoping to try this recipe on Easter that I have family over. Im a little nervous but hopefully it will taste amazing and I don’t mess it up. I’m adding a pasta bar with different add-ons so my idea is to have the Alfredo sauce and marinara sauce y a small slow cooker. Willy his work to do it in advance and then just dump it in slow cooker? Or what would be your suggestions? All your help and advice is very welcome
Hi Adriana. I do have a spaghetti sauce that I make in the slow cooker if you want to check that out. https://www.thediaryofarealhousewife.com/slow-cooker-spaghetti-sauce/
For the Alfredo you would want to make in on the stove top. The cheese needs to be added in slowly and whisked to melt properly. I would also suggest you use freshly grated parmesan. Once it is done you can keep it in the slow cooker on warm to stay warm on your pasta bar.
I just made the alfredo sauce for a recipe that called for it, but I didn’t have any on hand. This homemade sauce is sooo much better than jarred sauce! No extra or unknown ingredients in homemade! Delicious and easy!! I won’t buy jarred alfredo sauce anymore!
Thank you!
Thanks Susan! I am so glad you liked it.
So easy to make and the tips she gave were very helpful. I LOVE it!! It was amazing. Thank u so much.
Thank you Jan!
I just made your alfredo sauce and it turned out delicious I think I will make it again
Thanks Susan!
Turned out perfect! Love this recipe it’s nice and easy with out all the extras yet taste amazing! Reminds me of Red Lobster’s shrimp alfredo. In fact to me, The taste is identical. Thanks so much for the easy recipe with the taste that’s out of this world!!
Thanks Rikki!
So good!
Good day! This is the best Alfredo I have ever made.
This has got to be the absolute best Alfredo sauce I have even found! I tried to make so many and this is amazing!! I make it in all my dinners that require Alfredo sauce! Such an easy recipe to follow!! Good job and thank you!!
Yah! You made my night, thank you so much for the comment. I am so glad you enjoy it.