What is Alfredo Sauce?
Alfredo sauce, as it is known here in the U.S., is a smooth, velvety cream sauce made from butter, cream (or cream cheese), and Parmesan cheese. There isn’t much added seasoning because the Parmesan cheese is already packed with so much flavor. It is served over (or tossed with) pasta, as a pizza sauce, or as a dipping sauce for breadsticks. When we were growing up, our mom always made Alfredo sauce with cream cheese instead of heavy cream which gives the sauce a nice velvety texture and a rich taste. This method makes this recipe more of an Olive Garden Alfredo sauce than an authentic pasta Alfredo but that doesn’t make it any less delicious!
“Olive Garden” Style Alfredo Sauce vs. Authentic Alfredo Sauce
As mentioned above, this style of Alfredo sauce is more of an Olive Garden Alfredo sauce than a true Alfredo sauce you would find in Italy. This is the style our mom made when we were growing up and it is thick, velvety, and creamy. Authentic Alfredo sauce originating from Rome, Italy has no cream and is simply butter, pasta, and Parmesan cheese. In Italy, the sauce isn’t made independently of the pasta dish, meaning the noodles and sauce are all tossed together and the sauce is formed as the ingredients come together (recipe coming soon). This tastes incredible, however, it makes it difficult to serve the sauce on the side or as a dipping sauce. This sauce is made independently of the noodles so it can be served over the top of the pasta, tossed with pasta, served as a pizza sauce, or as a dipping sauce.
What Ingredients Do I Need?
Most Alfredo sauce recipes call for heavy cream or heavy whipping cream, but not this one! You don’t even need to make a roux with flour and butter. Basically, you just need a few kitchen staples: fresh shredded Parmesan cheese (you can get great DOP Parmigiano Reggiano at Costco for a great price), garlic powder, butter and cream cheese. When you melt it all together you get a rich, creamy sauce with a tangy, cheesy finish. You’ll never miss the heavy cream, I promise!
Substitutions for this Recipe
If you have garlic cloves to use up, or a jar of minced garlic, feel free to use some of that fresh garlic instead of garlic powder.Garnish with freshly ground black pepper, Romano cheese, asiago cheese or fresh parsley.Swap out fettuccine noodles with any other pasta you have in your pantry: angel hair pasta, penne, or linguine.
How to Make Alfredo Sauce
Making Alfredo sauce with cream cheese is foolproof! Because you melt the butter and cream cheese together, the sauce gets thick without being temperamental. Here’s what to do:
Melt the butter and cream cheese a together in a saucepan with seasonings. Stir with a wire whisk until smooth. Add milk, whisking constantly, until desired consistency is reached.Add Parmesan cheese and stir until melted. Add more milk if needed, to thin.Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Ways to Serve Alfredo Sauce
At the end of the day, this creamy, cheesy sauce is only as good as the dish it accompanies.
Serve this glorious sauce with Chicken Alfredo over Fettuccine or Linguini noodles. Use this sauce as a dip for bread twists or veggies. Drizzle this sauce over grilled chicken, shrimp, or meatballs. Spread it on a pizza crust (try our family’s favorite pizza dough recipe for your next pizza night)! Serve grilled asparagus, green beans or a simple green salad alongside your beautiful pasta dish.
Storing the Leftovers
Store any leftovers in the fridge for up to three days. Reheat by simmering on low heat on the stove or warming in the microwave. We do not recommend freezing the leftovers. If thawed and reheated the sauce texture will not be the same.
5-Star Reviews from our Readers
Take it from some of our beloved readers who have tried this recipe; we guarantee you’ll love it too! “This recipe was amazing! I made it last night and it was simple and tasty. Thank you!” – Renee “This recipe is amazing! Simple ingredients, simple preparation, huge crowd pleaser. ” – Jo
More Recipes to Try
You can use this alfredo sauce recipe in these or many other recipes. Try some of our favorites and enjoy some good quality, restaurant-style food in the comfort of your own kitchen!
How to Make Homemade Alfredo Sauce
Homemade Alfredo Sauce: A Love Story
Many years ago, my brother called me and said “Erica, I need to impress this girl, Amber. I told her that I am going to make her a nice dinner tonight.” Of course I knew that he REALLY meant: “I want YOU to make a nice dinner for us tonight and I will pay the grocery bill.” Later that evening when the table was set with candles and fine dinnerware, he ushered me into the basement. However, the dinner impressed Amber so much that later she agreed to marry Devin!
Healthy Alfredo Sauce
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The Secret is OUT
Of course, after the wedding, the secret came out when Amber asked Devin to make his famous Homemade Alfredo Sauce. He called me up and I gave the recipe up happily. All is fair in love and war, after all! I happily shared the best alfredo sauce recipe with him and now with you! The rich, cheesy flavor in this gorgeous sauce puts Olive Garden alfredo sauce to shame! Definitely let us know in the comments if this recipe helps you fall in love!
Update: The Original Love Story!
Since posting this original recipe, we were contacted by a family member of the actual Alfredo Di Lelio, the creator of fettuccine Alfredo! This comment is one of our favorites of all time so we thought we would share it here for you to enjoy:
