Homemade Alfredo Sauce

5 ingredients is all that is needed for this crowd pleaser. Homemade Alfredo sauce is simple, creamy and packed with garlic and Parmesan. One of the most delicious pasta sauce recipes you’ll ever make.

Ingredients

Full homemade Alfredo sauce recipe and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

• Butter. 
• Freshly garlic.
• Cream. Heavy/whipping.
• Italian herbs/seasoning. This is optional but adds a lot of great flavor.
• Parmesan cheese. Grating your own Parmesan will guarantee the most delicious end result.
• Salt and pepper.

What is Alfredo sauce

Traditional Alfredo sauce consists of butter, Parmesan cheese, pasta water and seasoning. The American version adds cream to create a super luxurious and delicious white sauce that is perfect served with pasta.

How to make homemade Alfredo sauce

I’m not lying when I say that Alfredo sauce is the easiest pasta sauce recipe you can make. This recipe takes no more than 10 minutes to make and requires only a handful of ingredients.

1. Melt the butter in a large pan set over medium-high heat until the butter is foamy. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant (approximately 30 seconds) then pour in the cream and herbs/seasoning.
2. Bring the cream to a simmer. I prefer to bring the cream to a gentle simmer before adding the Parmesan. Simmer the cream and seasonings for 2-3 minutes then add the Parmesan. Use a microplain or the finest side of a box grated to grate the Parmesan. Alternatively, blitz the cheese in a food processor until fine. Stir the cheese into the sauce and allow to cook and melt for another 2-3 minutes.
3. Taste and adjust seasoning as necessary before serving.

How to make Alfredo sauce with milk

You can make Alfredo without cream but the end result won’t be as luxuriously silky. Add 2 teaspoons of flour to the garlic and butter and replace the cream with milk. Allow the sauce to cook until thickened before adding the Parmesan cheese.

How to thicken Alfredo sauce

Allowing the cream to simmer and reduce will naturally thicken the sauce as the water evaporates. Allow the cream to simmer for 5-7 minutes in a wide pan before adding the cheese for a delicious, creamy Alfredo sauce.

Is Alfredo sauce gluten free?

Yes, this sauce is completely gluten free. None of the ingredients should contain gluten, just check that the Italian seasoning you are using doesn’t contain any either. Serve the sauce with gluten free pasta for a delicious meal.

Freezing and reheating instructions

• Freezing: Allow cooked sauce to cool down completely then transfer to airtight, freezer-safe containers. Freeze for up to 3 months. Cream-based sauces have a tendency to curdle once thawed but the taste will still be delicious. To prevent this, thaw in the fridge and reheat over gentle heat in a saucepan. To save a curdled sauce, whisk in a teaspoon of flour mixed with water and cook gently for a few minutes. Alternatively, blend the sauce in a food processor until smooth and pass through a strainer.
• Reheating: Store cooked Alfredo sauce in airtight jars in the fridge for up to 4 days. Transfer to a saucepan and reheat gently until warmed through.

Serving suggestions

• Fettucini Alfredo: toss with cooked fettucini (add a few tablespoons of the pasta cooking water to thin out if necessary) then top with finely chopped parsley and Parmesan cheese.
• Pan sear chicken breasts, thinly slice and add to the Fettucini Alfredo. For a low carb / gluten free dinner recipe, serve the Alfredo sauce over seared chicken with greens of your choice.
• Use as a sauce over broccoli/cauliflower, chicken, fish, etc.

Easy sauce recipes

1. Creamy lemon pepper sauce
2. Homemade marinara sauce
3. Creamy Gorgonzola sauce
4. Basil cream sauce
5. Easy creamy mushroom sauce
6. Easy creamy pepper sauce