Homemade Alfredo Sauce
5 ingredients is all that is needed for the best Alfredo sauce. Homemade Alfredo sauce is simple, creamy and packed with garlic and Parmesan. One of the most delicious pasta sauce recipes you’ll ever make.
Table of Contents
Ingredients needed
- Butter.
- Fresh garlic cloves. Garlic powder can be used as substitute but won’t give as a great flavor as fresh garlic will.
- Heavy cream. Whipping cream can also be used.
- 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 black pepper.
What is Alfredo sauce
Authentic 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 from scratch. This recipe takes no more than 10 minutes to make and requires only a handful of ingredients.
- Melt the butter in a large pan set over medium heat until the butter is foamy. Add the minced garlic and cook until fragrant (approximately 30 seconds) then pour in the cream and herbs/seasoning.
- 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 until the sauce has thickened slightly (the consistency should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon) 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.
- 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 an airtight container or jar in the fridge for up to 4 days. Transfer to a saucepan and reheat gently until warmed through.
Serving suggestions
Alfredo sauce is a delicious, versatile sauce that can be used in a variety of dishes.
- Fettuccine Alfredo: toss with cooked fettuccine noodles (add a few tablespoons of the pasta cooking water to thin out if necessary) then garnish with finely chopped fresh parsley and Parmesan cheese.
- Pan sear chicken breasts, thinly slice and add to pasta to make a delicious Chicken Alfredo. For a low carb / gluten free dinner recipe, serve the Alfredo sauce over seared chicken with greens of your choice.
- Make Shrimp Alfredo by adding juicy seared shrimp to the sauce.
- Use as a sauce over broccoli/cauliflower, chicken, fish, etc.
FAQ
Alfredo sauce is made with butter, Parmesan cheese, heavy cream and garlic.
You can use milk instead of cream but the sauce won’t be as thick and creamy. To thicken the sauce, use a little cornstarch or flour.
Alfredo sauce is an Italian sauce made with butter, cream and Parmesan cheese. White sauce or béchamel sauce is a French sauce made with a roux (butter and flour) and milk.
Easy sauce recipes
- Creamy lemon pepper sauce
- Easy Pizza Sauce
- Homemade marinara sauce
- Creamy Gorgonzola sauce
- Basil cream sauce
- Easy creamy mushroom sauce
- Easy creamy pepper sauce
Homemade Alfredo Sauce
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp butter
- 2 garlic cloves minced/crushed
- 2 cups heavy / whipping cream
- 1 tsp dried Italian herbs / seasoning
- 1½ cups Parmesan cheese finely grated/shredded
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a large pan until foamy. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant (30 seconds – 1 minute).
- Pour in the cream and herbs/seasoning then allow to come to a simmer. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the cream has reduced slightly.
- Stir in the Parmesan cheese and allow to melt/cook for another 2-3 minutes until the sauce coats the back of a spoon.
- Season to taste with salt and pepper then serve.
