Looking for The BEST easy Alfredo sauce recipe? With this simple to make Alfredo sauce recipe, your sauce is ready in 5 minutes. This is truly the best recipe.
One of my favorite sides to serve with this homemade, easy alfredo sauce are these Garlic Knots.
I may not be able to supply bottomless breadsticks and salad, but I can show you how to recreate Olive Garden’s beloved alfredo sauce. Over the years, I’ve worked hard to recreate the recipe. Not to brag, but I think I nailed it!
This homemade Alfredo sauce is a no-fail, 5-minute sauce. Once you try it, you will never buy a jar of Alfredo sauce again.
Despite this sauce having a rich and complex flavor, it’s extremely simple to make. Don’t limit yourself to pairing it with noodles. Add a touch of this homemade alfredo sauce to your mashed potatoes, pour it over white rice or use it as a pizza sauce.
What is Alfredo Sauce?
Simply put, alfredo sauce is a combination of heavy whipping cream, unsalted butter, parmesan cheese, garlic cloves and parsley salt. The end result is a delicious, white cream sauce that pairs beautifully with seafood, chicken and vegetables.
What is the Best Way to Reheat the Alfredo Sauce?
The sauce will thicken as it cools. Fix this by reheating it in a saucepan at low-heat with a couple of spoonfuls of water.
How Can I Thicken my Alfredo Sauce?
If you like an extra thick consistency (think mac and cheese sauce) add in extra parmesan cheese and let it simmer a bit longer.
Simple Ways to Use the Alfredo Sauce
Whenever we invite people over for the first time, we usually serve Italian dinner. So far it has been a no-fail plan. Often, it surprises people that we make our own Alfredo sauce and sometimes even the homemade pasta. Here are some dishes you can prepare with the Alfredo Sauce:
- Fettuccine Alfredo with Broccoli and Mushrooms
- Chicken Mushroom Alfredo Sauce Recipe
- Chicken Broccoli Alfredo
In addition to making Alfredo pasta, you can also put this Alfredo sauce on pizza or rice. I’ve even seen people adding a little amount to mashed potatoes to give it an even better taste.
Variations to this Easy Alfredo Sauce Recipe
Alfredo sauce is such a simple recipe and chances are, you have the ingredients on hand. This recipe is a great way to sneak in the added protein and veggies. If doing so, you may want to double the recipe depending on your ingredients. Some of my favorite are:
- Chicken
- Shrimp
- Sun-Dried Tomatoes
- Spinach
- Broccoli
If you’re wanting a little spice, add a pinch or two of cayenne pepper or cajun seasoning to your protein to spice it up a notch!
Ingredients for Easy Alfredo Sauce
- Heavy Whipping Cream
- Unsalted Butter
- Parmesan Cheese
- Garlic Cloves
- Parsley Garlic Salt
Tips for Making the Best Alfredo Sauce
- Measure out all your ingredients before you start cooking. You will need to stand by the stove while preparing this dish to ensure the cream and cheese does not burn. Pre-measuring will prevent you from having to step away and it will make for a less stressful cooking experience!
- Use a whisk versus a spoon. A whisk will help you incorporate the ingredients better, which results in a smoother, creamier sauce.
- Serve the sauce immediately. Like I said above, the sauce thickens as it cools. Plus, your guests will be impressed when you pour the fresh, homemade sauce over their noodles!
Can I Freeze the Alfredo Sauce?
You can and you should! I like to freeze a batch and use it on days I don’t want to cook from scratch. Freeze the sauce in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Make sure it is completely cooled before freezing. When reheating, stir it continuously to prevent the cheese from curdling.
Alfredo Sauce Nutrition
Despite it being higher in fat, alfredo sauce is low-carb! If you’re watching your weight, apply the sauce over broccoli or asparagus.
Other Easy Pasta Recipes
Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 2/3 cup Heavy Whipping Cream
- 4 tbsp Unsalted Butter
- 1 1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese
- 4 Garlic Cloves
- 1 tbsp Garlic Parley Salt
Instructions
- Prepare all ingredients. Parmesan cheese is much better if it's not grated in advance.
- Preheat heavy whipping cream, parsley garlic salt and butter, until it starts to simmer. Whisk the cream as it simmers, so it doesn't stick to the bottom.
- Press garlic into the cream and cook for another minute. Add Parmesan cheese to the cream, keep whisking until it completely melts.
- Now that the sauce is ready, you can prepare some pasta to go with it. Or, feel free to use it for baking pizza.
My go to Alfredo sauce!
Oh I love that, thank you for sharing!
What is the serving size portion??
About 1/2 cup. Hope this helps, Laurie!
What if I don’t have parsley garlic salt on hand? What is the ratio of the 3 ingredients to make my own?
Hey Holly, you can use 1/2 tsp of garlic powder and salt to taste. Enjoy
Oh really☺️
Made this sauce tonight and it was PERFECT! So easy, tasted great! Added a splash of pasta water to thin it out a tiny but but otherwise followed the recipe exactly. Will definitely make this again, thank you!
Sara, thank you for the pasta water tip, I'm so glad you enjoyed the alfredo sauce, thank you for taking the time to comment.
Made this a couple weeks ago and froze the leftovers. I added about a Tbsp of water and re-heated the sauce in the microwave on defrost a few minutes at a time, breaking it up/stirring in between. It actually didn't separate and is surprisingly not gritty. It is a little bit thinner though, probably due to the water
Yeah, you can add a little less water but it’s a great for others. Thanks for sharing
I LOVE Your Site!! Thank You for all of the Delicious Recipes❤ I added in Nutmeg and onion and I thinned it with Half & Half it's Delish!! This Recipe is Amazingly delicious just as it is and it is Exactly like Olive gardens recipe. I Love Nutmeg and Onions so I tossed them in and it added amazing flavor to the sauce. I used an immersion blender in the sauce for the onion and garlic pieces so the sauce isn't lumpy.
Hey Darlene, thank you for sharing your tips. That sounds so good!
Love your site! What does it mean to press the garlic into the cream? I'm assuming it means using a garlic press?
Hey April, yes, use a garlic press to add garlic to the sauce. Btw, thank you for a sweet comment.
It looks really delicious! I would love to try it too. 🙂
Thank you! I would say double up the recipe because its Bomb!
I love Alfredo sauce, but I've never tried making it before. I would love to try making this sometime.
Shannin, you will be really impressed with how quick and easy the recipe is!
I love making my own homemade sauce like this. Gosh, does this ever look delicious!
Tiffany, thank you! I hope you get to try this recipe as well 🙂
Sounds good. But here is your next challenge.... create a vegan version that doesn't taste like a cashew LOL
Oh my, that would be a hard one because I am not the best with vegan dishes. I love dairy 🙂
Hhhhmmmm....I love it! Any dish that has garlic in it, I will always give a first-priority.
Yes, a hint of fresh garlic is incredibly delicious in this alfredo sauce. Enjoy it!
The sauce looks so cool. And in five minutes. A must make for me.
Yes, for sure, can't beat 5-minute Alfredo Sauce Recipe 😉
My kids are obsessed- chicken alfredo is their fave. I will have to try this.
My son loves Shrimp Alfredo, typically I have to double it up when I make it with shrimp 🙂 Enjoy it!
My husband loves Alfredo sauce on pasta and his favorite is Shrimp Alfredo. I will make this for him today. Love that I can make a big batch of sauce of freeze half of it for later use.
Your husband and my older son have similar taste buds 🙂
Easy Alfredo Sauce (5 Minutes) seems like a quick fix! I hope I can make it on weekends and share it to my family!
Yes for sure, quick and easy fix. Before even pasta cooks, the sauce is ready. 🙂
5 minutes to my favorite pasta sauce on the planet? I'm all in! I have to give this recipe a try.
Stacie, thank you! I am so glad you have found the recipe you are looking for! 🙂
Wow this looks so good! Definitely need to try this sometime soon!
Thank you! I hope you love the alfredo sauce! 🙂
Your alfredo sauce sounds delicious! I like collecting different alfredo sauce recipes, because no two are alike. I look forward to making this soon!
Bill, I hope that you love it as much as we do. We tried to make it as easy as possible for anyone to make!
i used 2tsps ofbuter garlic powder 2cups of milk pepper and bar of cream chesse. yummy best i've ever tried, when nearly done i sprinkled some basil and a handful of parmsian powder soooogood
That sounds like a yummy recipe. Will have to try one day.
What do I do if it's too salty?
Add more cream or don't season pasta. It will absorb some of that flavor.
When would you like to invite us over for dinner the first time? lol
Welcome any time 😉
Hello, quick question my husband has really unpredictable work hours so I always have to make food ahead and reheat it. With this sauce can I just reheat it on low? Would it taste the same? Thank you!
You can but really it wouldn't be the same, when you reheat cheese and whipping cream together it separates a little. It still taste very similar, but I wouldn't recommend this one for reheating. Only when you have leftovers. But this sauce cooks so quick, almost same time as if you were to reheat it on low heat.
Can you freeze this sauce?
No, I think the texture will change after freezing it. It's th best while still fresh
Natalya- At the top of the information you wrote BEFORE the comment section, you say it can be frozen but then, You told Amanda NO. That is completely opposite what you said before. Help?! Haha.
Cindy, that comment was from years ago. We updated the recipe and bit and freezing can work. Enjoy!
Hey Natalya, thank you for the recipe. Can i make this sauce ahead of time and refrigerate?
I think you can, just keep it refrigerated. It is still better to make it fresh.
I just made this with half and half and it came out great
Oh awesome! Thanks for telling me about using half an half. I think it would really help others too.
Have you ever made it with half and half?
Not that I can recall. I have made it so many times, I believe that it was always with whipping cream.
Oh my, i've tried many different recipes for the sauce, but this one is the best!!!!! Very simple and fast, and most importantly so so good! Thank you for the recipe.:)
Hey dear! You totally have made my day... I love it on a busy day for a quick lunch fix!
Do you use whole garlic cloves instead of minced?
Hey, you would need to press garlic into the mixture, or you can mince it.
I make this exact sauce! Except I saute onions first and then add flour and then the cream and your steps follow. Also, fresh (fresh, in this case, makes a huge difference) herbs completes this dish. Takes the taste to another level. Yum!! 🙂
Elissa, thank you for the tip with herbs. Usually I don't carry fresh herbs at home because I love just simple salt & pepper.