Rich, creamy, and oh-so-cheesy, this Homemade Alfredo Sauce is just what the doctor ordered when those comfort food cravings hit.
More than just a sauce to toss with fettuccine, it’s quite versatile and can be customized in a ton of ways. Plus, it only takes about 10 minutes!
We prefer to make our own pasta sauces from scratch. From simple Pomodoro Sauce to the all day affair that is Sunday Gravy, homemade is always the way to go.
Why We Love this Sauce
- Creamy Goodness. Seriously, who doesn’t love a creamy cheesy sauce?
- It’s So Easy! Like 10 minutes easy. No need for slow simmering here.
- Simplicity. You only need a few basic ingredients you may already have on hand.
- It’s Super Versatile. We’ll give you plenty of variations later on.
- Superior Quality. Yes, we admit to sometimes reaching for one of those jarred alfredo sauces when we’re feeling really lazy. But homemade is so, so much better.
What is Alfredo?
Fettuccine Alfredo, in its original form, was invented in the early 1900s by Alfredo Di Lelio at his mother’s restaurant in Rome. His recipe included only three ingredients: fettuccini, butter and parmesan cheese.
The dish’s fame spread, and by mid-century Alfredo was theatrically tossing the pasta at tableside with gold cutlery, as a violinist played beside him. Some of his visiting patrons included the biggest celebrities of the time.
As the decades passed, jarred alfredo sauce started to appear on supermarket shelves. This sauce differed from the original recipe in that it was cream based. This variation, also very popular in the chain restaurant Olive Garden, is now what most people think of as “Alfredo”.
Ingredient Notes
- Butter: To sauté the garlic and add great flavor to the sauce.
- Garlic: Just a little, so as not to overpower the sauce.
- Heavy cream: The base of the sauce.
- Parmesan cheese: Freshly shredded, please.
- Seasonings: Italian seasoning, salt and pepper.
How to Make Alfredo Sauce
1. Melt the butter over medium heat in a skillet, then add the garlic. Cook for a minute or two, until the garlic becomes soft and fragrant.
2. Add the cream and Italian seasoning. Bring to a low simmer, then stir in the cheese. Taste and adjust for salt and pepper.
That’s it! Your homemade alfredo sauce is ready to toss with your favorite pasta.
Variations
Basic Fettuccine Alfredo is so good, but it’s also a great canvas for a variety of add ins.
It’s great with added in proteins like chicken, shrimp, crab or sausage. Take note, Italians are pretty strict about keeping meats and pastas separate, so you might want to save those variations for your American guests.
Many veggies also go great in alfredo sauce. Think broccoli, mushrooms, bell peppers, peas or spinach.
You can also use it as a sauce base for more elaborate creamy pasta dishes like Rasta Pasta or Jambalaya Pasta.
Oh, and don’t feel like you have to stick with fettuccine. This sauce goes great with any of your favorite pasta shapes.
Serving Suggestions
However you choose to customize your Alfredo night, it’s always nice to have a little something on the side. Our top pick is some crusty bread, like our No Knead Bread.
Some good vegetable pairings are roasted Broccoli or Asparagus, or Grilled Zucchini.
How about a nice Caesar Salad? It has a very similar backstory to the original Fettuccini Alfredo, where the chef dramatically tossed it together in front of the diners.
Thinking beyond pasta, you can also drizzle this sauce over vegetables for a decadent side dish.
Leftovers and Storage
Leftover Alfredo Sauce can be refrigerated in an airtight container for 3-4 days. Reheat on stovetop over medium heat, adding a splash of extra milk or cream if it has thickened up too much.
We do not recommend freezing leftovers, as the cream may separate.
If you want a delicious meal without a lot of hassle, whip up a quick batch of this easy homemade Alfredo Sauce. It hits the spot every time.
Homemade Alfredo Sauce, on our Gypsy Plate… enjoy!
More Great Pasta Sauce Recipes:
San Marzano Tomato Sauce
Pesto all Genovese
Lamb Ragu
Vodka Sauce
Bolognese Sauce
Homemade Alfredo Sauce
Indulge in creamy Homemade Alfredo Sauce, ready in just 10 minutes! Versatile, delicious, and perfect for satisfying comfort food cravings.
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter
- 2 garlic coves, minced
- 1.5 cups heavy cream
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 2 cups shredded parmesan cheese
- salt, to taste
- pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Melt the butter over medium heat in a skillet, then add the garlic. Cook for a minute or two, till the garlic becomes soft and fragrant.
- Add the cream and Italian seasoning. Bring to a low simmer, then stir in the cheese. Taste and adjust for salt and pepper.
Notes
- This recipe is enough to go with about 8oz of pasta.
Welcome to GypsyPlate! I'm Alpana, former wordwide tour manager and professional caterer, now full time blogger. I love exploring cuisines from around the world, and my recipes have been featured on sites such as MSN, Parade, Brit + Co, CNET and AOL. You can explore my entire collection of sortable recipes in my Recipe Index or learn more about me here.
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