Easy Alfredo Sauce recipe that is ideal over pasta or chicken with easy instructions on storing leftover portions.

If you've ever wondered how to make Alfredo Sauce, this recipe is for you!
If you want to turn a bowl of pasta from ordinary to extraordinary, consider making a quick batch of homemade Alfredo Sauce. You might be surprised to see just how easy it is! This Alfredo sauce is easy to make, ultra-creamy, and completely delicious!
Why This Recipe Works
- Alfredo sauce is a lovely sauce that's perfect to toss with pasta or serve with chicken.
- This is a low-carb alfredo sauce.
- This recipe makes a good amount of sauce and will definitely serve more than one person.
- Skip the temptation to purchase a jar of pre-made Alfredo Sauce at the store, instead, use this recipe to make this better-than-store-bought-version.
Ingredient Notes
See the recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.
- Heavy cream: Many readers will ask if whole milk or half and half can be used in place of heavy cream. While either can be used instead of cream, I don't recommend it. If you do not use heavy cream, the sauce will be much thinner and less rich tasting. The cream provides richness and a velvety consistency.
- Lemon juice: Use freshly squeezed lemon juice for best flavor but bottled can be used if necessary.
- Butter: I use salted butter.
- Parmesan cheese: Parmesan cheese provides a nutty and savory taste. I prefer freshly grated Parmesan cheese because it will melt beautifully into the sauce. You can use pre-packaged or jarred Parmesan instead but it may not melt as well.
- Ground nutmeg: This ingredient rounds out the flavor of the sauce.
- Salt (optional): For taste.

How To Make Alfredo Sauce
The ingredient list is small. All you need is heavy cream, lemon juice, butter, parmesan cheese, salt, and nutmeg.

Here's how this easy Alfredo Sauce recipe comes together...
- Stir the cream and the lemon juice in a heavy medium skillet to blend.


2. Add the butter and cook over medium heat just until the butter melts, stirring occasionally.

3. After the butter melts, reduce the heat to low and add in the grated parmesan cheese, a pinch of nutmeg and salt, stirring until the cheese is melted.
4. Remove from the heat.
5.Toss with cooked pasta.
6. Sprinkle a little more grated parmesan over the top, if desired.

What To Serve With Alfredo Sauce
Expert Tips
- To reduce the calories in alfredo sauce, you can use half and half for the heavy cream. Although the sauce will be thinner, the calories will be reduced.
- Make sure to continuously stir the sauce, and scrape the bottom and side of the pan so that those hotter areas don’t become curdled as the sauce cooks down.
- Use this alfredo sauce in a variety of different ways. In addition to eating it tossed with pasta, consider also adding the sauce to cooked chicken, shrimp, or on an alfredo pizza.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do You Thicken Alfredo Sauce?
Alfredo sauce thickens mostly from the cheese. Because we're using heavy cream, the sauce reduces naturally and reaches the right consistency without a thickening agent. If you want to thicken your alfredo sauce further, add more cheese than the amount that is called for in the recipe.
What Is The Difference Between Bechamel Sauce and Alfredo Sauce?
Both are white sauces made with dairy. Bechamel is a French sauce that is made using a roux made with butter and flour.
Alfredo sauce uses heavy cream that is thickened by reduction on the stovetop, then thickened further by Parmesan cheese.
Is Alfredo Sauce Keto?
Yes! This sauce is totally keto. It's perfect if you're following a low carb diet.
If you're looking for a small batch of Alfredo Sauce, you can find that recipe as well as many other single serving recipes by visiting our One Dish Kitchen site.

How To Make Alfredo Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 8 tablespoons butter 1 stick
- 3 cups grated Parmesan cheese
- Pinch of ground nutmeg
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Stir the cream and the lemon juice in a heavy medium skillet to blend.
- Add the butter and cook over medium heat just until the butter melts, stirring occasionally.
- Reduce the heat to low and add in the grated Parmesan cheese, nutmeg and salt, stirring until the cheese is melted.
- Remove from the heat.
- Toss with cooked pasta.
- Sprinkle a little more grated parmesan over the top, if desired.
Notes
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
recipe is almost identical to one I have used for 30+ years with the exception of the lemon juice. I have guest coming for dinner on Sunday I’ll fix the pasta a nice crispy Romaine salad, a glass of Wente Chardonay
barely oaked with lots of citrus flavors and pass judgement on the lemon juice. I owned a catering business in Reno Nv. aprox. 20 years ago and ran that business for 30 years ” Silver Spoons Catering”. 20 yrs in Reno, and 10 years in California centeral valley. Short distance from Sacramento and San Francisco.
You just can’t beat an easy Alfredo Sauce recipe, I think it’s perfect to serve to guests – It’s easy to make and everyone loves it. One of my favorite Chardonnays is Wente, I know it was perfect with your meal.
Thanks! Can’t wait to try it!
I”m thinking about making Alfredo lasagna, how many batches do you think i would need to make for a nine by thirteen pan? (half on bottom, quarter in middle and quarter on top)
Hi Sarah,
Alfredo lasagna sounds wonderful! I would double the recipe. This should give you enough sauce for your lasagna.
I was thinking about making shrimp alfredo for dinner… and now your post has sealed the deal!
Yum, I love shrimp alfredo!!