How To Make Alfredo Sauce

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 You’ll Love This Recipe

• Creamy Indulgence: Alfredo sauce is known for its luxurious, velvety texture and rich, creamy flavor. It’s a comfort food that offers a truly indulgent experience, making it perfect for treating oneself or celebrating special occasions.
• Classic and Timeless: Alfredo sauce has stood the test of time as a beloved Italian-American classic. It’s simplicity and timeless appeal mean that it’s enjoyed by people of all ages and backgrounds.
• Quick and Easy: Making Alfredo sauce from scratch is surprisingly quick and easy. In just a matter of minutes, you can have a luscious homemade sauce ready to evaluate your pasta dish.
• Better Than Store Bought: With an exceptional Alfredo sauce recipe, you can effortlessly recreate the flavors right in your own kitchen. Skip the temptation to purchase a jar of pre-made Alfredo sauce and embrace the satisfaction of creating your own.

Ingredient Notes

See below for ways to use leftover ingredients.

• Heavy cream: I recommend using heavy cream (double cream) or heavy whipping cream. The high amount of fat in the cream reduces the chance of the sauce curdling. I do not recommend using whole milk or half & half. If you do not use heavy cream, the sauce will be much thinner and will have a less 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: Nutmeg adds a lovely sweet aroma to the sauce and rounds out the flavor.
• Salt (optional): Taste the sauce after it is made and add additional salt if you feel it’s necessary. Parmesan cheese is salty and I feel it provides enough salt for a very flavorful sauce.

This is just an overview of the ingredients I used and why I used them. For the full recipe please scroll down to the recipe box at the bottom of the post.

How To Make Alfredo Sauce

These step-by-step photos and instructions help you visualize how to make Alfredo sauce. See the recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.

1. 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.

Expert Tips

• Freshly Grated Parmesan: Grate your own Parmesan cheese from a block rater than using pre-packages grated cheese. Freshly grated cheese melts more smoothly and delivers a better flavor.
• Low and Slow Cream Simmering: When adding the heavy cream, keep the heat low and allow it to gently simmer. This prevents the cream from curdling and helps it incorporate well with the other ingredients.
• Stir Constantly: 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.
• Season Thoughtfully: Be mindful of the inherent saltiness of Parmesan cheese. Taste the sauce before adding any additional salt, and consider using freshly ground black pepper for the best flavor.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do I Store Leftover Alfredo Sauce?

Homemade Alfredo sauce should be covered and stored in the refrigerator. It will keep well for up to 4 days.

To reheat Alfredo sauce, pour it into a saucepan and heat the sauce over low heat, stirring frequently until the sauce has heated.

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.

Serving Suggestions

1. Classic Fettuccine Alfredo: Serve the Alfredo sauce over a bed of freshly cooked fettuccine pasta. Garnish with extra grated Parmesan cheese and freshly chopped parsley.
2. Chicken Alfredo: Add grilled or sautéed chicken breast slices to the pasta and Alfredo sauce for a hearty and protein-rich meal.
3. Seafood Alfredo: Incorporate cooked shrimp, scallops, or lobster tail into the Alfredo sauce for an elegant seafood dish.
4. Vegetable Alfredo: Toss steamed or sautéed vegetables like broccoli, peas, spinach, or mushrooms into the sauce for a colorful or nutritious option.

Recipe Variations

This recipe is highly versatile, and the following variations can cater to different palates and dietary needs:

• Garlic Alfredo Sauce: Infuse the sauce by sautéing minced garlic in the butter before adding the cream and cheese. This variation adds a delightful aromatic kick to the sauce.
• Spinach Alfredo: Add sautéed or wilted spinach to the Alfredo sauce for a pop of color and added nutrition. Spinach complements the creamy sauce beautifully.
• Bacon and Mushroom Alfredo: Sauté sliced mushrooms and cooked bacon bits before adding them to the sauce. The combination of savory mushrooms and smoky bacon adds depth to the dish.
• Sun-Dried Tomato Alfredo: Incorporate chopped sun-dried tomatoes to the sauce for a burst of tangy sweetness and vibrant color.

Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients

If you have any ingredients leftover from this easy Alfredo sauce recipe, you might consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:

• Cream: Vanilla Ice Cream, Strawberry Icebox Cake, Crustless Quiche Lorraine, Chicken with Mustard Sauce
• Lemon juice: Lemon Blueberry Muffin, Lemon and Garlic Chicken, Lemon Meringue Pie, Baba Ganoush
• Parmesan cheese: Parmesan Crisps, Eggplant Parmesan, Chicken Parmesan Tenders, Cheesy Baked Eggs
• Nutmeg: Fried Apples, Garam Masala, Spice Cake, Dutch Apple Pie

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.

Enjoy!