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    Home » Recipes » Sauces and Dressing » Alfredo Sauce Recipe

    Alfredo Sauce Recipe

    Published: Feb 13, 2020 · Modified: May 9, 2023 by Tonia Larson

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

    ↓ JUMP TO RECIPE ↓ JUMP TO VIDEO

    This copycat Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce recipe is easy to make with only five ingredients. Once you make it from scratch, you’ll be hooked!

    alfredo sauce in a jar

    Of all the pasta sauces in the world, Alfredo sauce is my family’s favorite! It’s the first sauce I taught my son how to make back when he was in middle school. This Olive Garden alfredo sauce copycat is perfect for dipping breadsticks too!

    What You’ll Find In This Post

    • Homemade Alfredo Sauce
    • Alfredo Sauce Ingredients
    • How To Make Alfredo Sauce From Scratch
      • What other seasonings can I add?
    • Is there a way to make a lighter version?
    • How To Use Alfredo Sauce
      • Fettuccini Alfredo
    • Leftovers and Storage
    • What Others Want To Know About This Recipe
    • Want more sauce recipes? Try these next:
    pasta twirled around a fork

    Homemade Alfredo Sauce

    Homemade alfredo sauce is the most delicious thing you’ll ever make! It is infinitely better than the store-bought version, and you only need a few ingredients to make it. The sauce can be made ahead of time, stored in the refrigerator or freezer, and reheated as necessary.

    Ingredients on a white marble countertop.

    Alfredo Sauce Ingredients

    • Butter: We used salted butter in this recipe. The butter, along with the parmesan, make it so that no additional salt was needed.
    • Heavy Cream: Full-fat heavy whipping cream gives the sauce a rich, creamy texture and flavor. Although you can use lower-fat substitutes, you will compromise the flavor and texture of the sauce somewhat.
    • Parmesan Cheese: Alfredo sauce is made with melted parmesan cheese, so you’ll need grated parmesan cheese for this recipe. The powdered parmesan in a green shaker can will NOT work. We grated a wedge of fresh parmesan cheese, but you can buy the freshly grated parmesan in the deli section of the grocery store if you prefer.
    • Garlic Powder: A little garlic adds a lot of flavor to this Alfredo sauce! We chose to use garlic powder in this recipe to keep the sauce as smooth as possible. If you prefer, you can use one teaspoon of minced garlic instead of the garlic powder called for in this recipe.
    • Black Pepper: The black pepper adds a little bit of heat and some flavor to this basic sauce. It can be left out if you prefer, but we love it so much that we even add black pepper to the alfredo sauce at Olive Garden.
    Cubes of parmesan cheese in a food processor.

    Freshly Grated Parmesan

    Start by grating the parmesan cheese. There are a couple of methods you can use to grate it. The easiest way is to use a food processor! Cut the parmesan into cubes and place them in the bowl of the food processor.

    Grated parmesan cheese in a food processor.

    Add the cover and process until it turns into powdery, grated parmesan. One eight-ounce wedge makes two cups of grated parmesan.

    If you do not have a food processor, you can use a hand-held fine grater, or you can skip this step if you buy freshly grated parmesan.

    How To Make Alfredo Sauce From Scratch

    Butter cubes and heavy cream in a saucepan.

    To make alfredo sauce from scratch, start by heating the butter and heavy cream in a large pot.

    A whisk in a saucepan with melted cream, butter, and grated parmesan cheese.

    Once the butter is melted and the cream is hot, slowly melt the grated parmesan into the cream by adding a little at a time. Stir the sauce until the cheese is melted before adding more.

    A whisk in a sauce pan with alfredo ingredients.

    Finally, whisk in the garlic and black pepper at the end.

    What other seasonings can I add?

    We only added garlic powder and black pepper, but there are many other seasonings you could add. Try stirring in a pinch of nutmeg, red pepper flakes, dried basil, dried oregano, dried parsley, or Italian seasoning. You can also add salt if needed but taste the sauce first to make sure. Only add a little at a time, tasting after incorporating it before adding more.

    alfredo sauce being poured on fettuccini

    Is there a way to make a lighter version?

    You can swap ingredients to try to make a lighter version of this easy Alfredo sauce recipe, but the results (taste and texture) will not be the same.

    Try using half-n-half or milk for the heavy cream. Add less butter and add more liquid instead. To help thicken the sauce, stir in some low-fat cream cheese.

    Another option is to start with a roux made from melted butter and flour. Check out my chicken alfredo spaghetti sauce recipe for that version.

    fettuccine alfredo in a bowl

    How To Use Alfredo Sauce

    This recipe makes three cups of the best Alfredo sauce that is an Olive Garden copycat! The most common way to use it is to put the sauce on fettuccini. But there are endless possibilities beyond fettuccine. Try using it as pasta sauce on your favorite pasta, such as tortellini, ziti, ravioli, or stuffed shells. We also love to use it as a pizza sauce, in chicken alfredo soup, and as a cream sauce in this chicken alfredo pot pie.

    Fettuccini Alfredo

    Cook a 16-ounce package of fettuccine according to the instructions on the package. Drain the pasta, reserving 1/4 cup of the pasta cooking water just in case you need it. Then, add the cooked fettuccine to the Alfredo sauce and stir until coated. Thin with the reserved pasta water, if necessary. Serve immediately.

    Dipping Sauce

    Whenever we get garlic breadsticks from Olive Garden, we always order a bowl of Alfredo sauce to dip them in! You can also use it as a dip for garlic knots, garlic bread, and even meatballs.

    jar of alfredo sauce from the side

    Leftovers and Storage

    Alfredo sauce is best when you use it right after making it. That being said, you can refrigerate or freeze Alfredo sauce and reheat it. With a little effort, the leftovers will be delicious!

    • Refrigerator: Store cooled leftovers in an airtight, sealed container in the fridge for 4-5 days.
    • Freezer: Store in an airtight freezer-safe container in the freezer for up to three months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
    • Reheating: Reheat in a saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly. The sauce will break (or separate) but keep going! Then, whisk it vigorously over low heat until the sauce comes together again.
    alfredo sauce in a jar

    What Others Want To Know About This Recipe

    Why is my Alfredo sauce so thick?

    If your Alfredo sauce is too thick, it needs more liquid to thin it out. Try stirring in more heavy cream, a little at a time, until it is the right consistency. Another option is to stir in a little pasta water if you are making the sauce for fettuccine alfredo.

    How can I thin Alfredo sauce?

    When the sauce is too thin, keep in mind that it will thicken some as it cools. If it is very thin, you can stir in additional grated parmesan to thicken it. Or another option is to try adding some cubed, softened cream cheese, stirring until melted. You can add another kind of shredded cheese, such as mozzarella, but it may change the flavor and consistency.

    What is the best way to reheat Alfredo sauce?

    A cream sauce like this tends to separate when reheated. The best way to reheat Alfredo sauce is in a pot over low heat. Start by stirring it constantly and then switch to whisking vigorously until it comes together again.

    Want more sauce recipes? Try these next:

    • Homemade Cheese Sauce is smooth and creamy. You can put it on pasta or use it as a dip for croutons and tortilla chips.
    • Use our Stir Fry Sauce to flavor vegetables, chicken, beef, shrimp, and pork. It is simple to prepare and easily customizable.
    • Chocolate Sauce is amazing on ice cream sundaes, cheesecakes, cakes, chocolate milk, and hot chocolate.
    • This simple Teriyaki Sauce is easy to make, and we love it on chicken, fish, veggies, and rice.
    Alfredo sauce on fettuccini.

    Alfredo Sauce

    This copycat Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce recipe is easy to make with only five ingredients. Once you make it from scratch, you'll be hooked!
    4.29 from 14 votes
    ↑ Click stars to rate!
    Print Review SaveSaved! Add to Shopping ListGo to Shopping List
    Prep Time: 3 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 7 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Servings: 9 servings
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    Equipment

    Food Processor
    Zester and Fine Grater

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup butter
    • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
    • 8 oz wedge parmesan *see note one
    • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ¼ teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper

    Instructions

    • Cut the parmesan wedge into cubes and process in a food processor until it turns into powdery, grated parmesan. Or use a hand-held fine grater.
    • Cut the butter into cubes. Warm the cubed butter and heavy cream in a saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring often, until the butter is melted.
    • Slowly add the freshly grated parmesan, about 1/4 cup at a time, stirring until combined before adding more.
    • Whisk in the garlic powder and black pepper.
    • Remove from heat and serve.
    • Store leftover alfredo sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days. Reheat slowly in a saucepan over low heat while stirring.

    Video

    Notes

    One: Grated Parmesan

    You can use 2 cups of store-bought freshly grated parmesan found in the deli department of the grocery store.

    Two: Fettuccini Alfredo

    Prepare 16 ounces of fettuccine according to the instructions on the package. Drain and combine with the Alfredo sauce.
    This recipe was adapted from one given to me by my cousin Erik.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 0.3cup | Calories: 370kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 37g | Saturated Fat: 23g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 101mg | Sodium: 573mg | Potassium: 56mg | Fiber: 0.02g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 1216IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 322mg | Iron: 0.2mg
    Course: Sauces and Condiments
    Cuisine: Italian
    Author: Tonia Larson

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    About Tonia Larson

    Hi! I’m Tonia, the owner and recipe creator at The Gunny Sack, where I’ve shared easy recipes for busy people for 12+ years! My family-friendly meals, easy side dishes, and delicious desserts include mouthwatering photos, dynamic videos, and step-by-step instructions to help you cook at home.

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    Comments

    1. Amber says

      October 4, 2022 at 6:14 pm

      5 stars
      This Alfredo is seriously amazing! We often use for dinners but love using it as a side dish (like a veggie dip) as well!

      Reply
    2. A says

      October 9, 2021 at 6:21 pm

      5 stars
      This is the best alfredo sauce recipe i’ve ever made and it’s easy to follow! You will never want alfredo sauce from a jar again after making it!!

      Reply

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    Tonia Larson and Brian LarsonHi, We are Brian and Tonia Larson! We hope you enjoy our family-friendly meals, easy side dishes, and tasty desserts!
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