Quick and Easy Alfredo Sauce . . . with just a few simple ingredients, you can have a yummy dinner on the table in minutes!
Pasta is always a favorite at my house. I like serving this homemade fettuccine alfredo with a green salad, parmesan roasted asparagus, or carrots and zucchini.
I’m a little ashamed to admit this, but after two decades of cooking for my family, I had never made homemade alfredo sauce. I know, how can I call myself a food blogger?
Then one night we had dinner with my cousin Tami and her family. She made alfredo with grilled chicken and sausage on the side. After one bite I was hooked. I have been missing out!
When she told me how easy it was to make, I got her alfredo sauce recipe, and I have made it several times since then. A new favorite last minute dinner recipe!
This alfredo sauce is super simple, and doesn’t take much more time than heating up a jar of alfredo sauce. But trust me, it blows that jarred stuff out of the water!
Tami makes her alfredo sauce with Kraft parmesan cheese in the green jar, and I make mine with freshly grated parmesan. Both are fantastic, so use whichever one you have on hand. (I don’t normally like the canned parmesan, but I thought it was just great in this recipe!)
Traditional homemade alfredo sauce is usually just butter, cream, parmesan, garlic, salt & pepper. This recipe is thickened with a bit of flour, and also has some milk in it. Not only is it lower in fat, it doesn’t separate if you have leftovers.
Update – I’ve tried alfredo with cream cheese, and some recipes with Italian seasoning. This one is my favorite, because it always turns out smooth and creamy.
How to Make Alfredo Sauce
Ingredients needed:
- butter
- flour
- milk (I use 2%, but any should work)
- whipping cream (or heavy cream)
- parmesan cheese
- salt
- pepper
- minced garlic (optional but yummy)
First you are going to melt the butter and add the flour and milk. Cook and stir the mixture over medium low heat till it is thick and bubbly. Then add the remaining ingredients and heat till cheese melts. Serve over your favorite pasta.
PRO TIPS:
– Have the milk and cream ready before you start to cook the alfredo. After the butter and flour have cooked, you want to quickly add the milk. If you have to scramble to gather your ingredients, the butter can burn.
-Make sure you let the roux (butter, flour, and milk) cook for at least a full minute, or you will end up with a raw flour taste.
-Don’t get impatient and turn up the heat. This recipe is easy, but it does take some patience. Cooking over low heat insures that the sauce doesn’t seize up and become a lumpy mess.
Variations on Creamy Alfredo Sauce:
-Feel free to use more or less garlic according to your taste.
-You can stir in about a half teaspoon of Italian Seasoning with the salt and pepper.
-Add a dash or two of nutmeg for a rich nutty flavor. (Don’t overdo it though, you don’t want pasta sauce that tastes like eggnog!)
-I usually serve this as is over hot pasta, but it is even more amazing served with your choice of meat. Grilled chicken, Italian sausage, or shrimp would be delicious.
Enjoy!
A few more outstanding pasta recipes:
Creamy Chicken Pasta with Bacon and Ranch
MORE EASY DINNER RECIPES:
Easy Homemade Alfredo Sauce Recipe
Quick and Easy Alfredo Sauce
No fail alfredo sauce - turns out perfectly creamy every time.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter
- 2 Tbsp flour
- 1/4 cup milk
- 2 cups whipping cream
- 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 2 cloves garlic, minced (optional)
- 1 pound fettuccine noodles, cooked in salted water
Instructions
- Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium low heat. Whisk in flour, then milk. Cook and stir for at least one minute.
- Stir in cream, parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, and garlic. Cook and stir until cheese is melted, but don't boil.
- Serve over hot pasta.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn a small amount from your purchase, no cost to you.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 343Total Fat: 35gSaturated Fat: 22gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 104mgSodium: 442mgCarbohydrates: 5gFiber: 0gSugar: 2gProtein: 4g
Ari
Love using this sauce with spaghetti squash!
Kara Cook
Oh yum! I love it over zoodles, but I haven’t tried it yet with spaghetti squash. I need to!
Emma
Made the sauce myself making dinner for the family. Tasted really nice, my only critique would be adding the measurements to the top of the recipe and mentioning when to add garlic?
Overall is was pretty nice though
Abbey
Hi, Can you list the measurements??
MaMaButSheCallsMeDaDa
I made this tonight. I DID NOT feel like cooking! So I searched for an easy recipe. I felt so bleh I barely cared if it tasted good. I’m terrible 😫 it turned out DELICIOUS! I used can cheese and added a teaspoon of garlic powder. My family LOVED it. So did I! Thank you SOO MUCH!!
Shawna
Thank you! This recipe was easy and delicious. I served it over homemade pasta and chicken sausage and the whole family approved.
Allyson Zea
I make this sauce all the time because it’s so easy!
Courtney O'Dell
This alfredo is so delicious and easy, one of our family’s favorites!
Sabrina
Pasta is always a winning dinner idea with my family! Excited to try this alfredo twist.
Kara Cook
Pasta is always a hit at our house too. Hope your family loves it as much as we do!
Aimee Shugarman
This is my favorite alfredo recipe. People don’t realize how simple it is to make, love it!
Kara Cook
Until I tried it I had no idea how easy it was. Now my boys make it on their own!
Cheryl
Nothing better than homemade alfredo sauce! thanks for the recipe
Kara Cook
Absolutely! Homemade alfredo is SO much better than the kind from the jar!
Krissy Allori
This is such a great take on a great classic!
Berka
Thank you for this recipe, the alfredo was so tasty, and the leftovers were even good the next day. I love your website!
Kara Cook
Thanks Berka! That’s one of my favorite things about this recipe, the leftovers are great. I’ve tried others that are a lumpy mess the next day.