Yield: 6 servings
Best Homemade Alfredo Sauce Recipe
If you're a big fan of classic comfort food, you'll love this homemade Alfredo sauce recipe! It uses only 6 ingredients, takes 10 minutes to make, and is perfect on anything from fettuccine to chicken or shrimp.
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup heavy cream, or half and half for a lighter sauce
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 ½ cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste
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Instructions
- Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium-low to medium heat. Add cream and bring to a simmer (lightly bubbling, not a full boil). Cook, whisking often, for 5 minutes until it starts to thicken slightly.
- Then add garlic, cook for 1 minute more. Add the cheese slowly (I recommend doing it in two to three batches) and whisk constantly until melted. Add salt and pepper, to taste.
- If your sauce becomes too thick, you can thin it out with a little extra cream or pasta water. Toss in your favorite pasta and dinner is served!
Video
Notes
Fridge: Store sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Reheat: The best way to reheat Alfredo sauce is on the stovetop over medium low heat. Whisk it constantly, until heated through.
Freezer: Be warned that this sauce may separate once thawed, however it's worth a shot if you happen to have a lot leftover. Freeze the cooled sauce in an airtight container for up to 3 months. For best results, thaw sauce overnight in the fridge. Then reheat as directed above slowly on the stove top, whisking constantly!
Yield: This sauce will make enough to throughly coat 8 oz of fettuccine. Double the recipe if you are making 16 oz (a standard size box) of pasta!
Use fresh parmesan! The most important tip is to use freshly grated parmesan. You can grate it yourself or use the kind found in the refrigerated section. Do not use the green shaker can, it is coated in anti-caking agents and can make your sauce over-thicken or seize up.
Extra Thick: For a super thick sauce, add 1 tablespoon of flour to the melted butter and cook, stirring for 30 seconds. Then add the cream and continue with the recipe.
Lemon: For a creamy lemon Alfredo sauce, squeeze in fresh lemon juice when you add the cream. For a slight lemon flavor, add juice from half of a lemon. For a very lemon-y Alfredo, add juice from an entire lemon.
Cream Cheese: Alfredo sauce with cream cheese is another common swap made in many American home kitchens. It gives your Alfredo a slightly tangy flavor.
Nutmeg: Add a little freshly grated nutmeg to add a touch of warmth! Just grab your microplane grater and a whole nutmeg and grate about 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of nutmeg, to taste, into the finished sauce.
Nutrition
Serving: 1 serving, Calories: 254kcal, Carbohydrates: 2g, Protein: 6g, Fat: 25g, Saturated Fat: 16g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 7g, Trans Fat: 0.2g, Cholesterol: 82mg, Sodium: 438mg, Potassium: 79mg, Fiber: 0.04g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 909IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 309mg, Iron: 0.3mg