Traditional Alfredo Sauce goes great with all of your favorite Italian dishes, especially when it comes to pasta, shrimp, and chicken. This simple sauce comes together in just a few steps, and it only takes five ingredients.
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Why this Fettucine Alfredo Pasta Sauce Recipe is a Keeper
The cream version of this butter and cheese sauce goes great with everything. The sauce uses simple ingredients and you can make changes to your liking. Use heavy cream to make American alfredo or skip the cream for a more authentic Italian alfredo.
- 13 Minute Sauce: Have this creamy Olive Garden alfredo sauce ready for all your favorite meals in just 13 minutes.
- Easy Ingredients: All of the ingredients for garlic alfredo sauce can be found in your kitchen or local grocery store. Use high quality ingredients for best results.
- Family Friendly: Turn your family dining room into your favorite Italian restaurant with this simple alfredo sauce recipe.
If you love this recipe, try these cheesy recipes as well: Gnocchi Alfredo with Broccoli, Philly Cheese Steak Stuffed Meat Shells, and Sausage Vegetable Lasagna with White Sauce.
What Does Al Dente Mean for this Pasta Recipe?
If you want to make an authentic fettuccine alfredo recipe, you’ll probably want to cook this pasta dish al dente. Al dente literally means “to the tooth” in Italian. In cooking, it means that your pasta is tender, but firm enough to avoid a mushy texture. Most people recommend to cook the pasta al dente, which also helps preserve the nutrients inside the starchy pasta.
Ingredient Notes for Pasta Alfredo Cream Sauce
- Butter: Melt 1/2 cup of unsalted butter.
- Heavy Cream: A pint of heavy cream will give your alfredo sauce a creamy texture and smooth consistency.
- Parmesan Cheese: Grate fresh parmesan cheese for this recipe. Make sure to use shredded cheese instead of crumbled parmesan.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.
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Variations and Substitutions for Traditional Alfredo Pasta Sauce
- Vegetables: Serve alfredo sauce with roasted vegetables, such as broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, or mushrooms.
- Warm Plates: If you make chicken alfredo or shrimp alfredo, serve it on a warm plate to keep the sauce melty and delicious. Toss the pasta noodles to distribute the sauce evenly.
- High Fat Butter: If you’re looking for how to thicken alfredo sauce, high fat butter is a great choice.
- Hot Pasta Water: If you want to thin the sauce, mix in some reserved pasta water as needed.
- The Traditional Alfredo Sauce: If you want to make a more authentic Italian recipe closer to original fettuccine alfredo, traditional alfredo pasta does not include cream- just butter and parmesan cheese. A smooth sauce without the cream works just as well when making an authentic fettucine alfredo recipe.
- Fettuccine: Fettuccine pasta noodles are the most popular option to serve with alfredo sauce, but you can use other varieties as well.
Fun Fact about Original Fettuccine Alfredo Recipe
Alfredo sauce was invented by Alfredo di Lelio, a Roman chef. His authentic alfredo sauce recipe included just two ingredients- parmesan cheese and butter. In Italy, this sauce is served without cream, and is instead called burro e parmigiano or alfredo di roma.
How to Create a Creamy Alfredo Sauce from Scratch
These are the basic steps for making alfredo sauce. Refer to the full, printable recipe card below for detailed instructions.
1. Combine the Ingredients
Add the cream and butter to a medium sauce pan over medium heat; bring to a light simmer. Then, add the garlic and House Seasoning Blend. Whisk for 30 seconds.
2. Thicken the Sauce
Remove the pan from the heat and whisk in the parmesan cheese. Continue whisking until the cheese has fully melted and the sauce is smooth. If the sauce is too thick, whisk in milk 2 tablespoons at a time until it reaches the desired consistency.
Authentic Fettuccine Alfredo Sauce FAQs
Alfredo is great as a pizza sauce, served with fish or vegetables, or used as a dipping sauce for breadsticks or soft pretzels. It goes great with lots of pasta recipes.
Add more flavor to American-style alfredo sauce with fresh herbs, such as oregano, or red pepper flakes for spice. Season with salt and black pepper if desired.
Yes; alfredo sauce can be frozen for up to 3 months, or it can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to four days.
Expert Tips for Making Homemade Parmesan Cheese Alfredo Sauce
- Bacon: Add in crumbled bacon to this simple alfredo sauce recipe.
- Cheese: Add in extra cheese, such as Romano, cream cheese, and mozzarella to the creamy sauce.
- Nutmeg: A pinch of freshly grated nutmeg adds a warm, aromatic touch.
- White Wine: A splash of dry white wine can add acidity and complexity. Let the alcohol cook off before adding the cheese. It adds a nice complexity of flavor to the Traditional Alfredo Sauce.
What to Serve with Easy Authentic Fettuccine Alfredo Recipe
Traditional Alfredo Sauce
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Ingredients
- 1 pint Heavy Cream
- ½ cup Unsalted Butter
- 1 teaspoon Garlic, Minced
- 1 teaspoon All Purpose Seasoning
- 2 cups Parmesan Cheese, Shredded
Instructions
- Add the cream and butter to a medium sauce pan over medium heat; Bring to a light simmer.
- Add the garlic and House Seasoning Blend and whisk for 30 seconds.
- Remove the pan from the heat and whisk in the parmesan cheese until the cheese has fully melted and the sauce is smooth.
- If the sauce is too thick, whisk in milk 2 tablespoons at a time until it reaches the desired consistency.
Christina’s Notes
- Bacon: Add in crumbled bacon to this simple alfredo sauce recipe.
- Cheese: Add in extra cheese, such as Romano, cream cheese, and mozzarella to the creamy sauce.
- Nutmeg: A pinch of freshly grated nutmeg adds a warm, aromatic touch.
- White Wine: A splash of dry white wine can add acidity and complexity. Let the alcohol cook off before adding the cheese. It adds a nice complexity of flavor.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, scroll up on the page.