This super easy Alfredo Sauce is creamy, velvety, cheesy, garlicky, made with simple ingredients and ready in 10 minutes!
We’re talking 6 ingredients + a skillet and you’re on your way to the simplest yet most delicious Alfredo Sauce ever.
Table of Contents
- Why You’ll Love This Homemade Alfredo Sauce
- Alfredo Sauce Recipe Ingredients
- How to Make Easy Alfredo Sauce
- Tips for Success
- Serving Suggestions
- More Pasta Sauce Recipes
- FAQs
Why You’ll Love This Homemade Alfredo Sauce
- Simple and easy – No roux, nothing finicky in this easy alfredo sauce recipe – just garlic, cream, and cheese simmered together until thick, rich, and perfect.
- Versatile – Use this Alfredo sauce for pasta, gnocchi, rice, as a pizza sauce, to dip breadsticks into … we basically consider this our “house” Alfredo sauce that we use in myriad ways.
- Delicious – It’s creamy, cheesy, and the perfect consistency. If you’re looking for an easy yet rich Alfredo sauce, this is it!
Alfredo Sauce Recipe Ingredients
- Butter – To sauté the garlic and to add flavor to your homemade Alfredo sauce. If you prefer olive oil, that works too!
- Garlic – I like to use fresh, finely minced garlic in my Alfredo for best flavor. If you’re short on time and would rather not chop, you can sub in 1/2 teaspoon or so of garlic powder. No need to sauté it for a minute, though.
- Italian seasoning – Grab it at the store in the spices and seasonings section, or make your own Italian seasoning blend at home (it’s super easy!)
- Heavy whipping cream – Makes a super thick and rich Alfredo sauce without needing to make a roux (a blend of butter/oil and flour that helps thicken sauces)
- Salt – To help highlight the flavors. My standard for cooking is kosher salt.
- Parmesan cheese – Shredded Parm adds cheesy flavor and helps to thicken your homemade Alfredo.
How to Make Easy Alfredo Sauce
- Place a skillet over medium-low heat on the stove, then melt the butter in the skillet.
- Add the garlic and Italian seasoning and cook for about a minute, stirring a few times as it cooks.
- Add the heavy whipping cream and salt, then bring it to a gentle simmer while stirring frequently.
- Once it comes to a simmer, stir in the Parmesan cheese. Continue heating gently until thickened and warmed through.
- Serve tossed with pasta, gnocchi, or however else you want to enjoy your homemade Alfredo sauce.
Tips for Success
- Don’t boil it! This homemade Alfredo sauce is made with heavy whipping cream, which can curdle if heated too high. Bring it just to a gentle simmer.
- Practice mise en place. This means having all of your ingredients measured and ready to go before you start cooking. The process goes rather quickly, so for me at least, making Alfredo sauce goes much more smoothly when I have everything ready before starting.
Serving Suggestions
- Toss with pasta (especially fettuccine!) for the most creamy and decadent dish.
- Quickly cook up some gnocchi, drain, and toss with this easy alfredo sauce. Dinner will be ready in 10 minutes, and it’s SO good.
- My kid, who is obsessed with breadsticks + alfredo sauce, would be so sad if I didn’t mention that homemade alfredo sauce is excellent as a dipping sauce for bread (especially breadsticks).
- Toss with veggies such as steamed broccoli or cauliflower.
- If you’re a meat-eater, homemade alfredo sauce is also excellent with chicken or shrimp.
- Alfredo sauce is excellent in place of pizza sauce! It’s a creamy base that pairs especially well with veggies.
I hope you love our house Alfredo sauce as much as we do! This Alfredo sauce recipe is one of those “back pocket” recipes that’s perfect for whipping out when I need to get an easy, family-friendly meal on the table, fast.
More Pasta Sauce Recipes
- Vegan Alfredo Sauce (this one’s ready in 5 minutes, and uses cashews [trust me]. It’s perfect for if you’re feeding vegans or limiting dairy.
- Red Lentil Pasta Sauce – with an added dose of protein and fiber thanks to hidden red lentils!
- Bean Bolognese – Legumes create a “beefy” bolognese that’s healthy and delicious.
- Magic 3-Ingredient Tomato Sauce – The sauce that Marcella Hazan made famous. It’s delicious!
- 10 Quick & Easy Pasta Sauces – A list of many of my favorites!
Easy Alfredo Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning blend
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 cups Parmesan cheese (6 ounces)
Instructions
- Place a skillet over medium-low heat. Melt the butter in the skillet.
- Add the garlic and Italian seasoning and cook, stirring occasionally, for one minute, until fragrant.
- Add the heavy whipping cream and the salt. Bring just to a simmer, stirring frequently, then stir in the Parmesan cheese. Heat until thickened and warmed through. Toss with pasta or gnocchi and serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts
FAQs
Can I make Alfredo sauce ahead of time?
Absolutely. Homemade Alfredo sauce can be made up to 3 days ahead and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat gently on the stove over low heat or on low heat in the microwave, stirring frequently.
How do you reheat Alfredo sauce without it separating?
Reheat VERY slowly over VERY low heat and add a splash of milk or cream while stirring. Avoid microwaving on high heat, which can cause the sauce to break.
Can I make this Alfredo sauce without heavy cream?
Yes, you can substitute whole milk or half-and-half, though the sauce will be thinner.
Is Alfredo sauce gluten-free?
Yes, traditional Alfredo sauce is naturally gluten-free. Just be sure your Parmesan cheese and butter are certified gluten-free if needed.
What can I serve with Alfredo sauce besides pasta?
Alfredo sauce is great with chicken, shrimp, roasted vegetables, gnocchi, or as a white sauce for pizza.
Hi! I’m Karen – I’m a real person with real recipes. No A.I. here! Since 2009, every recipe on Kitchen Treaty is thoroughly tested and loved before I hit “publish.” I’m a home cook, certified plant-based pro, and mom. I’m a vegetarian married to a carnivore, and my goal is to coexist deliciously.
