This easy alfredo sauce recipe comes together in just 25 minutes. I’ll show you how to reduce the garlic cream sauce until it’s a thick, smooth consistency—perfect for tossing with your favorite pasta.
Table of Contents
My family is a big fan of chicken alfredo covered in a rich, creamy sauce. I know it’s tempting to head to the Olive Garden to satisfy a craving or grab a store-bought jar, but they are loaded with thickening agents and preservatives to keep the dairy shelf stable. Now, you can make this restaurant-quality recipe for alfredo sauce at home.
With only seven ingredients, it’s a straightforward process. However, timing the addition of each component is key to developing its full flavor potential. The magic happens right on the stovetop. It’s naturally thickened by reduction, evaporating some liquid until velvety in texture. Get those noodles boiling as the sauce simmers, then just combine them for a delicious fettuccine alfredo dinner.
Cream selection
I use heavy cream, also labeled as heavy whipping cream. It usually contains no less than 36% milkfat, providing a nice velvety consistency. The high amount of fat reduces the chance of the sauce curdling, which is critical during the reduction process.
Fresh garlic elevates the flavor
The cream has a neutral taste, so it needs a spicy kick like minced garlic to infuse more flavor. I briefly saute the garlic in melted butter to mellow the harsh sulfurous notes and develop a nuttiness to the sauce. You don’t want to brown the butter or burn the garlic. Just a minute or less is all you need to transform that raw, intense taste.
Cheese selection
A hard, dry-aged Italian-style cheese is a beautiful addition to the cream base. Freshly grated Parmesan cheese or Parmigiano Reggiano are excellent choices. The aging process creates a granular texture, heightening the salty, nutty taste and enhancing the sauce’s flavor.
You’re not looking for a stringy cheese pull like mozzarella. I recommend finely grating the cheese with a microplane. The smaller pieces dissolve quicker into the cream, better distributing its flavor.
How to thicken alfredo sauce
To thicken the sauce simmer it over medium heat until reduced to about ⅓ of its volume. After about 10 minutes, some of the water in the heavy cream evaporates, causing the dairy solids to concentrate, thus thickening the texture.
Stirring in a generous amount of grated parmesan cheese also adds viscosity. I reduce the sauce to 1 cup, but it will thicken up more as it cools.
What’s the difference between bechamel sauce and alfredo sauce?
Both are dairy-based sauces. However, Bechamel is a French white sauce thickened with a roux made with butter and flour. It uses milk and is the start of other popular sauces like Mornay, which adds cheese to dishes like macaroni and cheese.
This homemade alfredo sauce recipe uses heavy cream thickened by reduction on the stovetop, then finished with Parmesan cheese. Just make sure to continuously stir and scrape the bottom and side of the pan so that those hotter areas don’t become curdled as the sauce cooks down.
Ways to use it
- Shrimp alfredo
- Scalloped potatoes
- Dip with steamed broccoli
- Pour over roasted asparagus
Frequently asked questions
A good alfredo sauce is made with simple ingredients; butter, heavy cream, minced garlic, freshly grated parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. It’s simmered on the stovetop until the sauce has reduced to a thick consistency.
Yes, you can use whipping cream. However, it contains 30 to 36% milkfat compared to at least 36% milkfat in heavy cream. The difference means that the sauce will not be as rich and thick. If you want similar amounts of fat, add 20% more whipping cream. For this recipe, 1 ¾ cups of whipping cream and reduce until 1 cup is reached.
Parmigiano Reggiano is exclusively made in Northern Italy (Parma, Bologna, Reggio Emilia, and Modena). The production uses strict guidelines on regional ingredients. It’s also aged between 12 months to 3 years for maximum flavor. Parmesan is aged for at least 10 months but can be produced in any location, making it less expensive. Both can be used interchangeably in recipes.
Recipe Science
Prevent curdling in cream sauces
Curdling is when the proteins in milk clump together. This happens when the emulsion of fat, water, and protein by high heat (boiling) or acid (lemon juice) gets disrupted. Heavy cream has a higher proportion of fat-to-protein than milk, so it’s more stable when used in dairy-based sauces. To ensure a smooth consistency, you need to agitate the sauce to prevent curdling or film from forming on the surface.
Homemade Alfredo Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 ½ cup heavy cream
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper, as needed for seasoning
- 1 cup grated parmesan cheese, or parmigiano reggiano
- ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg
Instructions
- Saute the Garlic – Heat a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add butter. Once melted, add garlic and saute until fragrant, 30 to 60 seconds. Do not brown the butter or garlic.
- Cook the Sauce – Add the heavy cream, salt, and pepper, and stir to combine. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cook, frequently stirring, scraping the sides and bottom of the pan to make sure the cream does not curdle.Reduce the sauce to about 1 cup, 10 to 12 minutes. The consistency should be slightly thickened and be able to coat the back of a spoon.
- Stir in the Parmesan – Turn off the heat and stir in the parmesan cheese and nutmeg. If the sauce is too thick, add water or more cream. Add 1 tablespoon at a time until you reach the desired consistency—season with salt and pepper to taste.
Equipment
Notes
- Recipe Yield: 1 cup of sauce, enough for 8 ounces of pasta. Double the ingredients for 1 pound of pasta.
- Serving Size: ¼ cup
- Storing: Cool completely, then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Reheating: Warm in a pot on the stovetop over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. Add more cream or water if needed.
Nutrition Facts
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000-calorie diet. All nutritional information is based on estimated third-party calculations. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods, and portion sizes per household.
Gordon James says
can you freeze this sauce?
Jessica Gavin says
Yes, you can freeze the sauce. Make sure to whisk as you reheat so that the sauce become emulsified again.
Charles Byrd says
The Tequendama hotel is in Bogota Colombia for the record
Charles Byrd says
At the Tequendama hotel where I lived in the early 80s they always made Alfredo to order and you could watch them behind the counter and they always added nutmeg too
It’s stuck with me ever since 40 years now and I always use it too
It makes a subtle difference no doubt
Thank you
Jessica Gavin says
Thanks for sharing, Charles! Nutmeg is a game changer.
Nicholas S says
I’d love to try this. Would this sauce be able to handle the oven in a baked pasta? Or would the sauce split?
Jessica Gavin says
Yes, you can add this alfredo sauce recipe to baked pasta.