The Best Homemade Alfredo Sauce is rich, creamy, and delicious! This Alfredo Sauce recipe is quick and easy to make!

Looking for more quick and easy sauce recipes? I think you’ll love my homemade spaghetti sauce, homemade BBQ sauce, and my easy enchilada sauce.

Black plate with Fettuccine covered with Alfredo sauce // addapinch.com

What is Alfredo Sauce?

Traditional Alfredo is a simple, rich, creamy Italian pasta sauce typically made from butter, heavy cream, and Parmesan cheese.

It is traditionally served over fettuccini but can be served with other kinds of pasta and chicken, shrimp, steak, or vegetables

Some recipes may thicken it with flour, making it similar to a white sauce, but my recipe does not use flour. This makes my recipe gluten-free when made following the recipe with no substitutions. This recipe thickens beautifully as written, due to the creamy dairy and cheeses and the low, slow cooking.

Fork with a twirl of Fettuccini Alfredo on a black plate, served with water with lemon wedge // addapinch.com

How to Make Easy Homemade Alfredo Sauce

To make my homemade Alfredo sauce, you’ll need just a handful of simple ingredients.

Ingredients

  • Butter and Olive Oil – This combination gives the dish an amazing taste and flavor!
  • Cream Cheese – Make sure you use full-fat cream cheese, not reduced or fat-free, for a rich, creamy, delicious sauce.
  • Whipping Cream – I use heavy whipping cream as it makes a thicker and creamier Alfredo sauce. You can also use heavy cream or half and half, but the sauce will be a bit thinner.
  • Stone House Seasoning – My favorite house seasoning is made of salt, pepper, and garlic. It adds so much flavor to the sauce and seasons it perfectly. For this alfredo sauce recipe, you can use 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, and 1/4 teaspoon granulated garlic or 2 cloves minced garlic.
  • Parmesan Cheese – Parmesan is such an important part of this dish. I recommend grating your parmesan cheese right from the block so it is creamy, smooth, and not grainy. Do not use shaker-style Parmesan cheese.
  • Mozzarella Cheese – Use full-fat cheese, not reduced or fat-free, for the creamiest, best Alfredo.

Step-by-Step Instructions

  • Add butter and olive oil to a medium saucepan or skillet set over medium heat and let the butter melt. Add the cream cheese, whipping cream, and Stone House Seasoning.
  • Bring to a simmer (do not boil) and stir or frequently whisk over low heat until the sauce coats the back of a spoon, about 6 minutes.
  • Stir or whisk constantly and add the Parmesan and Mozzarella cheeses, incorporating well after each addition. Cook until the sauce is creamy, thick, and smooth, about 3 more minutes.
Alfredo sauce cooking and being stirred with a wooden spoon in a white cast iron skillet  // addapinch.com

Tips for the BEST Sauce

This is the best Alfredo I’ve tasted…even better than the version I adored from my favorite Italian restaurant. Here are a few tips that help make it delicious and a simple, much-loved recipe!

  • Fresh is best. Use fresh Parmesan cheese for the best results. It makes the sauce rich, thick, and creamy. Grate it yourself or find authentic, freshly grated Parmesan. Powdered, shaker-style cheeses are not recommended as it doesn’t give desired results. 
  • Low and slow for the best results. Add the ingredients slowly and whisk into the sauce until the cheeses melt and there is a thick, smooth, creamy consistency.
  • Do not boil. Whisking and cooking slowly over low heat helps it to be smooth and avoids separating.

What to Serve with Alfredo Sauce

My family loves this rich and delicious Alfredo sauce over fettuccini or your favorite cooked pasta. Add a salad or vegetables for a complete meal.

Optional Toppings

How to Store Alfredo Sauce

If you have any of this rich, creamy sauce left over after a meal, here’s how to store it properly.

Refrigerate – Add any leftover sauce to an airtight container or jar with an airtight lid and place in the refrigerator for 4 to 5 days. Make sure to refrigerate any remaining sauce within the first 4 hours. 

Not for Freezing – Unfortunately, due to the fresh heavy cream and dairy content of this sauce, it does not freeze well and tends to separate if frozen. 

Reheat – This does better when reheated slowly on low heat on the stove. It doesn’t do as well when reheated in the microwave as it tends to become more oily and separates. Remember to reheat slowly and stir often to maintain the creamy consistency after reheating.

Other Favorite Pasta Recipes to Try

Pasta recipes are some of our favorites and I have several delicious recipes here on the site I hope you try! 

Skillet Lasagna

Instant Pot Spaghetti

Pasta Fagioli

One Pot Penne

Stuffed Shells

Here’s my Alfredo Sauce Recipe. I think you are going to love it!

Alfredo Sauce Recipe

5 from 22 votes
Alfredo Sauce Recipe – This rich, creamy Alfredo Sauce deliciously rivals any restaurant recipe! It's made with basic ingredients like cream, butter and Parmesan and ready in minutes! So comforting and decadent, yet quick and easy and makes the best Alfredo sauce!
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 8

Ingredients 

  • 4 tablespoons butter
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 2 cups heavy whipping cream
  • 1 teaspoon Stone House Seasoning
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 cup grated mozzarella cheese

Instructions 

  • Add the butter and olive oil to a medium sauce pan set over medium heat and allow the butter to melt. Add the cream cheese, whipping cream and Stone House Seasoning. Bring to a simmer, reduce heat to low, stirring frequently, until the sauce coats the back of a spoon, about 6-8 minutes.
  • Stirring constantly, add the Parmesan and Mozzarella cheeses and allow to cook until the alfredo sauce is creamy, thick and smooth, about 3 – 5 more minutes.
  • Remove from the heat and serve.

Notes

How to Store Alfredo Sauce

If you have any of this rich, creamy sauce left over after a meal, here’s how to store it properly.
Refrigerate – Add any leftover sauce to an airtight container or jar with an airtight lid and place in the refrigerator for 4 to 5 days. Make sure to refrigerate any remaining sauce within the first 4 hours. 
Not for Freezing – Unfortunately, due to the fresh heavy cream and dairy content of this sauce, it does not freeze well and tends to separate if frozen. 
Reheat – This does better when reheated slowly on low heat on the stove. It doesn’t do as well when reheated in the microwave as it tends to become more oily and separates. Remember to reheat slowly and stir often to maintain the creamy consistency after reheating.

Nutrition

Calories: 382kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 39g | Saturated Fat: 22g | Cholesterol: 123mg | Sodium: 257mg | Potassium: 77mg | Vitamin A: 1340IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 159mg | Iron: 0.1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Enjoy!
Robyn xo

Welcome to Add A Pinch

About Robyn

Robyn Stone is a cookbook author, wife, mom, and passionate home cook. Her tested and trusted recipes give readers the confidence to cook recipes the whole family will love. Robyn has been featured on Food Network, People, Southern Living, and more.

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Review




81 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Made as instructed and so so good!!! Added to some gluten free pasta, broccoli, and leftover smoked chicken. Would be great to add crushed red pepper too!

  2. 5 stars
    I made this for my husband’s birthday. I added grilled chicken and it was absolutely amazing. He loved it and I’ll be making it again. So easy to make but tastes like I spent all day cooking.

  3. This sauce was wonderful. Better than restaurants I visit. Had problems getting cream cheese to melt. Was a little lumpy but taste was amazing

    1. Jeane, I’m sorry you your cream cheese wasn’t smooth in your sauce. Be sure that you use full fat cream cheese. Lower fat cream cheese will take longer to melt and may be tough or lumpy. Also, have the cream cheese at room temperature and softened before adding to the other ingredients. I’m so glad you still enjoyed the alfredo sauce. Thanks