Easy 15-Minute Homemade Alfredo Sauce
Make rich, creamy homemade Alfredo sauce from scratch in just 15 minutes using simple ingredients like butter, heavy cream, and Parmesan cheese. This recipe delivers a classic Italian sauce perfect for any pasta night.
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Cook Time: 10 min
- Total Time: 15 min
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- Optional: 2 cloves garlic, minced
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. If using garlic, add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Do not let the garlic brown.
- Pour in the heavy cream and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally. Reduce the heat to low.
- Gradually whisk in the grated Parmesan cheese, a little at a time, until the cheese is fully melted and the sauce is smooth.
- Season the sauce with salt and pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
- If the sauce is too thick, add a tablespoon of pasta water (reserved from cooking your pasta) until you reach your desired consistency.
- Toss immediately with hot, cooked pasta, such as fettuccine, or use as a topping for chicken or vegetables.
Notes
- Use high-quality, freshly grated Parmesan cheese for the best melting and flavor. Pre-shredded cheese often contains anti-caking agents that prevent smooth sauce formation.
- For a slightly thinner sauce, you can increase the heavy cream by 1/4 cup.
- This recipe is the base for a classic Alfredo; for a cream cheese variation, substitute 4 oz of cream cheese for 1/2 cup of the heavy cream.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 cup sauce
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 350
- Fat: 38
- Saturated Fat: 24
- Unsaturated Fat: 14
- Trans Fat: 1
- Carbohydrates: 3
- Fiber: 0
- Protein: 7
- Cholesterol: 120
Find it online: https://hearthbite.com/homemade-alfredo-sauce-recipe/