Easy Alfredo Sauce

This Easy Alfredo Sauce is THE BEST! It is super creamy, rich, and flavorful, and still so quick and easy to make.  This recipe is simple enough for a weeknight, and delicious enough to impress company. Use the Alfredo Sauce to top pasta, veggies, and even meats for an exceptionally tasty meal. Not only is this easy alfredo sauce delicious, it is also naturally gluten free and low carb.

this Recipe

Easy Alfredo Sauce Made with Cream Cheese

For almost as long as I can remember fettuccini alfredo has been one of my favorite dishes. When I love a dish, I cook it on repeat. I started making alfredo sauce from scratch back when I was a teenager the traditional way using butter, parmesan, and pasta water or cream. I made it many times, but making it that way isn’t especially quick, and does take a watchful eye and a bit of skill and as a teenager learning to cook. Sometimes, I ended up delicious homemade alfredo sauce,  and sometimes I came out with less than desirable results.

As a college kid, I went to visit some friends and she showed me how she used a recipe hack of adding cream cheese to the alfredo sauce to help it thicken and emulsify (ie combine and become super creamy.) This little trick may not be the most traditional, BUT it produces a DELICIOUS alfredo sauce in a super quick, easy, and almost a fail-proof manner. I have been making Alfredo sauce at home her way ever since and have never once missed the classic style!

Tips to Make Alfredo Sauce with Cream Cheese

This recipe for Homemade Alfredo Sauce is as quick and easy as I promised!  Once you start cooking, it will go really fast, so I am going to walk through a new of my notes on ingredients, substitutions, and tips for making this recipe as delicious as possible. Make sure to scroll to the bottom for the FULL recipe card.

1. In a skillet over medium, heat the butter and pressed garlic in a large skillet over low heat until it begins to bubble and becomes fragrant.
   • You can use salted or unsalted butter. It won’t change the taste too much.
   • Make sure not to have the heat up too high or you will brown the butter rather than just melting it.
2. Add the cream, cream cheese, parmesan, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper and whisk until smooth.
   • During this step, you will need the most attention. I like to continually whisk to help the cream cheese melt and combine.
   • It helps to cut the cream cheese in cubes and then mix them in. It will melt more quickly, the more pieces it is in.
   • Light cream cheese can be used as a substitution, however fat-free cream cheese will not work well in this recipe because it doesn’t have the same melting properties.
   • Half and half can be substituted for heavy cream, however the sauce will not be as thick or rich as it is when made as written.
3. Turn the heat to medium high and continue to heat stirring occasionally until it begins to rapidly boil, and allow to boil for 1-2 minutes. Then remove from heat. Sauce will continue to thicken as it cools.
   • When the sauce boils it starts to thicken. The longer it boils, the thicker it becomes. If you want a thicker sauce, you can boil the sauce longer.
   • Make sure to stir often while heating so nothing burns. Also, I find it helpful to use a heavy pan that evenly distributes heat. I really like my Staub cast iron braiser, but any large high quality pan will work.

Alfredo Sauce FAQ’s

How much sauce does this recipe make?

This recipe makes about 3 cups of sauce. It is enough to mix with 1 lb of cooked pasta.

What if I need more/less sauce?

This recipe can be cut in half to make less sauce, or the ingredients can be doubled to make twice as much sauce. Just make sure that you have a big enough pan!

How to I make Fettuccini Alfredo with this sauce?

Simply make the recipe as directed, meanwhile, boil fettuccini (or your choice of pasta) to al dente per package directions.  Drain the pasta well, then mix into the alfredo sauce pan and toss with the sauce until evenly coated.

Can I add other flavors to this Alfredo Sauce?

Yes! This is a great base sauce to dress up as you like. Prepare the sauce as directed, then add in your favorites.  Some suggestions are:

• Pesto
• Sautéed mushrooms
• Lemon juice

How do I thin the alfredo sauce?

If you find that the sauce is thicker than you prefer, you can stir in milk or half and half by the tablespoon until it reaches the desired consistency.

How to Serve Homemade Alfredo Sauce

Although, alfredo sauce is ALWAYS great on pasta, it also has so many other uses that make for some really delicious meals. Here are a few of our favorites!

Classic Alfredo Sauce Serving Ideas

• Fettuccini Alfredo – Pair it with fettuccini pasta, or try other types of pasta. I really like using rigatoni to make it easier and less messy for the kids to eat.
• Chicken Broccoli Alfredo Bake – A long time reader favorite!
• Topping baked potatoes – Add veggies like broccoli or cauliflower, or chopped grilled meats for a filling meal.
• Try adding a little of this sauce to a panini or using it to dip in other hearty sandwiches.
• Stuffed shells- stuff pasta shells with meat or veggies, then cover with alfredo and

Low Carb Serving Ideas

• Top grilled meats- try this on top of our balsamic chicken or grilled steak.
• Top veggies- our favorites are broccoli, cauliflower and zucchini.
• Over zoodles- this is a great “faux” fettuccini alfredo
• Baked Alfredo Dip- Mix with shredded chicken, place in a baking dish, and cover with mozzarella cheese then bake for a killer dip!
• Over portobello mushrooms

Side Dish Suggestions

• Garlic Bread
• Sautéed Spinach
• Side Salad with Balsamic dressing