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Creamy Alfredo Sauce

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This creamy alfredo sauce is rich and delicious. It is easy to make, too! It is perfect for coating fettuccine but can be used as a dip for your breadsticks, sauce for your lasagna, and so much more.

Bowl of fettuccine alfredo with broccoli florets and chunks of chicken with fork wrapped in pasta coated in thick, creamy alfredo sauce.

If you love a good creamy white sauce on your pasta, this Alfredo sauce is for you. It is rich, cheesy, and perfectly coats your fettuccine.

The best part is that it only takes a few simple ingredients to make. And it is done cooking in about 15-20 minutes.

Toss your favorite pasta in it or just dive in with a breadstick. If you love Olive Garden’s alfredo sauce, you will love this recipe. Make it, and you’ll see!

Ingredients including butter, cream cheese, milk, garlic, salt, pepper, and grated Parmesan cheese ready to be made into homemade alfredo sauce.

This alfredo sauce recipe has been in our family for decades.  This was my birthday dinner request every year during high school.

We would have this super creamy fettuccine alfredo for dinner and chocolate chip cookie dough cheesecake for dessert. It was rich and delicious all the way around.

The whole family loved it, not just me. This recipe has made an appearance on many special occasions and is at the top of the list when we are looking for something easy but delicious to serve guests.

In fact, we have never been disappointed with it. Not once, in decades!

So now it is time to get down to business and whip up a batch of good chicken fettuccine alfredo. It has a short list of ingredients and is such a delicious recipe.

Why This Creamy Alfredo Sauce is the Best

This alfredo is the ultimate comfort food. It takes simple ingredients and just a few minutes to put together.

While some alfredo sauce recipes use heavy cream or eggs to make the sauce rich and creamy, this sauce relies on butter, cream cheese, and milk. It gives it such a great texture and really makes the sauce hold onto the pasta.

Cream cheese alfredo sauce is perfect on a great number of things. Try dipping a breadstick in it or drizzle it over some broccoli.

Of course, the most popular way to enjoy it is to stir in some pasta. Many shapes and types of pasta will do, but fettuccine is by far the most popular.

You can use this easy recipe as a great base recipe if you want to spice it up. You can add a few red pepper flakes for literal spice.

Fork lifting fettuccine pasta and a broccoli floret coated in thick homemade alfredo sauce.

Add sliced chicken and sauteed zucchini or steamed broccoli for a tasty meal. Or make shrimp alfredo if you like seafood or to make it lent friendly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I use instead of heavy cream in alfredo sauce?

This creamy alfredo sauce recipe doesn’t require the use of heavy cream. Instead butter, garlic, milk, Parmesan cheese and cream cheese are melted together to make a great sauce that sticks to the pasta and makes everything delicious.

What if my alfredo sauce is too thick?

You can always add a little bit of pasta water to the mix or an extra splash of milk if you want to thin the sauce out a bit. If it is too thin, just cook it a little bit longer to allow it to thicken.

More Great Family Friendly Pasta Dinners

Alfredo fans will also love chicken and broccoli alfredo lasagna. It uses this recipe for the sauce, so you know it is going to be good!

If you are looking for a way to make yummy pasta alfredo without boiling water, check out my recipe for crock pot chicken alfredo. It is still rich and creamy, but it is made with the help of your favorite slow cooker.

Serving of chicken, broccoli, and fettuccine coated in homemade alfredo sauce with pan and remaining pasta in the background.

Baked ziti is a perfect family-friendly fill them up kind of meal.  It can be made ahead and baked to creamy, cheesy perfection.

One pot Italian sausage and broccoli pasta is another great option. It is another great option with a creamy white sauce made from common ingredients.

Love this recipe? Give it a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review in the recipe card below!

Bite of fettucine noodles coated in cheesy alfredo sauce on fork.

Creamy Alfredo Sauce Recipe

Carlee
If you are in the mood for pasta coated in a rich creamy sauce, you are in the right place. This homemade chicken fettuccine alfredo recipe is one of our all time favorite meals. This recipe makes the perfect amount to coat a pound of pasta plus a couple of extra add-ins. We like chicken or shrimp and broccoli, but you can add whatever you like.
4.95 from 20 ratings
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Dinners
Cuisine American
Servings 8 Servings
Calories 291 kcal

Ingredients
 

  • ½ cup butter
  • 1 clove fresh garlic or 1/4 tsp garlic powder
  • 8 ounces cream cheese
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 1 cup Parmesan cheese
  • salt and pepper

Instructions
 

  • In a large sauté pan or saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add garlic and cook for a about a minute. It should be fragrant but not browned.
    ½ cup butter, 1 clove fresh garlic
  • Add milk and cream cheese. Continue to cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the cream cheese is melted and the mixture just starts to simmer.
    8 ounces cream cheese, 2 cups whole milk
  • Add Parmesan and heat 3-5 minutes or until cheese is completely melted.
    1 cup Parmesan cheese
  • Season with salt and pepper to taste.
    salt and pepper
  • Your sauce is now ready to use.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1/8 recipeCalories: 291kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 7gFat: 27gSaturated Fat: 16gPolyunsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 76mgSodium: 469mgSugar: 4g
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Recipe Rating




Amy

Tuesday 17th of November 2020

We do love Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce, so this is a must try!

Carlee

Tuesday 24th of November 2020

I hope you love it!

Diana

Saturday 14th of November 2020

Love this recipe, I was actually on the lookout for a simple homemade Alfredo recipe! Bookmarking this, thank you!!

Carlee

Tuesday 24th of November 2020

You are going to love it, I'm just sure of it. Thank you!

Andrea Nine

Friday 13th of November 2020

I am so happy to see this recipe! My kids love Alfredo sauce but I usually use the Knorr packets! This sounds so much more amazing! Have a super sweet weekend my friend!

Carlee

Tuesday 24th of November 2020

I don't know if I've ever tried the packets. I've used the jars a couple of times, but they don't live up to this recipe!

Liz @ Books n' Cooks

Thursday 15th of November 2018

My husband would love this!

Carlee

Friday 23rd of November 2018

It is so good!

Anonymous

Thursday 15th of November 2018

I make your recipe all the time and we love it!

Carlee

Friday 23rd of November 2018

Oh yay!!!!!!!!! Thank you!