What makes Alfredo sauce taste better?

Freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano Parmigiano Reggiano, the name-protected Italian cheese, is a surefire way to add a umami and depth of flavor to a jarred Alfredo sauce. Freshly grate a few inches of the cheese, then whisk it right into the sauce as it's warming on the stove.

How to jazz up Alfredo sauce?

Extra seasonings and spices will go a long way in adding flavor to a boring jar of sauce. Some of my personal favorites include salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, dried basil, oregano, onion powder or seasoned salt. Start with small amounts (1/2 teaspoon at a time) and add as needed, in order to avoid over-spicing.

Why is alfredo healthy?

Dietitian's tip: This creamy sauce is low in fat, thanks to skim milk and low-fat cream cheese .

Is Alfredo sauce good for diabetics?

Alfredo sauce is made from heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, and lots of butter. Pour it on top of a bed of white fettuccine noodles and your meal can easily top 1,000 calories, 75 grams of fat, and nearly 100 grams of carbohydrates .

Can you add milk to jar Alfredo sauce?

Once melted, pour in your jar of sauce. Pour the milk into the jar and give a good shake. Start with 1/4 cup of milk and if more is desired, add another 1/4 cup . Pour the jar into the pan, add in the spices and let simmer on low.

How to keep Alfredo sauce creamy?

Add Cheese This first method is not only the easiest, but also arguably the most delicious. The key ingredient in Alfredo sauce is cheese—generally Parmigiano Reggiano—and lots of it. To thicken Alfredo sauce, simply add more cheese than the amount called for in a recipe until you achieve the consistency you want.

How to thicken up Alfredo sauce?

The easiest way to accomplish this is to mix about a spoonful of cornstarch to 2 spoonfuls of liquid – it could be water or chicken stock or even milk. You will add this mixture, also called a slurry to the sauce and as it starts to cook, the sauce will thicken.

How do you make Alfredo more interesting?

Fresh Herbs: - Add chopped fresh herbs such as parsley, basil, or thyme to the Alfredo sauce for a burst of freshness and color . Simply stir the herbs into the sauce just before serving. Alfredo sauce is quick and easy to make, recipes are on line and several are pretty good.

What veggies are good with Alfredo sauce?

Stir in big handfuls of spinach, Kale mushrooms, zucchini, onions, broccoli, spinach, squash, or grape tomatoes after the pasta is cooked. You can also substitute zucchini (zoodles) for the pasta.

What is the secret to thick Alfredo sauce?

The easiest way to accomplish this is to mix about a spoonful of cornstarch to 2 spoonfuls of liquid – it could be water or chicken stock or even milk. You will add this mixture, also called a slurry to the sauce and as it starts to cook, the sauce will thicken.

What makes Alfredo taste like Alfredo?

What Makes Alfredo Taste Alfredo? The key to Alfredo sauce's unique flavour is the combination of butter, cream, and Parmesan cheese . The butter and cream create a rich, velvety base, while the Parmesan cheese adds a tangy, salty flavour.

How do you get the bitter taste out of Alfredo sauce?

Add a little butter or cream or cream cheese, to taste. It will smooth it all out. Make sure you mix it in really well.

Alfredo Sauce Recipe - Wholesome Yum - Easy healthy recipes. 10 ingredients or less. (2024)

Free: Healthy Freezer Meals Recipe Ebook

Get It Now

This easy homemade alfredo sauce recipe is the best way to satisfy comfort food cravings in minutes! Unlike some store-bought sauces, this one is made with clean ingredients, without starch or thickeners. Serve it over your favorite noodles or vegetables for a quick dinner. This recipe for alfredo sauce is so versatile that I included it in my second cookbook to combine with other dishes the book has. And it tastes way better than the jarred kind!

Why You’ll Love This Alfredo Sauce Recipe

Rich and creamy
Just 4 simple ingredients
Ready in 10 minutes
Better than store-bought brands
Perfect on ANY pasta!

Alfredo Sauce Recipe - Wholesome Yum - Easy healthy recipes. 10 ingredients or less. (2)

What Is Alfredo Sauce?

Alfredo is a creamy white sauce traditionally made with butter, parmesan cheese, milk or cream, and spices. Store-bought sauces may also contain thickeners (such as flour or cornstarch), vegetable oils, or other added ingredients to keep them shelf stable.

Ingredients & Substitutions

This section explains how to choose the best alfredo sauce ingredients, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.

Butter – I use grass-fed butter here, but any unsalted variety will work.
Garlic– I prefer to use fresh garlic cloves, but 1 tablespoon of jarred minced garlic or 3/4 teaspoon of garlic powder can be used for convenience.
Heavy Cream – Sometimes this is called heavy whipping cream on the carton. I don’t recommend regular milk or almond milk for this alfredo sauce recipe, as using these requires thickeners and the final sauce will be too thin.
Grated Parmesan Cheese – Adds flavor and thickens the alfredo sauce without a flour roux or cornstarch. Shredded parm should also work, but might take longer to melt. As an alternative, cream cheese can act as a thickener, but the flavor is completely different, so I don’t really recommend it unless you want a tangier cream sauce.
Sea Salt & Black Pepper– You’ll want to add a little more than you think you’ll need, since the sauce will mellow out after mixing with ingredients like pasta or vegetables. If you don’t like the appearance of black pepper in your sauce, use white pepper instead.
Nutmeg– It’s a classic ingredient for any easy alfredo sauce recipe, but you can omit it if you like.

Alfredo Sauce Recipe - Wholesome Yum - Easy healthy recipes. 10 ingredients or less. (3)

How To Make Alfredo Sauce

This section shows how to make homemade alfredo sauce, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.

Saute the garlic. Melt the butter in amedium to large saucepanover medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté until fragrant.
Add the heavy cream. Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer, and continue simmering until sauce thickens and reduces by roughly one third.

Alfredo Sauce Recipe - Wholesome Yum - Easy healthy recipes. 10 ingredients or less. (4)

Alfredo Sauce Recipe - Wholesome Yum - Easy healthy recipes. 10 ingredients or less. (5)

Thicken with parmesan. Reduce the heat and gradually whisk in the parmesan cheese, until smooth.
Add the spices. You can adjust the spices in this alfredo sauce recipe to your taste. Garnish with fresh parsley if you like.

Alfredo Sauce Recipe - Wholesome Yum - Easy healthy recipes. 10 ingredients or less. (6)

Tips For Best Results

Freshly grated parmesan cheese works best. It melts more smoothly into the sauce than the canned stuff. Pre-grated works okay in a pinch, but may not be as smooth.
A large saucepan works best. The larger your pan, the faster the cream will reduce. You can even use a skillet with tall sides!
It’s easy to adjust the consistency. For sauce that’s too thick, thin it with more cream. But if you’re wondering how to thicken alfredo sauce, just add extra parmesan to get the right consistency.

Storage & Reheating

Store: Pour the alfredo sauce into a covered container and store it in the fridge for up to a week.
Reheat: Warm up on the stove over low heat, or in the microwave at low power, stirring occasionally to smooth out lumps. If it’s still not smooth, you can give it a quick blend. This sauce thickens during storage and reheating may cause more moisture to evaporate, so if it’s too thick, add cream to thin out as needed.
Freeze: Cool completely, then transfer to an airtight container or freezer bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. You can thaw in the fridge overnight or reheat from frozen. It may separate when thawed, but reheating will smooth it out.

Alfredo Sauce Recipe - Wholesome Yum - Easy healthy recipes. 10 ingredients or less. (8)

Ways To Use Homemade Alfredo Sauce

Now that you know how to make alfredo sauce, you need ways to use it! Here are some recipes you can pair with this sauce for a comforting meal:

Pasta – For a classic fettuccine alfredo, cook up some fettuccine noodles or your favorite pasta. If you want a lighter option, use spaghetti squash noodles or zucchini noodles (pictured above). Add some quick pan seared chicken breast for a chicken alfredo meal.
Proteins – This alfredo sauce recipe actually tastes delicious on meats! Try it on top of healthy baked chicken, grilled shrimp skewers, or even pan seared salmon.
Roasted Veggies – Toss roasted broccoli or brussels sprouts in this creamy sauce, or drizzle it on roasted asparagus.
Pizza – Alfredo sauce makes a delicious white pizza! Spread it on your favorite crust with toppings like grilled chicken, sauteed spinach, red onions, and fresh or sauteed mushrooms. One of my favorite ways to use it is on a chicken crust pizza!

More Homemade Sauce Recipes

Making your own sauce from scratch is not only healthier, but also super fun and lets you experiment with flavors. Explore some more simple options:

Basil Pesto Sauce

Mushroom Sauce

Peanut Sauce

Peri Peri Sauce

Alfredo Sauce Recipe

Pin It For Later!

Recipe Card

4.9 from 163 votes☝️ Click stars to rate or click here to leave a review!

Alfredo Sauce Recipe (4 Ingredients!)

This easy homemade alfredo sauce recipe needs just 4 simple ingredients and 10 minutes! It's rich, creamy, and perfect for pasta or veggies.

Cook: 10 minutes

Total: 10 minutes

Author: Maya Krampf from WholesomeYum.com

Servings: 6 (adjust to scale recipe)

Un-save Recipe Save Recipe Remove Ads

Recipe Video

Like this video? Subscribe to my YouTube cooking channel for healthy recipes!

Review Print

US Customary – Metric

Ingredients

Tap underlined ingredients to see where to get them.

Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.

Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add minced garlic and saute for about 30 seconds, until fragrant.
Add the heavy cream. Bring to a gentle simmer, then continue to simmer for about 5 minutes, until it begins to thicken and volume is reduced by about 1/3. (Amount of time will vary depending on the size of your saucepan.)
Reduce heat to low. Gradually whisk in the Parmesan cheese. Keep whisking over low heat, until smooth.
Stir in nutmeg, sea salt, and black pepper, to taste. If sauce is thicker than you like, you can thin it out with more cream.

Did You Like It?

Leave a rating to help other readers (this also helps me continue to provide free recipes on my site), or get the recipe sent to your inbox.

Rate recipe

Save Recipe

Related Easy Recipes

Shirataki Noodles
Zucchini Noodles Recipe (Zoodles)
Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole
Chimichurri Sauce Recipe

Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1/4 cup

Recipe from The Easy Keto Carboholics’ Cookbook.

Nutrition Facts

Amount per serving. Serving size in recipe notes above.

Calories 261

Fat 25.9g

Protein 5g

Total Carbs 2.9g

Net Carbs 2.8g

Fiber 0.1g

Sugar 1.9g

Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see our nutrition policy.

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Italian

Keywords: alfredo sauce, alfredo sauce recipe, easy alfredo sauce, homemade alfredo sauce

Calories: 261 kcal

Want to save this recipe?

Save This Recipe Now

As an expert and enthusiast, I have access to a vast amount of information on various topics, including cooking and recipes. I can provide you with information related to the concepts used in this article. Let's dive into it!

Alfredo Sauce:

Alfredo sauce is a creamy white sauce traditionally made with butter, parmesan cheese, milk or cream, and spices. It is commonly used as a sauce for pasta dishes, particularly fettuccine alfredo. Unlike store-bought sauces, homemade alfredo sauce can be made with clean ingredients, without starch or thickeners [[1]].

Ingredients:

The article mentions the following ingredients for making alfredo sauce:

Butter: Unsalted butter is typically used in alfredo sauce recipes. Grass-fed butter is recommended, but any unsalted variety will work [[1]].
Garlic: Fresh garlic cloves are preferred, but you can also use 1 tablespoon of jarred minced garlic or 3/4 teaspoon of garlic powder for convenience [[1]].
Heavy Cream: Also known as heavy whipping cream, this ingredient provides richness and creaminess to the sauce. Regular milk or almond milk is not recommended as they require thickeners and may result in a thin sauce [[1]].
Grated Parmesan Cheese: Adds flavor and helps thicken the alfredo sauce. Freshly grated parmesan cheese is recommended for smoother melting, but shredded parmesan should also work [[1]].
Sea Salt & Black Pepper: Used to season the sauce. White pepper can be used instead of black pepper if you prefer a sauce without visible specks of black pepper [[1]].
Nutmeg: A classic ingredient in alfredo sauce recipes, nutmeg adds a subtle flavor. It is optional and can be omitted if desired [[1]].

Making Alfredo Sauce:

The article provides a step-by-step process for making homemade alfredo sauce:

Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
Add minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
Add heavy cream and bring it to a gentle simmer. Continue simmering for about 5 minutes until the sauce thickens and reduces in volume.
Reduce the heat to low and gradually whisk in the grated parmesan cheese until smooth.
Stir in nutmeg, sea salt, and black pepper to taste. Adjust the spices according to your preference.
If the sauce is thicker than desired, you can thin it out with more cream [[1]].

Storage & Reheating:

The article also provides information on storing and reheating alfredo sauce:

Storage: Pour the alfredo sauce into a covered container and store it in the fridge for up to a week.
Reheating: Warm up the sauce on the stove over low heat or in the microwave at low power, stirring occasionally to smooth out lumps. If the sauce is too thick after reheating, you can add cream to thin it out as needed.
Freezing: Cool the sauce completely, then transfer it to an airtight container or freezer bag. It can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight or reheat from frozen. The sauce may separate when thawed, but reheating will help smooth it out [[1]].

Ways to Use Alfredo Sauce:

The article suggests various ways to use homemade alfredo sauce:

Pasta: Serve the alfredo sauce over fettuccine noodles or your favorite pasta. You can also use spaghetti squash noodles or zucchini noodles for a lighter option.
Proteins: The alfredo sauce can be paired with meats such as baked chicken, grilled shrimp skewers, or pan-seared salmon.
Roasted Veggies: Toss roasted broccoli, Brussels sprouts, or asparagus in the creamy sauce.
Pizza: Alfredo sauce can be used as a base for a delicious white pizza. Spread it on your favorite crust and add toppings like grilled chicken, sautéed spinach, red onions, and mushrooms [[1]].

I hope this information helps you understand the concepts and techniques related to making alfredo sauce. If you have any more questions or need further assistance, feel free to ask!