Easy Alfredo Sauce is made with parmesan cheese, heavy cream, fresh garlic and just a few other simple ingredients for a delicious sauce the whole family will love.

From the recipe collection of Tara Ippolito

This easy Alfredo sauce is one of my all time favorite sauce. My kids can't get enough of it either. It's unbelievably creamy, rich, and filling and couldn't be easier to make, too. A little butter, cream, garlic, and Parmesan all come together in just minutes. The result tastes like something you'd get at your favorite restaurant or even better if Im being honest. It's also one of my most viral recipes on social media racking up million and millions of views. People can't get over how easy it is to put together and how silky and creamy the sauce comes out every time. If you want a no fail, no fuss, crowd pleasing recipe for pasta night, this is it.

This is the only Alfredo recipe you'll ever need because it's the perfect balance of simplicity and indulgence. There's no tricky steps, no fancy ingredients, just straight up creamy, cheesy perfection. This version has been tested, tweaked, and loved by millions across my social channels, so you should feel confident that its a guaranteed hit. The sauce comes together fast, coats pasta beautifully, and tastes better than anything you could ever get from a jar. If you want an Alfredo that's reliable, silky smooth, and totally restaurant style quality, this is the one to make!

Ingredients

Here is everything that you'll need to make this delicious Alfredo sauce. You can find the full ingredients list along with measurements and instructions in the recipe card below.

Unsalted Butter- Brings a richness to the sauce.
Heavy Cream- Gives it that rich, creaminess throughout the sauce
Cream Cheese- Thickens up the sauce a bit and adds a layer of mild cheesy flavor.
Parmesan Cheese- Adds a nutty saltiness to the dish. I use BelGioioso.
Garlic- Jarred, fresh or paste would all work to add a warm aroma.
Garlic Powder- Adds another layer or warmth and garlicy aroma to the sauce.
Salt- Enhances all of the ingredients.
Pepper- Cuts through the richness of the sauce.
Fettuccinie- The heart of the sauce that soaks it all up perfectly.
Pasta Water- Just a ladle adds silkiness and helos the sauce stick to the pasta.

How To Make It

Melt the butter over medium high heat in a large lipped pan. Add the fresh garlic and saute for 1-2 minutes. Slowly pour in the heavy cream and add the cubed cream cheese. Whisk until the cream cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth.

Pro Tip: Warm the heavy cream in a microwaveable safe container for 20 seconds to take the chill off so it blends smoothly into the sauce.

Note: Some people find Parmesan cheese very salty. Unsalted butter helps control the salt.

Turn the heat to low and stir in parmesan cheese and season it with salt, pepper and garlic powder.

Pro Tip: Use freshly grated parmesan cheese here. You can use pre shedded cheese but it wont melt as smoothly. You'll get a creamier, silkier sauce using freshly grated.

Pro Tip: The sauce can separate if the heat is too high or the cheese is added too quickly. Keep the heat low and whisk until the the sauce is smooth.

Add the cooked pasta and a ladle of pasta water to the sauce. Stir everything together until the fettuccine is evenly coated in the sauce.

Note: Fettuccine is classic, but any pasta shape would work just fine for this recipe.

Pro Tip: Adding a ladle of the starchy pasta water will loosen the sauce without watering it down. It makes it smoother and helps the sauce cling to the pasta, too.

Finally, let the pasta sit for a couple of minutes to thicken up. Give it one more final stir, serve and enjoy!

Note: The sauce will thicken as it cools. So, let it rest for 5 minutes to thicken up and get to a perfect consistency.

Is This Authentic Italian Alfredo Sauce?

No, this is an American Alfredo sauce recipe. The American version is a creamy pasta sauce made with butter, heavy cream, parmesan cheese and garlic. Its richer and thicker than traditional Italian Alfredo which is usually only made with butter and Parmesan cheese.

What Can I Serve This With?

I love this as a side to just about anything, but some Crispy Chicken Cutlets or Classic Italian Meatballs would both be great choices. You can also add a vegetable like Roasted Broccoli or Frozen Roasted Green Beans to the side, too, along with some Homemade Cheesy Garlic Bread.

Can I Add A Protein To This?

Yes, you absolutely can. Grilled chicken, shrimp, steak tips or even some crispy bacon mixes in perfectly with this sauce.

Can I Make This Ahead Of Time?

Yes, you can make this sauce ahead of time. Just let it cool and place it in a air tight container in the fridge for up to three days. Reheat it gently on the stove top over medium low heat with a slash of extra cream or milk to it becomes silky smooth again.

Storage

Let the alfredo sauce cool completely and place it into an air tight storage container. It will last in the fridge for up to three days. This freezes well, too! Just place it into an air tight freezer safe container. It will last in the freezer for up to three months.

Click HERE or on the image above to see all of the products that I used to make this recipe on my Amazon store.