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5.0 from 18 votes

Easy Homemade Alfredo Sauce Recipe

Learn how to make homemade Alfredo Sauce without cream cheese! This homemade Alfredo sauce is creamy, rich, and cheesy, made with simple ingredients, like freshly grated parmesan cheese, minced garlic cloves, and a dash of nutmeg.

Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
15 mins
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 353 kcal
Course: Condiments
Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients

  • 1 tick unsalted butter ½ cup butter, if using salted butter, reduce salt by ¼ teaspoon
  • 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
  • 2 cloves garlic minced, or replace with ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • 2 cups Parmesan Cheese freshly grated
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg fresh grated is best
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt if desired, wait until the end so you can taste and adjust
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • parsley fresh, chopped
  • 1/2 cup reserved pasta water to thin sauce, if needed

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. In a large (high-sided) skillet or medium saucepan, add butter and melt, tossing the garlic in at the last minute, stirring constantly until fragrant.
  2. Note: If making pasta, now would be a great time to start your water boiling, be sure to salt it well, and boil pasta according to package directions. Once the sauce gets started, it doesn’t take long to make this sauce.
  3. Over medium heat, add the heavy cream to the sauted garlic, stirring to combine, and bring to a low simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low then stir in nutmeg (garlic powder, if not using fresh garlic), salt, and pepper.
  4. Remove pan from heat, and stir in shredded parmesan cheese until melted and the sauce is thickened. Garnish with chopped parsley, take a taste, and if needed stir in a little more salt.
  5. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta sauce, then drain pasta and pour sauce over pasta and toss. Or serve individual servings, spooning the desired amount of sauce over top of the pasta.
  6. If the sauce is too thick (it will thicken as it cools), reserve about ½ cup of pasta water and stir in a tablespoon at a time. The starches in the pasta water will help thin the sauce but not too thin.

Notes

  • Don’t skip the nutmeg, it compliments the cheese sauce beautifully!
  • Don’t skip the nutmeg, it compliments the cheese sauce beautifully!
  • Storage
  • Store leftover sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-14 days, and make sure it’s cooled before putting it in the fridge.
  • Store leftover sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-14 days, and make sure it’s cooled before putting it in the fridge.
  • Alfredo sauce will freeze well, freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge, and reheat in a small pan, thinning with a little pasta water if you still have it or with milk or cream.
  • Alfredo sauce will freeze well, freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge, and reheat in a small pan, thinning with a little pasta water if you still have it or with milk or cream.
  • If the sauce "breaks" or splits separating and becoming clumpy, heat over very low heat, whisking or stirring in a little cream or milk, or parmesan cheese until it comes together. 
  • If the sauce "breaks" or splits separating and becoming clumpy, heat over very low heat, whisking or stirring in a little cream or milk, or parmesan cheese until it comes together. 

Nutrition Information

Serving 1serving (about ¼ cup) Calories 353kcal (18%) Carbohydrates 2g (1%) Protein 10g (20%) Fat 34g (52%) Saturated Fat 22g (110%) Polyunsaturated Fat 1g Monounsaturated Fat 9g Trans Fat 0.5g Cholesterol 98mg (33%) Sodium 487mg (20%) Potassium 73mg (2%) Fiber 0.04g (0%) Sugar 2g (4%) Vitamin A 1205IU (24%) Vitamin C 1mg (1%) Calcium 331mg (33%) Iron 0.3mg (2%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 8servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 353

% Daily Value*

Serving 1serving (about ¼ cup)
Calories 353kcal 18%
Carbohydrates 2g 1%
Protein 10g 20%
Fat 34g 52%
Saturated Fat 22g 110%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g 6%
Monounsaturated Fat 9g 45%
Trans Fat 0.5g 25%
Cholesterol 98mg 33%
Sodium 487mg 20%
Potassium 73mg 2%
Fiber 0.04g 0%
Sugar 2g 4%
Vitamin A 1205IU 24%
Vitamin C 1mg 1%
Calcium 331mg 33%
Iron 0.3mg 2%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.