This Alfredo sauce with cream cheese is the ultimate creamy, garlicky comfort food! It uses simple everyday ingredients and only takes about 15 minutes to make. Use this sauce to make the best ever Fettuccine Alfredo!
This homemade Alfredo sauce is easy to prepare, and if you're making it with pasta, the whole meal only takes as much time to cook as it does to boil the pasta! The whole family is sure to love it. When you want a treat, this is sure to hit the spot.
This Alfredo sauce is the standalone version of the sauce in my Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo and Easy Shrimp Alfredo recipes. Those are quite popular with readers, but I figured that having good ole Alfredo sauce by itself is also a smart idea.
Alfredo sauce is simply a mix of butter, cream, parmesan cheese, and sometimes garlic. My trick to making the best Alfredo sauce is adding some cream cheese!
It helps make the sauce thicker and more silky. It also adds a little tanginess that stops the sauce from tasting too heavy. I love it. Purists would argue that cream cheese doesn't belong in here, but I respectfully disagree. 😉 It's glorious.
Recipe notes & tips:
- I really recommend grating your own parmesan cheese. It melts better and tastes better. I always keep a block of parmesan in my fridge (it lasts for ages), and I use this cheese grater.
- Customize it: You can definitely play with the sauce a bit and add more to it! It's a great base. Ideas: a bit of Cajun seasoning or red pepper flakes for some heat. Small broccoli florets or some sweet corn. Leftover cooked/rotisserie chicken.
- You can add more garlic if you wish! This sauce is noticeably garlicky but not overpowering.
- What is Alfredo sauce good on? Try it anywhere you'd use the jarred stuff (like as a sauce for salmon or chicken breasts, in a casserole or pasta bake, over vegetables, or even as a white sauce for pizza).
Recipe substitutions:
If you want to experiment a bit, feel free to make substitutions (it may turn out great), but do not expect the same results as this recipe that I've tested multiple times. This is meant to be a treat meal, and with milk or half-and-half there's a chance the sauce will separate since I don't use a roux in here. Alfredo sauce is notorious for separating, and that is one of the reasons I have selected these ingredients (to make it more user-friendly as well as delicious).
Storing & reheating Alfredo sauce:
- Reheating Alfredo sauce: I recommend reheating it slowly on a LOW heat on the stove. I've had luck adding a bit more cream to get the sauce back to its former glory. If you want to microwave it, be sure to stir every 30 seconds or so and use low power if possible. It can separate if you rush it/warm it on too high a heat.
- Storing Alfredo sauce: The sauce will last for 3-5 days in the fridge. You can store it in an airtight container (like a mason jar). I don't recommend freezing it as it can separate when reheating, but if you do, be sure to reheat on a low heat and add a little more cream.
What kind of pasta to serve with Alfredo sauce?
Fettuccine pasta is the easy choice, but any shape will work! Penne works particularly well too. Or try linguine or spaghetti.
What to serve with Fettuccine Alfredo?
This recipe is rich, so I recommend having smaller portions (2-3 ounces dry fettuccine per person) and serving it with a side. Try bread sticks/garlic knots, or make a healthy side salad for a lighter option. Or... go all out and make a Caesar salad with my 10-minute dressing.
More creamy pasta recipes you'll love:
- Chicken Tortellini Alfredo
- 15 Minute Creamy Alfredo Gnocchi
- Lemon Parmesan Chicken Alfredo Recipe
- Creamy Garlic Pasta Recipe
Questions about this easy Alfredo sauce recipe? Did you make it? Let me know in the comments below, and tag me #saltandlavender if you're on Instagram so I can see your creations.
Easy Alfredo Sauce
Ingredients
- 12 ounces uncooked fettuccine (if making Fettuccine Alfredo), see note
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 4 ounces cream cheese (I used 1/2 block of Philly) softened
- 1 cup heavy/whipping cream
- 2 large cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Take the cream cheese out of the fridge to soften up at least 30 minutes (or longer) prior to starting the recipe, or microwave it for 20-30 seconds. Grate the parmesan.
- If making Fettuccine Alfredo: Boil a salted pot of water for the fettuccine. Cook it al dente according to package instructions. Prep ingredients as you're waiting for the water to boil. I start actually cooking the sauce when the pasta is boiling. Once the pasta is done, I toss it with the sauce right in the skillet (I also add a splash of the hot pasta water), and I serve it with extra parmesan grated over top and a little chopped fresh parsley.
- Add the butter, cream cheese, cream, and garlic to a skillet over medium heat. Once the butter has melted and the pan has heated up, use your spoon to help the cream cheese melt into the sauce. This will take a couple of minutes.
- Once the cream cheese has been incorporated into the sauce, let it gently bubble for 3-4 minutes or until the sauce has reduced a bit. Stir occasionally.
- Stir the parmesan into the sauce, and let it melt in (about 30 seconds), then take it off the heat. The sauce should be thick enough by now, but if you want to reduce it more, let it cook for a bit longer. Keep in mind the sauce will thicken more as it cools/sits. If at any point the sauce gets too thick, add another tablespoon or two of cream OR if you're making pasta with it, the hot pasta water. Give it a taste and season with salt & pepper as needed.
Notes
- Note on serving size: This makes about 1.5 cups sauce. Serves 6+ if you don't mix it with pasta (e.g. you just use it as a sauce over chicken/fish/veggies). With the suggested 12 oz. of pasta it serves 4 people. Double the recipe if you want to fill a large jar and use it for multiple meals.
- Pasta quantity: If you want to use an entire 1 pound (16 ounce) box of pasta, that's fine, but there won't be quite as much sauce as some people like (I suggest doubling the recipe). Make 8 ounces (1/2 pound) if you want lots of sauce. 12 ounces (3/4 of a box) is a good middle ground!
- Alfredo sauce can separate if it's heated too hot/for too much time, so be mindful of that.
- Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Salt & Lavender makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information. For this recipe the nutrition info is just for the sauce.
Barb says
This sauce is amazing! I absolutely love it. It's easy and I always have the ingredients in the house. It's definitely company worthy. Thank you so much for sharing!
Natasha says
I'm so glad you like it, Barb!! 🙂
Deb says
Can you make without cream cheese? What can I sub for that we do not like cream cheese.
Natasha says
Hi Deb! I spent a lot of time testing this recipe with the measurements as described, so I am reluctant to suggest something different since it would be purely guessing, and I don't want you to have to waste ingredients. The cream cheese is an integral part of this particular recipe. With that said, you could try this recipe that's very similar and doesn't use cream cheese: https://bit.ly/2SpJgHw
Cydney Formentera says
Super yummy, easy, and quick but anytime I put Parmesan cheese, the sauce gets gritty! Does that mean I cooked it too long??
Natasha says
I’m so glad you like it! ♥️ Do you grate the Parmesan yourself like I recommend in the blog post? It makes a huge difference. I’ve never had it go gritty myself. Also stir it in right at the end. It shouldn’t be cooked much after you stir it in. I do that as the very last step.
Amanda says
Could I use half&half instead of heavy cream??
Natasha says
I don't recommend it. I talk about this in the blog post. Sub at your own discretion. I'd hate for it to go wrong for you.
Jessica says
Goodness this alfredo sauce is delicious... it is so rich and creamy and would go well with just about anything! I'm not a huge cream cheese fan but, because I've tried many of Natasha's recipes that turned out delicious, I decided to trust her expertise. I'm glad I did because it really does give the sauce just the right kick. I'm not very experienced in the kitchen so I was happy that the steps for the recipe were so detailed and it really wasn't hard to make at all. You will never buy jarred alfredo again!! I did attempt to reheat this the next day and the sauce broke, which I expected - it still tasted delicious, though.
Natasha says
Yay!! So happy to hear that, Jessica! 🙂 Thanks for taking the time to review this recipe.
Noyan Aktug says
So easy and so delicious. Relative to the purists perhaps turning up their noses at the use of cream cheese, that's ok. More for us!
Natasha says
Agreed! Thanks so much! 🙂
Meridith says
It’s amazing easy recipe thank you💕
Natasha says
You're very welcome! 🙂
Ali says
Thank you for the cheese grater link! I’ve been looking to upgrade and I’m going to try this one 😉 recipe’s you provide are always amazing! Thank you again!
Natasha says
You're very welcome!! Enjoy! 🙂
Isaiah E. says
The Isaiah Empire fully endorses this recipe. I’d had been trying to figure out scratch alfredo sauce for years. Natasha nailed it here!
Natasha says
Excellent! Thank you 🙂
Crystal Bailey says
Thanks for sharing this awesome recipe. It was a major hit with the whole family. Trust me, that is saying a lot with six different personal in one house. We will definitely be making this again soon.
Natasha says
Wow, I'm impressed!! That's great! 🙂 Thanks so much for letting me know. So happy you guys all liked it.
Suzy wasson says
Can’t wait to try this..like all your other recipes...is there any way to file the ones we love on your blog?
Natasha says
Wonderful! Thank you. Unfortunately there's no way to login/do that type of thing (I would have to do an expensive custom site re-design which I don't have plans for at the moment). I guess just old fashioned bookmarking/printing the recipe out. Sorry! I'd love to add that functionality eventually, though.
BTP says
Cream cheese is definitely the answer to a foolproof Alfredo sauce. Years ago, I tried making it the traditional way with just butter, cream and parmesan and got a separated mess. Now, without cream cheese, I wouldn’t attempt it.
Natasha says
Yes... it's definitely a handy trick and makes it a lot easier to handle for sure! Thanks!