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easy alfredo sauce recipe

Here’s an easy Alfredo sauce recipe you can make in about 10 minutes with simple ingredients and classic flavor.

Quick Scoop

  • Prep time: ~5 minutes
  • Cook time: ~10 minutes
  • Total time: ~15 minutes
  • Servings: About 4 portions for pasta

Ingredients

  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 cups heavy cream (or 1 ½ cups cream + ½ cup milk for a bit lighter sauce)
  • 2–3 cloves garlic, minced (or 1 teaspoon garlic powder)
  • 1 ½ cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese (avoid pre‑shredded if possible for smoother sauce)
  • ½ teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon black or white pepper
  • Optional extras: pinch of Italian seasoning, parsley, or a handful of shredded mozzarella for extra stretchiness

Step‑by‑step Instructions

  1. Melt the butter
    • Place a skillet or saucepan over medium‑low heat.
    • Add the butter and let it melt gently without browning.
  1. Cook the garlic
    • Stir in the minced garlic (or garlic powder) and cook about 30–60 seconds until fragrant, not browned.
  1. Add cream
    • Pour in the heavy cream (and milk, if using), along with salt and pepper.
 * Bring to a gentle simmer, stirring frequently; do not let it boil hard.
  1. Melt in the cheese
    • Lower the heat.
    • Add the Parmesan a small handful at a time, whisking until each addition melts and the sauce becomes smooth and slightly thick.
 * If using mozzarella, stir it in once the sauce has already thickened, then whisk until smooth.
  1. Adjust and serve
    • Taste and add more salt or pepper if needed.
 * If the sauce is too thick, whisk in a splash of warm milk or pasta cooking water.

 * Toss immediately with hot pasta, gnocchi, or steamed veggies.

Tips, Variations, and “Latest” Twists

  • Use freshly grated cheese for the silkiest texture; bagged cheese often has anti‑caking agents that make sauce grainy.
  • Lighter version : Swap some cream for milk and use a bit less cheese; simmer a bit longer to thicken.
  • Extra‑garlic “viral‑style” Alfredo : Many popular social and forum recipes simply double the garlic and add Italian seasoning for a strong, restaurant‑style flavor.
  • Protein add‑ins : Toss with grilled chicken, shrimp, or sautéed mushrooms for a full meal.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Boiling the sauce too hard can cause the cream to separate and the cheese to clump. Keep it at a gentle simmer.
  • Adding all the Parmesan at once makes it harder to melt smoothly; add gradually and whisk.
  • Letting the sauce sit too long off heat will make it very thick; thin with a bit of milk or pasta water and whisk.

TL;DR: Melt butter, gently simmer cream with garlic, whisk in Parmesan until smooth, season, and toss with hot pasta for a rich, easy Alfredo sauce ready in about 15 minutes.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.