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
- Melt the butter
- Place a skillet or saucepan over medium‑low heat.
- Add the butter and let it melt gently without browning.
- Cook the garlic
- Stir in the minced garlic (or garlic powder) and cook about 30–60 seconds until fragrant, not browned.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.