How To Make Easy Alfredo Sauce

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What Is Real Alfredo Sauce

How to Make Easy Alfredo Sauce | Sauce Recipe | Allrecipes.com

What is Alfredo Sauce?

The great debate: Cream or no cream? Traditional Alfredo Sauce, also known in Italy as Burro e Parmigiano, or Pasta in Bianco, has only 4 ingredients: Butter, Parmigiano-Reggiano, Pasta Water, and Salt, in varying proportions. Most Alfredo Sauce Recipes commonly used in America call for the addition of Heavy Whipping Cream.

Interested in learning more about the origins of Fettuccine Alfredo? Check out The Search for The Real Fettuccine Alfredo | Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street.

Use Your Sauce To Make Chicken Alfredo

One of my favorite ways to use homemade alfredo sauce is making a quick chicken alfredo! Heres how I make it:

  • Cook fresh or dry fettuccini noodles according to package directions, drain and set aside while preparing alfredo sauce.
  • Grab some roasted chicken, such as a rotisserie chicken from the super market. Shred it and place the chicken pieces in a bowl.
  • Place warm cooked noodles and warm chicken in individual serving bowls. Spoon hot alfredo sauce over top, stir and serve. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley if desired.
  • How To Use Alfredo Sauce To Make Fettuccini Alfredo:

    Cook a 16-ounce package of fettuccine according to the instructions on the package. Drain the pasta, reserving 1/4 cup of the pasta water just in case you need it. Then, add the cooked fettuccine to the alfredo sauce and stir until coated. Thin with the reserved pasta water, if necessary. Serve immediately.

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    Ways To Use Homemade Alfredo Sauce:

    Like I mentioned this alfredo sauce is great in a wide range of dishes. Here are some quick recipe ideas

    • Over pasta
    • Over grilled chicken, pork, or even beef like a little drizzle over steak
    • As a pizza sauce instead of tomato
    • Mixed with seafood and over pasta, rice, or cauliflower rice
    • In casseroles or even pasta type casseroles like lasagana
    • In sandwiches, paninis, and subs
    • Over vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, or zucchini
    • Mixed with chicken meatballs
    • Dips and Spreads served with bread, crackers, or breadsticks

    Have other ideas? Would love to hear in the comments below about this classic sauce.

    How To Use Alfredo Sauce

    Homemade Alfredo Sauce

    This recipe makes three cups of the best alfredo sauce! The most common way to use it is to put the sauce on fettuccini. But there are endless possibilities beyond fettuccine. Start by trying another pasta such as tortellini, ziti, ravioli, or stuffed shells. We also love to use it as a pizza sauce, in a soup like in this recipe Chicken Alfredo Soup, and as a cream sauce in this Chicken Alfredo Pot Pie.

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    Alfredo Sauce Recipe Ingredients

    Most Alfredo sauces are made with only Parmesan cheese, butter, cream, and salt. But we took the liberty of adding in some garlic and extra seasonings to make it that much more delicious. This is the only recipe you will ever need! Heres the breakdown:

    • Parmesan cheese: For optimal results, use real Parmigiano-Reggiano right off the block. Avoid those shaker-style containers or tubs filled with pre-shredded cheese. They dont melt properly, making your sauce grainy. And they simply dont taste nearly as good as fresh.
    • Butter: Either unsalted or salted work great. If using salted butter, I recommended omitting the additional salt until youve tasted the sauce and then add extra, if necessary.
    • Heavy Cream: We use heavy whipping cream for the ultimate indulgence. This will give you the creamiest, richest results. Go big or go home, right? You certainly can use regular heavy cream, though, and it will still be wonderful!
    • Garlic: We use a mix of garlic powder and fresh garlic, which we think is perfect. If you want a more subtle garlic flavor, you could cut back on one or the other.
    • Seasonings: Salt, pepper, and dried Italian seasoning. This trio of spices really takes the sauce up a level. Parmesan cheese is already salty, so were only adding in a touch more.

    Why This Recipe Works:

    This rich and creamy sauce can be used in so many dinner recipes to add flavor and richness, plus it is incredibly quick and easy to make.

    • Only four ingredients are needed
    • The garlic is cooked low and slow into the butter to really infuse the incredible flavor into every bite
    • The infused garlic will also turn a beautiful golden brown and give your finished alfredo sauce a gorgeous color
    • This recipe will make enough sauce for one pound of dried pasta and the recipe can easily be doubled if you need more

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    Tips For Making Easy Alfredo Sauce

    People are often intimidated and unsure how to make Alfredo sauce. This is an easy recipe, but here are some tips for first-timer success!

    • When you first start whisking the warm milk into the roux, it will clump up and look an awful lot like you’ve made a horrible mistake. Never fear — those clumps will thin out as you continue adding the milk. First, they’ll take on the consistency of mashed potatoes, then pureed cauliflower, and then a sauce. Just keep calm and carry on adding the milk a little at a time while whisking.
    • Also, don’t wait for the milk to thicken up completely before adding the cheese since the cheese will thicken it even more. You want to add the cheese just at the point when the milk is thick enough to coat the spoon and the sides of the pan in a thick milky layer. If you’re starting to wonder if it’s time to add the cheese, it probably is.
    • If the sauce seems too thin after you’ve added the cheese, just let it simmer for a few more minutes on low heat until it’s as thick as you like. Conversely, if the sauce seems too thick , just whisk in a splash of milk, broth, or water to thin it out again.
    • Don’t limit yourself to just using Parmesan for this Alfredo sauce recipe. You can really use any cheese you like — cheddar, Swiss, gruyere, gouda… You get the idea. Use the best quality, and best tasting, cheese you can find. It’s the main ingredient, so it makes a big difference in the tastiness of your finished sauce.

    Garlic Elevates The Flavor

    How to Make Creamy Alfredo Sauce | Allrecipes.com

    Cream has a neutral taste, so it needs a spicy kick like minced garlic to infuse more flavor. I briefly saute the garlic in melted butter to mellow the harsh sulfurous notes and develop a nuttiness to the sauce. You dont want to brown the butter or burn the garlic. Just a minute or less is all you need to transform that raw, intense taste.

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    Alfredo Sauce Over Pasta

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    Super easy to serve this over pasta if thats what you prefer! My advice is to cook your pasta before you cook the sauce and then simply drain it and put the lid on the pan to keep warm.

    The Alfredo Sauce cooks up quickly so you wont need to wait if you cook the past first.

    Prevent Curdling In Cream Sauces

    Curdling is when the proteins in milk clump together. This happens when the emulsion of fat, water, and protein by high heat or acid gets disrupted. Heavy cream has a higher proportion of fat-to-protein than milk, so its more stable when used in dairy-based sauces. To ensure a smooth consistency, you need to agitate the sauce to prevent curdling or film from forming on the surface.

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    How Do You Make Alfredo Sauce From Scratch

    Pull out your large skillet and put it over low heat. Then youll add butter and cream, letting it simmer together. Then garlic and seasonings get whisked in. Finally, the parmesan cheese goes in. Once that melts nicely throughout, you can serve it up with fettuccine noodles or anything else you like.

    Creamy Cheesy And Comforting: This Easy Alfredo Sauce Is Everything You Want In A Pasta Sauce

    Quick &  Easy Alfredo Sauce ⢠Salt &  Lavender

    Growing up, pasta was my familys go-to option for easy weeknight dinners, but we never really made anything from scratch. I know an easy Alfredo sauce only takes a few minutes to pull together, but we were more of a box of pasta, jar of sauce and a vegetable side dish kind of family.

    Then, when I went to culinary school, I learned that a classic Alfredo sauce is nothing more than butter, cream, garlic and Parmesan cheese.

    You dont even need the jar of sauce! This Alfredo sauce recipe is simple and creates a creamy, cheesy and super flavorful sauce that comes together in a flash. It almost takes longer to cook the pasta than the sauce. Dont believe me? Read on to learn how to make Alfredo sauce thats restaurant-worthy.

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    How To Make Easy Fettuccine Alfredo Sauce

    Homemade Alfredo Sauce recipe, a quick and easy alfredo sauce with only a handful of ingredients including garlic, cream, and Parmesan cheese. Learn how to make alfredo sauce from scratch like the one from Olive Garden in only 15 minutes! The best simple homemade sauce for pasta, shrimp, pizza, chicken, and many other dishes.

    Reading: how to make easy fettuccine alfredo sauce

    If you like going to Olive Garden and getting their fettuccini alfredo, youre going to love this super simple Homemade Alfredo Sauce recipe! Its so easy to make at home, youll be wondering why you didnt make it sooner. Definitely not for the faint of heart though. Its full of cream, butter, garlic and Parmesan cheese. BUT the good news is that you really only need those 4 ingredients and 15 minutes!

    Growing up, I loved going to Olive Garden and getting their tasty fettuccine alfredo. Actually, Id get anything with alfredo sauce! So good! Unfortunately , many restaurants load up the alfredo sauce on their dishes. As much as I love alfredo sauce a little goes a long way in my opinion. So making it at home is perfect.

    Hmmm, maybe I should call this Better Than Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce because its quicker and cheaper than going out and SO good!

    Be forewarned Once you try this homemade version you will never go back to store-bought alfredo sauces in jars. Jarred alfredo sauce from your local grocery store do NOT compare at all.

    Everything Youve Always Wanted To Know About Alfredo Sauce

    Friends, you have a lot of questions about alfredo sauce. And thats fair enough! Most of us have eaten our share of alfredo sauceusually in restaurants, or maybe you grew up eating alfredo sauce at home. But, you may not know much about the origins of fettuccine alfredo. What is alfredo called in Italy, you ask yourself? And relatedly, whats in an authentic alfredo sauce recipe? Alfredo vs carbonara: theyre both creamy, heady, delicious pasta recipes. Whats the difference between them? Lucky for you, our passion for alfredo sauce runs true and deepin other words, youve got alfredo sauce questions and weve got alfredo sauce answers! So, the true authentic Italian alfredo sauceyes, it originated in Italyis composed of just Parmesan cheese and butter, and is made creamy by the addition of starchy pasta cooking water. Authenticity is all well and good, but most of us in America grew up eating fettuccine alfredo made with heavy cream and at least a little garlic, and you know what? Not only does using heavy cream in your alfredo sauce guarantee a nice and creamy sauce, its also easier to makethe Italian version has a shorter ingredients list, but is hard to perfect. And as for the alfredo vs. carbonara question? Well, theyre both deliciously creamy, devilishly rich pasta sauces, but theyre quite different! Carbonara has guanciale , egg and lots of Parmesan cheese, whereas alfredo sauce is more simplejust a creamy, sometimes garlicky, Parmesan-y sauce.

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    The Foolproof Way To Make Alfredo Sauce At Home

    Youll start by lightly toasting garlic in a bit of butter, cooking just until fragrant. Youll then add the cream before the garlic browns, since burnt garlic can turn the sauce bitter in an instant. You want to use dairy with a decent amount of fat like heavy cream or half-and-half because it gives the sauce its richness and smooth texture, so it is best not to substitute milk.

    Just before serving, youll stir in freshly grated Parmesan cheese, nutmeg, and salt and pepper. Serve the sauce hot from the stove before it thickens upon cooling. If the sauce is too thick, dont worry you can whisk in an extra splash of warm cream to loosen it back up.

    Why This Easy Alfredo Sauce Recipe Works

    How to make Easy Olive Garden style Alfredo Sauce Recipe

    This recipe is my new favorite easy Alfredo sauce recipe because I get to use fresh ingredients that are customized to my families taste without any junk that comes in the repackaged jars or packets.

    Did I mention that this is an Easy Alfredo Sauce? It takes literally minutes to prepare and the flavor is incredible.

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    What You Need To Make Sauce:

    Simple ingredients for an elegant sauce that is a classic dish loved by all. This Sauce just has a smooth, creamy texture that melts in your mouth. The best results comes from the ingredients. Using the freshest ingredients is key!

    Fresh parmesan cheese grated off the block is one of those key ingredients. This will create a smooth textured sauce rather than a grainy one. Each of these ingredients melt and blend together so well creating a masterpiece!

    • Butter: either unsalted or salted work for this alfredo sauce recipe.
    • Heavy whipping cream: for a richer and creamy flavor heavy whipping cream is preferred over whipping cream.
    • Cream cheese: this adds a nice thick consistency to your alfredo sauce.
    • Minced garlic: for best flavoring use fresh garlic and mince it the best you can.
    • Garlic powder: adds to the rich and garlic flavoring.
    • Italian seasoning: brings on an Italian fill and blends all the seasonings together.
    • Salt and pepper: just to taste!
    • Grated parmesan cheese: using real parmesan cheese is best. Powdered cheese will create a grainy texture and does not melt through when heated.

    How To Make Quick And Easy Alfredo Sauce

    My Easy Alfredo Sauce is thick, creamy, and delicious and will please everyone from pasta lovers to those on low carb or Keto diets. With two cheeses to amp up the flavor, this Alfredo Sauce is the one of the easiest, tastiest sauce recipes youll ever make!

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    Homemade Alfredo Sauce Ingredients:

    To make this American-style Alfredo sauce recipe, you will need the following ingredients:

    • Butter: Or you could also substitute olive oil, if you prefer.
    • Garlic: Finely-minced or pressed.
    • All-purpose flour: To help form a roux and thicken the sauce. If you are making gluten-free Alfredo sauce, however, you are welcome to omit the flour and have a slightly thinner sauce. Or you can use a cornstarch slurry to thicken it .
    • Heavy cream and milk: We will use this blend as the base for our sauce.
    • Parmesan cheese: I recommend freshly-grating your Parmesan cheese so that it will melt more smoothly into the sauce. Also, grated Parmesan cheese can be tricky to measure correctly simply with a measuring cup, so I recommend using a kitchen scale if you own one.
    • Sea salt and white pepper: I like to use fine sea salt and white pepper to season this sauce. If you are new to cooking with white pepper, please note that it has a slightly different flavor and is significantly more potent than black pepper, so you do not need to use as much. That said, if you only have black pepper in the house, that will work too.
    • Ground nutmeg: A pinch of nutmeg is typically used in American-style Alfredo, but you can omit this if you prefer.

    Ingredients For The Best Alfredo Sauce

    Alfredo Sauce Recipe

    Butter and Olive Oil This combination gives the dish an amazing taste and flavor!

    Cream Cheese Make sure you use whole fat cream cheese, not reduced or fat free, for a creamy, delicious sauce.

    Whipping Cream I use heavy whipping cream as it makes a thick and creamy Alfredo sauce.

    Stone House Seasoning Adds the seasoning to the sauce that gives it the perfect flavor! I keep this made ahead so its simple to add to this and other recipes. It contains the perfect amount of pepper and garlic to season this recipe perfectly!

    Parmesan Cheese Make sure you use real Parmesan cheese the kind in a wedge or block. Shred it yourself right off the block. It only takes a minute and it is so worth it because Parmesan is such an important part of the dish. You definitely do not want to use the powdered cheese in a can because it doesnt melt and it wont give the desired results.

    Mozzarella Cheese Use whole fat cheese and not reduced or fat free for the creamiest, best Alfredo.

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    How To Thicken The Sauce

    One of the main keys to getting the perfect consistency is to make sure to simmer the sauce and whisk often. The alfredo will thicken as it cooks.

    You also want to make sure you use the correct amounts of cheese and cream . If using milk instead of cream, add a couple of teaspoons of flour to help thicken it up.

    Homemade Alfredo Sauce Faq

    How should I store homemade alfredo sauce?Alfredo sauce is best served right away. It generally does not reheat well but if you have to store extra, Id suggest storing in an airtight container in your refrigerator.

    Can I freeze alfredo sauce?No, I would not recommend freezing alfredo sauce. It does not defrost or reheat well.

    How long will alfredo sauce last?Again, homemade alfredo sauce is best if served right after making but if you have to refrigerate any leftovers it will last a few days in the fridge.

    Substitutions?I dont recommend making any substitutions. Since there are only 4 ingredients please use high-quality full-fat ingredients.

    Can I use low-fat ingredients?You can technically use lower-fat cheese, cream, and butter BUT your results will vary a lot and the sauce might not come together.

    What else can I add to this recipe?You can change up this homemade alfredo sauce by adding some of your favorite herbs and spices. Basil, Italian parsley, rosemary, and/or oregano would be great additions. A little ranch seasoning would be fun. A little fresh lemon zest would also be a nice touch. You can also add your favorite vegetables and/or proteins. In fall, a little unsweetened pumpkin would be a nice addition.

    Can I make this vegan/vegetarian/low carb/gluten-free?Here are some suggestions, but I cant guarantee results. Be sure as always to check particular brands and ingredients if youre following a specific diet or have diet restrictions or allergies.

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