How to Make Creamy Alfredo Sauce With Cream Cheese
This easy, cheesy homemade alfredo is the perfect sauce to serve with your favorite pasta. Cheese, garlic, and butter…Yum! This sauce is the definition of a crowd pleaser and so easy to whip up, too!
The Best Alfredo Sauce
Who doesn't love a big bowl of creamy alfredo pasta? Whether you prefer the Olive Garden classic or a plate made at home, alfredo pasta is a beloved dish by kids and adults alike. My kids always look forward to alfredo pasta nights. It's not the healthiest sauce in the world, but hey — it's delicious!
Another note to make: this sauce may not be traditional, but I can tell you it makes up for it in flavor. I prefer my alfredo sauce on the creamy, cheesier side, and my family definitely agrees!
Ingredients for Creamy Alfredo Sauce
You likely already have most of these ingredients in your pantry already. Thanks to the thickness of the cream cheese, you don't need to make a roux for this sauce! Here is what you will need:
- Butter — It's best to use unsalted butter so that you don't make the sauce too salty. This way, you can taste and adjust the salt later on to suit your liking!
- Heavy whipping cream
- Cream cheese — Whether you choose to use full fat or reduced fat cream cheese is up to you. I typically go with full fat to make my homemade alfredo sauce extra creamy.
- Minced garlic
- Garlic powder
- Italian seasoning
- Freshly grated parmesan cheese — You can use the kind you buy pre-shredded if you are in a pinch, but I highly recommend grating your own. Not only is the flavor better, but it melts much easier in the sauce. Feel free to grate some extra on top of your finished alfredo pasta!
How to Make Homemade Alfredo Sauce
- Preheat a medium saucepan over medium heat. Once it's nice and hot, add in your butter, heavy whipping cream, and cream cheese. Cook over medium heat and whisk until melted.
- Add in the minced garlic, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Continue to whisk the sauce until smooth. Add in the grated parmesan cheese and continue whisking until the cheese is incorporated.
- Bring the alfredo sauce to a simmer and continue to cook for about 3-5 minutes or until it starts to thicken. Toss it with your favorite pasta and add a dash of fresh parsley on top!
What's the best way to serve alfredo sauce?
My favorite way to serve alfredo sauce is the traditional way: tossed with some cooked fettuccine noodles. You can use any kind of noodle or pasta shape you prefer. I like to accompany my alfredo pasta with some salad, steamed vegetables, or cheesy garlic bread. It's all about balance, people!
Feel like mixing it up? Some other creative ways to use alfredo sauce are to make cheesy baked potatoes or as a base for a cheesy casserole. This alfredo sauce can be used in lots of recipes that start with a cheesy, creamy base!
How long does this homemade alfredo sauce keep?
You can safely refrigerate leftover sauce in an airtight container for 4-7 days. If you need to keep it longer, you can freeze alfredo sauce for up to 6 months. Simply place the sauce in labeled freezer bags and stick them in the freezer.
How do you reheat leftover alfredo sauce?
Creamy sauces have a tendency to "break" when reheated. To prevent this, warm up the sauce slowly and gently over low heat. If you do find that your sauce breaks, don't worry! It can still be saved. Add more cheese, butter, and cream as needed and whisk until the sauce comes together again. If you find that you've added a lot more cheese, butter, and cream, it may have dulled down the flavor. In this case, taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning as needed.
More easy pasta recipes
Looking for more ways to bring Italian cooking into your home? Check out these other delicious pasta recipes that I've shared in the past!
- Chicken Parmesan One Pot Pasta
- Tomato Basil Shrimp Pasta
- Easy Creamy Seafood Pasta
- Herbed Chicken Fettuccine
Homemade Alfredo Sauce
Course Main Course
Cuisine Italian
This easy, cheesy homemade alfredo is the perfect sauce to serve with your favorite pasta. Cheese, garlic, and butter…Yum! This sauce is the definition of a crowdpleaser and so easy to whip up, too!
- 1/2 cup butter
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 2 ounces cream cheese
- 1/2 tsp minced garlic
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
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In a medium saucepan add butter, heavy whipping cream, and cream cheese. Cook over medium heat and whisk until melted.
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Add the minced garlic, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Continue to whisk until smooth. Add the grated parmesan cheese.
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Bring to a simmer and continue to cook for about 3-5 minutes or until it starts to thicken. Toss it with your favorite pasta and add a dash of fresh parsley on top!
Recipe Adapted from The Recipe Critic
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How to Make Creamy Alfredo Sauce With Cream Cheese
Source: https://www.madetobeamomma.com/homemade-alfredo-sauce/