EASY CREAMY HOMEMADE GARLIC ALFREDO RECIPE

I’m not sure if this is a controversial opinion but I think store bought alfredo sauce tastes truly terrible. Trust me, I love a shortcut or a semi-homemade meal. Side note… did anyone else grow up watching Sandra Lee? Loved her! I just cannot get into the flavor of the jarred stuff when it comes to this sauce. My super simple garlic alfredo recipe is 1,000 times more delicious than store bought and is so easy that once you try it you’ll never be tempted to go back to the jar. 

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 Quick and Easy Homemade Garlic Alfredo Recipe

As someone who has tried nearly every brand of jarred alfredo sauce on the market thanks to a husband who is fettuccine alfredo obsessed, I can assure you that none of them compare to the flavor of the homemade stuff.

For some reason I always thought of homemade sauce as some big undertaking reserved for special occasions and wowing guests at dinner parties. Then I actually tried doing it and realized that making homemade garlic alfredo sauce takes about the same amount of time as warming up a jar. You can absolutely make homemade alfredo sauce in the amount of time it takes to boil a box of pasta. 

The difference in flavor is SO crazy that I can’t find words to describe how much better the homemade stuff is. Creamy, cheesy, and garlicky with no weird aftertaste. It’s incredible.

This recipe is SO easy that you can absolutely make it to impress guests or have it on a random Tuesday night when you’re craving a bowl of comfort.

WHY THIS GARLIC ALFREDO RECIPE WORKS

Minimal ingredients: This dish uses only butter, heavy cream, parmesan, garlic, and salt and pepper. 

Quick and Easy: You can have this creamy and delicious sauce ready in just minutes. Simply saute garlic in butter, add in cheese, cream, and seasonings to taste. Let the cheese melt and you’re good to go! 

Family Favorite: This dish is beloved by kids and grownups alike. My kiddos will devour pasta with chicken and peas or broccoli tossed in this sauce! 

Uses Ingredients On Hand: The ingredients for this dish are ones that I always seem to have left on hand from other recipes so it’s easy to whip up this sauce on a whim. If you find yourself with extra heavy cream and parmesan, this is a perfect dish to use it up! If you don’t have fresh garlic you can always use garlic powder. And you can even substitute half and half for the cream if needed. 

INGREDIENTS IN GARLIC ALFREDO:

• Butter: You can use either salted or unsalted – just adjust your seasonings accordingly. 
• Garlic: Freshly minced garlic is ideal but you can substitute jarred garlic or garlic powder in a pinch. 
• Heavy Cream: For the richest and creamiest flavor use heavy cream, but half and half also works great! You can even use whole milk in a pinch. I have done that and added a bit of cream cheese for texture and creaminess. 
• Shredded Parmesan Cheese: Grating or shredding your own is best but I frequently use pre-shredded from the store and it works just fine! 

HOW TO COOK THIS GARLIC ALFREDO RECIPE

1. Add butter to a pan on medium heat, allow to melt.
2. Add garlic and saute for 2-3 minutes until fragrant.
3. Add in heavy cream and parmesan, stirring until cheese is fully melted.
4. Taste and add salt and pepper to taste. I typically find that if using salted butter, there’s enough salt between that and the cheese. I like to add a lot of pepper to mine but add to your heart’s desire.
5. Add on top of the pasta of your choice and serve. 

SERVING SUGGESTIONS

This sauce is perfect for a typical fettuccine alfredo; however it can be used in many ways!

I love making fettuccine with grilled chicken and broccoli, and I also love to do a baked pasta dish with alfredo sauce. You can also make white lasagna, alfredo chicken stuffed shells, or use the sauce as the base of a white pizza. 

When I’m looking for a lower carb meal option, I’ll often pair grilled chicken and broccoli with this sauce and skip the pasta altogether!

STORAGE

This sauce can be stored covered in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. This sauce does thicken when cooled. You can add milk or additional cream to the sauce to thin it out when reheating it if desired. I’m loving these Bentgo storage containers lately in addition to glass storage containers.

LOOKING FOR ANOTHER EASY AND DELICIOUS PASTA SAUCE?

This simple and absolutely delicious marinara sauce tastes like restaurant quality and is just as easy to make as the alfredo recipe. I love hosting pasta bars for large gatherings and you’ll WOW your guests if you offer both the alfredo and the marinara sauce options!

MORE CHEESY RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE

Cracker Barrel Hashbrown Casserole: This copycat recipe is cheese and potato goodness, even better than what you’ll get at the restaurant. 

3 Ingredient Cheesy Rotel Sausage Dip: A classic dip in the midwest combines only sausage, cheese, and Rotel for a hearty and delicious dip.

Cheesy Vegetarian Potato Soup: This hearty vegetarian potato soup is SO filling and is truly a bowl full of comfort. Served with cornbread, it’s a favorite for the whole family. 

Cincinnati Style Skyline Chili Dip: Cincinnati does chili so well and SO differently than the rest of the country. It’s SO delicious in its own right. This Skyline chili dip uses Cincinnati style chili from the local chain (sold in stores and online) with cream cheese and cheddar cheese. Serve it with tortilla chips for a great party snack. 

Better Than the Box Macaroni and Cheese: I grew up on Velveeta and Kraft mac and cheese from the box and I honestly still love it to this day. This recipe is my take on the box stuff – but better! Honestly this was never intended to be a recipe I shared on the blog but my kiddos love it so much I knew I wanted to capture it to remake it again and again. 

Healthier Buffalo Chicken Dip: Another cheesy and delicious dip, this buffalo chicken dip is a slightly healthier version packed with protein from lean chicken breast and plain greek yogurt. 

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