Description
This creamy homemade Alfredo sauce recipe offers a rich and velvety sauce perfect for pasta dishes. Made with butter, garlic, heavy cream, and freshly grated Parmesan cheese, this sauce is simple to prepare and delivers authentic Italian flavor. The optional fresh thyme adds a subtle herbal note to elevate the sauce. Ideal for serving over fettuccine or your favorite pasta, this Alfredo sauce is both decadent and easy to make.
Ingredients
Scale
Alfredo Sauce Ingredients
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter (¾ stick)
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1½ cups heavy cream, room temperature
- 6.4 ounces freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Ground black pepper, to taste
- Minced fresh thyme (optional)
Instructions
- Melt the butter: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the unsalted butter gently until it is fully melted but not browned. This creates the rich base for your Alfredo sauce and ensures the butter flavor comes through without burning.
- Sauté the garlic: Add the minced garlic to the melted butter and cook for about 1 minute, stirring frequently. This step infuses the butter with garlic flavor and releases its aroma but prevents the garlic from browning and turning bitter.
- Add the heavy cream: Pour the room temperature heavy cream into the saucepan, stirring constantly to combine well with the butter and garlic. Allow the mixture to come to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally, and cook for 5-7 minutes until it begins to thicken slightly.
- Incorporate the Parmesan cheese: Reduce the heat to low and slowly add the freshly grated Parmesan cheese, stirring constantly until the cheese is fully melted and the sauce is smooth and creamy. Be sure not to allow the sauce to boil, as this can cause separation.
- Season the sauce: Taste the Alfredo sauce and season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper as needed. If desired, stir in minced fresh thyme for a subtle herbal note that complements the sauce beautifully.
- Serve immediately: Remove the sauce from heat and serve it warm over freshly cooked pasta, such as fettuccine, or use it as a luscious topping for vegetables or chicken. Alfredo sauce is best enjoyed fresh but can be gently reheated if necessary.
Notes
- For a lighter sauce, substitute half-and-half for heavy cream, but the sauce will be less rich and creamy.
- Using freshly grated Parmesan cheese ensures the best flavor and smoother melting compared to pre-grated or powdered varieties.
- If you don’t have heavy cream, you can make a substitute by combining whole milk with a bit of melted butter.
- Avoid boiling the sauce after adding cheese to prevent curdling or separation.
- Fresh thyme is optional but adds a nice aromatic touch; other herbs like parsley can be used alternatively.
- This sauce pairs wonderfully with fettuccine pasta, chicken, broccoli, or as a base for creamy casseroles.
