This alfredo sauce recipe with cream cheese is a super easy recipe to make and done in under 10 minutes total time. Save yourself a trip to the store and also a little cash!
Original post: May 2019 | Updated: November 2021
Why This Recipe Works
My love for making homemade sauces is growing. Most savory sauces that you purchase in a can or a jar at the grocery store can be made at a fraction of the cost and in just a few minutes.
And bonus! By making sauces yourself, you eliminate ingredients that you don’t wish for your family to consume. My husband has been dealing with stomach issues for years and for whatever reason, his body does not like yeast or gluten. Do you know how many sauces and seasoning contain yeast and gluten?
I was super excited to make a homemade version of Alfredo Sauce because the ingredient list on the jar overwhelmed me and I just knew I could make a tastier version. Ohh-ho-ho was I right. This sauce is SO GOOD, people. SO good.
It is creamy and rich and I enjoy pouring it all over everything. If you have a few spare minutes, please give this recipe a try. You’ll be hooked, too! In my humble opinion, this version rivals the famous Olive Garden recipe. <—-MASSIVE CLAIM!
Ways To Use Alfredo Sauce
- Replace pizza sauce with alfredo sauce on your next pizza!
- Dip breadsticks or garlic bread into it. YUM!
- Chicken Alfredo, of course. Top with fresh parsley and black pepper!
- Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole (best. casserole. ever.)
- Heat it up and pour it over hot fettuccine pasta noodles or your favorite pasta such as shrimp scampi.
- Turn traditional lasagna into a white lasagna by replacing spaghetti sauce with alfredo sauce and beef with shredded chicken.
- Add it to your next batch of scalloped potatoes.
- Mix it with cooked spaghetti squash or zucchini noodles for a healthier version of fettuccine alfredo.
Easy Alfredo Sauce Ingredients
Butter – Salted or unsalted butter both work great and can be used interchangeably.
Heavy whipping cream – Use heavy cream for best results, but any variety of milk can be used as a replacement. Skim milk, 1%, 2%, whole milk and half and half all work great.
Cream cheese – If I had to label any ingredient the secret ingredient, this would be it. Full fat cream cheese should be used in this recipe.
Garlic – If you are not a massive garlic lover, keep the recipe as it is. However, if you really love the taste of garlic, use 3 or 4 cloves instead of the 2 fresh garlic cloves listed in the recipe card. Or add up to 1 teaspoon of garlic powder.
Parmesan cheese – If at all possible, use fresh Parmesan cheese. It is so easy to open that green bottle from the fridge, but the flavor will be greatly enhanced when you go fresh. Purchase a wedge of Parmesan cheese and grate it for best results.
Check Out This Web Story on Cream Cheese Alfredo Sauce
You can easily put this easy Alfredo sauce together for dinner at the last minute!
How To Make Homemade Alfredo Sauce
Step 1
In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, melt butter, heavy whipping cream and cream cheese. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Simmer for 2 minutes and stir in the minced garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper and freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
Step 2
Whisk the mixture until it is creamy. Add to your favorite dish immediately or let cool and pour into sealed containers.
Recipe Notes – Easy Alfredo Sauce Cream Cheese Recipe
- Easily add a punch of flavor by adding black pepper to the recipe.
- For a thinner sauce, add milk or cream 1 tablespoon at a time. For a thicker, more creamy sauce, reduce the amount of heavy cream/milk used and add either sour cream or cream cheese 1 ounce at a time.
- Looking to spice it up? Add red pepper flakes or a pinch of white pepper or cayenne pepper.
- Top the sauce with fresh parsley just before serving.
How To Reheat Alfredo Sauce – 3 Ways!
Do not toss your leftovers! Use one of these methods to learn how to reheat Alfredo sauce so it is just as good the second time around.
How To Thicken Alfredo Sauce
Create a cornstarch slurry by adding 2 tablespoons of corn starch to 2 tablespoons of cold water or chicken broth. Whisk until the mixture is smooth and slowly add it to the sauce. Let simmer for 2 minutes or until desired consistency has been reached.
How To Make Jarred Alfredo Sauce Better
Planning to serve alfredo sauce but find the jar in your pantry bland? Read on for delicious ideas about how to make jarred alfredo sauce better!
What To Serve With Chicken Alfredo
Chicken Alfredo is the perfect easy meal for busy nights. It is easy to make and even easier to enjoy! Once it is ready to eat, what should you serve alongside it? Read on for 21 delicious ideas about what to serve with chicken alfredo!
FAQ About Alfredo Sauce
Store alfredo sauce in sealed containers in the fridge for up to 5 days. To extend the shelf life of this delicious sauce, freeze it!
To freeze alfredo sauce, transfer to an airtight container or doubled up resealable freezer bags. Freeze for up to 4 months. When you are ready to use it, allow it to thaw completely and reheat on the stove top or in the microwave. Either way, whisk vigorously until warmed through and creamy.
Alfredo sauce is typically made with butter, milk or cream and cheese. Some varieties of this sauce are thickened using flour, so be sure to check labels for ingredients containing wheat.
Although alfredo sauce is cheese-based, it is not technically cheese. It is a sauce containing butter, milk or heavy cream and one or two varieties of cheese.
Alfredo sauce becomes grainy when Parmesan added to it is not good quality and/or it doesn’t fully melt. To avoid this issue, use a fresh block of Parmesan cheese and grate or shred it into the sauce. To fix this issue, run the sauce through a blender or food processor.
Homemade Sauce Recipes
- This roundup of easy sauce recipes can be used now or frozen for another time.
- This spaghetti sauce is easy, meaty and hearty.
- Make your own taco sauce for tacos, burritos and taco salads!
- This healthy treat, Hummus without Tahini, comes together in just 10 minutes and has lots of lemon and garlic.
- This enchilada sauce requires a handful of ingredients and just 15 minutes.
- You can make homemade buttermilk with two ingredients and 5 quick minutes.
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Alfredo Sauce Recipe With Cream Cheese
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter cut in chunks
- 1 pint heavy whipping cream
- 4 oz cream cheese
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1 1/2 cups Parmesan cheese grated
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, melt butter, heavy cream and cream cheese over medium heat. Bring to a boil and reduce to simmer. Simmer for 2 minutes and add the garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper and Parmesan.
- Whisk until mixture is creamy. Add to favorite dish or let cool and pour into sealed containers.
Notes
- Easily add a punch of flavor by adding black pepper to the recipe.
- For a thinner sauce, add milk or cream 1 tablespoon at a time. For a thicker, more creamy sauce, reduce the amount of heavy cream/milk used and add either sour cream or cream cheese 1 ounce at a time.
- Looking to spice it up? Add red pepper flakes or a pinch of white pepper or cayenne pepper.
absolutely amazing 💯!! So simple to prepare.
Thank you for letting me know, Benjamin!
Thanks for sharing your Great Alfredo sauce recipe, Megan!
Instructions were easy to follow, especially since all ingredients were on-hand, and prep & cook time was quick.
Couldn’t wait to pour over my Fettucine & Garlic Chili Shrimp, which I prepared on Christmas Eve!
Deliciously Flavorful.. Definitely making again (move over jar sauces!)
Happy & Safe Holidays!
Just made this tonight for the first time and it was sooo easy and delicious! My kiddos had seconds. Will definitely add this to our rotation. Thank you!!
We loved it! First time I’ve made alfredo sauce. I like being able to choose what and how much spice I add. Will make it again for sure.
I agree Linda, that is the beauty of learning to make some foods you like at home vs in a restaurant or a deli. SO glad you enjoyed it!
Can you can alfredo sauce
That is a great question. I suppose you could but I’m not an expert in canning so I couldn’t give any advice there.
Hi!
I made this tonight, 09-06-20, and it was fabulous! I just added chopped rotisserie chicken breast to the pasta dish. I also had to use half and half and some regular 2% milk for the sauce. So, I decided to add 8 ounces of cream cheese instead of the 4 ounces that your recipe called for. I thought the extra cream cheese would help to thicken it up, and it worked like a charm! It was delicious! I did use more garlic like your blog suggested. YUM! I love garlic too!
Those sound like all great tweaks and I’m glad you enjoyed it! Garlic is always good!