The Tastiest Homemade Alfredo Sauce (Olive Garden Copycat!)

This homemade Alfredo sauce recipe will give you that classic flavor in the comfort of your home and it's the perfect copycat recipe for Olive Garden's alfredo sauce! It tastes exactly the same but is budget-friendly and you can easily make it at home. It's just perfect as an Alfredo dipping sauce with some breadsticks. 

Alfredo sauce is an Italian staple, beloved for its delicious flavor and velvety smooth consistency. It's usually served with pasta dishes like fettuccine alfredo, but you can also use it as a dipping sauce or to top meats and veggies.

While pre-made alfredo sauces are available in grocery stores, nothing beats the taste and freshness of a homemade alfredo sauce. When you make your own Alfredo sauce, you can choose the ingredients and adjust the flavor to your preferences.

This homemade alfredo sauce recipe is quick and simple to prepare, requiring only a few basic ingredients. This sauce is rich, creamy, and decadent thanks to a foundation of heavy whipping cream and a combination of Romano and Parmesan cheeses. Garlic, salt, and black pepper lend a delightfully savory flavor, while butter and cream cheese add a smooth and creamy texture.

This homemade alfredo sauce is sure to be a hit, whether you prepare a traditional fettuccine alfredo or use it as a dipping sauce for breadsticks or vegetables. So gather your supplies, and let's begin!

What is Homemade Alfredo Sauce?

Alfredo sauce is a rich and creamy white pasta sauce from Italy. Butter, heavy cream, and Parmesan cheese are the traditional ingredients. The sauce is known for its creamy texture and rich, satisfying taste.

Even though no one knows for sure, the sauce is thought to have been made by Alfredo di Lelio, a restaurant owner in Rome.

According to legend, Alfredo came up with the sauce in the early 20th century to help his pregnant wife through her terrible morning sickness. He made a soothing sauce for his wife with butter, heavy cream, and Parmesan cheese.

Midway through the 20th century, the restaurant chain Alfredo's of Rome, founded by Alfredo di Lelio's son, helped the sauce gain popularity in the United States.

Pasta alfredo, chicken alfredo, and shrimp alfredo are just a few of the meals that feature the beloved alfredo sauce, which is now a mainstay in Italian-American cooking.

It's also the perfect sauce to use for dipping breadsticks, vegetables, and anything else you like!

What Makes This Homemade Alfredo Sauce Recipe Special?

Easy: This Alfredo sauce is very easy to make and only requires a few ingredients. The cooking time is also short; you could be enjoying a delicious batch in no time at all!

Olive Garden copycat: This recipe is the perfect copycat recipe for Olive Garden's Alfredo dipping sauce. It tastes exactly the same but is budget-friendly and you can easily make it at home. 

Versatile: While this sauce is normally used with fettuccine noodles, it also goes with many other foods. Try dipping vegetables or breadsticks in it!

Delicious: Alfredo sauce made from scratch is much better than store-bought versions. The two kinds of cheese pair perfectly with the blend of spices and dairy. 

What You Need to Make Homemade Alfredo Sauce at Home

All you need are some simple, pantry staple ingredients to make this delicious Homemade Alfredo Sauce. Let's look at each in more detail:

• Unsalted butter: We're going to use butter as one of the few ingredients that give Alfredo sauce its rich and creamy taste. Be sure to use unsalted butter!
• Cream cheese: We'll use cream cheese to make this sauce make this sauce rich and creamy also. However, it also adds a delicious tangy taste. 
• Whipping cream: Heavy whipping cream will be the base of our Alfredo sauce. It makes a very smooth and creamy texture.
• Garlic: Garlic adds a savory and pungent flavor to the sauce. I'd really recommend getting fresh garlic to press for this recipe. 
• Salt: Our Alfredo sauce wouldn't be complete without a little salt to bring out the other flavors. Try to use sea salt if you can!
• Black pepper: The other seasoning we need is some ground black pepper. It has a slightly warm and earthy taste that goes great in this sauce. 
• Romano cheese: One of the two kinds of cheese we'll use, Romano cheese will add a tangy and slightly salty flavor. 
• Parmesan cheese: Parmesan cheese is the second type of cheese we need. It's less sharp than Romano and adds a rich and nutty flavor. 

How to Make Homemade Alfredo Sauce (Step-by-Step)

Making this delicious homemade Alfredo sauce is easier than you think. You'll get authentic flavors in just a few steps. Let's look at how to make it step by step:

Begin by shredding the cheese and pressing the garlic.

Next, melt the butter in a large skillet, then add softened cream cheese. It's important to note that if the cream cheese is not softened, the sauce will turn out clumpy.

Heat for a minute so it all thins out, then add heavy cream and bring to a boil, stirring constantly.

After that, reduce the heat and add pressed garlic, salt, and pepper. Whisk it in well and let it simmer for a couple of minutes.

Finally, add and mix in Romano and Parmesan cheese. Bring it to a boil, whisking constantly until it has reached your desired consistency, then let it simmer for another minute.

Remove it from heat.

Your delicious homemade Alfredo sauce is ready to be served!

Let it cool to warm and toss it with your favorite pasta or serve it with breadsticks.

Tips for Making the Best Homemade Alfredo Sauce Ever

Whisk the sauce constantly: When adding the cream and cheese to the butter and garlic, be sure to whisk the mixture constantly to prevent the sauce from sticking to the bottom of the pan or burning.

Use room temperature ingredients: Make sure that your butter, cream cheese, and heavy cream are all at room temperature before you begin making the sauce. This will help the ingredients to blend together more easily and prevent the sauce from breaking or curdling.

Add the cheese gradually: When adding the Parmesan and Romano cheese to the sauce, add it gradually in small handfuls, whisking constantly between each addition. This will help to prevent the cheese from clumping together or separating from the sauce.

Recipe Variation Ideas for Homemade Alfredo Sauce

This delicious homemade Alfredo sauce is absolutely perfect as is, but if you're looking to personalize it here are some ideas you can try:

• Make it lighter: If you prefer a lighter version of Alfredo sauce, you can use whole milk instead of heavy cream in this recipe.
• Add protein: To make your alfredo sauce more filling and satisfying, try adding some cooked chicken, shrimp, or even crab meat to the sauce.
• Different cheese: You can also use another cheese you like best such as Gruyere or Provolone for this delicious sauce. 
• Add herbs: To add some extra flavor to your alfredo sauce, try adding some fresh herbs such as basil, oregano, or parsley.
• Serve it gluten-free: This recipe does not include a roux made with flour, so if you serve it with gluten-free pasta, the entire meal would be considered gluten-free!

How to Store Leftover Homemade Alfredo Sauce

Leftover Alfredo sauce can be stored in an airtight container or jar in the refrigerator for up to three days. To extend its shelf life, you can also freeze it for up to two months.

Before serving or reheating, be sure to let the sauce come back to room temperature before transferring it to a medium saucepan on the stovetop over medium heat. Stir constantly until the sauce is hot and ready. 

Don't reheat alfredo sauce in the microwave as this can make it oily. 

Alfredo sauce is used in these recipes:

• Shrimp Alfredo Fettuccine Pasta Recipe
• Cheesy Chicken Bacon Alfredo Stuffed Shells Recipe
• Chicken Bacon Mushroom Alfredo Lasagna Recipe
• Creamy Peas and Bacon Pasta Recipe
• Chicken Bacon Alfredo Canapés Appetizers
• Garlic Bacon Chicken Alfredo Pizza

Similar Condiment Recipes You'll Love

• Easy Homemade Pizza Sauce Recipe
• Easy 4 Ingredients Homemade Mayonnaise Recipe
• Simple Homemade Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing
• Homemade Ranch Dressing Recipe

Recipe Card

The Tastiest Homemade Alfredo Sauce (Olive Garden Copycat!)

Valya's Taste of Home

This homemade Alfredo sauce recipe will give you classic flavor effortlessly at your home and it's the perfect Olive Garden copycat recipe but budget-friendly!

4.80 from 10 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 5 minutes mins

10 minutes mins

Total Time 25 minutes mins

Course Topping

Cuisine Italian

Servings 2

Ingredients

  

.5x1x2x3x

• ▢ 2 oz. – unsalted butter
• ▢ 2 oz. – cream cheese (softened to room temperature)
• ▢ 2 cups – heavy whipping cream
• ▢ 1 tsp. - pressed garlic
• ▢ ¼ tsp. – salt
• ▢ ⅛ – freshly cracked black pepper
• ▢ ½ cup – freshly shredded Romano cheese
• ▢ 1 ½ cups – freshly shredded Parmesan cheese

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Instructions

 

How to Make Homemade Alfredo Sauce

• ▢
  Begin by shredding the cheese and pressing the garlic.
• ▢
  Next, melt the butter in a small sauce pan, then add softened cream cheese. It's important to note that if the cream cheese is not softened, the sauce will turn out clumpy.
• ▢
  Heat for a minute so it all thins out, then add heavy cream and bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
• ▢
  After that, reduce the heat and add pressed garlic, salt, and pepper. Whisk it in well and let it simmer for a couple of minutes.
• ▢
  Finally, add and mix in Romano and Parmesan cheese. Bring it to a boil, whisking constantly until it has reached your desired consistency, then let it simmer for another minute.
• ▢
  Remove it from heat.
• ▢
  Your delicious homemade Alfredo sauce is ready to be served!

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This recipe was originally posted on February 1, 2017 (original picture below), and updated for a better user experience. The post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure.