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Homemade Alfredo Sauce Recipe

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4.2 from 48 reviews

This Homemade Alfredo Sauce recipe delivers a rich, creamy, and flavorful sauce made from butter, garlic, heavy cream, and freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Perfectly combined and seasoned with salt, pepper, and optional fresh thyme, it creates a velvety base for classic Fettuccini Alfredo, offering a decadent Italian dining experience right at home in just 15 minutes.

Ingredients

Alfredo Sauce

  • 6 tbsp unsalted butter (¾ stick)
  • 1 clove garlic (minced)
  • 1½ cups heavy cream (room temperature)
  • 6.4 oz freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • Kosher salt (to taste)
  • Ground black pepper (to taste)
  • Minced fresh thyme (optional)

Pasta

  • 16 ounces fettuccine noodles
  • 1 teaspoon salt (for boiling water)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Alfredo Sauce: Melt the unsalted butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
  2. Cook the Garlic: Add the minced garlic to the butter and cook until it is lightly browned and fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
  3. Cool the Base: Remove the pan from heat and let the butter and garlic mixture cool for 3-5 minutes.
  4. Whisk in Cream: Pour the room temperature heavy cream into the pan and whisk until fully combined with the butter and garlic.
  5. Heat Gently: Return the pan to the stove over low heat, making sure the sauce does not come to a boil to prevent curdling.
  6. Incorporate Parmesan: Gradually add the freshly grated Parmesan cheese while continuously whisking until the cheese melts and the sauce is smooth and creamy.
  7. Season the Sauce: Taste the sauce and season with kosher salt, ground black pepper, and optionally, minced fresh thyme to enhance flavor.
  8. Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add 1 teaspoon of salt.
  9. Boil Fettuccine: Cook 16 ounces of fettuccine noodles according to package instructions until al dente.
  10. Drain and Reserve Water: Drain the pasta, reserving ½ cup of the pasta cooking water.
  11. Toss Pasta with Sauce: Mix the drained fettuccine with the Alfredo sauce, adding reserved pasta water as needed to achieve the desired sauce consistency.
  12. Serve Immediately: Plate the Fettuccini Alfredo promptly to enjoy the sauce at its creamiest texture.

Notes

  • Use unsalted butter to control the saltiness of the sauce.
  • Do not let the sauce boil once the cream is added to prevent separation.
  • Freshly grated Parmesan cheese melts better and provides richer flavor than pre-grated varieties.
  • Reserving pasta water helps in adjusting sauce consistency and improves sauce adhesion on noodles.
  • Fresh thyme is optional but adds a subtle aromatic herbal note to the sauce.
  • Serve immediately as Alfredo sauce thickens upon standing.

Find it online: https://recipethrive.com/homemade-alfredo-sauce-recipe/