This alfredo sauce with cream cheese is smooth, creamy and has the perfect texture and flavor! Simple to whip up at home and always a family favorite.
Homemade Alfredo Sauce Recipe
This homemade alfredo sauce with cream cheese is so creamy and one of my all-time favorite pasta sauces. Give me a big bowl of fettuccine alfredo with a warm breadstick and a chopped salad and I am in literal heaven!
Alfredo is my weakness! Whenever we go out for Italian, it’s always what I end up ordering. Luckily, I can make the best alfredo sauce recipe easily at home whenever the craving strikes. It’s a crowd-pleaser and the cream cheese adds a smooth richness to the sauce.
Ingredients
- Butter: I used salted, but feel free to use unsalted and adjust the salt added as necessary.
- Garlic: Fresh garlic cloves minced plus garlic powder is the perfect combo! You can also use the garlic from the jar. If you need it more subtle, though, use one or the other.
- Cream: Heavy cream or half and half. Heavy whipping cream will give you the best creamy, rich results for this indulgent dish. Whole milk can be used, but your sauce won’t thicken as well.
- Cream cheese: A must for this cream cheese Alfredo sauce.
- Parmesan cheese: Freshly grated Parmesan from a block will not only taste better but will melt better too. Pre-shredded could cause your sauce to be grainy.
- Seasonings: A trio of seasonings including salt, pepper and Italian seasoning. It really adds to the flavor!
How to Make Alfredo Sauce with Cream Cheese
While the fettuccine boils in a pot of salted water, melt butter in a large skillet over low heat, add garlic then cream cheese. Whisk in the heavy cream and garlic powder. Add Italian seasoning if desired.
Increase heat to medium heat. Bring sauce to a simmer, then let simmer for 5 minutes (whisking occasionally) until reaches desired consistency. Add in Parmesan cheese and stir.
Once Parmesan melted, toss with hot fettuccine noodles and serve! Garnish with freshly chopped parsley.
How to Thicken Alfredo Sauce
One of the main keys to getting the perfect consistency is to make sure to simmer the sauce (this requires some patience!) and whisk often. The alfredo will thicken as it cooks.
You also want to make sure you use the correct amounts of cheese and cream (or substitute of choice). If using milk instead of cream like I do in my white sauce recipe, add a couple of teaspoons of flour to help thicken it up.
Serving Suggestions
- Use the sauce to make chicken fettuccine Alfredo or casseroles like chicken alfredo bake and chicken alfredo lasagna
- As a dipping sauce for Olive Garden breadsticks or garlic bread
- Drizzled over proteins like oven baked chicken, shrimp or meatballs.
- Spread it on pizza like a white sauce.
- Serve it with pasta and steamed vegetables, roasted broccoli or a salad
Tips for the Perfect Cream Cheese Alfredo Sauce
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese tastes best. Trust me, it does make a difference!
- While the sauce simmers, make sure to whisk often. This will help create a creamy sauce.
- Make sure not to use too high of heat. I find that medium-low is perfect. You don’t want to burn or curdle the cream.
- Feel free to add in cooked chicken to make chicken alfredo. You can also add cooked broccoli or peas.
- Top with more fresh Parmesan and parsley before serving.
- You could easily make this sauce a couple of days in advance, then reheat it over low heat when ready to serve. Just store it in an airtight container in the fridge.
Love homemade pasta sauces? Try this bolognese sauce, marinara sauce or garlic roasted tomato sauce!
More Delicious Pasta Recipes
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Alfredo Sauce with Cream Cheese
Video
Ingredients
- ½ cup salted butter
- 3 ounces cream cheese
- ½ teaspoon minced garlic
- 2 cups (1 pint) heavy whipping cream , or half-and-half
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder , more to taste
- ¼ teaspoon Italian seasoning , optional
- Kosher salt , to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper , to taste
- ¼ -3/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese , more to taste
- 1 pound fettuccine , cooked according to package
Optional: Grilled chicken, Steamed broccoli
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, melt 1/2 cup butter and 3 ounces cream cheese over low heat. Add 1/2 teaspoon garlic and cook 1 minute. Whisk in 2 cups heavy cream, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, and 1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning, if using.
- Increase the heat to medium-low and bring to a simmer. Simmer 5 minutes, whisking occasionally. Stir in 1/4 cup parmesan cheese and simmer until melt. Add up to 1/2 cup more parmesan, if desired. The more cheese you add, the thicker the sauce will be.
- Toss with pasta and serve. If using chicken or broccoli, stir into the sauce. Toss with cooked fettuccine until coated. Serve while hot. Sprinkle with fresh parmesan cheese and parsley on top, if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: 30 Minute Meals, Condiments, Dinner, Italian, Pasta, Reader Favorites, Sauces, Stovetop, Vegetarian, Vegetarian
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
Delicious, easy to make recipe! I doubled the recipe and it came out great! Thank you 😊
So glad you enjoyed the Alfredo sauce Kristin!
Where is the video?
Hello, if you hit the jump to recipe button you can view the recipe video right in the recipe card. Enjoy!
Tried this tonight and we give it a tremendous applause. It’s absolutely delicious and so….. easy to make. It’ll definitely be on our menu again. Thank you for sharing.
So happy to hear it was enjoyed by all!
This sauce is so easy to make and so delicious! It is a regular at our house!
So glad you enjoy it!
My 3 year old said, “I love this mommy! This is amazing!”
Need I say any more?
Pasta is my daughter’s absolute favorite! This recipie makes the best sauce. We make it all the time. Thank you for sharing the recipie!
My family loved this! Made exactly by recipe and added chicken and brocolli.
Fixing to make this recipe.
This is the best Alfredo recipe! It’s always my go-to. It’s easy and yummy… Just perfect!
Thanks for the great review and so happy you loved it!
I made your wonderful Alfredo recipe and my family love, loved it! So creamy and full of delicious flavors. This is the only Alfredo recipe I ever make again!❤️
I don’t think my family will let me buy Alfredo sauce ever again, they loved this! It was devoured by not only my hungry teenagers but some of their friends, too!
So easy to make and so delicious!!!
Do u know carb total for this??
About 42g carbs per serving (there are 8 servings total)
Amazing. And so quick and easy. Definitely a keeper.
So happy to hear you enjoyed it, Maria :)