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.
If you love this Italian recipes with homemade alfredo, don’t miss my chicken fettuccini alfredo, chicken alfredo bake and chicken alfredo lasagna.
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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 homemade alfredo sauce.
Ingredients
To make this classic alfredo sauce even more delicious, I added garlic powder and Italian cheese to the sauce along with Parmesan cheese, cream cheese, butter, and cream. It will be your new favorite!
- 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 the ultimate indulgent dish.
- 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.
What to Serve With Fettuccine Alfredo
- Oven Baked Chicken
- Olive Garden Breadsticks (I love to make extra sauce to dip these in)
- Garlic Bread
- Olive Garden Salad
- Steamed Vegetables
- Roasted broccoli
- Roasted asparagus
Tips for the Perfect 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 Dishes
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Alfredo Sauce with Cream Cheese
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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 the butter and cream cheese over low heat. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute. Whisk in the heavy cream, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning, if using.
- Increase the heat to medium-low and bring to a simmer. Simmer 5 minutes, whisking occasionally. Stir in parmesan cheese and simmer until melt. Add more parmesan, if desired. The more cheese you add, the thicker the sauce will be.
- 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!
FAQs
The best Alfredo is rich and indulgent so using heavy whipping cream really gives it that special touch. If you want to lighten it up, though, that is totally fine! Whole milk can definitely be used, just note that the sauce will be less thick and creamy.
Yes! Since there is no roux made with flour used this sauce is gluten free. Just keep your noodles gluten free, too if that is how you choose to serve it.
You should roughly get 2 1/2 cups of sauce which is enough to coat 1 pound of fettuccine pasta. Adjust the amount of pasta you toss it with if you like it more saucy.
A traditional Alfredo sauce is made with butter, cream, Parmesan cheese and garlic. On the other hand, white sauce also known as bechamel sauce, is a French sauce that starts with a roux containing butter and flour and cream.
You can add grilled chicken, shrimp or steam vegetables to this alfredo.
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.
Easy to make and tastes like the real deal, like a restaurant dish.
I’m so happy you enjoyed it! Thank you for your comment and review! :)
Seriously good
Easy recipe, and it tasted great! It was a hit in my family!
I’m so glad it was a hit! :)
I made this recipe and it was great, everyone loved it. Thanks this is my new Alfredo recipe!!!
I’m so glad it was a hit! :) Thanks for your comment and review.
I just made this and it’s wonderful
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Followed exactly. Very good recipe. First in comparison with other Alfredo recipes. Added chicken and broccoli and served with garlic bread. This is my third time making it. Two thumbs up!
I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe! Thanks for leaving a comment and review Gail. :)
Favorite!
LOVED IT!!!! So creamy and delicious
I’m so happy to hear that you loved it! Thanks for leaving a comment! :)
This is a keeper!!! Loved this dish. I added chicken and broccoli. It was delish. Thanks Jamielyn!
Do you think it would work to make this a day or 2 in advance, then to reheat it?
Definitely! :)
Delicious and so easy to make! !
I really like this sauce!! Fantastic!!
Pretty much will eat anything with cream cheese in it. Love this.
I like this sauce! I want to try it immediately. I really like this recipe. It really impresses! An interesting mix of ingredients.
This is a great idea for dinner! I want to thank you for this great recipe! Looks very tasty. I definitely want to try it.
Cream cheese makes everything better doesn’t it?? Alfredo sauce is one of my faves!
I came upon this when I was looking for a recipe that didnt require what goes into my alfredo sauce…..sour cream…. I happened to have the cream cheese and I must say, now this is my new GO TO Alfredo sauce, the flavor was perfect and the texture with the cream cheese was amazing!
I’m so glad you enjoyed this alfredo sauce! Thanks so much for your comment and review. :)
would it come out ok if i made this not using the cream cheese ?? or substituting something else for the cream cheese ? what can i use ??
Hi Cathy! I think it would change the texture of the sauce without the cream cheese unfortunately!
We made this tonight. Delicious!