Name: Alfredo Sauce (without cream cheese)
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 1 ½ cups heavy whipping cream; 1 cup grated parmesan cheese; ½ cup unsalted butter; 2-3 garlic cloves (minced); ½ teaspoon salt; ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

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This Easy Alfredo Sauce recipe without cream cheese is creamy, delicious and so simple to make. Homemade alfredo sauce is much better than store-bought jarred; and perfect for pasta, as a pizza sauce, or on top of chicken.

This Easy Alfredo Sauce is perfect for our Chicken Alfredo Baked Ziti, Baked Chicken Spaghetti, or smothered over Baked Chicken Meatballs.

White sauce on a wooden spoon over a bowl of white sauce.

Table of Contents

Like most, I regularly bought jarred alfredo sauce from the grocery store. Then one day I needed what I didn’t have. After a bit of panic, I decided to make my own.

When I say it’s so simple to make and has the most noticeable difference, I’m not kidding. It’s the perfect example of a spectacular homemade recipe.

Unlike most jarred varieties, which are watery and rather bland – this rich alfredo sauce has a ton of flavor. Garlic, butter, and parmesan cheese – there is truly nothing like it.

Yet there are many ways to make alfredo sauce. Did you know authentic Alfredo sauce does not have cream cheese in it?

a pan of white sauce with fresh parsley in it beside a bowl of cooked noodles.

This Alfredo sauce recipe without cream cheese is more traditional alfredo sauce (yet not exact because it contains cream). Yet I do love the taste and it takes just 15 minutes to make.

One taste of this creamy white sauce, and you might never buy jarred alfredo sauce again!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Easy to Make – This 15 minute recipe is ideal for busy weeknights. Pour over your favorite pasta, and you can add some chicken or shrimp for protein.
Flavorful – Rich with the right amount of parmesan and garlic – it’s a delicious Alfredo sauce that is bursting with flavor.
Versatile – Creamy alfredo sauce compliments so many dishes, not just to make fettuccini Alfredo. Smother chicken or shrimp, and even use as pizza sauce.

Total Time: 15 minutes

Serves: 4-6

a pan of cooked noodles in a white sauce beside a bunch of fresh parsley.

Ingredient Notes

ingredients on a table such as butter, heavy cream, parmesan cheese, and seasonings.

Heavy Whipping Cream – Since there is no cream cheese in this recipe, heavy cream is preferred for the fat content, which is needed to thicken the sauce. You can use half and half (10-12% fat), whole milk (3-4% fat), or 2% – yet the lower you go, the thinner the sauce will be.
Parmesan cheese – Use REAL parmesan cheese for this recipe, and grate it yourself. The real stuff melts easily, and shelf-stable cheese does not.
Butter – I use unsalted butter because I like to control the sodium content myself.
Garlic – Fresh garlic cloves (finely minced) is best, but you can also use jarred garlic as well. In a pinch, you can use garlic powder yet it’s not as flavorful.

As always, the full ingredients and recipe is on the printable recipe card at the end of this post.

Tips for Success

Use Quality Ingredients – For best results, use real parmesan for this recipe. I’m all for shortcuts when possible, yet I believe this is an ingredient that makes all the difference.
Don’t Rush – Add the heavy whipping cream a little at a time, whisking while you go to smooth out lumps. Remove from heat when sauce reaches desired consistency, and cook Low and Slow.
Think Ahead – If you’re serving this over pasta, and you boil your pasta in salted water – you might not need salt in this alfredo recipe.
Jazz it Up – This is a basic Alfredo sauce recipe. Add more flavor by adding in more spices such as oregano or Italian Seasoning.

How to Make Homemade Alfredo Sauce Without Cream Cheese

In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat.
Add the minced garlic to the pan and sauté the garlic and butter together for about 1-2 minutes, or until fragrant. Be sure not to overcook the garlic for it may cause the garlic to burn.
Over medium-low heat, pour in the heavy cream a bit at a time, stirring constantly. Bring to a simmer, but not a boil. Let it cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, and until slightly thickened.
Gradually add the grated Parmesan cheese to the sauce, stirring continuously until the cheese is fully melted and the sauce is smooth.
Season with salt and freshly ground pepper to taste. Remove the sauce from heat and let it cool slightly before serving.
Serve this Alfredo Sauce Recipe without cream cheese over cooked pasta, such as fettuccine or linguine, and garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired.

Serving Suggestions

Alfredo sauce is a great white sauce with any cooked pasta. You can also add cooked chicken and/or shrimp. Our Garlic Shrimp would be lovely with this sauce.
Alfredo sauce is also a great pizza sauce, oftentimes paired with chicken and vegetables as toppings.

Storage

Leftover Alfredo sauce is good for 3-4 days when refrigerated. Either place in an airtight container or sealed jar and store.

Since easy homemade alfredo sauce can be refrigerated and used later, this means alfredo sauce can be made ahead of time.

white sauce being added to a plate of cooked noddles with a wooden spoon.

How To Reheat Alfredo Sauce

Reheat Alfredo sauce either in the microwave or on the stovetop – both low and slow to avoid separation.

FAQs about alfredo sauce

Store homemade alfredo sauce in an airtight container, jar or covered well with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for up to 3-4 days.

Add a bit milk to the sauce and mix with a whisk until you reach the desired consistency.

Fat content thickens alfredo sauce the best; so heavy cream, cream cheese, or full fat cheese.

The texture will change (as maybe taste), so it is possible yet not recommended.

More Homemade Sauces and Spices

Alfredo Sauce (without cream cheese)

Learn how to make creamy Alfredo sauce without using cream cheese, more delicious and creamy than store bought jarred sauce. A rich homemade alfredo sauce that is great on pasta, as a pizza sauce, or on top of chicken.

5 from 3 votes

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Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 10

Total Time: 15

Servings:

Course: Sauces and Spices

Cuisine: Italian

Author: Tammi

Ingredients

1 ½ cups heavy whipping cream
1 cup grated parmesan cheese
½ cup unsalted butter
2-3 garlic cloves (minced)
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions

In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat.
Add the minced garlic to the pan and sauté the garlic and butter together for about 1-2 minutes, or until fragrant. Be sure not to overcook the garlic for it may cause the garlic to burn.
Over medium-low heat, pour in the heavy cream a bit at a time, stirring constantly. Bring to a simmer, but not a boil. Let it cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, and until slightly thickened.
Gradually add the grated Parmesan cheese to the sauce, stirring continuously until the cheese is fully melted and the sauce is smooth.
Season with salt and freshly ground pepper to taste. Remove the sauce from heat and let it cool slightly before serving.
Serve the Alfredo sauce over cooked pasta, such as fettuccine or linguine, and garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired.