wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, volunteer authors worked to edit and improve it over time.
The wikiHow Culinary Team also followed the article's instructions and verified that they work.
This article has been viewed 355,171 times.
Learn more...
Alfredo sauce comes from Rome, and involves a velvety blend of butter, parmesan cheese and heavy cream. Stores market Alfredo sauce in cans, jars and refrigerated containers, but you can make your own fresh version with a few ingredients and precious little time at the stove. Make homemade Alfredo sauce by gathering your ingredients, cooking the sauce and serving it over your favorite food.
Steps
Collecting the Ingredients
-
1Measure 2 tbs. (29.57 ml) of butter. You can use either salted or unsalted butter, depending on your preferred taste. Do not use margarine or butter substitute. Real butter is essential to Alfredo sauce.
-
2Pour 1 cup (8 oz.) of heavy whipping cream into a bowl or measuring cup.Advertisement
-
3Grate 1/2 cup of parmesan cheese. You may want to grate a little bit more to sprinkle over your pasta or whatever dish you are using with the Alfredo sauce.
- Try to use fresh parmesan cheese. While it is convenient to buy it already grated and packaged, the taste will improve when you buy a block of cheese and grate it freshly yourself.
-
4Have salt and pepper on hand. The amount you add to the sauce or the finished dish will depend on your personal taste.
Making the Sauce
-
1Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
- Make sure you do not burn the butter or let it brown. Alfredo sauce is white, so keep an eye on the butter as it melts.
-
2Pour the cream slowly into the saucepan, stirring it into the butter with a wooden spoon as you pour.
-
3Add some salt and pepper to the mixture to season it as it combines and cooks.
-
4Bring the mixture to a boil. Once it begins to boil, reduce the heat and allow it to simmer.
-
5Stir the sauce with a wooden spoon while it thickens and simmers for 5 minutes.
-
6Take the saucepan off the heat. This is an important step before you add the cheese, because if you do so while the pan is still receiving heat from the stove, the cheese will clump or get stringy.
-
7Add the parmesan cheese to the mixture and continue to stir it with the spoon. Incorporate it completely into the sauce.
-
8Taste the Alfredo sauce in the pan and add a little more salt or pepper if you prefer.
Serving the Alfredo Sauce
-
1Toss the warm sauce with pasta. The most popular dish involving this is Fettuccine Alfredo. You can use any type of pasta you like, however.
-
2Use the sauce to cover a pizza crust and create a white pizza. You can add any toppings you want.
-
3Coat chicken, shrimp or meatballs with the Alfredo sauce. These can be added to pasta or served on their own, even as bite-sized appetizers.
-
4Put the Alfredo sauce over vegetables, such as cauliflower, broccoli or potatoes.
Community Q&A
-
QuestionIs the parmesan cheese supposed to melt in the sauce?
Community AnswerYes. It's important to add it while the sauce is hot so it can melt and contribute to the creaminess of the sauce. -
QuestionDo I have to add salt and pepper?
Community AnswerNo, but the flavor will be more bland. -
QuestionI don't have heavy cream. Can I substitute milk?
Community AnswerHeavy whipping cream will give it more of a thickness than you will need for the sauce.
Things You'll Need
- Butter
- Heavy whipping cream
- Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper
- Saucepan
- Wooden spoon
- Heat Proof mat or suitable heat resistant surface (for not pans from the stove)
References
About This Article
To make homemade Alfredo sauce, start by melting 2 tablespoons of butter in a saucepan, making sure not to let it brown since you want the color of sauce to be white. Next, slowly pour in the cream, stir it into the butter, and season with salt and pepper. Once the mixture begins to boil, reduce the heat and let it simmer for 5 minutes. Afterwards, take the saucepan off the heat, add the Parmesan cheese, and stir until it’s completely incorporated into the sauce. Finally, taste the sauce and add more salt and pepper if desired. To learn more, including how to use your Alfredo sauce in dishes other than pasta, read on.
