Description
This creamy, rich homemade Alfredo sauce is perfect for elevating your pasta dishes. Made with butter, heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, and a touch of garlic, this sauce is smooth, flavorful, and ready in just 15 minutes. Garnished with fresh parsley, it brings a classic Italian-American favorite right to your kitchen table.
Ingredients
Scale
Sauce Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 1/2 cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
- Melt Butter: In a medium saucepan set over medium heat, melt the unsalted butter gently without letting it brown.
- Sauté Garlic: Add the minced garlic to the melted butter and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant, taking care not to brown the garlic to keep the flavor delicate and sweet.
- Add Heavy Cream: Slowly pour in the heavy cream while stirring constantly to combine. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, allowing the flavors to meld and the sauce to begin to thicken.
- Incorporate Parmesan Cheese: Reduce the heat to low and whisk in the freshly grated Parmesan cheese gradually. Continue whisking until the cheese has fully melted into a smooth, creamy sauce.
- Season the Sauce: Season with salt, ground black pepper, and nutmeg (if using). Keep stirring the sauce over low heat until it thickens to your preferred consistency, ensuring it does not boil.
- Serve and Garnish: Remove the saucepan from heat. Garnish the Alfredo sauce with freshly chopped parsley and serve immediately over your favorite pasta or use as desired.
Notes
- Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese for best texture and flavor—pre-grated options may not melt as smoothly.
- To adjust thickness, simmer the sauce longer to thicken or add a splash of cream to thin.
- Nutmeg is optional but adds a warm, subtle depth to the sauce.
- Serve immediately for best texture; the sauce can thicken upon standing and may require gentle reheating with a little cream.
- This sauce pairs excellently with fettuccine, linguine, or over steamed vegetables.
