Description
Rich, creamy Olive Garden alfredo sauce brings Italian restaurant magic straight to kitchen counters with minimal ingredients and maximum flavor. Homemade pasta dreams come true when simple cream, butter, and parmesan cheese create restaurant-quality comfort you’ll crave.
Ingredients
Scale
Primary Ingredients:
- 2 cups (480 milliliters) heavy cream
- 1 ½ cups (150 grams) freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup (100 grams) freshly grated Romano cheese
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
Cheese and Dairy Enhancers:
- 2 tablespoons cream cheese
Seasoning and Flavor Enhancers:
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon white pepper
Instructions
- Establish a robust base by melting unsalted butter in a spacious saucepan over medium heat, creating a golden foundation for the decadent sauce.
- Incorporate cream cheese into the melted butter, whisking vigorously to achieve a silky, uniform texture that eliminates any lumps and creates a smooth preliminary mixture.
- Stream in heavy cream gradually, maintaining a gentle stirring motion to seamlessly integrate the dairy components without causing separation or curdling.
- Elevate the sauce’s richness by introducing freshly grated Parmesan cheese, stirring continuously until the cheese dissolves completely and transforms the mixture into a luxurious, glossy emulsion.
- Enhance the flavor profile by introducing minced garlic, salt, ground black pepper, optional garlic powder, and a whisper of nutmeg, carefully balancing the seasonings to complement the cheese’s natural complexity.
- Allow the sauce to simmer delicately, monitoring its consistency and stirring intermittently to prevent scorching and encourage a harmonious blending of flavors.
- Adjust the sauce’s thickness by either extending the simmering time or introducing additional cream if the texture becomes too dense, ensuring a perfect, velvety consistency.
- Drape the finished Alfredo sauce generously over your chosen pasta, presenting a restaurant-quality dish that can be garnished with extra Parmesan and fresh parsley for an elegant touch.
Notes
- Prevent Sauce Separation by keeping the heat low and stirring constantly, which helps emulsify the butter, cream cheese, and cream without curdling.
- Create Lighter Version by using half-and-half instead of heavy cream and reducing the amount of butter, making the sauce less calorie-dense while maintaining creamy texture.
- Customize Flavor Profiles by experimenting with different cheese combinations like adding Romano or using smoked Parmesan for a unique twist on the classic Alfredo sauce.
- Make Sauce Ahead and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days, gently reheating with a splash of milk to restore original consistency.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Appetizer
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 530
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 50g
- Saturated Fat: 31g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 6g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 14g
- Cholesterol: 150mg