Creamy Garlic Alfredo Sauce {My Go-To Dinner Saver!}
Healthier than recipes loaded with butter and cream, this tried-and-true creamy homemade Alfredo sauce recipe is so fast, so easy, and SO delicious.
I am not (not!) exaggerating when I say this quick, creamy garlic alfredo sauce has changed how I view non-dinner nights.
You know. Those nights when dinner just ain’t happening. Too many things going on. Too lazy (who, me??). Too many nights of husband being out of town. Too many kids needing attention. Too many this. Too many that.
The problem is, on nights like that, I just can’t handle the thought of dinner approaching and knowing I’m going to have to scrounge up something my kids will eat but I’ll probably find gag-worthy.
I can’t help it. Grilled cheese only gets me through so many nights.
Homemade alfredo sauce is easier than you think
Enter this sauce. It is fast. Unbelievably fast. And so incredibly creamy and flavorful.
Healthier (relatively) than the versions loaded with butter and cream, it comes together quickly, and it reheats beautifully the next day if you are lucky enough to have leftovers.
No exaggeration, we make this homemade alfredo sauce recipe at least 2-3 times a month. There is not another single recipe on my site that is universally loved and gobbled up by my children more than this amazing sauce.
It takes just minutes to make.
Fresh garlic (I’ve also used deyhdrated garlic with good results) cooks in a bit of butter until fragrant before cream cheese is added to the mix.
I like to let the cream cheese sit in the warm butter/garlic mixture until it is super warm and melty. This prevents lumps and bumps in the finished creamy sauce.
Cream cheese concerns: if you are a little bit averse to the flavor of cream cheese, this sauce does not have an overtly cream cheese vibe. The cream cheese lends a silky texture and helps thicken the sauce, but it doesn’t taste like melted cheesecake, I promise. 🙂
Add some milk, Parmesan cheese (fresh grated, always, for the best melting!), a bit of salt and pepper, and bam.
Homemade alfredo sauce.
This life changing alfredo sauce is delicious:
- over noodles
- over zoodles
- on top of roasted vegetables
- on pizza or paninis
This recipe has stood the test of time. It is as tried-and-true as you can get, and I don’t see us ever getting sick of this delectable little recipe.
In fact, I would have a full on mutiny if I ever decided, for whatever reason, to strike it from the archives of Meals That Make 100% Of Us Super Happy.
If you’re looking for a versatile homemade alfredo recipe that is ready in 15 minutes or less and tastes better than restaurant alfredo, this is the one.
What to Serve With This
- Broiled Parmesan and Lemon Chicken
- Fresh, seasonal fruit
- Green salad with Creamy Cilantro Lime Salad Dressing
Homemade Garlic Alfredo Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 3 cloves garlic, finely minced or pressed through a garlic press
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened and cut into 6 pieces (see note)
- 1 cup milk (see note)
- 1 ½ cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ teaspoon salt, more to taste, if needed
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- In a medium pot or skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for about 2 minutes, stirring constantly, taking care not to let the garlic burn.
- Add the cream cheese and let it sit over medium heat for a few minutes until it is warm and melty. Whisk the butter and cream cheese mixture together. It will look curdled at first, but with constant whisking for 2-3 minutes, it should come together to form a smooth, creamy paste.
- Add the milk gradually, about 1/4 cup at a time, whisking quickly and constantly until each addition is incorporated fully into the sauce. Stir in the Parmesan cheese, pepper and salt. Stir until the cheese is melted.
- Cook for 2-3 minutes for a thicker sauce or remove right after the cheese is melted for a thinner sauce. Serve immediately over hot, cooked noodles.
Notes
Recommended Products
Recipe Source: adapted from this recipe
Recipe originally published October 2011; updated May 2020 with new photos, recipe notes, etc
Congrats on the baby – how exciting!
Congrats on the pregnancy!!!! I just love stalking your blog!!! P.S. Can’t wait to try this…I’ve been looking for a go-to alfredo sauce.
I will be trying this soon! It looks really yummy and easy. And congratulations on the pregnancy!!! I have 4 girls and I don’t dare press my luck for another one….I would probably end up with another girl!
Mel, so so happy to hear this news. YAY!!! Our babes will be a few weeks apart! I’m 11 weeks tomorrow. I hear you on being scared about announcing. We’ve had 4 miscarriages in a row, so this time around has been extremely monitored and worrisome. Just know miscarriage drops to 2% after the 10th week of pregnancy (that’s what I keep telling myself, but I’m still a basket case sometimes). Hugs to you and your cute family. I think it’s adorable you are hoping for a cute little boy. There really is nothing better in this world than little boys! A girl would be wonderful too, but little boys melt my heart in a way a girl can’t!
This looks like a great one, Mel. It is the first thing to go my Friday Finds list this week. Congratulations, and I will be praying that all continues to go well with both you and baby. How exciting for your family.
Sooooo excited for you! Will keep you in my prayers. Hugs!
Congratulations! I love alfredo sauce!! YUM!! I’ve never knew how alfredo sauce are so easy to make. Thanks!
How exciting!! Congratulations!
Alfredo Sauce!!! Love it!!And add garlic to and it is soo much better!!
Just thought That I would let you know that your butter and eggs are on sale again at Kwik Trip! Eggs are .99 and butter $1.99. good through 12/9! With all the baking you do and close by!
Have a good week…Jules your Kwik Trip lady!!!!!
Keep the recipes comin! Love them!!!
Just wanted to pop in and say “CONGRATS!!!” I hope you have a smooth pregnancy. With a just turned 2 year old and 4 month old twins, I’m excited that you’ll probably be posting fast, easy dinners more often now that you’re expecting 🙂
wow, congrats! hope all goes well.
you are incredible for keeping up with your awesome blog and a growing family behind you. must be so much work and I appreciate it a lot!
congratulations!!! such happy news : )
Congrats indeed! How exciting! And thanks for the Alfredo recipe…..we love alfredo anything around here. I’ve tried one similar in the past, but had forgotten about it. Thx for the reminder!
Congratulations! I hope your pregnancy goes smoothly and quickly and safely for you and baby!
This is just how we make alfredo sauce and love it! Congratulations on being pregnant. That is great.
Congrats on your pregnancy. I know that miscarriages give you a scare and it’s hard to enjoy pregnancy the same way afterwards. Hoping you have an uneventful and healthy pregnancy. The alfredo sauce looks like it will make the menu this week as DH will be at work for some dinners. Thanks!
Congrats! I hope you feel well…and that things go well for you!
Mel, you can’t leave us hanging like that. Congrats! When are you due? Do you know what you’re having? So exciting! I hope you are getting over the feeling yucky stage! And this looks amazing….thanks for sharing!
Congratulations! So excited for you!
Congratulations, Mel! Such happy news!
Hooray for you and your family, Mel! 🙂
I love to make this. I’ll often skip the cream cheese and milk and just use fat free half and half. It’s super creamy minus the fat. 🙂
Congrats on the news!
Congrats!!!! That is super exciting! Hope you are feeling ok. I have a recipe very similar to this and we absolutely LOVE it. It’s the only alfredo I will make or eat. I refuse to make a cream/butter filled kids. yikes. I am going to try yours, because let’s be honest, everything you make is divine!
Congratulations Mel on your pregnancy!! I’ll be praying for your health and the little nugget’s health!! I am positive everything will go smoothly!
Congratulations! So excited for you! Hope the rest of your pregnancy goes well. 🙂
Congrats on the pregnancy!!! This is a great recipe for when the hubby is out of town bc I love Alfredo and well, he doesn’t like it at all :o)
Congratulations, Mel, I’m so happy for you! This will be on my menu this very week!
I HAVE to try this. I’m always looking for new pasta recipes. It looks amazing!! And they’re all pantry staples except for the cream cheese. Grocery store here I come!!!
Thanks for posting this and congrats on your pregnancy!
Yay, congratulations on being pregnant! Thanks for this easy & delicious looking recipe…anything that’s easy to make is my kind of recipe 🙂
Yes! I’m looking forward to trying this… I’ve been looking for a delicious (relatively easy) alfredo sauce! Congrats on the little one on the way!
Congratulations! Your recipes continue to be my favorites- I keep recommending your website to everyone that likes my cooking!
Congratulations! Nothing like a new baby on the way. Hope all goes well for you.
Congratulations!!
The alfredo sounds fantastic also.
Congratulations! So happy for you! Happy and Healthy 9 (really 10) months!
Congrats Mel! This is exciting! Oh and well done on the pregnancy too 🙂
Looks delicious and congratulations!!
OBTW Congratulations, Will keep you and yours in my prayers. I have 5 children, the first four were girls and number 5 was the boy:) 20 years between my oldest and youngest.
Mel,
I have been usin cream cheese for the base in my alfredo sauce for years. My Italian mother would not approve if she were here 🙂 Anyhoo, I use it for my caterings, and here at the school. Sometimes I add chopped broccoli, we love grilled shrimp, stir in lump crabmeat, (better than Red Lobster) the possibilities are endless. When I have leftover veggies from a veggie tray, I toss them in evoo, roast them and stir it in the alfredo. I love tomato alfredo so sometimes I add fresh chopped tomatoes, if they aren’t in season a small can of petite diced tomatoes. Just wanted to share.
Congrats Mel! Awesome news. On my third boy I never told anyone that I hoped it was a boy because everyone assumed I wanted a girl and thought I was crazy for wanting another boy! I can’t wait to try this Alfredo….
Congratulations! That is such fantastic news! I haven’t made my menu for the week but I am sure this sauce will be one of the dinners. I am positive all of my family will like it!
Thanks, everyone! I’m only about 14 weeks along and even then hesitated to share the news thanks to a miscarriage earlier this year and some previous health concerns that have made this pregnancy high-risk. But things are going better and we hope to have a healthy baby here in April! Of course my four boys are dying to know if they are going to get a little sister (and I don’t have the heart to tell them that I still have my hopes up for a sweet little boy). Thanks, again!
Congratulations! I am 26 weeks pregnant and completely understand the need for quick, simple meals.
Congrats! When pregnant with my first (some 15 years ago…oh gosh that makes me feel old) Alfredo was something I just couldn’t look at. I am glad to say that once I had him that all went away. This looks fantastic! Hope you are feeling well, and no aversions to food.
This is almost EXACTLY like the kind I make [ I add a cup more milk and 1/2 cup more freshly shredded parmesan]. And you aren’t kidding about it being the one dish I know ALL of my 3 finicky little ones will actually eat! So glad you found it, especially at such a time when I know it’s hard [did I mention about the THREE kids?] to get inspired at dinnertime. Congratulations!
Congratulations! How exciting! This recipe looks great. My kids love alfredo sauce much more than meat or marinara sauce. They always order it out at restaurants. Occasionally, I buy the jarred stuff for them. Not very tasty, but they like it. I will have to try this. Thanks so much!
I’m sure this recipe is delicious but more importantly – congratulations!!!! You rock!!!!
I make an alfredo sauce almost exactly like this one and we love it!! Easy and one my whole family gobbles up. Congrats on the upcoming arrival!!!
Congratulations! That is very exciting news.
I’ve never been an alfredo sauce girl, but with such praises from you, I’ll have to try it.
Congratulations! How far along are you? I’m coming up on 20 weeks and am way into food. Hope you’re feeling well!
Congratulations, Melanie! I’m so happy for you and Brian! 🙂
This alfredo sauce looks so delicious and yet so easy. Great food styling, too-I love the photo with the green plate under the white bowl…it really makes the dish “pop”! Oh, and I know what you mean about your children begging for the same recipe over and over. In my house it’s your One-Skillet Penne with Sausage recipe that is requested at least once a week! Although I love it, I hope that by the time my children are 42 someone else is making it for them, too! 😉
Thanks, my kids will love this one!! Congratulations on your pregnancy (that is what you said right??) I have 2 boys and people are always pressuring me to have a girl, like I have a choice in the matter. Anyway, God Bless