Make a rich, creamy Alfredo sauce from scratch in under 15 minutes using simple ingredients like butter, heavy cream, and Parmesan cheese.
Author:Amelia Carmichael
Prep Time:5 min
Cook Time:10 min
Total Time:15 min
Yield:About 1.5 cups sauce
Category:Sauce
Method:Stovetop
Cuisine:Italian
Diet:Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
Pour in the heavy cream and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Do not let it boil rapidly.
Reduce the heat to low. Gradually whisk in the grated Parmesan cheese, stirring constantly until the cheese melts and the sauce thickens slightly.
Remove the saucepan from the heat.
Stir in the salt and pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
Serve immediately over hot pasta.
Notes
Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese for the best melting consistency and flavor. Pre-grated cheese often contains anti-caking agents that prevent smooth melting.
For a garlic flavor, sauté 1 clove of minced garlic in the butter for one minute before adding the heavy cream.
If the sauce becomes too thick upon standing, whisk in a tablespoon of warm milk or reserved pasta water to thin it slightly.