How to Make Alfredo Sauce from Scratch

Scratch-made alfredo sauce is super easy to make and requires only 7 (staple) ingredients. In my opinion, pre-made and store-bought sauces should be illegal, and after trying this recipe, I know you’ll agree!

This flavorful, creamy, buttery, and cheesy sauce pairs perfectly with any type of pasta dish.

Where did Alfredo Sauce Originate?

In 1908, an Italian chef and restauranteur named Alfredo di Lelio created Fettuccini Alfredo for his wife. Lelio’s wife had no appetite after giving birth to their son. To help her regain her strength, he made some homemade pasta and tossed it in a sauce made with butter and cheese. He named the sauce after himself and voila… Alfredo sauce was born!

Six years later, in 1914, he started to serve Alfredo sauce in his own restaurant and it quickly gained popularity.

Ingredients

Ingredient Notes

• Several Alfredo recipes call for a mixture of parmesan and romano cheeses. Romano makes the sauce a bit salty for me but it does add a stronger taste. Customize it to your liking!
• I used gluten-free all-purpose flour for the sensitive bellies in the house, but any type of flour will work. Its only purpose is to create a roux for thickening the sauce.
• If you’d like to make this dairy-free, you can substitute the cheese, butter, and cream with plant-based alternatives.

Equipment

• 1 medium-sized sauce pan
• 1 rubber spatula
• 1 whisk

How to use this Recipe

The beauty of Flavor Ratios is that we blend flavor combinations according to OUR own preferences. All recipes you find on this site serve as a guide. Who am I, to limit the amount of parmesan cheese you put on your Alfredo Sauce? That would be wrong, and honestly, it’d keep me awake at night knowing your side Fetuccine Alfredo could’ve been better! I love cheese and would never try to talk you out of adding more however, the more cheese you add, the thicker sauce will be. If you’re adding cheese, be sure to add some extra cream. Read more.

How to Make Alfredo Sauce from Scratch

1. Melt the butter over medium heat in a medium-sized saucepan.
   
2. Add the garlic and cook for about a minute. 
   
3. Slowly add the flour and stir continuously until all of the flour is dissolved (1-2 minutes).
   
4. Slowly add the heavy cream (about 1/4 cup at a time) and stir continuously.
   
5. Once the sauce starts to bubble, continue to stir and allow it to simmer for 5 minutes.
6. Remove from heat and stir in the parmesan cheese.
   
7. Use the sauce right away. The longer it sits, the thicker it will become. 
   
8. Pair with your favorite pasta and enjoy those flavors!

Watch how to make Alfredo Sauce from Scratch