This Copycat Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce recipe is a fast and easy dinner, and proof that homemade is better than going out! This recipe is made with cream cheese for an extra creamy result.
Whether you use it to top chicken breasts or simply to make fettuccine alfredo, this easy Alfredo Sauce recipe is the best! It makes for a quick and easy meal for any night of the week.
I distinctly remember making this alfredo sauce recipe in a massive batch for a group of guys/girls/myself around 3:30 am.
During my senior year in college, when I had started dating my husband and therefore taking a vested interest in cooking, I quickly gained a reputation among my husband’s roommates and friends. It was “The Girl Who Cooks at 4 am When The Bars Close.”
Let me assure you that this easy alfredo sauce tastes even more amazing when made in the middle of the night after you’ve been out. It also ushers in the need to immediately sleep.
The alfredo sauce is arguably the best reason to to go Olive Garden, period. Dipping those garlicky, salty breadsticks in a dish of it….. Wow, look at that, my whole mouth just started watering.
Quick side story about Alfredo: Dave and I could not agree on a boys name before J was born. Actually, he didn’t even have a name for the first two hours he was in this world, because we still couldn’t agree.
Finally, I just said to David, “You know what? Any is fine. Just pick one. I’m SO tired…”
Dave’s dad was always kidding with us about how when Dave was a teenager, he kept complaining about his “boring” name and how his name wasn’t even “Italian enough.”
Evidently he wanted to be named Giovanni or something like that, so because we are SO funny, we told everyone that we decided on the name Alfredo- and that was what we called him for the rest of my pregnancy.
Like I said, we are SO funny.
Notes on this alfredo sauce recipe:
This homemade alfredo sauce is made with a little bit of cream cheese, which may sound strange (and no, not authentically Italian), but it’s really responsible for the extra creaminess that you get in the sauce. There’s always a Monday morning quarterback in the comments here or on Pinterest telling me that they used to work at Olive Garden and they don’t use cream cheese.
It’s only supposed to taste like Olive Garden, not be made just like they do. I feel I need to stipulate that.
Can you make Alfredo sauce without heavy cream?
I used to make this with a combination of heavy cream and fat free half and half. While I am sure that it does majorly slash the calories, I have gotten away from it in recent years and just use heavy cream now.
You definitely still CAN sub half the cream for fat free half and half (or even regular half and half). The result is definitely less rich and a little thinner, if that sounds like more of what you’re going for.
Honestly, this Alfredo sauce is good either way. I mean, its Alfredo sauce. You really can’t go wrong.
What can you add?
Man, just about anything!! It’s so versatile. When I used to make this once a week, I liked to use it with whatever I had in the fridge:
- grilled chicken
- spinach
- asparagus
- mushrooms
- prosciutto
- broccoli
- shrimp
The possibilities are endless! I use it in my Chicken and Spinach Manicotti and my Million Dollar Lasagna too!
How to make Alfredo Sauce?
It’s a breeze. Just look at the video! Traditionally, it’s made with butter, cream and parmesan, although there are about a million Here’s the equipment that you’ll need:
- [easyazon_link identifier=”B000E5BIDE” locale=”US” tag=”gogogogo03-20″]Saucepan[/easyazon_link] and [easyazon_link identifier=”B00MHNZ85U” locale=”US” tag=”gogogogo03-20″]whisk[/easyazon_link].
- If you’d really like some extra credit, try making your own pasta. I use my [easyazon_link identifier=”B00005UP2P” locale=”US” tag=”gogogogo03-20″]Kitchenaid Mixer[/easyazon_link] and [easyazon_link identifier=”B01DBGQR1K” locale=”US” tag=”gogogogo03-20″]pasta cutters[/easyazon_link] to make fresh fettuccine. Totally worth the effort!
If you liked this recipe for alfredo sauce, check out these other pasta recipes:
- Creamy Instant Pot Pasta with Chicken and Mushrooms
- Chicken and Spinach Manicotti
- Loaded Tortellini Alfredo
- Four Cheese Sauce
- Mushroom Ravioli with Sherried Mushrooms, Chicken, Peas and Four Cheese Sauce
- One Pot Pasta with Shrimp, Sausage and Vodka Sauce
- Spinach Artichoke Dip One Pot Pasta
- Instant Pot Beef Stew Pasta
Check out these other Olive Garden copycats:
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Copycat Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce
Ingredients
- 4 T butter
- 2 T cream cheese
- 3/4 cup half and half
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- fresh ground pepper
- 1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter, cream cheese, half and half and cream together
- Whisk in the garlic powder and parmesan. Season with a small amount of freshly ground black pepper.
- Simmer, stirring often, until the sauce has thickened to a creamy consistency. Serve immediately.
Micki says
Hi! I’m confused. I found this video on Facebook and it looks delicious. Your recipe calls for 4 Tablespoons of butter which is 1/2 stick. In the video, however, you use a WHOLE stick of butter which is 8 Tablespoons. Did you double the recipe for the video?
Jacqueline says
I did! I was also shooting the video for Chicken and Spinach Manicotti that day. 🙂
Kathy says
Love this recipe!
Claire says
This is hands down my favorite Olive garden dish (and their Parmesan Zucchini Bites) but your copycat is perfect!!! Now I can make it at home and it tastes just the same as OG!!!
Thank you 😀
Dana DeVolk says
I would never have thought to add cream cheese, but it totally works! Talk about a knockout weeknight meal!
Haley D Williams says
That sauce looks so good! I wish I had it in front of me!
camila hurst says
omg I can’t even imagine going out for a fun night of drinking and coming back to eating this!!! that what I would call a perfect night in my college years!
Marie says
This looks so delicious! My husband and I are big fans of alfredo pasta. Love the addition of cream cheese for extra creaminess. Saving this recipe!
Natalie says
Looks absolutely delicious! So comforting! I love Alfredo sauce – it’s so hearty and delicious. Looks so good ♥
Jenn says
I put the ingredients in and I came up with almost double the calories for 4 servings. Why is yours only 369? Thanks.
Jacqueline says
I’m unsure, the nutrition is calculated automatically by my recipe card.
Christine Asby says
I made this and it is my favorite. The taste is soo good. The texture is creamy and it does taste like Olive Gardens. This is in my difficiation a keeper!!!!.
Corene says
The recipe says to serve immediately. Can this be refrigerated for later?
Jacqueline says
This is one of those things that is definitely best served when its made. Butter and cheese sauces are notoriously challenging to reheat. If you must, I recommend heating it on the stove, starting on low heat, so that it doesn’t break. The microwave will not be your friend, it will separate out.
Stephanie says
I have made this in the past my favorite go to recipe! It’s the only one I make.
Justine Howell says
Perfect, and way easier than I thought it would be!
Noelle says
This was a hit with my entire family, thank you!
Meagen Brosius says
I love how easy this is to make! SO much better than something from a jar!
Liz says
Whoa, your recipe is spot on! So rich and delicious! LOVE it!!!
Yessi says
So what did you end up naming your son after all?
Jacqueline says
Jonathan 🙂
Cheri b. says
I add 1 tsp onion powder. Great recipe. Easy.
Debra says
I put more garlic powder in, maybe 3 tsp. Used a whole half pint of heavy cream. Put about 3 to 4 oz. cream cheese. Any leftovers warm up slowly and if dry add some of half & half you have left over. I also added some shrimp (91 – 110 count) cooked, peeled, deveined and tail off. I also used 5.5 oz. of Asiago & Parmesan cheese!