Description
A rich and creamy homemade Alfredo sauce that’s easy to prepare in just 15 minutes. This classic Italian sauce combines butter, garlic, heavy cream, and Parmesan cheese for a velvety texture and indulgent flavor, perfect for drizzling over pasta or protein dishes.
Ingredients
Scale
Alfredo Sauce Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 1/2 cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- Pinch nutmeg (optional)
Instructions
- Melt Butter: In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt the unsalted butter carefully to start the sauce base.
- Sauté Garlic: Add the minced garlic to the melted butter and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant, ensuring the garlic doesn’t burn.
- Simmer Cream: Reduce the heat to low and stir in the heavy cream, allowing it to gently simmer for 3 to 4 minutes to thicken slightly and blend flavors.
- Add Cheese: Gradually whisk in the freshly grated Parmesan cheese, continuing to stir until the sauce becomes smooth and creamy without any lumps.
- Season Sauce: Season the sauce with salt, ground black pepper, and an optional pinch of nutmeg to enhance the flavor complexity.
- Serve Immediately: Remove the sauce from heat and serve it right away while warm, ideally poured over hot cooked pasta or your choice of protein.
Notes
- Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese for the best flavor and smoothest texture.
- Do not boil the sauce once the cheese is added to prevent curdling.
- You can add nutmeg to taste or omit it if you prefer a simpler flavor.
- Serve this sauce immediately as it thickens as it cools.
- For a lighter option, substitute half-and-half for heavy cream but expect a thinner sauce.
