Easy Homemade Alfredo Sauce only Better
I love pasta and I have an easy homemade alfredo sauce recipe. However, I like to play around with this creamy white sauce by adding extra flavor.
These ideas work with both homemade alfredo sauce and also a jar of alfredo sauce found in grocery stores.
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What Ingredients are in Alfredo Sauce
A basic alfredo sauce recipe consists of butter, heavy cream, and fresh garlic. To that, you typically add parmesan cheese.
I’ve also seen recipes that add cream cheese to the recipe to make it a really creamy sauce.
What can I add to my Alfredo Sauce to make it Better?
Adding some simple ingredients to the basic recipes is a great way to add extra flavor and richness to the sauce.
Spices
- Salt
- Black Pepper or White Pepper
- More fresh Garlic or Garlic Powder
- Onion Powder
- Cayenne Pepper
- Red Pepper Flakes
- Fresh Herbs
- Oregano
- Thyme
- Rosemary
- Sage
- Parsley
Cheeses
- Cream Cheese – 1/2 cup
- Sour Cream – 4 oz.
- Cottage Cheese – 1/2 cup
- Shredded Pecorino Romano (Romano Cheese)
- Shredded Asiago
- Shredded Gouda
Protein
- Chicken Breast – Bake till done
- Shrimp – Saute until pink
- Salmon – Bake until done
- Ham – Krauks from the Deli (cubed)
- Sausage – Cooked through
Vegetables
- Fresh Broccoli – Steamed
- Peas – Heated
- Beans – Steamed
- Mushrooms – Sauteed
- Spinach – Sauteed until wilted
Actually, the options are endless. You can add pretty much anything that you enjoy to this basic sauce. The beauty of this recipe is that you can add any of these things to the basic recipe without measuring. Just add as much as you want.
The only exception would be the shredded cheeses. Substitute the Parmesan with your favorite variety. You can also combine cheeses to create your own flavor.
Traditional Alfredo Sauce
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 clove of crushed garlic
- 1-1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan chees Parmigiano-Reggiano
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the cream and simmer for 5 minutes.
- Add the garlic and cheese, whisking continuously to get a creamy texture. When heated through add parsley and serve over pasta.
Notes
Here is a recipe that is similar that is a family favorite in our house. Ham & Pea Linguini
What Kind of Pasta works with Alfredo Sauce
My favorite pasta with alfredo sauce is fettuccine noodles but again, you can use any kind of pasta that you enjoy.
Ravioli or Tortellini that is stuffed with meat or cheeses can also enhance the sauce.
You can also put it over zoodles.
Easy Entertaining Ideas
Some Ideas for Easy Enteraining. Read my Entertain with Ease Series – Start HERE
- Pasta Bar
- Make-Your-Own-Pizza
- Sandwich Bar
- Taco Bar
- Dessert Bar
- Chili Bar
Make a Pasta Bar
A pasta bar is a relatively simple way to entertain a crowd and give everyone options.
I had a pasta bar when I was feeding a crowd the night before my niece ran in the Chicago Marathon.
A carb load and hearty meal on a budget
Best Way to Create a Pasta Bar (Just my Suggestions)
Three types of Pasta
- Fettuccine
- Mostaccioli
- Ravioli
Three types of sauces – make this easy by using the store-bought version (and spice them up)
- Creamy Alfredo Sauce
- Marinara Sauce
- Pesto Sauce
Three Proteins
- Chicken
- Shrimp
- Sausage
Three Veggies
- Broccoli
- Peas
- Spinach
So whether you are making your own alfredo sauce or buying the store-bought sauce, you can take it to the next level by adding extra seasonings and ingredients.
Peace,
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Thank you for sharing Lynn. I am gluten free as well, and I can now serve my husband this dish. I never looked into an alfredo sauce assuming I could not have it, but low and behold, I can! Yeah! Thanks again for sharing this recipe!
I just use gluten-free pasta. It’s even good over zoodles. I have lots of zucchini still from my garden and I’m going to be turning them into zoodles and freezing them in the next few days. I make individual-sized bags and just pull them out when I need them. 30 seconds in the microwave and they are ready.