This alfredo sauce with cream cheese is smooth, creamy and has the perfect texture and flavor! Simple to whip up at home and always a family favorite.

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Homemade Alfredo Sauce Recipe
This homemade alfredo sauce with cream cheese is so creamy and one of my all-time favorite pasta sauces. Give me a big bowl of fettuccine alfredo with a warm breadstick and a chopped salad and I am in literal heaven!
Alfredo is my weakness! Whenever we go out for Italian, it’s always what I end up ordering. Luckily, I can make the best alfredo sauce recipe easily at home whenever the craving strikes. It’s a crowd-pleaser and the cream cheese adds a smooth richness to the sauce.
Ingredients
- Butter: I used salted, but feel free to use unsalted and adjust the salt added as necessary.
- Garlic: Fresh garlic cloves minced plus garlic powder is the perfect combo! You can also use the garlic from the jar. If you need it more subtle, though, use one or the other.
- Cream: Heavy cream or half and half. Heavy whipping cream will give you the best creamy, rich results for this indulgent dish. Whole milk can be used, but your sauce won’t thicken as well.
- Cream cheese: A must for this cream cheese Alfredo sauce.
- Parmesan cheese: Freshly grated Parmesan from a block will not only taste better but will melt better too. Pre-shredded could cause your sauce to be grainy.
- Seasonings: A trio of seasonings including salt, pepper and Italian seasoning. It really adds to the flavor!
How to Make Alfredo Sauce with Cream Cheese
While the fettuccine boils in a pot of salted water, melt butter in a large skillet over low heat, add garlic then cream cheese. Whisk in the heavy cream and garlic powder. Add Italian seasoning if desired.
Increase heat to medium heat. Bring sauce to a simmer, then let simmer for 5 minutes (whisking occasionally) until reaches desired consistency. Add in Parmesan cheese and stir.
Once Parmesan melted, toss with hot fettuccine noodles and serve! Garnish with freshly chopped parsley.
How to Thicken Alfredo Sauce
One of the main keys to getting the perfect consistency is to make sure to simmer the sauce (this requires some patience!) and whisk often. The alfredo will thicken as it cooks.
You also want to make sure you use the correct amounts of cheese and cream (or substitute of choice). If using milk instead of cream like I do in my white sauce recipe, add a couple of teaspoons of flour to help thicken it up.
Serving Suggestions
- Use the sauce to make chicken fettuccine Alfredo or casseroles like chicken alfredo bake and chicken alfredo lasagna
- As a dipping sauce for Olive Garden breadsticks or garlic bread
- Drizzled over proteins like oven baked chicken, shrimp or meatballs.
- Spread it on pizza like a white sauce.
- Serve it with pasta and steamed vegetables, roasted broccoli or a salad
Tips for the Perfect Cream Cheese Alfredo Sauce
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese tastes best. Trust me, it does make a difference!
- While the sauce simmers, make sure to whisk often. This will help create a creamy sauce.
- Make sure not to use too high of heat. I find that medium-low is perfect. You don’t want to burn or curdle the cream.
- Feel free to add in cooked chicken to make chicken alfredo. You can also add cooked broccoli or peas.
- Top with more fresh Parmesan and parsley before serving.
- You could easily make this sauce a couple of days in advance, then reheat it over low heat when ready to serve. Just store it in an airtight container in the fridge.
Love homemade pasta sauces? Try this bolognese sauce, marinara sauce or garlic roasted tomato sauce!
More Delicious Pasta Recipes
Alfredo Sauce with Cream Cheese
Video
Ingredients
- ½ cup salted butter
- 3 ounces cream cheese
- ½ teaspoon minced garlic
- 2 cups (1 pint) heavy whipping cream , or half-and-half
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder , more to taste
- ¼ teaspoon Italian seasoning , optional
- Kosher salt , to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper , to taste
- ¼ -3/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese , more to taste
- 1 pound fettuccine , cooked according to package
Optional: Grilled chicken, Steamed broccoli
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, melt 1/2 cup butter and 3 ounces cream cheese over low heat. Add 1/2 teaspoon garlic and cook 1 minute. Whisk in 2 cups heavy cream, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, and 1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning, if using.
- Increase the heat to medium-low and bring to a simmer. Simmer 5 minutes, whisking occasionally. Stir in 1/4 cup parmesan cheese and simmer until melt. Add up to 1/2 cup more parmesan, if desired. The more cheese you add, the thicker the sauce will be.
- Toss with pasta and serve. If using chicken or broccoli, stir into the sauce. Toss with cooked fettuccine until coated. Serve while hot. Sprinkle with fresh parmesan cheese and parsley on top, if desired.
Last step: Please leave a comment and rating after you make the recipe.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Cyndi
This is my go to recipe when making imitation seafood Alfredo. I add 6 cloves of crushed garlic. My family loves like
Sarah @IHeartNaptime
So glad you love the Alfredo sauce!
D. Terry
Yessss! quick and easy and adaptable 👍🏽
Sarah @IHeartNaptime
So glad you enjoyed it!
Nichole
Substituted Onion & Chive Cream cheese and BAM!!! Kicked it up a notch!!
Jamielyn Nye
Sounds delicious! I’ll have to give it a try :)
Carol Blanchard
Love the flavor of this! So creamy and good!
Jamielyn Nye
So glad you enjoyed the alfredo!
Kris B
Thank you for this recipe! It is the best Alfredo sauce and so easy to make. Which I do often.
Sarah @IHeartNaptime
So glad to hear you love the Alfredo sauce!
Kristin M
Delicious, easy to make recipe! I doubled the recipe and it came out great! Thank you 😊
Sarah @IHeartNaptime
So glad you enjoyed the Alfredo sauce Kristin!
Angie
Where is the video?
Sarah @IHeartNaptime
Hello, if you hit the jump to recipe button you can view the recipe video right in the recipe card. Enjoy!
Patricia
Tried this tonight and we give it a tremendous applause. It’s absolutely delicious and so….. easy to make. It’ll definitely be on our menu again. Thank you for sharing.
Sarah @IHeartNaptime
So happy to hear it was enjoyed by all!
Kris
This sauce is so easy to make and so delicious! It is a regular at our house!
Sarah @IHeartNaptime
So glad you enjoy it!
Austin
My 3 year old said, “I love this mommy! This is amazing!”
Need I say any more?
Jaclyn Dennett
Pasta is my daughter’s absolute favorite! This recipie makes the best sauce. We make it all the time. Thank you for sharing the recipie!
Theresa
My family loved this! Made exactly by recipe and added chicken and brocolli.
Kimberly Lynch
Fixing to make this recipe.
Katie Jo
This is the best Alfredo recipe! It’s always my go-to. It’s easy and yummy… Just perfect!
I Heart Naptime
Thanks for the great review and so happy you loved it!
Jennie
I made your wonderful Alfredo recipe and my family love, loved it! So creamy and full of delicious flavors. This is the only Alfredo recipe I ever make again!❤️
Sara
I don’t think my family will let me buy Alfredo sauce ever again, they loved this! It was devoured by not only my hungry teenagers but some of their friends, too!
Kara
So easy to make and so delicious!!!
Marla
Do u know carb total for this??
I Heart Naptime
About 42g carbs per serving (there are 8 servings total)
Maria
Amazing. And so quick and easy. Definitely a keeper.
I Heart Naptime
So happy to hear you enjoyed it, Maria :)