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Fettuccine Alfredo

5 from 5 votes
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posted: 10/03/21

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This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy

Fettuccine Alfredo is incredibly easy to make at home! With just four simple ingredients you can make this classic in your own kitchen.

overhead of a pan of fettuccine alfredo

One of my husband’s very favorite dishes is Fettuccine Alfredo. In fact, when we were in Rome on our honeymoon, we visited the birthplace of this famous dish. What we didn’t know at the time was how simple it is to make at home. I would dare say that this recipe rivals the original!

This Fettuccine Alfredo recipe is incredibly easy to make. With just four simple ingredients you will be able to make it all the time at home.

How to Make Fettuccine Alfredo

  1. Start cooking your fettuccine. More on this below, but it is important to have it done when the sauce is finished, so start boiling your water right away.
  2. Combine butter and heavy cream. In a large skillet over medium low heat, melt butter into heavy cream. Whisk it to combine.
  3. Let the sauce simmer. You want to bring those two ingredients to a simmer. Then allow them to simmer over low heat for 15 minutes. You are looking for the sauce to cook down and you should see occasional bubbles as it cooks. Stir occasionally.
  4. Whisk in the cheese. Whisk in some freshly grated Parmesan cheese until it is fully melted.
  5. Taste the final sauce. At this point you will stir in salt and pepper. How much you add is up to you, but I recommend at least 1/4 teaspoon of salt and a pinch of freshly ground black pepper. We typically add about 3/4 teaspoon salt and almost 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. The seasoning at the end really pulls together the dish, so be sure to play with this.
  6. Toss with fettuccine. This sauce is enough to coat 1/2 pound to 3/4 pound fettuccine. Toss and enjoy right away.
tongs lifting fettuccine alfredo recipe out of a skillet

Cooking Fettuccine

There are a few things that will make your fettuccine turn out perfectly every time.

  • Make sure you use enough water. You should use about four quarts of water.
  • Bring the water to a roaring boil. You should see big giant consistent bubbles before you add the dry pasta.
  • Salt the water. I always add between 1 and 2 teaspoons of kosher salt to my pasta water before putting in the dry noodles.
  • Stir the noodles regularly. Fettuccine is notorious for sticking to itself. Give it a good stir with tongs when you first add it to the boiling water and keep stirring every few minutes breaking it up.
  • Set a timer. I always turn on a timer when I add dry noodles to boiling water. Go off the time listed on the box and test your noodles to make sure they are al dente before draining them.

Grate Parmesan from a Block

For the best Alfredo Sauce you are going to want to grate the Parmesan from a block. Please trust me on this. There are additives tossed into pre-shredded cheese that keep it from melting smooth.

In a recipe where the cheese is melted to make a sauce, good melting is paramount. You will be so glad that you took the time to freshly grate the cheese. Additionally, blocks of Parmesan cheese last for about six weeks in the refrigerator, so you can keep it on hand the next time a Fettuccine Alfredo craving hits. Or use it in my Turkey Lasagna.

close up of a fork twisting fettuccine noodles covered in alfredo sauce

Leftovers

Sadly, we do not recommend reheating this dish. Given that there is no flour in this sauce, it separates when reheating. This is true whether reheated over low heat on the stovetop or in the microwave. So, enjoy it while it is warm and eat your fill!

FAQ

Can this recipe replace jarred Alfredo sauce?

Yes and no. It is better than the jarred stuff when you are eating it hot. But it can’t be used to replace the jarred stuff in baking recipes. Because it doesn’t have flour it won’t hold up to baking. For example, it would not work in our Chicken Lasagna.

How do you reheat Fettuccine Alfredo?

As mentioned above, we do not recommend reheating this recipe. Because there is no flour in it, it will separate upon reheating, even if you add a little more milk to it.

Can I freeze Fettuccine Alfredo?

We do not recommend freezing this recipe because of the issues related to reheating.

Can you make Fettuccine Alfredo with milk?

We do not recommend making this with milk. You really need the thickness of heavy cream to get the consistency you are looking for.

a bowl of fettuccine alfredo garnished with parsley

What to Serve with Fettuccine Alfredo

We recommend this as a serving for four. It may not seem like it makes a lot with but it being such a heavy dish, it’s great at as a smaller serving with some vegetable side dishes.

If you make this Fettuccine Alfredo recipe or any of my other recipes, please leave me a comment and let me know what you think!

overhead of a pan of fettuccine alfredo
5 from 5 votes

Alfredo Sauce

Serves: 4 people
(tap # to scale)
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: 25 minutes
Fettuccine Alfredo is incredibly easy to make at home! With just four simple ingredients you can make this classic in your own kitchen.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 pound fettuccine cooked according to package instructions
  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 cup Parmesan cheese shredded (2.5 ounces)
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt (add more to taste)
  • fresh black pepper (add more to taste)

Instructions

  • Bring a large pot of water to a roaring boil. Season with 1 teaspoon kosher salt. Add the fettuccine and cook according to the length of time suggested on the package. Stir immediately after adding it to the water and frequently while it is boiling.
  • In a skillet over medium heat, whisk together the heavy cream and the butter until the butter is melted. Bring it to a simmer, and turn the heat down low. Cook for 15 minutes, stirring occassionally. You should see occasional bubbles.
  • Stir in the Parmesan cheese until it melts. Season with salt and pepper, tasting and adding more as needed. We typically add about 3/4 teaspoon salt and almost 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. The seasoning at the end really pulls together the dish, so be sure to play with this.
  • Toss with fettuccine and enjoy immediately.
Author: Lisa Longley
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
overhead of a pan of fettuccine alfredo

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Alfredo Sauce

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Hi! I'm Lisa Longley, and I am committed to giving you simple dinner ideas and recipes that are easy to make; recipes that will fill your home with joy. I am the owner and author of SimpleJoy.com and I'm so glad that you are here.

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  1. mariana grinblat says

    tx for all you wonderful and easy recipees, many of them are my favorites. A RETIRED SCI/ENG PERSON WHO IS ALSO VERY CREATIVE, FROM BEAUTIFUL CANADA, MARIANA GRINBLAT

    • Lisa Longley says

      I’m so glad you are enjoying them!

  2. Paula Slack says

    Hi Lisa! Love your recipes. Can you highlight your best marinara sauce? I’m sure it will be scrumptious!
    Thanks. Paula Slack in Indiana.

    • Lisa Longley says

      I think you would really enjoy this Spaghetti Sauce.

  3. Stephanie M Hemingway says

    Hey Lisa, Is there a way you can break down this recipe in half or even for 1. None in my house besides me eats this and I don’t want to waste it. # didn’t work

    • Lisa Longley says

      Hi Stephanie! Would you mind trying again? If you click on the number 4 a little bar should appear that you can drag over to a number 2 or 1. I just tried it and it worked for me.

  4. tj says

    i am making this tonite for dinner i am just adding meatballs on top of this dish i am so grateful for your recipes

    • Lisa Longley says

      I hope you loved it!

  5. C M Lang says

    I also Love Fettuccine Alfredo & the ease of this sauce. Just a couple things. Would you add a light touch of Nutmeg? And one time making a sauce like this I simmered too long after adding cheese= Not Good! Also a sprinkle of flat leaf parsley at the finish. Thank you. Soo Good!!! ❤

    • Lisa Longley says

      I’m so glad you like it! I personally wouldn’t add nutmeg to this because I like it just as is, but I can definitely see how someone would enjoy a pinch in this.

  6. Kristen says

    My husband and I made this recipe for the first time tonight and we LOVED it! It was simple and so delicious–one of my favorite parts of Simple Joy :) We can’t wait to make this again for guests and to try other Simple Joy recipes!

    • Lisa Longley says

      Thank you, Kristen!

  7. Joyce says

    First time making this, I ❤ Fettuccine dishes, how do you make it for one person…..?

    • Lisa Longley says

      You could cut the recipe in half or even into fourths.

  8. Maria Regò says

    5 stars
    Fettuccibe Alfredo was a very simple and easy to make. Yummy!

    • Lisa Longley says

      I’m so glad you liked it!

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