We all need a great Alfredo Sauce recipe in our recipe box. And since we only need one, this copycat Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce recipe is the one you want. It’s creamy, delicious, and made with cream. And did you know, this recipe is what inspired me to start CopyKat.com?
Table of Contents
Why this Recipe Works
Honestly, this particular Alfredo Sauce recipe was my sole reason, or at least my first really big inspiration, for creating copycat recipes. I lived in a very rural area of East Texas; the nearest Olive Garden was 90 minutes away. It was a very special treat to have this Alfredo sauce.
It was for me, looking back, a magical moment that would change my life and cause me to create many more copycat recipes. I still order the Olive Garden Alfredo sauce from time to time, and honestly, it still tastes just as good to me as it did the first time I had this dish.
This Alfredo sauce has made its way onto the Olive Garden menu in several different ways. You used to be able to get this as a side dish. I don’t think this is the case any longer, but you can order a dish of the Alfredo sauce and dip your breadsticks into this for a special treat. I personally enjoy this simply over freshly cooked pasta.
Homemade Alfredo Ingredients
What You’ll Need to Make this Recipe:
- Garlic puree or garlic powder
- Butter
- Heavy Cream
- Parmesan Cheese
- Salt & Pepper
- Pasta
How To Make Easy Alfredo Sauce (Olive Garden):
- In a saucepan, melt the butter and brown the garlic puree.
- Add the cream to the browned garlic.
- Once the butter and cream start to bubble, add the Parmesan cheese and salt & pepper.
- Stir on medium-high heat until the sauce thickens. Turn off the heat and continue to stir.
- In a separate pot, follow instructions to make your favorite pasta.
- Combine the pasta with the alfredo sauce and garnish with parsley.
Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce Recipe
Tips and Variations:
- Use a block of Parmesan cheese you will be able to grate. Pre-grated cheese has an anti-caking agent that may prevent the cheese from melting well.
- Heat the butter and cream to where it bubbles before you add the cheese, it will melt better this way.
- If you plan on having some extra sauce, do not store the sauce with the pasta. The pasta can soak up the sauce.
- This is perfect for a large family or a party. If you want to serve up a fancy pasta bar you can easily place this sauce once it is finished in a slow cooker. By placing the slow cooker on low, you can hold this sauce for a long time.
- If you like your alfredo sauce really creamy, you can also add cream cheese to this recipe.
Frequently asked questions about Alfredo Sauce
- Can you make alfredo sauce with half and half? – Yes, you can. It may not thicken as well, but when combined with the pasta, the starch in the pasta will help thicken the sauce.
- Is this sauce better than Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce? – A lot of people who have tried this pasta sauce think so, just check out the comments.
- What type of pasta should I use for alfredo? – Use your favorite pasta. Some people love to use this to make fettuccini alfredo, but any pasta shape will work.
Love Olive Garden? Try these Copycat Recipes
- 3 Meat Spaghetti Sauce
- Olive Garden Spicy Alfredo Chicken
- Olive Garden Pasta Bake
- Cheese Stuffed Pasta Olive Garden
- Pasta Rustica Recipe
- Seafood Dip
- Chicken Margarite
- Asparagus Recipe
- Olive Garden’s Italian Dressing
- Soup Olive Garden Recipes
Popular Sauce Recipes
Be sure to check out more of my easy homemade sauces and Olive Garden copycat recipes.
Did you make and love this recipe? Give your review below and make sure you share your creations by tagging me on Instagram!
Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 cups heavy cream
- 8 ounces butter
- 1 1/2 cups Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon garlic puree or garlic powder
- 1 pound pasta cooked according to package directions
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to the package directions.
- In a saucepan, cook garlic puree, in butter over medium heat. Add the cream once the garlic becomes fragrant.
- When the butter and cream become bubbly, add Parmesan cheese, and stir. Turn up the heat slightly and continue to stir. The sauce will thicken.
- In a large bowl combine cooked pasta and Alfredo sauce. Stir well, and serve. Season with salt and pepper if desired.
Video
Recipe Tips for the Cook
- You may want to add 2 tablespoons of cream cheese if you do not like the thickness of the sauce.
- You may omit the garlic if desired.
- Ground white pepper adds a nice touch to Alfredo sauce.
- While the Olive Garden does not use nutmeg in their sauce, many people like a touch of nutmeg in the sauce.
Nutrition
Donna Sosa
Loved the sauce but it wasn’t quite thick enough and I had a ton leftover. What is the best way to reheat?
Stephanie Manley
I would reheat this in a pot on a stove, you may need to add some additional cream. If the sauce isn’t thick enough, turn up the heat, and stir until the sauce thickens to your liking.
Millie Gothard
Mine did not turn out!! I’m so disappointed. My butter and cheese separated. Last time I made it, it was perfect!! And I made a double recipe… any ideas on how to fix it?
Stephanie Manley
I would have increased the heat and tried to get the mixture to bubble and whisk very vigorously to get it to combine.
Claudia
It tasted amazing! I made it last night and it was a hit! Even better than Olive Garden. Only modifications I made was using two tablespoons of minced garlic and about a half teaspoon of black pepper. It was luscious! So creamy a delicious!
PAM
Thank You for sharing this recipe. I can’t wait to try it.
Love all your Posts. Keep up the good work!
Gramma310
Made this last night with garlic powder and it had no flavor at all! Put it in fridge and reheated today with another Tbsp of finely chopped garlic and it is perfect now. I will make it wirh double garlic next time.
Bradd
I made this first just after you posted it originally and have dozens of times since. It holds beautifully and is very forgiving, super simple for even the newest cooks. We usually add sauteed chicken breast to it for the complete meal, shrimp is a hit as well. This recipe is a star and should be in everyone’s go to stack!
Maggie
I have never left a review on a recipe site before, but best Alfredo sauce I have ever made. The same or better than olive gardens! No need to pay 20 dollars for a meal anymore!!
Stephanie
Wow 🙂 Thank you I am glad you enjoyed it too!
Sherrie
This recipe instantly became a family favorite. No joke, it’s requested at least 3 times a week for dinner, and I happily OBLIGE. This is BETTER then Olive Garden’s and on the plus side, you know exactly what goes in it because you’ve made it from scratch!!
Stephanie
I am so glad you liked it! It’s what got CopyKat started many years ago.
Angie
This was a fantastic recipe, I added a lot more garlic and it was perfect! The whole family loved it.
Kimberly
How much more garlic did you use?
Sherrie
I used about a teaspoon of garlic powder, and you can adjust it from there even
Janice L
First time I made this very simple!!!
I will never buy Alfredo sauce in the jar ever again I will make my own using this recipe!!!😋
Thomas
This was better than the Olive Garden.