I have this occasional need or want to make items that you can very easily find pre-made and basically ready to serve. Alfredo sauce is one of those items. Within the last year I decided it’d be fun to try and make at home, just to see how easy it was and how it compares to the stuff you can buy in a jar.

It’s definitely quick and easy, requiring only six ingredients. That may sound like a lot for sauce but it really isn’t. They’re all very basic items, most of which you probably already have on hand! Even better, there is minimal effort needed for preparation. The most time consuming part is mincing the garlic. I definitely prefer fresh garlic but if you wanted an even quicker method you could certainly use the pre-minced variety found in little jars. Overall this sauce will take maybe 10 minutes and that’s including any prep work of gathering supplies, mincing etc.

Even as easy as it is, does it compare to jar sauce? Well, it’s totally different. We love jar sauce. I’m a big fan of Classico sauces. We all have our favorite, that just happens to be mine. In the winter I almost always have a jar or two sitting in the pantry ready to be used for a quick or last minute dinner. The big difference between this homemade version and what we’re use to is the thickness. The Classico version is much thicker, that doesn’t necessarily make it better… just different. The homemade version has a stronger flavor which you can of course adjust to personal preference – more or less garlic, more or less seasoning, add in other flavors etc. The only addition I ever add to the pre-made version is pepper. Something else I love and sometimes in great quantity.

Would I make this again? Yes, because it’s that easy. But it won’t stop me from buying the jar version we love so much. Possibly because of the thickness and difference but also because of the ease of use. I don’t have to think about it. Just pop that jar open, heat up and mix with cooked pasta.

If you’ve never made alfredo from scratch, do try it at least once. You may find that you love it. And again… it’s so quick simple you won’t be wasting an entire afternoon making it!

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Alfredo

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Yield: 4
Easy homemade alfredo sauce recipe! A fun addition to your weekly meal plan.

Ingredients
 

  • 3 Tbsp unsalted butter
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 1/2 C heavy cream
  • 1 1/2 C Parmesan cheese, finely grated
  • ground black pepper, to taste
  • salt, to taste

Instructions
 

  • Melt butter over medium heat in a double boiler or small to medium saucepan. Add minced garlic and heavy cream. Reduce heat to medium/low and allow to cook for roughly 5 minutes. Sprinkle in cheese, salt and pepper. Continue cooking until cheese has blended and sauce has thickened slightly, an additional 5 minutes or so.
  • Serve over warm pasta.

Notes

Recipe from Annie's Eats
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. Nutrition information can vary for a variety of reasons. For the most accurate data, use your preferred nutrition calculator with the actual ingredients you used to make this recipe.
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Course: Sauce
Cuisine: American
Keywords: Pasta