Description
This Copycat Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce is rich, creamy, buttery, and packed with cheesy Parmesan flavor that tastes just like the restaurant favorite. Perfect for a quick dinner, easy pasta recipe, comfort food craving, or family dinner idea, this homemade Alfredo sauce comes together with simple ingredients and delivers a smooth, velvety texture that coats every strand of pasta beautifully. Whether served with fettuccine, grilled chicken, shrimp, or vegetables, this easy recipe creates a restaurant-style meal right at home.
Ingredients
1/2 cup unsalted butter
2 cups heavy cream
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup freshly grated Romano cheese
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
2 tablespoons cream cheese
16 ounces fettuccine pasta
1 tablespoon salt for pasta water
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
1. Fill a large pot with water and bring it to a boil. Add the salt and cook the fettuccine pasta until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
2. In a large skillet over medium-low heat, melt the butter slowly. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant.
3. Pour the heavy cream into the skillet while whisking continuously. Stir in garlic powder, salt, black pepper, and nutmeg.
4. Let the cream mixture simmer gently for 5 to 7 minutes over low heat without boiling.
5. Reduce the heat to low and gradually whisk in the Parmesan cheese and Romano cheese until fully melted and smooth.
6. Stir in the cream cheese until incorporated for extra creaminess.
7. If the sauce becomes too thick, add small amounts of reserved pasta water until the desired consistency is reached.
8. Add the cooked pasta to the Alfredo sauce and toss until every strand is evenly coated.
9. Garnish with chopped parsley and extra Parmesan cheese before serving immediately.
Notes
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese melts more smoothly and creates a creamier Alfredo sauce than pre-shredded cheese.
Keep the heat low while adding cheese to prevent the sauce from separating or becoming grainy.
Reserved pasta water helps loosen thick Alfredo sauce while maintaining a silky texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 720
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 980mg
- Fat: 50g
- Saturated Fat: 30g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 21g
- Cholesterol: 155mg