Description
This Copycat Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce is rich, creamy, buttery, and packed with cheesy flavor that tastes just like the restaurant favorite. It’s the perfect easy dinner recipe for busy weeknights, comforting family meals, or indulgent pasta nights at home. The smooth Alfredo sauce coats every strand of fettuccine beautifully, creating a restaurant-style pasta dish with simple ingredients and incredible flavor.
Whether you need quick dinner ideas, easy pasta recipes, comfort food inspiration, or homemade Italian food ideas, this creamy Alfredo sauce delivers every time. Serve it with chicken, shrimp, garlic bread, or salad for a satisfying and crowd-pleasing meal everyone will love.
Ingredients
12 ounces fettuccine pasta
1/2 cup unsalted butter
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1 cup whole milk
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup freshly grated Romano cheese
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
1 grilled chicken breast, sliced (optional)
1/2 pound sautéed shrimp (optional)
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the fettuccine pasta until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
2. In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter completely without browning it.
3. Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant.
4. Slowly pour in the heavy cream and whole milk while stirring continuously. Reduce the heat to medium-low.
5. Add the softened cream cheese and whisk until fully melted and smooth.
6. Gradually stir in the Parmesan cheese and Romano cheese until the sauce becomes creamy and thick.
7. Season the sauce with salt and black pepper to taste.
8. Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss until every strand is coated in the Alfredo sauce.
9. If the sauce becomes too thick, stir in small amounts of reserved pasta water until the desired consistency is reached.
10. Add grilled chicken or sautéed shrimp if desired.
11. Garnish with chopped parsley and extra Parmesan cheese before serving.
Notes
Always use freshly grated Parmesan cheese for the smoothest Alfredo sauce texture.
Cook the sauce over low to medium heat to prevent the dairy from separating.
Reserve pasta water before draining because it helps loosen the sauce while keeping it creamy.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 780
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 980mg
- Fat: 52g
- Saturated Fat: 31g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 52g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 23g
- Cholesterol: 155mg