Hey! I'm Des!
Welcome to Life’s Ambrosia where Dinner is served and memories are made. Here you will find over 1000 tried and true recipes for every possible occasion. In the last 10 years, this blog has helped millions of families put dinner on the table and create food memories. Let me help you too.
Easy Fettuccine Alfredo
You need this Classic Fettuccine Alfredo in your life. With only a handful of ingredients and 20 minutes, this easy decadent pasta can be on your table.
When it comes to decadent pasta meals, the first recipe that comes to mind is always Alfredo. The creamy, buttery, parmesan filled pasta dish is a family favorite for sure. My kiddos, my husband and I will gobble it up whenever I make it.
And the thing that makes this Easy Fettuccine Alfredo recipe the absolute best? It can be ready in under 20 minutes!
What ingredients do you need to make classic Alfredo sauce?
One of the best things about this pasta is that the ingredients are usually kitchen staples. To make this recipe you’ll need:
- Pasta: Classic is the flat fettuccine noodle, but you could also make this with other long noodles like linguine or short noodles like penne.
- Cream: Traditionally, Alfredo does not have cream. However, I like the decadence it adds to this sauce so I use it in this recipe.
- Butter: This is the base of every good Alfredo sauce so use the real stuff!
- Garlic: Not all Alfredo recipes call for garlic, but garlic works so well in this creamy sauce. It’s a small amount so it’s not over-powering. Don’t leave this out!
- Cheese: This recipe calls for a mixture of Parmesan and Romano Cheeses. Romano is a bit sharper than Parmesan in taste. That is why I do a mixture of the two. I have made this Alfredo with only Parmesan before and it works out just fine!
DES’ TIP: Buy a block of Parmesan and Romano cheese and grate them yourself. It will taste better and make your sauce creamier than the pre-grated stuff.
How do you make a creamy Alfredo Sauce from scratch?
This is called Easy Alfredo for a reason! Just follow these easy steps and you’ll be on your way to eating this decadent pasta in no time!
Step 1: Melt butter in a large pan over medium heat. Make sure that the pan is large enough to hold the pasta. Add in garlic and cook 30 seconds, just until garlic is fragrant.
Step 2: While pasta is still hot (this is important!) add to the butter/garlic mixture. Top with cheese.
Step 3: Pour cream over the top.
Step 4: Quickly toss to coat. The cheese may start to clump initially but just keep tossing, it will melt into sauce. Add in parsley and let stand 5 minutes.
DES’ TIP: I find that if the cream and cheese are at room temperature it helps the sauce come to better without clumping.
While I love leftovers as much as the next girl, this is one that I would say is best eaten the day it’s made. Reheating the leftovers will often cause the sauce to break. It will still be buttery but not nearly as creamy.
Looking for more pasta recipes? Here are some of my favorites:
Easy Side Dishes to serve along side this Easy Alfredo Recipe:
Note: This post was originally posted in 2009. It was updated with tips, new photos and nutrition facts in 2020.
Easy Fettuccine Alfredo
Ingredients
Ingredients:
- 1 pound fettuccine pasta
- 1/4 cup butter half a stick
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Romano cheese
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring a pot of water to boil, liberally salt the water and add pasta. Cook according to package directions.
- Meanwhile, melt butter over medium heat in a pan large enough to fit the pasta once cooked. Add the garlic and cook for about 3 minutes.
- Add the pasta to the pan. Pour cream and cheese over the pasta. Toss to completely coat the pasta. Cook 2-3 minutes. Add the parsley. Reduce heat to low, let pasta stand 5 minutes until sauce thickens. Toss just before serving. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Hey! I'm Des!
Welcome to Life’s Ambrosia where Dinner is served and memories are made. Here you will find over 1000 tried and true recipes for every possible occasion. In the last 10 years, this blog has helped millions of families put dinner on the table and create food memories. Let me help you too.
tunnel rush
June 8, 2022 at 8:30 amWow great food. Easy to make and very tasty. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Anna Caldwell
February 28, 2020 at 5:31 pmVery good will definitely make again
Deseree
February 29, 2020 at 8:58 amSo happy you enjoyed it Anna!
Catalina
February 25, 2020 at 2:03 pmPerfect for my Sunday dinner! My family will thank you for this!
Deseree
February 26, 2020 at 5:30 pmThey will thank you too! SO GOOD!
Sara Welch
February 25, 2020 at 1:09 pmLove how easy and flavorful dish this is; always a family favorite in our home! Adding to my dinner line up for the week!
Cathy
February 25, 2020 at 9:16 amEverything about this is PERFECTION!!!
katerina @ diethood.com
February 25, 2020 at 6:12 ammmm…this is my favorite pasta dish! I can’t wait to try this recipe!! YUM!
Dorothy Reinhold
February 24, 2020 at 6:23 pmThis is one of my daughter’s favorite meals. Homemade makes all the difference.
Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert
February 24, 2020 at 4:52 pmThis Classic Fettuccine Alfredo looks absolutely delicious! Yummy!
Darla
February 16, 2020 at 1:21 pmThank you Des! I appreciate your prompt response and w https://www.lifesambrosia.com/roasted-garlic-fettuccine-alfredo-recipe/ :)ill be anxious to give this recipe a whirl!
Deseree
February 16, 2020 at 8:12 pmYou are so welcome!
Darla
February 16, 2020 at 10:32 amHi, I am looking for this recipe that is on Pinterest Roasted Garlic Fettuccini Alfredo. I see you recipe for Alfredo Fettuccini but it does not have the “roasted” garlic. I searched your site as well but am not finding it. Please help me out! :)
Thank you!
Deseree
February 16, 2020 at 11:53 amHi Darla! I think you are looking for this one https://www.lifesambrosia.com/roasted-garlic-fettuccine-alfredo-recipe/ :)
Noni
July 20, 2011 at 12:55 amBrilliant! This is now a staple recipe for me (as unhealthy as that probably is… >_>). It just turns out perfect every time.
Elisabeth
February 21, 2010 at 7:10 pmSuch a wonderful and simple recipe! I’ve tried many alfredo recipes, and this one definitely had the best flavor. I paired it with some chicken that I marinated in Italian dressing (just for something extra). Thank you much for a recipe that I’ll be going to quite often!
William
May 15, 2009 at 9:45 amThis recipe for Fettuccine Alfredo got me to look at all your other recipes. I use to make an Alfredo sauce years ago, but your method is a lot simplier to make and just as good. I look forward to going through all your other recipes. They sound delicious and easy to make.
Deseree
May 15, 2009 at 11:56 amThanks William! I am glad that you enjoyed the fettuccine. I hope you enjoy the other recipes that you may try. :)
gn
March 16, 2009 at 5:26 pmPut this one in the rotation… it went over so well at the house, we’ll have to double it to have leftovers. All three boys cleaned their plates, not to mention us adults. We’re all basking in the carbo-overload. Thanks Deseree!
Deseree
March 16, 2009 at 5:52 pmYou’re welcome gn! I am so happy to hear that it went over so well :)
Todd
February 20, 2009 at 10:25 amI probably will try it again…I’m sitting here eating left-overs for lunch so it’s definitely a good recipe. I’ll have to mess with my temperatures…I think I had things too hot when I mixed the cheese in.
Todd
February 20, 2009 at 7:35 amSo I mae this last night and the flavors were awesome. But my cheese clumped up and didn’t really make a creamy sauce…there was enough liquid to coat the pasta, but then I had huge chunks of chewy parm in the mix.
I liked it, but any ideas on what went wrong?
Deseree
February 20, 2009 at 9:21 amHi Todd,
I am sorry to hear that your fettuccine didn’t turn out well! :(
My only thought as to why your cheese clumped may be that it did not have a chance to melt while you were mixing it with your pasta, cream and butter. I have had problems with Alfredo sauce before and found that it can be temperamental. If it is too hot your sauce will separate but if it is too cold your cheese will clump. Perhaps it would turn out better if the temperature was a little warmer? I also might try taking the cream out of the fridge a little bit before you add it to the pasta. If you pour it into the pasta ice cold right out of the fridge, it might also prevent your cheese from melting. I hope this helps! Let me know if you try it again :)
finsmom
February 9, 2009 at 2:29 pmYum! Ive been looking for a good alfredo recipe… I will have to try this! Great photos!!!
Deseree
February 9, 2009 at 3:44 pmHi Finsmom! Let me know how you like it and thanks for the nice comments on the photos!
Michelle
February 6, 2009 at 4:32 pmThanks for leaving a comment on our blog. And you’re right – the whoopie pies are sooo good! I’m drooling over this fettucini alfredo, actually. It’s my favorite meal when we go out, but I rarely make it at home from scratch. I might give it a try soon though – your’s looks delicious. BTW, your photos are great!
http://oneordinaryday.wordpress.com/
Deseree
February 9, 2009 at 3:49 pmHi Michelle! Thanks for the comments on the photos! And this IS delicious! :)