Better Than Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce

Name: Better Than Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 3 tbsp butter; 2 tbsp all purpose flour; 1 1/2 cups half and half; 1 cup parmesan cheese (freshly grated , plus an addition 1/2 cup for serving); 1 shallot (minced); 1 clove garlic (minced); 1/2 tsp pepper; 1/4 cup dry white wine; 3 tbsp parsley (minced); 16 oz pasta (fettuchini noodles are traditional, but use your favorite!)

Published: Sep 9, 2023 · Modified: Sep 9, 2024 by Debra Clark · 50 Comments

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Are you missing that creamy sauce from your favorite restaurant? Well white wine Alfredo sauce is easier to make than you think! Enjoy this Better Than Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce for the best pasta dish anywhere!

Platter of fettuccini pasta with Alfredo Sauce being poured over it. — Better Than Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce Recipe

If you enjoy this amazing recipe - next time try Chicken Alfredo Stuffed Shells - it's a delicious meal!

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What makes this recipe irresistible
Ingredients you’ll need
Creative variations to try
Step-by-step instructions
Essential tools for this recipe
Frequently asked questions (FAQ’s)
Top Tip
Storage
More recipes with Alfredo sauce
Related recipes
Serve with
Better Than Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce

What makes this recipe irresistible

The sauce comes together very easily! It's creamy, delicious and fancy enough for a dinner party or for an easy weeknight meal!

Hands down, this is the best sauce. It with minimal ingredients you probably already have on hand! The creamy Alfredo sauce stores well. Make an extra batch and freeze half for future meals.

It can be used in an array of recipes such as pasta casseroles, soups, or spooned over grilled meats.

Ingredients to make Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce, with print overlay.

Ingredients you’ll need

For the exact measurements for the easy Alfredo sauce recipe, please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

butter and flour for the roux.
half and half - if you don't have half & half, see the tips below to learn how to make your own.
Freshly grated parmesan cheese - I don't recommend pre-shredded as it just won't melt as well, and the sauce may be lumpy. An aged parmesan cheese will make this that much better!
Shallot and fresh garlic - if you do not have a clove of garlic, substitute with ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder.
Black pepper or if you prefer, white pepper.
Dry white wine like a chardonnay or sauvignon blanc. If you do not want to use alcohol, substitute with chicken stock.
fresh parsley
fettuccini noodles, angel hair pasta, shell pasta or your favorite pasta.

Creative variations to try

Instead of Parmesan, consider making this sauce with mozzarella cheese, gruyere, or gouda.
I love fettuccine Alfredo sauce but you can use other types of pasta too!
Add your choice of meat - sliced cooked chicken breasts (this dutch oven pulled chicken would be amazing!). Or add cooked shrimp to make a creamy shrimp alfredo, delish!
Get a little boost of greens and added texture in this dish by adding some cooked broccoli.
For a meaty Alfredo fettuccine, add in some sliced deli ham or crispy bacon pieces.

Step by step photos with instructions to make Alfredo sauce. With print overlay. — Better Than Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce Recipe

Step-by-step instructions

This is an overview of the instructions for the homemade alfredo sauce recipe. For the complete directions just scroll down to the bottom!

In a large skillet over medium heat, melt butter. Add the shallots and pepper. Lightly saute until the onions are translucent. It won't take long, 4-5 minutes then add the minced garlic cloves and sauté just until it becomes fragrant - about 30 seconds or so.
Reduce heat to low and sprinkle with the flour. Continue sautéing as the sauce cooks for another minute to cook out the flour taste, stirring constantly.
Add a splash of wine and continue to stir constantly. Cook about another minute. The cream sauce will be very thick.
Reduce the heat to low and slowly pour in the half & half. Continue to stir until the mixture begins to thicken - this will only take a couple of minutes. Do not allow the milk to boil as it will curdle.
Add the parmesan cheese. Stir until the cheese is melted. Taste for seasonings. You may need to add a pinch of salt. Simmer the sauce on low for about 10 minutes. You'll want to continue to simmer and whisk for a smooth sauce.
Remove from heat & add ½ the parsley.
Boil noodles in a large pot according to package directions. Cook pasta to al dente, drain well, do not rinse. Reserve one cup of the pasta water.
Place pasta in Alfredo Sauce and mix to combine. Take your time and mix it together really well. If the pasta is too stiff, add a ladle of pasta water.
Serve topped with additional parmesan cheese & parsley.

Essential tools for this recipe

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Large saucepan
Pot for pasta
Colander

Frequently asked questions (FAQ’s)

Can I make this sauce ahead of time?

Definitely! The flour in Alfredo sauce helps this sauce store well without changing the consistency whether cooled or reheated later on.

What's the purpose of reserving pasta water?

Pasta water retains some of the starch and salt from the cooked pasta. It's a great liquid to add to this sauce if you need to thin it out.

What can I do if my sauce is too thick?

Simply add a small amount of reserved pasta water or milk until you achieve the consistency desired. It's completely normal for the sauce to thicken slightly when cooled in storage.

How should I reheat leftover Alfredo sauce?

Reheat this sauce in the microwave, on the stovetop, or using a double boiler. Make sure to reheat the sauce slowly on low to moderate heat, stirring frequently with a splash of milk should it have thickened in storage.

Can I use cream cheese?

Of course, but I really recommend using the fresh grated parmesan cheese. Cream cheese will change the flavor.

Top Tip

If your buttery sauce separates, it's easy to fix! Pour the Alfredo sauce into a blender or use an immersion blender. Add a tablespoon of hot water and blend until creamy and smooth.

Use quality butter and freshly grated cheese for best taste. Pre shredded cheese is coated with shelf preserving substances that prevent cheese from melting well.
Resist the urge to thicken the sauce with extra cheese. This sauce naturally thickens when added to pasta and as it cools.
Low heat is required when adding the shredded cheese. Boiling can separate the dairy in milk and cheese and result in grainy sauce.

If you don't have half and half available, make your own! Use a mixture of 1 ¼ cup whole milk and ¼ cup + 2 tablespoons heavy cream aka heavy whipping cream or fresh cream. Whisk it together and use as directed.

Fettuccini pasta topped with Better Than Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce. — Best Alfredo Sauce Recipe

Storage

Refrigerate - Spoon sauce into an airtight container or jar in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Freeze - up to 1-2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat slowly.

More recipes with Alfredo sauce

Chicken Fettuccini Alfredo Casserole is filled with tender noodles, creamy alfredo sauce, tender chicken, and tangy parmesan cheese.
One pot Chicken Alfredo with Peas is the perfect comfort food. It's creamy, cheesy, and delicious!
Easy Chicken Alfredo Stuffed Shells Recipe is filled with rotisserie chicken, bacon and flavored with ranch seasoning. All topped with an oozy, cheesy, Alfredo Sauce it's a great weeknight meal!
Sure to satisfy your comfort food cravings, Panera Chicken Alfredo Tortellini combines all the flavors of classic Italian cuisine into one indulgent meal.

Simple saucy pasta dishes are so underrated! You won’t need much time or ingredients to make this delicious and comforting Lemon Garlic Pasta or Pasta Puttanesca!

Of course, this Chicken Alfredo Stuffed Shells with Bacon and Ranch is a great example of how you can use this creamy pasta sauce!
If you love this recipe, be sure to try Cajun Shrimp and Chicken Pasta, that sauce is drool-worthy!
The Ultimate Chicken Noodle Casserole is one of the most popular casseroles on the blog (or the internet for that matter!).

Serve with

Need a side dish for your Alfredo fettuccine family meal? Nothing quite beats the combination of Alfredo and garlic bread.
Pinot Grigio is the perfect red wine to serve with the meal.
If you’re in the mood for something a little lighter, try this Fresh Garden Salad!
Of course, you can’t go wrong with a side of delicious and nutritious vegetables. Brussels sprouts, roasted broccoli, and steamed green beans are all wonderful options.

Don't forget to check out my Amazon storefront for some of my favorite products! 🛍️

If you love this recipe please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating!

And we decided upon Fettuccini Alfredo. This creamy deliciousness is something everyone would like! Super easy, this meal is deliciously filling and full of cheesy deliciousness! Bonus? You probably have everything you need in your pantry and fridge. Who doesn't love that?

I think you'll agree this Better Than Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce recipe is simple and amazing!

Half and half, butter, shallots (or onions), garlic and parmesan cheese. You want it to be really fancy? Sprinkle some parsley on top! Check your frig., I will bet you have everything to make this for dinner tonight!

Is your mouth watering yet? If it's not, I'm not doing my job!!!

So back to the story, the name came from my friend Nicole. She has traveled extensively and has lived or been just about everywhere including Italy. Nicole has had lots of Alfredo Sauce over the years and declared this The BEST Homemade Alfredo Sauce Ever! Well, not sure I'd take it that far, but this is darn good! 😀

Simple ingredients....fantastic food, that's what a great meal is all about! Give this recipe a try and tell me if it lives up to its name.

So tell me -

What is your go-to meal when you're serving a crowd?
Do you have a favorite sauce?
Are you going to give this a try?!!

When visiting Nicole & family in Texas we were trying to figure out what to make for dinner. We had LOTS of family coming by; big kids, little kids, adults - all ages and sizes. Vegetarians, meat eaters - this is definitely a meal that pleases everyone!

If you love this recipe be sure to try the chicken spaghetti recipe next!

Recipe re-do published originally 7/30/14

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About Debra Clark

Hey I'm Deb Clark, and I'm the owner of Bowl Me Over! We live in the sleepy little town of Scappoose, Oregon. And I admit it... I love food! Join me in this foodie journey (even if you've never cooked before!) I will help you learn to be confident in the kitchen! Want to learn more? Let's stay connected, you can email me at debra@bowl-me-over.com and find me on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

Comments

4.92 from 12 votes (2 ratings without comment)