Homemade Creamy Fettuccine Alfredo
A luxurious fettuccine pasta dish smothered in a rich and creamy homemade Alfredo sauce made with butter, garlic, and Parmesan cheese.
Recipe Details
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Servings: 4 servings
Full Ingredient List
- 1 lb Fettuccine Pasta
- 6 Tablespoons Butter
- 1 Garlic Clove, minced
- 1 1/2 cups Heavy Cream
- 1 1/4 cup Shredded Parmesan Cheese
- 2 Tablespoons Italian Parsley (optional)
- 1/4 teaspoon Salt
- 1/4 teaspoon Pepper
Fettuccine Pasta
Tools and Equipment
Ingredients
| Quantity |
Name |
Preparation Notes |
Substitutions |
| 1 lb |
Fettuccine Pasta |
|
Spaghetti, Linguine |
Instructions
-
Step 1:
Heat water in a large pot over high heat until boiling. Add salt to season the water. (Tips: Salting the water enhances the pasta's natural flavors.)
-
Step 2:
Add fettuccine pasta and cook according to package instructions. (Tips: Stir occasionally to prevent the pasta from sticking together.)
Alfredo Sauce
Tools and Equipment
- large skillet or pan
- whisk
Ingredients
| Quantity |
Name |
Preparation Notes |
Substitutions |
| 6 Tablespoons |
Butter |
|
Margarine |
| 1, minced |
Garlic Clove |
minced |
Garlic Powder |
| 1 1/2 cups |
Heavy Cream |
|
Half-and-half |
| 1 1/4 cup |
Shredded Parmesan Cheese |
|
Pecorino Romano |
| 2 Tablespoons |
Italian Parsley |
optional |
Basil |
| 1/4 teaspoon |
Salt |
|
|
| 1/4 teaspoon |
Pepper |
|
|
Instructions
-
Step 1:
In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat and add minced garlic. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes until softened. (Tips: Do not let the garlic burn; it should only be golden and fragrant.)
-
Step 2:
Stir in heavy cream and let simmer over medium-high heat for 5 to 8 minutes until slightly thickened. (Tips: Do not let the cream boil vigorously to prevent curdling.)
-
Step 3:
Add half of the Parmesan cheese to the mixture, whisking well until smooth. (Tips: Adding the cheese gradually helps it melt evenly without clumping.)
-
Step 4:
Save some pasta water from the cooked fettuccine to thin out the sauce if needed. (Tips: The starch in the pasta water can help emulsify the sauce.)
-
Step 5:
Combine the Alfredo sauce with the cooked fettuccine pasta. Add the remaining Parmesan cheese and garnish with optional Italian parsley. (Tips: Toss thoroughly to coat the pasta evenly.)
Additional Information
Notes: Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese for the best results. Adjust the sauciness by altering the pasta to sauce ratio. Store any leftover pasta water to adjust the sauce consistency, if needed.
