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Copycat Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce Recipe

A fork lifts a generous portion of pasta heavily coated in thick, creamy olive garden alfredo sauce, showing long, gooey cheese pulls.
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Make the rich, creamy, restaurant-style Alfredo sauce from Olive Garden at home. This recipe delivers the velvety texture that clings perfectly to fettuccine and is ready quickly.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup unsalted butter
  • 1½ cups heavy cream
  • 2 cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 4 ounces cream cheese, cubed
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1 cup reserved pasta water (for thinning)

Instructions

  1. Melt the butter in a wide sauté pan over medium heat.
  2. Add the minced garlic to the melted butter and cook for one minute until fragrant. Do not let the garlic brown.
  3. Whisk in the heavy cream and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Reduce the heat to low.
  4. Add the cubed cream cheese to the simmering cream mixture. Whisk constantly until the cream cheese is fully melted and the sauce is smooth.
  5. Gradually whisk in the freshly grated Parmesan cheese, a handful at a time, allowing each addition to melt before adding more. Continue whisking until the sauce is completely smooth and velvety.
  6. Season the sauce with salt and black pepper to your preference.
  7. If the sauce is too thick, slowly whisk in small amounts of reserved hot pasta water until you reach your desired consistency that clings well to pasta.
  8. Toss immediately with cooked fettuccine or use as a dipping sauce for breadsticks.

Notes

  • Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese for the best melting quality and flavor; pre-shredded cheese contains anti-caking agents that can make the sauce grainy.
  • Reserve at least one cup of the starchy water from boiling your pasta; this liquid helps emulsify the sauce and prevents it from separating.
  • This sauce is excellent when paired with chicken or shrimp for a complete Chicken Alfredo dinner.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://juliameal.com/olive-garden-alfredo-sauce-recipe/