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Easy Homemade Alfredo Without Heavy Cream (Better Than Olive Garden)
Jon Simon

Easy Homemade Alfredo Without Heavy Cream (Better Than Olive Garden)

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10-Minute Silky Alfredo From Pantry Staples (No Jar Required!) for a quick and easy recipe for silky alfredo sauce made with simple pantry staples.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 143

Ingredients
 
 

Main
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese Freshly grated for best results
  • 1/4 cup flour All-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup half and half Half and half cream
  • as needed cup milk For thinning if needed
  • to taste spinach Optional, for added flavor and color
  • 2 tablespoons butter Unsalted preferred
Seasoning
  • to taste garlic powder
  • to taste salt
  • to taste pepper Freshly cracked preferred
  • a pinch nutmeg Optional, for flavor

Method
 

  1. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter until it is completely liquid and starts to gently bubble around the edges. Do not rush this step; the butter should be golden and smell nutty, not brown or smoking.
  2. Once the butter is melted, whisk in the parmesan cheese and flour simultaneously to create a cheesy roux. Cook this mixture for about 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly to prevent burning or clumping.
  3. Slowly whisk in the half-and-half, adding it gradually rather than all at once to prevent lumps. Keep whisking constantly until the sauce becomes creamy.
  4. Add garlic powder, salt, pepper, and a pinch of nutmeg to the sauce. Continue whisking for about 3-5 minutes until the sauce thickens and flavors meld together.
  5. If the sauce is too thick, gradually whisk in milk until you reach your desired consistency. For extra flavor, stir in spinach or other additions at the end.

Nutrition

Calories: 143kcalCarbohydrates: 7gProtein: 4gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.4gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 30mgSodium: 164mgPotassium: 56mgFiber: 0.2gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 331IUVitamin C: 0.3mgCalcium: 109mgIron: 0.4mg

Notes

Skip the heavy cream and skip the restaurant! This 10-minute alfredo recipe uses half-and-half you probably already have in your fridge to create silky, restaurant-quality sauce that puts Olive Garden to shame. 🍝✨
This sauce is forgiving; if it becomes too thick, add milk to adjust. Freshly grated Parmesan yields the best results. Feel free to experiment with seasonings and add-ins like herbs or sun-dried tomatoes.

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