This Copycat Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce is the most wonderfully rich and creamy sauce that’s made from scratch using fresh, natural ingredients. It’s absolutely delicious served over your favorite pasta, chicken, veggies or just served for dipping with warm Italian breadsticks.
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Creamy Olive Garden Copycat Alfredo
This is hands down the best pasta sauce you’ll ever make! It’s a copycat version of the popular Olive Garden Chicken Alfredo sauce that’s always a family favorite. But this is such a versatile sauce you can serve it so many other ways. One of the best things is it only takes a few simple ingredients and is ready in just a matter of minutes.
But don’t let that fool you, because even though it’s super easy to make, the results are an unbelievably flavorful and creamy restaurant-quality sauce that’s the perfect companion to just about any of your favorite pasta recipes. This Alfredo sauce is what we use on our homemade chicken Alfredo pasta. And, if you’re looking for other amazing Olive Garden copycat recipes, check out these pillowy soft Olive Garden Breadsticks recipe. They are the perfect thing to dip in this copycat Olive Garden Alfredo sauce.
Why we love this Copycat Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce
- This rich and cheesy sauce is perfect with any pasta dish, chicken, vegetables, and more.
- It’s a delicious sauce that makes an easy meal or side dish for any night of the week.
- This copycat version is just as good as the original Olive Garden recipe but is made in your own kitchen.
Recommended tools for this Copycat Olive Garden Alfredo
- Heavy bottom sauce pan
- Measuring Cups
- Cheese grater
- Whisk
Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce Recipe ingredients
- Unsalted butter
- Garlic, minced (or you can use garlic powder)
- All-purpose flour
- Heavy cream
- Whole milk
- Black pepper (you can also use white pepper)
- Fresh parmesan cheese, shredded
- Pecorino Romano cheese
How to make Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce
Step One: Melt the Butter
- Melt butter in skillet over medium heat. Watch it so that it does not begin to brown too much.
Step Two: Make the Roux
- Once the butter is melted, add the fresh garlic, heat until fragrant about 2-3 minutes.
- Sprinkle with all-purpose flour whisk until well combined.
Step Three: Whisk in the Liquids
- Add heavy whipping cream and milk, whisk together until smooth.
Step Four: Add the Cheese and Serve
- Turn on low heat and add the parmesan and pecorino Romano cheeses, stir in until cheese is melted and combined.
- Garnish with some chopped fresh parsley (optional).
Pro tip: This sauce cooks quickly, so wait to make it right before the rest of the meal is ready.
Olive Garden Alfredo Recipe tips
- Fresh cheeses: Most of the flavor in this Olive Garden Alfredo sauce recipe comes from the cheeses. That’s why using a good-quality cheese is so important. Make sure you check the expiration date on cheese and get one with the freshest date as possible.
- Grate it yourself: Always use freshly grated parmesan cheese. Prepackaged cheese can sometimes have a coating on it that prevents it from melting smoothly. Freshly grated cheese melts smooth without a grainy texture.
- Whisk: This is the one time when you can put away your wooden spoon. You’ll want to use a whisk when making this sauce. This helps to incorporate all the ingredients and makes the sauce nice and smooth.
- Watch the temp: You are not going to boil this sauce. You want to bring the heat up just until the sauce is simmering. Overheating it will leave you with a clumpy mess.
- Timing: This fettuccine Alfredo sauce is different than marinara sauce that gets better the longer it cooks. This sauce gets thicker as it begins to cool off, so you’ll want to time the pasta or whatever you’re serving it with just right. For instance, if you’re baking chicken to go with it, you’ll want to start the sauce just a few minutes before the chicken is done.
How to store leftover Olive Garden Copycat Alfredo
- Fridge: Place pasta sauce in a glass jar with a tight fitting or other airtight container and place in the fridge. It should stay fresh for up to 4-5 days.
- Freeze for later: This easy Alfredo sauce recipe freezes well for up to a couple months. For best results, once the sauce cooks and has completely cooled to room temperature, add it to a freezer bag. Squeeze out any excess air. Place in on a flat surface in the freezer until it has frozen solid before moving it around.
- Reheating creamy sauces: Creamy alfredo sauce and other creamy based sauces have to be reheated slowly on a low temperature. If you reheat it too quickly or over high heat, the cream will scald. If the sauce is frozen, you’ll want to let it thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating it.
How to serve Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce
- Pasta: Olive Garden’s delicious original recipe is typically served over fettucine noodles or angel hair pasta. You can also use ziti, spaghetti noodles or any of your favorite types of pasta.
- Veggies: You can serve this sauce over grilled zucchini or summer squash. It’s also awesome over roasted peppers, asparagus, broccoli or cauliflower.
- Protein: Pan seared boneless, skinless chicken breasts, shrimp, salmon fillets or even grilled steak tips are all an easy dinner idea the whole family will love.
- Dipping Sauce: You can just serve this scrumptious alfredo sauce on the side with breadsticks or French bread for dipping.
Want More Copycat Recipes?
- Copycat Chick-fil-A Frosted Lemonade (Only 2 Ingredients)
- Copycat Nothing-Bundt Lemon Cake
- Copycat Chick-fil-A Frosted Sunrise
- Copycat Reese’s Peanut Butter Eggs
- Copycat Chick-fil-a Sauce
- Copycat Chick-fil-a Chicken Nuggets
- Copycat Shamrock Shake
Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce Recipe FAQs
The longer you let the sauce cook, the thicker it will get. If your sauce is too thick there’s an easy solution! Just add a little more milk to the thick sauce until it reaches the consistency you desire.
Absolutely! You can prepare the Alfredo sauce in advance and store it in the refrigerator for up to a few days. Reheat it gently on the stovetop or in the microwave when you’re ready to use it. Just remember that the sauce can thicken as it cools, so you may need to add a bit of extra milk or cream to achieve your desired consistency upon reheating.
Yes, you can create a dairy-free or vegan Alfredo sauce by using plant-based ingredients like almond milk, coconut milk, or cashew cream instead of dairy cream. Additionally, you can substitute vegan butter and nutritional yeast for the traditional butter and Parmesan cheese. Adjust the seasonings to taste, and you’ll have a creamy, dairy-free version of this beloved sauce.
Alfredo sauce can separate for a few reasons:
Overheating: If the sauce is heated at too high a temperature, the fats in the butter and cream can separate. To prevent this, cook the sauce over low to medium heat and avoid boiling it.
Insufficient Emulsification: Properly emulsifying the butter, cream, and cheese is crucial to prevent separation. Gradually whisk the ingredients together over gentle heat, ensuring they blend smoothly.
Aged Cheese: Using aged or hard cheeses in excess can make the sauce prone to separation. Opt for freshly grated Parmesan cheese for better results.
Old Ingredients: Cream and butter that are past their prime may not emulsify well, leading to separation. Use fresh ingredients for the best outcome.
If your Alfredo sauce does separate, try whisking it back together over low heat or adding a small amount of extra cream while stirring to re-emulsify.
A grainy texture in Alfredo sauce typically stems from issues like unmelted cheese, high heat, or using pre-shredded cheese with anti-caking agents. To avoid this, use freshly grated cheese, melt it gradually over low to medium heat, and ensure the cream isn’t curdled before adding the cheese. To remedy a grainy sauce, gently reheat it over low heat while stirring or incorporate a bit of extra cream until it regains a smooth consistency.
A bitter taste in Alfredo sauce can be attributed to several factors. One common reason is overcooking or burning the garlic, a key flavor component in Alfredo sauce. Additionally, using aged or very sharp Parmesan cheese can contribute a bitter edge. Over seasoning with salt or using low-quality butter may also affect the sauce’s flavor. To prevent bitterness, ensure you don’t brown the garlic, choose a milder Parmesan, use high-quality ingredients, and season carefully. If your sauce tastes bitter, try balancing it with a touch of sweetness, such as a pinch of sugar or a bit more cream, to mellow the flavor.
Copycat Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce
Ingredients
- 6 Tablespoons butter
- 1 Tablespoon garlic minced
- 2 ½ Tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup parmesan cheese shredded
- 1 cup pecorino romano cheese shredded
Instructions
- In medium-sized skillet, heat butter, until melted.
- Add garlic, heat until fragrant about 2-3 minutes
- Sprinkle with all-purpose flour and whisk until well combined
- Add cream and milk, whisk together.
- Add parmesan and pecorino romano cheese, stir in until cheese is melted and combined.
Nutrition
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