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The Ultimate 20-Minute Copycat Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce

Close-up of fettuccine pasta coated in rich, creamy Olive Garden Alfredo sauce and sprinkled with black pepper.
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You can make the rich, creamy, garlic-Parmesan flavor of Olive Garden’s signature Alfredo sauce right in your kitchen. This easy recipe is ready in about 20 minutes, making it perfect for quick weeknight dinners or dipping your favorite breadsticks.

Ingredients

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  • 1 cup unsalted butter
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 1/2 cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving

Instructions

  1. Place the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Let the butter melt completely.
  2. Add the heavy cream, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to the melted butter. Whisk everything together until it is smooth.
  3. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, stirring often. Do not let it boil rapidly. Reduce the heat to low.
  4. Gradually whisk in the grated Parmesan cheese, a handful at a time. Continue whisking until the cheese is fully melted and the sauce is smooth and thick. This step takes patience to keep it from clumping.
  5. Remove the sauce from the heat immediately once it reaches your desired thickness. If the sauce is too thick, you can whisk in a splash of reserved pasta water or a little extra cream.
  6. Toss immediately with hot, cooked fettuccine or serve alongside warm breadsticks.

Notes

  • Use high-quality, freshly grated Parmesan cheese for the best texture and flavor. Pre-shredded cheese often contains anti-caking agents that prevent smooth melting.
  • If you are serving this sauce over pasta, reserve about 1/2 cup of the starchy pasta cooking water before draining the noodles. You can use this water to thin the sauce if it becomes too thick.
  • This sauce tastes best when served immediately. If you must reheat it, do so gently over very low heat, whisking constantly.

Nutrition

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