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Easy Alfredo Sauce with Half and Half

by Laura Fuentes

March 7, 2020
updated May 22, 2023
4.95 from 17 votes
This easy alfredo sauce is rich, creamy, and the perfect pair for pasta for a crowd-pleasing meal. Best of all, it comes to gether in just 10 minutes.
Jump to Recipe

All the articles & recipes on this website have been created through real-life testing and experience (no ai) since 2010. This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

An easy alfredo sauce with half and half that comes together in less than 10 minutes. Who’s ready to start cooking?

Watch how easily this creamy sauce comes together in this quick recipe video. 

Toss this rich and creamy sauce with pasta or spread it over pizza for an easy, crowd-pleasing meal.

What is Alfredo Sauce?

You probably best know it in the delicious Fettucine Alfredo and today, I’m showing how you can make your own alfredo sauce for all your family’s favorite meals.

The restaurant/ jarred versions have nothing on this homemade Alfredo sauce and it takes less than 10 minutes to whip up. Whether tossed with pasta or spread over a pizza, it’s one sauce the kids are always up for.

Alfredo Sauce Ingredients

Good thing alfredo sauce ingredients also happen to be common pantry and fridge staples.

This recipe uses half & half to give the sauce a smooth velvet texture. Some people prefer a combination of milk and heavy cream which works well too, but keeping it to one liquid keeps everything simple.

For the cheese, this recipe uses cream cheese and grated Parmesan. Classic alfredo is very basic, using only Parmesan, but I find the cream cheese gives it a nice tang and thicker consistency. You can leave it out or swap it for more Parmesan cheese.

Here’s a look at everything you’ll need for this Alfredo sauce:

  • Butter
  • Garlic
  • Cream cheese
  • Half & Half
  • Grated Parmesan cheese
  • Salt & pepper
  • Pinch of nutmeg

How easy is it to make alfredo sauce with half and half?

With simple ingredients and a few minutes, you can have fresh homemade alfredo sauce.

It’s also worth mentioning; you’ll need a whisk and some mad whisking skills, both essential for the ultimate, creamy, smooth alfredo sauce.

Step-by-Step Alfredo Sauce Instructions with Half and Half

You are about to see just how easy this recipe is. This recipe yields about 3 cups, which is just enough for a pound of pasta. When needed, this can also be doubled and tripled.

1. First, you will melt the butter and brown the garlic.

2. Next, add the cream cheese and stir until melted. Pour in the half & half and continue to whisk.

3. Add the cheese and whisk until melted and smooth.

4. Finally season it with salt, pepper, and a pinch of nutmeg. Give it a good stir and voila! Homemade Alfredo sauce.

Be sure to scroll down and print the full recipe from the recipe box below.

Best Recipes Using Alfredo Sauce

I couldn’t leave you without some epic recipes to try with this alfredo sauce! Here are just a few of my favorites.

  • Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo
  • Cajun Alfredo
  • No-Bake Lasagna– swap it for tomato sauce in this No Bake Lasagna
  • Baked Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta

If you love making your own pasta sauces, be sure to check out my Slow Cooker Tomato Sauce and Homemade Broccoli Pesto too.

Like this alfredo, you won’t go back to the jarred version any time soon.

Easy Alfredo Sauce with Half and Half

Laura Fuentes
4.95 from 17 votes
This easy alfredo sauce is rich, creamy, and the perfect pair for pasta for a crowd-pleasing meal. Best of all, it comes to gether in just 10 minutes.
Servings: 6 servings
Cook Time 10 minutes mins
Total Time 10 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 2 cups half and half
  • 3 tablespoons cream cheese
  • 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 4 tablespoons butter
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • Salt and pepper
  • ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg, optional

Instructions
 

  • Over medium heat, melt the butter, and add the garlic. Cook for 1 minute.
  • Add the cream cheese, and keep stirring until melted. Slowly pour in the half and half, and keep whisking.
  • Add the Parmesan cheese in small amounts, and keep stirring on medium-low heat until well combined.
  • Remove from the heat, add salt and pepper to taste, and top with nutmeg, if using.

Equipment

two non stick pans
Non-Stick Pan
Weekly Meal Plan

Nutrition

Serving: 1/2 cupCalories: 191kcalCarbohydrates: 15gProtein: 9gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.4gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 31mgSodium: 298mgPotassium: 285mgFiber: 0.01gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 334IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 223mgIron: 1mg
Like this recipe?Rate and leave a comment below

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Richard Beal

    June 19, 2021 at 6:13 pm

    5 stars
    This is a KEEPER !

    Reply
  2. Kasey Stanley

    August 26, 2020 at 7:19 pm

    5 stars
    I love this sauce!! The best ever and its really easy. I panicked at first because the butter and cream cheese was lumpy and curdled looking. I stuck with it and the lumps wisk out with the half and half. Very good resturaunt quality flavor.

    Reply
    • MOMables - Laura

      August 27, 2020 at 10:54 am

      Glad you loved this Kasey!

      Reply
  3. Jenna

    November 13, 2019 at 11:26 am

    5 stars
    I made this easy alfredo sauce yesterday and it was delicious. Super simple, I already had the ingredients on hand and it worked perfectly!

    Reply
  4. Robin

    July 27, 2016 at 7:54 pm

    I just made the homemade Alfredo sauce from your book which involves lots of simmering and it totally curdled. I’ve made cheese sauces plenty of times before so I had a suspicion it would happen, but the recipe seemed so straightforward. What happened??

    Reply
    • MOMables

      July 29, 2016 at 11:17 am

      Hi Robin, I’m not sure what happened but it’s the same recipe I use at home and have since I shared this post 5 years ago and in my book. I”m sorry it did not turn out for you.

      Reply
  5. Kelly

    September 08, 2014 at 9:11 pm

    4 stars
    I made this tonight and it turned out good. I used 1% milk, low fat cream cheese and half and half. It was a bit thin, so I just stirred in a little more cream cheese, then thickened it with a teeny bit of cornstarch mixed with a little cold water. I used it with spaghetti squash. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  6. Jamie

    May 05, 2014 at 1:56 pm

    Mine turned out far too runny. I had to make a roux and add it in. I used half and half and full fat cream cheese, so I’m not sure why.

    Reply
  7. Melissa prado

    December 29, 2013 at 3:22 pm

    5 stars
    How can this be stored? and for how long?

    Reply
    • MOMables

      December 29, 2013 at 11:27 pm

      4 days in the refrigerator but you can double or more and freeze extras.

      Reply
  8. Emily S.

    June 19, 2013 at 7:20 am

    5 stars
    Did you just add the nutmeg at the end?

    Reply
    • MOMables

      June 20, 2013 at 10:38 pm

      usually when cooking.

      Reply
  9. Sarah

    March 12, 2013 at 7:34 am

    I made this last night and could not get the cream cheese to completely melt, I followed the directions to the T but it became lumpy and inediable. Any idea what I might have done wrong? I used 1/2 & 1/2.

    Reply
    • Laura

      March 12, 2013 at 9:10 am

      what kind of cream cheese did you use Sarah? I know some low fat and non fat versions clump. Regular cream cheese should melt fine.

      Reply
  10. katlynn

    March 05, 2013 at 7:03 pm

    5 stars
    Can i use regular milk or buttermilk instead of 1/2 & 1/2?

    Reply
    • Laura

      March 05, 2013 at 10:42 pm

      yes, I’m sure you could Katlynn. Just don’t use anything less than 2%. Otherwise it won’t have the creamy alfredo consistency and it will be runny.

      Reply
  11. marla

    January 22, 2013 at 7:51 pm

    This looks yummy! Could you please tell me what a half stick of butter is in cups or tablespoons? I’m in Mexico and our butter is sold in the different size package than in the US. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Mui

      January 23, 2013 at 10:17 am

      5 stars
      half a stick of butter is 8 tablespoons or 1/2 cup.

      Reply
      • Laura

        January 24, 2013 at 2:08 pm

        thank you!

        Reply
    • Laura

      January 24, 2013 at 2:09 pm

      Marla, great point! I edited the recipe. But 1/2 stick is 8 Tablespoons or 1/2 cup

      Reply
      • Kristi

        March 05, 2013 at 3:27 pm

        This is a little confusing….because 1 WHOLE stick of butter is 8 TB and also !/2 cup of butter. !?!

        Reply
        • Laura

          March 05, 2013 at 3:58 pm

          I stick of butter -as they are wrapped in the USA- is the same thing as 1/2 cup of butter that is also 8 Tablespoons. People look at recipes from all over the world so we had to show what 1 “stick” is. Hope this helps.

          Reply
          • Danielle

            March 08, 2013 at 3:42 pm

            I understand her confusion. You have written 1/2 a stick of butter (1/2 cup or 8 tablespoons) so you need to edit the recipe to say use a whole stick of butter if you really need 8 tablespoons or if it is 1/2 a stick then 1/4 cup or 4 tablespoons because as it’s written right now it’s expressing 2 different amounts.

          • Laura

            March 08, 2013 at 4:39 pm

            you are correct Danielle. We fully corrected the recipe and we won’t have several of us answering questions at the same time (on our end) lol

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