Rich and creamy Fettuccine Alfredo is one of the easiest and most satisfying pasta dishes to make at home. Fresh cream is combined with parmesan cheese and butter to make a luscious Alfredo sauce in only minutes. It’s then tossed with your favorite past for a delicious and hearty vegetarian Italian dinner. Follow my step-by-step instructions with photos to try this easy Fettuccine Alfredo Pasta recipe for yourself!
Table of Contents
About Fettuccine Alfredo
First, a bit of back story: It’s interesting to know that Fettuccine Alfredo was originally invented by Alfredo Di Lelio in his mother’s restaurant in Italy in the mid-1900s. The original recipe was very simple and only included butter and cheese, and it wasn’t until much later than cream was added.
Nowadays you can find this classic dish on nearly every Italian menu and in every pasta cookbook. Some fettuccine alfredo recipe variations use eggs, others use light cream to create a decadent alfredo sauce with parmesan.
I’ve tried several different preparation methods, and this easy fettuccine alfredo recipe is by far my favorite. It uses heavy whipping cream for the creamiest, tastiest fettuccine alfredo ever!
Cook Fettuccine Pasta
1. In a deep pan or a sauce pan on the stovetop add 6 cups of water and 1 to 1.5 teaspoons of salt.
2. Stir, turn the heat onto high and bring the water to a boil.
3. Once the water is to a full boil, add the 226 grams (½ a pound or 8 ounces) of fettuccine pasta or other pasta of choice.
4. Use a spoon to push the fettuccine down into the boiling water as they soften, until fully submerged.
5. Continue to boil the pasta on medium to high heat.
6. Cook according to package instructions, until the pasta is just al dente. That means cooked through but with a slight bite – so that the pasta are still toothsome.
7. Drain the water, making sure to save and set aside about a ½ cup of the cooked pasta water. You might want to use a bit to thin out the alfredo sauce.
Alfredo Sauce Recipe
8. While the pasta is boiling, start to prepare the alfredo sauce. In a medium, deep skillet melt 3 to 4 tablespoons of salted or unsalted butter (approximately 40 grams) on low heat. If using salted butter you’ll want to add less salt to finish the dish.
9. Once the butter has melted, add ½ a teaspoon of finely chopped garlic. Sauté for a few seconds until the raw aroma of garlic goes away. No need to brown the garlic.
10. Next add 1 cup of heavy whipping cream.
11. Mix well with a wired whisk. Bring the cream to a gentle boil on low heat.
Use a whisk and continuously stir as you bring the cream mixture to a low simmer. Keep an eye on the cream to make sure it does not get brown or burnt.
12. After the cream begins to gently boil, further simmer for 1 to 2 minutes, until the cream thickens a bit.
13. Then add 6 tablespoons (50 grams) of grated vegetarian parmesan cheese to the pan.
14. Mix well to combine the cheese with the cream.
Make Fettuccine Alfredo
15. Now add the cooked and drained pasta to the prepared alfredo sauce in the pan.
16. Use tongs to thoroughly mix the pasta and sauce together, so that every noodle is coated in creamy alfredo.
17. Continue to cook the fettuccine alfredo on low heat for another minute or two, stirring frequently to keep the pasta from sticking together.
If the sauce becomes too thick, add a bit of the reserved pasta water, and stir.
18. Taste the dish, and season with salt according to your taste preferences and a ¼ teaspoon of crushed black pepper.
I also recommend adding a light grating of fresh nutmeg for an earthy, aromatic pop of flavor.
19. Mix the fettuccine alfredo again, and turn off the heat.
How to Serve
20. Serve the pasta hot. I like to garnish fettuccine alfredo with a tablespoon of grated vegetarian parmesan cheese and 1 to 2 teaspoons of chopped parsley, fresh or dried.
Leftovers will keep well stored in an airtight container for 1 to 2 days in the refrigerator. On refrigeration the pasta will thicken, so while reheating add a splash of milk or water to thin the consistency slightly.
Expert Tips For Best Alfredo Pasta
- I use whipping cream in this alfredo recipe. However, for a lighter dish you can use half and half or low fat/light cream or cooking cream.
- I have kept this vegetarian version of fettuccine alfredo super simple, but feel free to add your favorite cooked veggies. Sautéed or steamed broccoli, bell peppers, mushrooms, baby corn, carrots, asparagus, cauliflower, spinach – or any vegetables you like – are delicious to include when you toss together the alfredo sauce and cooked pasta.
- Traditionally, alfredo sauce is served with fettuccine. But you really can use any pasta you prefer! Try this deliciously cheesy sauce with penne, pappardelle, macaroni, rigatoni, farfalle, or whatever you’ve got on hand.
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Fettuccine Alfredo Recipe | Alfredo Pasta
Ingredients
For Cooking Pasta
- 226 grams fettuccine – ½ pound
- 6 cups water
- 1 to 1.5 teaspoons salt or add as required
Other Ingredients
- 3 to 4 tablespoons Butter – 30 grams, unsalted or salted
- ½ teaspoon garlic – finely chopped
- 1 cup whipping cream
- 6 tablespoons parmesan cheese – 50 grams, vegetarian
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper or add as required
- 1 dash grated nutmeg or ground nutmeg, add as required – optional
- salt as required
For Garnish
- 1 tablespoon parmesan cheese – grated, vegetarian
- 1 to 2 teaspoons parsley leaves – chopped or fresh soft herbs of choice, optional
Instructions
Cooking Fettuccine
- In a deep pan or a sauce pan add water and salt. Stir.
- Place saucepan on stovetop and bring the water to a boil on high heat.
- Once the water comes to a boil, add the fettuccine pasta or other pasta of choice. Use a spoon to push the fettuccine down into the boiling water as they soften, until fully submerged.
- Cook pasta according to package instructions or until the al dente. That means cooked through but with a slight bite. Boil fettuccine on medium to high heat.
- Drain the water, making sure to save and set aside about a ½ cup of the cooked pasta water. You might want to use a bit to thin out the alfredo sauce.
Making Alfredo Sauce
- Meanwhile when the pasta is cooking, begin to make the alfredo sauce. In a large, deep skillet melt salted or unsalted butter on low heat. If using salted butter you’ll want to add less salt to finish the dish.
- Once the butter has melted, add chopped garlic. Sauté for a few seconds until the raw aroma of garlic goes away. There is no need to brown the garlic.
- Add the whipping cream. Mix well with a wired whisk. Bring the cream to a gentle boil on low heat.
- With a whisk continuously stir as you bring the cream mixture to a low simmer on a low heat. Keep an eye on the cream to ensure it does not get burnt or brown.
- Once the cream begins to gently boil, further simmer for 1 to 2 minutes on low heat, until the cream thickens a bit.
- Add grated vegetarian parmesan cheese to the cream and mix well.
Making Fettuccine Alfredo
- Add the cooked and drained pasta to the prepared alfredo sauce in the pan
- With the help of tongs thoroughly mix the pasta and sauce together, so that every pasta is coated in the creamy Alfredo.
- Continue to cook the fettuccine alfredo on low heat for another minute or two, stirring frequently to keep the pasta from sticking or clumping together. If the sauce becomes too thick, add a bit of the reserved pasta water, and stir to combine.
- Taste the dish, and season with salt as needed and crushed black pepper. I also recommend adding a dash of freshly grated nutmeg.
- Mix again, and turn off the heat.
Serving and Storing Suggestions
- Serve the pasta hot. Garnish fettuccine alfredo with grated vegetarian parmesan cheese and chopped parsley or soft fresh herb of your choice.
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container for 1 to 2 days in the refrigerator. While reheating, add a bit of water or milk to thin the consistency slightly.
Notes
- Cream: I have used whipping cream in this alfredo sauce recipe. However, for a lighter version you can use low fat/light cream or cooking cream or half and half.
- Butter: Make the alfredo sauce with salted or unsalted butter. If using salted butter, then be mindful of salt when adding later to the pasta.
- Seasonings: The seasonings are minimal in this dish. You can spice it up by adding a bit more of crushed black pepper. You can also use white pepper or cayenne pepper.
- Veggies: My vegetarian recipe of fettuccine alfredo is super simple, but feel free to add your favorite cooked veggies. You can either sauté, steam or roast them. Broccoli, carrots, green peas, sweet corn, mushrooms, bell peppers, baby corn, asparagus, cauliflower, spinach – or any vegetables you like are some delicious options.
- Pasta: Traditionally, alfredo sauce is served with fettuccine. But you really can use any pasta you prefer or like. Make this delicious alfredo pasta with penne, pappardelle, macaroni, rigatoni, farfalle, or whatever you’ve got.
Nutrition Info (Approximate Values)
This Fettuccine Alfredo recipe post from the archives, first published on March 2018 has been republished and updated on 12 November 2021.
