The Broken Scale · Good food. Plenty of personality.
Creamy Garlic Alfredo Sauce
Warm garlic, cream and Parmesan make this a rich sauce for a bowl of hot pasta. The key is gentle heat: soften the garlic without browning it and stir in the cheese off the heat.
- Prep
- 5 minutes
- Cook
- 12 minutes
- Total
- 17 minutes
- Serves
- 4 pasta portions
A smooth finish without the guesswork
Grate the Parmesan finely before you begin. Keep some warm pasta water nearby so you can loosen the sauce just before serving. Optional thyme adds a light herbal note; leave it out for a simpler garlic and cheese sauce.
How to use it
Toss with freshly cooked fettuccine or spoon over cooked vegetables. Cook any chicken, shrimp or other additions separately before combining them with the sauce. The recipe makes four generous pasta portions rather than four cups of sauce.
The full recipe
Creamy Garlic Alfredo Sauce
A rich cream and Parmesan sauce with gently cooked garlic. Keep the heat low, then stir in the cheese off the heat for a smooth sauce to toss with hot pasta.
Ingredients
Equipment
Instructions
- Finely grate the Parmesan. If serving with pasta, cook the pasta separately and reserve a mug of its cooking water before draining.
- Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the garlic and optional thyme; stir for 30–60 seconds, just until fragrant. Do not let the garlic brown.
- Stir in the heavy cream. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium-low heat, then reduce to low and cook for 3–5 minutes, stirring often. Avoid a hard boil.
- Take the pan off the heat. Add the Parmesan in several small handfuls, stirring until each addition melts before adding more. If needed, return briefly to very low heat while stirring.
- Stir in the pepper. Taste before adding salt. Loosen with warm pasta water a tablespoon at a time until the sauce coats a spoon, then toss with hot pasta and serve immediately. The sauce thickens as it stands.
Nutrition
Notes
Yield: Four generous pasta portions; this is not a four-cup yield. Pasta is not included in the ingredient quantities or timing.
Texture: Freshly grated Parmesan melts more smoothly than many pre-grated products. Keep the sauce below a hard boil. Thyme is optional for an herbed variation.
Storage: Refrigerate promptly in a covered container at 40°F or below and use within 3 days. Reheat gently, stirring and adding a little water as needed; heat leftovers to 165°F. The texture may be less smooth after reheating. Contains milk.
