Fettuccine alfredo is a classic Italian pasta dish that is rich, creamy, and delicious. Tender fettuccine noodles are tossed in a homemade alfredo sauce made creamy with heavy cream, butter, and Parmesan cheese, and seasoned with garlic, salt, and pepper. When you’re craving comfort food, nothing is better than creamy pasta, and when you really need some comfort, you want it asap. Luckily this simple fettuccine alfredo comes together in less than 15 minutes. Perfect for busy weeknights but fancy enough for date night.
Why You’ll Love Fettuccine Alfredo
- It’s incredibly fast to make. This fettuccine alfredo will be one of the fastest pasta dishes you’ll ever make. You only need 15 minutes from start to finish for this meal to come together—which makes it a great last-minute dinner idea that's especially perfect for busy weeknights.
- It’s a great beginner recipe. Whether you’re a seasoned cook looking for an easy meal or someone new in the kitchen, you’ll love fettuccine alfredo. This recipe is so simple anyone can make it—even kids can help!
- It’s got cream and carbs. What else can you ask for? The cheese, cream, and carbs in this dish are enough to make anyone’s day better. Total comfort food goals.
- You can add your own veggies. Fettucine alfredo is a classic dish that pairs well with any green veggies. Add your own twist with some spinach, broccoli, or asparagus.
Ingredients And Substitutions
To make this easy fettuccine alfredo, you will need the following ingredients (full quantities in the recipe card below):
- fettuccine noodles - this traditional dish is made with fettuccine noodles. But you can substitute with any long noodles that you have such as spaghetti or linguine.
- salt
- butter
- garlic - we recommend fresh garlic for the strongest flavor. You can substitute with garlic powder if you don’t have fresh garlic on hand.
- heavy cream
- Parmesan cheese
- ground black pepper
You will also need a cooking pot and skillet (I used my 12-inch cast iron skillet)
How To Make The Best Fettuccine Alfredo
- Cook the pasta. Bring a large pot of water to a boil over medium-high heat. Add fettuccine noodles and salt and cook until al dente (fully cooked but still firm) according to package directions, about 2-3 minutes for fresh fettuccine noodles and 8-10 minutes for dried noodles. Reserve ½ cup pasta water and then drain and set aside.
- Sauté aromatics. In a large skillet, melt butter over medium high heat for 1 minute. Add garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Make the alfredo sauce. Add heavy cream and Parmesan cheese. Stir well and bring the sauce to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium and keep stirring until thickened to a desired consistency, about 3-4 minutes.
- Toss in fettuccine noodles. Stir in cooked fettuccine and toss well to combine. If you like it a bit saucier, slowly add ¼ cup to ½ cup reserved pasta water and stir well to combine.
- Serve. Sprinkle extra Parmesan and freshly ground black pepper on top.
Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Don’t overcook the pasta: Follow the package instructions and set a timer so you don’t accidentally overcook the pasta. Also keep in mind that the fettuccine will cook slightly more once it’s introduced to the hot pan with the alfredo sauce.
- How to store pasta: Allow the fettuccine alfredo pasta to cool to room temperature before placing it in an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
- How to reheat fettuccine alfredo: Reheat on the stove over medium-low heat until warmed through, about 5 minutes. If the sauce has thickened up too much in the fridge, add a splash of water. You can also microwave leftover pasta, covered, on low heat in 30-second intervals until warmed through, up to four minutes. Mix frequently.
More Pasta Recipes
- 40 Best Pasta Recipes
- Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo Pasta Bake
- Spaghetti Carbonara
- Mascarpone Pesto Pasta
- Cacio e Pepe
- Spaghetti Alfredo with Spinach and Mushrooms
- Creamy Shrimp Pasta with Sun-dried Tomatoes
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Fettuccine Alfredo
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 3-4 servings
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Fettuccine alfredo is a classic Italian pasta dish that is rich, creamy, and delicious. Plus, it comes together in less than 15 minutes!
Ingredients
- 1 (10 oz.) package fettuccine pasta noodles
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ cup butter
- 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ⅓ cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper (or to taste)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil over medium-high heat. Add fettuccine noodles and salt and cook until al dente (fully cooked but still firm) according to package directions, about 2-3 minutes for fresh fettuccine noodles and 8-10 minutes for dried noodles. Reserve ½ cup pasta water and then drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, melt butter over medium high heat for 1 minute. Add garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Add heavy cream and Parmesan cheese. Stir well and bring the sauce to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium and keep stirring until thickened to a desired consistency, about 3-4 minutes.
- Stir in cooked fettuccine and toss well to combine. If you like it a bit saucier, slowly add ¼ cup to ½ cup reserved pasta water and stir well to combine.
- Sprinkle extra Parmesan and freshly ground black pepper on top.
Notes
Don’t overcook the pasta: Follow the package instructions and set a timer so you don’t accidentally overcook the pasta. Also keep in mind that the fettuccine will cook slightly more once it’s introduced to the hot pan with the alfredo sauce.
How to store pasta: Allow the fettuccine alfredo pasta to cool to room temperature before placing it in an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
How to reheat fettuccine alfredo: Reheat on the stove over medium-low heat until warmed through, about 5 minutes. If the sauce has thickened up too much in the fridge, add a splash of water. You can also microwave leftover pasta, covered, on low heat in 30-second intervals until warmed through, up to four minutes. Mix frequently.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Sauce
- Cuisine: American
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