Fettuccine alfredo garnished with parsley on a round brown plate next to a fork with breadsticks in the background on a wooden surface (with logo overlay)

Fettuccine Alfredo

A copycat version of Olive Garden’s alfredo dipping sauce, mixed with noodles to make delicious fettuccine alfredo. Add meat for a full meal.

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A simple fettuccine alfredo is solely dependent on the quality and flavor of the alfredo sauce you use. Of course, there are store-bought jars of sauce, but I find they never have as much flavor as homemade. Then again, I could say that about almost anything. 

Many years ago, back in college, Justin and I were looking for a good alfredo recipe. I came across a copycat version of the Olive Garden alfredo. I had tried their fettuccine alfredo before, so I figured we would like it. 

After I made it and saw how thick and creamy the sauce was, I realized that this was the alfredo dipping sauce that you can order to go with the breadsticks. It was not what they usually put on their noodles. I’ve never cared for thin sauce, though, so it was perfect.

When we go to Olive Garden now, I usually get the soup (Chicken and Gnocchi, of course), salad, and breadsticks meal. With those breadsticks, I always ask for the alfredo dipping sauce. So, I’m not surprised at how much I like it on my fettuccine.

We have made this as chicken fettuccine alfredo by adding in pieces of cooked chicken. I’ve also put shrimp in to make a seafood meal. And slightly roasted broccoli will add some flavor while getting some veggies in, too. You can make it with almost anything added to it.

I also usually make some fresh bread or cheesy garlic bread to go with the alfredo because it’s so good for dipping. There are also some delicious breadsticks that we can often find in the bread aisle at the grocery store. They come in a bag and you bake them for a few minutes. They aren’t quite Olive Garden breadsticks, but very close for something that can be made at home!

Step by Step

Ingredients

  • 12 oz noodles
  • 2 cups heavy whipping cream
  • 8 oz cream cheese
  • 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese
  • garlic powder
  • Italian seasoning
Ingredients for fettuccine alfredo in stainless steel bowls on a wooden surface

Preparation

Cook the noodles as directed. You can use any type of noodles, but fettuccine works best. 

Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, heat the heavy cream over medium heat until it’s hot. 

Alfredo sauce in a saucepan on a wooden surface

Whisk the cream cheese into the hot cream until it’s combined, stirring constantly. 

Alfredo sauce in a saucepan on a wooden surface

Add the parmesan cheese and stir until the cheese has melted. 

Alfredo sauce in a saucepan on a wooden surface

Put in a pinch of garlic powder and Italian seasoning, to taste. I like a lot of flavor in mine, so I add about a teaspoon or so of each. 

Alfredo sauce in a saucepan on a wooden surface

Remove the sauce from the heat and fold the noodles into the sauce. 

Serve immediately, topped with more parmesan cheese if desired. Garnish with basil and/or parsley.

Fettuccine alfredo garnished with parsley on a round brown plate next to a fork with breadsticks in the background on a wooden surface (vertical)

Recipe

Originally Published On: November 29, 2016

Last Updated On: May 17, 2021

Fettuccine alfredo garnished with parsley on a round brown plate next to a fork with breadsticks in the background on a wooden surface

Fettuccine Alfredo

A copycat version of Olive Garden's alfredo dipping sauce, mixed with noodles to make delicious fettuccine alfredo. Add meat for a full meal.
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course:
Main Dish
Cuisine:
American
Keyword:
alfredo
|
cream cheese
|
noodles
|
pasta
Servings: 4
5 from 12 votes

Ingredients

  • 12 oz noodles
  • 2 cups heavy whipping cream
  • 8 oz cream cheese
  • 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese
  • garlic powder
  • italian seasoning

Instructions

  • Cook noodles as directed
  • Heat the heavy whipping cream in a medium saucepan over medium heat until it's warm
  • Whisk the cream cheese into the hot cream until combined
  • Add the parmesan cheese and stir until it melts
  • Add a pinch of garlic powder and Italian seasoning to taste
  • Remove from the heat and gently fold in the noodles
  • Serve immediately garnished with extra parmesan cheese, basil, and/or parsley
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Nutrition Facts
Fettuccine Alfredo
Amount Per Serving
Calories 997 Calories from Fat 621
% Daily Value*
Fat 69g106%
Saturated Fat 41g205%
Cholesterol 238mg79%
Sodium 533mg22%
Potassium 383mg11%
Carbohydrates 70g23%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 4g4%
Protein 23g46%
Vitamin A 2655IU53%
Vitamin C 0.7mg1%
Calcium 380mg38%
Iron 1.6mg9%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutrition content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.

58 thoughts on “Fettuccine Alfredo”

    1. I haven’t tried to make this recipe vegan before. I have done a few of my recipes with vegan butter and almond milk when my friend with a dairy allergy comes over, but I haven’t tried any of the vegan cheese yet. There’s just so much dairy in this one, I haven’t tried to make it dairy-free.

      1. This recipe looks so creamy and delicious. Give me pasta every day and I am a happy girl. Thanks for sharing the other tips.

  1. 5 stars
    Is it normal that my mouth is watering and heart beating just a little faster since reading this recipe? 🙂 Pair it with a little crusty bread and some nice wine… mmm mmm. Not exactly “health food” but good for the soul!

    1. I find, with most cream sauces, you need to constantly stir. They’ll scald very quickly, so have all of your ingredients measured and ready so you can stay at the stovetop with it.

  2. 5 stars
    This fettuccine alfredo looks so deliciously thick and creamy! i don’t see many alfredo’s turn out so thickly delicious like this, im really looking forward to trying it.

  3. I’ve really been craving fettuccine alfredo lately. I’m going away on vacation this weekend and didn’t plan to cook anything, but I might just have to make an exception for this!

  4. MMMM. This looks so good. You always have the best recipes on your blog. I will be making this for sure next week for dinner.

  5. Fetuccine alfredo is one of my favorite pasta recipes! The alfredo sauce it’s so easy to make and delicious. Great recipe!

  6. 5 stars
    I’ve tried many store bought Alfredo sauces and I don’t like them a lot. This recipe seems easy to make and delicious but I’m a little horrified with the calories. It may be just a matter of not eating too much!

  7. This looks delicious. I love copycat recipes I can cook in my kitchen. I love Olive Garden and all of the pasta. I will be certain to add this to my menu during the week. I love how creamy the sauce looks over the noodles. Yum!

  8. This sounds so good right now. I feel like we are in a huge food rut so this may be a good one to try out!

  9. Ooooo how delish!!!! I just love fettuccine. One of my favorite pasta dishes. Must give your recipe a try when u get home from vacation!

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