Better Than Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce

Name: Better Than Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce
Prep time: 3 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 4 Tbsp butter; 1 cup half and half; 1/2 cup milk; 1 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese; 2 garlic cloves, minced; 1/2 tsp salt; 1/4 tsp ground black pepper; 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg; 1/2 LB. fettuccine pasta; optional- dried parsley ((for topping))

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My husband and I love Olive Garden which is why I had to make a better than Olive Garden Alfredo sauce at home! It’s creamy, garlicky, and has the same crave-able taste you’d order at the restaurant. Not to mention it’s simple to whip up in only 15 minutes!

freshly cooked better than olive garden alfredo sauce

Why You’ll Love This Better Than Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce Recipe

Tastes Better Than the Restaurant: I call it better than olive garden Alfredo sauce for a reason!
Cheaper: Making this dish at home is so much cheaper than going to the restaurant.
Quick to Make: You can whip up this pasta dish in only 15 minutes from start to finish.

Tips for the Best Fettuccine Alfredo

Don’t skip the half and half in this recipe, it creates a creamy flavor.
Use freshly grated parmesan rather than already grated.
For thinner sauce add in a little more milk.
For thicker sauce add in only 1/4 cup milk.

The Secret to the Best Alfredo Sauce

The secret to this copycat Olive Garden Alfredo is half and half, freshly grated parmesan, and nutmeg!

The half and half adds that creaminess you get at the restaurant.
The freshly grated parmesan creates the perfect texture and rich flavor.
The nutmeg adds that hint of flavor you can’t put your finger on.

labeled ingredients for better than olive garden alfredo sauce

Ingredients for Olive Garden Fettuccine Alfredo

unsalted butter
half and half
milk
freshly grated parmesan cheese
garlic cloves, minced
salt
ground black pepper
ground nutmeg
fettuccine pasta
optional- dried parsley (for topping)

Kitchen Tools for This Recipe

How to Make Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce

cooking fettuccine pasta for better than olive garden alfredo sauce

Bring a pot of water to a boil over high heat for the fettuccine pasta. Then cook according to the package, about 12 minutes over medium heat.

melting butter for better than olive garden alfredo sauce

While pasta is cooking, make your sauce by first melting butter in a separate pan over medium heat.

cooking fresh garlic minced in butter for better than olive garden alfredo sauce

Add in minced garlic cloves and cook for 1 minutes over medium heat.

adding parmesan cheese into better than olive garden alfredo sauce

Add in milk, half and half, salt, pepper, nutmeg, and grated parmesan. Whisk to combine.

whisking milk and ingredients together for better than olive garden alfredo sauce

Let simmer for 5 minutes over medium heat, whisking frequently.

alfredo sauce, pasta, parsley, and parmesan ready to be put together

cooked noodles added into better than olive garden alfredo sauce

Take off heat, add in cooked fettuccine pasta and serve with a sprinkle of dried parsley and a little extra grated Parmesan if desired. Enjoy!

Storing Leftovers

Store leftover pasta or sauce in an airtight container for 3-4 days in the fridge.

How to Reheat Fettuccine Alfredo

The best way to reheat fettuccine Alfredo is in a pan on the stove over medium heat. I would add a little extra milk or half and half and butter to the pan while heating. This will bring back the flavor and creaminess. When you’re done, add on a little more freshly grated parmesan.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I make this a Chicken Alfredo recipe from Olive Garden

Yes, you can! Simply add a pan-seared or grilled chicken breast cut into pieces on top of the pasta. I would season the chicken with salt, pepper, and a little garlic powder.

Why don’t you use cream cheese for this Alfredo sauce?

For my recipe, the creaminess is created through melted butter, half and half, a little milk, and freshly grated parmesan. Because of this, you don’t need cream cheese for this recipe.

How to make Alfredo sauce better than Olive Garden?

The secret to this better than Olive Garden Alfredo is half and half, freshly grated parmesan, and nutmeg!

More Better Than Recipes To Try

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