Description
A kid-friendly, ultra-creamy homemade Alfredo sauce made with roasted garlic, heavy cream, and freshly grated Parmesan. This recipe avoids graininess and separation for a smooth, rich sauce ready in about 20-30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 large head of garlic (about 15–20 cloves)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (for roasting)
- 4 tablespoons (½ stick / 57g) unsalted butter
- 1 cup (240ml) heavy whipping cream
- 1 cup (100g) freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder (optional)
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt (or to taste)
- Black pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Slice off the top quarter of the garlic head to expose cloves. Place on foil, drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil, and wrap tightly into a packet. Roast for 15-20 minutes until soft and golden. Let cool for 5 minutes, then squeeze cloves out and mash into a paste.
- While garlic roasts, grate the Parmesan cheese. Set aside.
- In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, melt the butter slowly until foamy and fragrant. Do not let it brown.
- Add the mashed roasted garlic paste to the melted butter. Stir constantly for 1-2 minutes until fragrant and nutty.
- Pour in the heavy cream and whisk to combine. Bring to a gentle simmer (small bubbles around edges) and cook for 3-4 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Remove the pan from the heat. Gradually add the grated Parmesan cheese, stirring constantly until melted and the sauce is glossy and smooth.
- Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed. If too thick, add a splash of pasta water or milk. If too thin, return to low heat for 1 minute.
Notes
Use freshly grated Parmesan; pre-grated cheese contains cellulose which prevents smooth melting. Always remove the pan from heat before adding cheese to prevent graininess. If the sauce separates, blend with an immersion blender or whisk in cold cream. This sauce does not freeze well due to dairy separation.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ¼ cup sauce
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 320
- Fat: 26
- Saturated Fat: 16
- Carbohydrates: 4
- Fiber: 0.5
- Protein: 8
Keywords: roasted garlic alfredo, homemade alfredo sauce, kid-friendly recipes, creamy pasta sauce, easy weeknight dinner, gluten-free sauce