The best thing about family recipes is how they get passed down from generation to generation. Heck, it’s why Josie + Nina even exists. This traditional Alfredo recipe is no different. When Alfredo Di Lelio, the originator of the recipe, created this easy pasta sauce, he didn’t make it with cream.

Fast forward to today, Alfredo sauce is commonly made as a simple, homemade butter and cream sauce!

Allow me to introduce you to the authentic Alfredo sauce made in the way Alfredo intended…

…and you are gonna love that there’s only 2 ingredients!

p.s. If you love easy recipes, my Italian pasta sauce recipe collection is one worth bookmarking!

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Traditional Alfredo sauce ingredients

Ingredients for Traditional Alfredo Sauce fettuccine butter cheese and salt and pepper
Only 2 ingredients in the sauce for a creamy Alfredo

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This simple Alfredo is unique in that it doesn’t start with a basic béchamel sauce from scratch. Instead— it includes just:

Butter (and a lot of it)

Traditional Alfredo sauce from scratch starts with butter. One cup of butter to be exact. Now isn’t the time to cut back or find a substitute. When a recipe has only 2 ingredients, you go for broke.

Grated Romano cheese

Yep, you will be hand grating (or use your food processor grater attachment) the cheese. And —I use Pecorino Romano, instead of Parmesan, for its sharp bite, fluffy texture when grated that helps it to melt easier.

Best pasta shapes for Alfredo sauce

Fettuccine is the preferred pasta because it hugs the Alfredo as you twist the pasta up on your fork. And cooking the pasta al dente is required.

Other pasta shapes that will hug the creaminess Alfredo has:

  • Cavatappi. It shows off its curves and turns in this viral baked pasta with goat cheese.
  • Bow tie pasta. One of our favorite dressy pasta shapes. Bow tie pasta has great folds to hold sauce like in this creamy bow tie recipe.
  • Rigatoni. Any tube pasta like rigatoni can hold a lot of butter and cheese sauce!

♥️ Advice from the grandmas ♥️

Please…don’t use pre-grated or shredded cheese for Alfredo sauce. The fillers in the cheese will adversely affect the creaminess of the sauce!

-Josie + Nina

How to make Alfredo sauce without cream

melted butter in large black skillet for alfredo sauce
Heat large skillet with sides over medium heat and add the butter stirring until it’s melted and foamy.
black skillet with melted butter and cheese being stirred in
Add cheese a bit at a time and stir with a stainless whisk until creamy. Stainless helps the cheese not clump and relax into the butter.
A large skillet with traditional alfredo sauce being stirred with a whisk
Add 1/4 cup of pasta water and continue whisking until mixed in. Don’t panic if you see some trails of cheese in the butter and pasta water. It will come together!
no cream fettuccine alfredo being tossed with tongs in a black skillet
Using tongs, add the fettuccine into the skillet tossing to coat with the sauce. Add more pasta water in 1/4 cup increments as needed. That’s it!

Pasta water down the drain?

If you accidentally threw out all the pasta water, relax!

Pasta water has an important role in Alfredo sauce (and most pasta sauces) by emulsifying the sauce, thickening and making it creamy at the same time. But…you have options.

Here’s what you’ll do:

Add about 1/4 teaspoon of cornstarch to a cup of boiling water. Tada! You made something with the same thickening properties of pasta water!

Tips from the kitchen

large black skillet with tongs stirring traditional alfredo sauce on fettuccine
Follow these tips for an authentic !

Over the years, I’ve collected some tried and true tips to help you easily make homemade pasta sauces. And this Alfredo without cream isn’t any different.

  • High quality ingredients. With only 2 ingredients, now isn’t the time to skimp so choose the best your budget can afford.
  • Room temp rules. Like in baking, when it comes to making sauces with cheese, your ingredients need to be at room temp so the Alfredo sauce doesn’t seize up.
  • Mis en place. That French for “everything in its place.” Have your butter out and your cheese grated (and a glass of your favorite beverage poured!)
  • Big skillet with high sides. My favorite All Clad Deep Weeknight Skillet is my go to for making the best pasta sauces to toss with pasta.
  • Use a stainless steel kitchen tool when stirring cheese into hot sauces or soups to avoid clumping and sticking.
  • Low and slow. Keep your burner on low…there’s no need to rush things!
  • Reserve some additional pasta water in an airtight container and add along with a little butter to loosen up and reheat any leftovers.

Serving suggestions

blue bowl with white trim holding creamy alfredo with fettuccine
So many great recipes pair well with alfredo sauce!

Serve Immediately: Alfredo sauce is best enjoyed right after it’s made. It tends to thicken as it cools, so serve promptly for the creamiest experience.

Makes a great main course tossed with some juicy sauteed chicken breasts, quick charred broccolini or as side dish sprinkled with Italian spinach and garlic.

Made this recipe?

I’d love it if you’d share your review and leave a star rating and comment!

Take me there!
close up of creamy alfredo sauce on fettuccine
5 from 1 vote

20-Minute Traditional Alfredo Sauce without Cream

When I say Alfredo sauce, do you think of a cream-based pasta sauce? Truth be told, a traditional Alfredo sauce is made without cream. That's right —you only need 2 ingredients. Butter and cheese! Bonus? This super quick dinner can be on the table in less than 20 minutes!

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Print RATE PIN
Prep Time:10 minutes
Cook Time:10 minutes
Total Time:20 minutes
Servings 4

Ingredients
 

Instructions

  • In a large skillet (10-12”) with sides, heat the butter until melted. Stir in the romano cheese a little bit at a time stirring to make a cheese sauce. Add in pasta water ¼ cup at a time, stirring the whole time so that it's creamy. Keep stirring and mixing over medium low heat until a creamy sauce forms.
    *See below…use a metal or stainless whisk or spoon to mix the sauce.
    1 cup butter, 1 1/2 cups grated romano cheese
  • Toss in hot drained fettuccine, tossing to coat with the sauce. Add more pasta water as needed. Season with salt and pepper and garnish with more romano.
    ½ lb fettuccine, kosher salt/pepper

Notes

I find using a stainless steel whisk or spatula better than silicone or wood for coaxing the butter and cheese together. This will help avoid clumping on the spoon.
Storage. Store leftovers in an airtight container with a lid in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Reheat. To reheat, heat leftovers in a saucepan over low heat, adding a splash of milk, cream or pasta water, stirring with a wire whisk. Add a little more butter as needed to loosen things up.
Course: Main Course, Pasta
Cuisine: Italian
Author: Lori Murphy
Like this? Leave a commentI love hearing from you and I want to hear how it went with this recipe! Leave a comment and rating below, then share on social media @josieandnina and #josieandnina!
woman in a red shirt cutting pizza smiling.

About Lori Murphy

Lori has over 30 years in the food industry as a marketing strategist, culinary instructor and chef for three kids with discerning palates. As the chief content creator at Josie + Nina, Lori is dedicated to helping home cooks create food memories through fresh ingredients and Italian flavors.

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5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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