How to Make Copycat Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce
Updated: Aug. 02, 2023
Craving a bowl of creamy fettuccine Alfredo from Olive Garden? Here's how you can easily make it right at home.
There’s truly nothing like a night out at the Olive Garden. From big plates of creamy pasta to savory bowls of soup, crunchy green salads and, of course, those never-ending breadsticks, Olive Garden always succeeds at offering some of our comfort-food favorites. And we can’t forget our go-to pasta sauce—Olive Garden’s creamy, cheesy, one of a kind Alfredo sauce.
But when you’re nowhere near one of their restaurant locations and you have a hankering for cheesy pasta, these Olive Garden copycat recipes come to the rescue—like this copycat Olive Garden Alfredo sauce.
Copycat Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce Recipe
If you’re craving a creamy bowl of fettuccine with copycat Olive Garden Alfredo sauce, here’s what you’ll need.
Ingredients
- 4 ounces uncooked fettuccine
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese, divided
- 1/4 cup grated Romano cheese
- 1 large egg yolk, lightly beaten
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- Dash each of pepper and ground nutmeg
- Minced fresh parsley, optional
Editors Tip: For best results, grate the cheese yourself instead of buying it pre-grated. This Alfredo sauce is creamiest when the cheese is freshly grated and at room temperature.
Directions
Step 1: Cook the pasta
To start, cook the fettuccine according to the package instructions. While the pasta is cooking, you can prepare the Alfredo sauce.
Step 2: Melt the butter
In a saucepan, melt butter over medium-low heat. Be sure to choose a saucepan that will fit all of your Alfredo sauce with the cooked fettuccine—everything will be combined in it.
Step 3: Stir in the cream
Pour the cup of heavy whipping cream into the pot, stirring to combine. While heavy whipping cream and heavy cream are typically used interchangeably for some cooks, they do contain a slight difference in milk fat content, so the consistency might be a bit different if you decide to substitute.
Step 4: Sprinkle in ingredients
Once combined, sprinkle in 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, all the Romano cheese, the egg yolk, salt, pepper and nutmeg. The extra dash of ground nutmeg elevates the flavor along with the usual salt and pepper combo, making the Olive Garden Alfredo sauce stand out among the rest.
Step 5: Cook the sauce
Cook and stir the sauce over medium-low heat until a thermometer reads 160°F; do not bring to a boil.
Editor’s Tip: Meat thermometers are useful for cooking other types of foods beside meat, such as sauces.
Step 6: Combine all the ingredients
Drain the cooked fettuccine pasta, then add it to the saucepan with the Olive Garden Alfredo sauce and the remaining Parmesan cheese. Stir together the pasta, sauce and cheese until fully combined. The thick sauce and extra cheese should cling to the pasta nicely. If the Olive Garden Alfredo sauce still feels slightly thin, you can let the pasta simmer for a few minutes to thicken it up before serving.
Step 7: Serve
If desired, sprinkle with parsley. Serve with a slice of garlic bread or, even better, a batch of Copycat Olive Garden Breadsticks.
Tips for Making Copycat Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce
How can you make copycat Olive Garden Alfredo sauce your own?
If you’re looking to get creative with your homemade Olive Garden Alfredo sauce, consider using different kinds of cheeses. Although Parmesan and Romano cheese are typical for this kind of sauce, you could make it creamier by adding cubes of cream cheese, or tangier with some blue cheese or goat cheese crumbles.
You could even level up the nutrition of your pasta by adding in some protein and veggies. Throw in some grilled chicken (or even rotisserie chicken) to make the meal even more satiating. Shrimp is also a great option for fettuccine Alfredo, unless of course, you would rather just make Olive Garden’s shrimp scampi.
Vegetables are easy to mix into your Olive Garden Alfredo sauce as well. Try peas, thinly-sliced bell peppers, spinach, cherry tomatoes or cooked broccoli.
How should you store copycat Olive Garden Alfredo sauce?
Store fettuccine Alfredo leftovers in a shallow airtight container for up to five days. If you don’t think you’ll consume your pasta by then, you can also freeze it in the same type of airtight container. To reheat, simply add the frozen pasta to a saucepan with a little bit of water or milk to loosen it up.
If you would rather cook up a batch of Olive Garden Alfredo sauce to save for another time, you can store the sauce in an airtight container or jar and place it in the fridge.
You can also freeze the sauce in an airtight container or a heavy-duty freezer bag. However, if you choose to freeze it, be sure to give the Alfredo sauce time to thaw in the refrigerator before using it. The sauce may separate while defrosting, but don’t worry—just give the sauce a good mix before placing it in the saucepan to heat up and you’re good to go.
Looking for more restaurant recipes to make at home? Check our favorite Olive Garden chicken gnocchi soup and restaurant copycat recipes.
