If you always loved Olive Garden alfredo sauce, you must try this recipe! It's the perfect copycat without a lick of gluten, and dare I say it's better than theirs!!
I don't know about you, but even if Olive Garden offers gluten free options I'm not biting (no pun intended). Some of us don't have a bad reaction from just a little cross contamination, but I'm not one of those. If I eat one crumb of gluten, I'm down for the count for several days.
I've been making this alfredo sauce for years now and it never gets old. My family loves it and it's often made when we get together for family functions.
WHY ISN'T OLIVE GARDEN'S ALFREDO SAUCE GLUTEN FREE?
I'm not positive, but I think Olive Garden uses a roux in their sauce to make it a little thicker than normal. A roux is just a mixture of equal parts flour and fat and it's used to thicken sauces. Sadly, a lot of places use roux and, therefore, we can't enjoy those sauces. If they only knew that there are other ways!
WHAT'S IN THIS GLUTEN FREE ALFREDO THEN?
There are only 4 ingredients in this gluten free alfredo, as well as a few spices.
- Butter -- a perfect beginning to anything.
- Cream cheese -- the secret ingredient that brings this sauce to a whole 'nother level. It takes the place of the roux to thicken the sauce.
- Heavy cream -- all good alfredo sauces use either heavy cream or half and half.
- Parmigianno Regianno -- make sure you use the good stuff for this sauce because it's all about the cheese!
- Nutmeg -- just a dash of nutmeg really enhances the sauce. I put it in almost all my cream sauces.
- Garlic Powder, Salt, & Pepper -- garlic powder provides a quick and easy garlic punch of flavor. However, I've also made this sauce with roasted garlic and it's TO.DIE.FOR. So if you're all about garlic in your alfredo, you can finely chop a few cloves and drop them in with the butter, or drop several cloves of roasted garlic in at the end for a flavor explosion!!
HOW DO I MAKE THE ALFREDO SAUCE?
- Melt the butter in a small saucepan over low heat.
- Add the cream cheese and stir occasionally until the cream cheese begins to melt.
- Stir in the heavy cream and spices and simmer over low heat until sauce is reduced and thickened, about 15-20 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Add Parmigianno Regianno and stir until melted (I use my favorite cheese grater here).
WHAT DO I SERVE THE ALFREDO WITH?
While alfredo is typically served with fettuccine noodles, they're not my fave anyway so I use any other noodle. Spaghetti, penne, rotini, or any other shaped pasta that you can find gluten free will work just fine.
A couple years ago I started making Blackened Chicken Alfredo and it's become a real family favorite. Using store-bought blackening seasoning, coat boneless, skinless chicken breasts and saute them for about 15-20 minutes in a little butter and/or olive oil. Slice them into thin strips and add them to a plate of alfredo pasta. You can also add sauteed broccoli and/or spinach.
If you've ever been to the Rainforest Cafe, they have this wonderful dish called Rasta Pasta. It's loaded with chicken strips, broccoli, red peppers, and spinach. The sauce is a mixture of basil pesto and alfredo sauce. If you've never tried this combo, you're in for a treat because it's incredible!! Just add equal parts basil pesto (homemade or store-bought) and this alfredo sauce to hot pasta, toss, and serve with veggies and meat (or by itself).
But pasta isn't the only thing you can serve this alfredo with! Remember those Olive Garden Style Breadsticks I made a few months back??? My absolute favorite thing to do with alfredo sauce is dip breadsticks in it!! It is SO GOOD!!!
CAN I FREEZE ANY LEFTOVER SAUCE?
Unfortunately, alfredo doesn't do well in the freezer. It tends to separate.
HOW LONG WILL IT KEEP IN THE REFRIGERATOR?
It will keep no more than 5-6 days in the fridge.
If you're dying to have Olive Garden style alfredo sauce again, gather a few simple ingredients and get in the kitchen. In less than half an hour you can be reveling in the glory of this sauce!!
Gluten Free Copycat Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce
Ingredients
- ½ cup (1 stick or 113 g) butter
- 4 oz (½ of an 8-oz brick) cream cheese
- 2 cups (480 ml) heavy cream
- 2 cups freshly grated Parmigianno Reggiano
- 1 pinch ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder (or 2 cloves fresh garlic, chopped) (or several cloves roasted garlic)
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Melt butter in 3-qt saucepan over low heat. If using fresh garlic, add this with the butter (don't let the garlic burn).
- Add cream cheese and continue to cook slowly over low heat, stirring constantly, until cheese is mostly melted (it may look like the sauce is broken or separated, but this is normal).
- Add heavy cream and spices and increase temperature to medium. Allow mixture to reach a low boil, stirring constantly, and then reduce heat and allow the sauce to simmer for about 15-20 minutes.
- Add Parmigianno Regianno and stir. Serve warm over pasta or use as a dip for breadsticks.
- Store leftover sauce in the refrigerator for 5-6 days.
Damara says
How many does this serve?
Kim says
We can serve four with plenty leftover.
Gail says
Fabulous once again. I am serving this over a gluten free sausage ravioli made from your pasta recipe. I also made lobster ravioli. the pasta dough handled beautifully. If I can remember I'll post a pic in instagram!
Kim says
Thanks, Gail!!!! Sounds delicious 🥰
Jen says
Delicious and easy! I used garlic powder but next time I'll try fresh garlic and see how that changes the flavor. I'll be making this again for sure.
Kim says
Awesome! Thanks so much 🥰
DigiDara says
How much pasta do I need for this recipe?
Kim says
It's really a matter of personal preference, but generally I can make a pound of pasta and still have some of the sauce left over. I don't like to give pasta amounts because sometimes the sauce can be used for other purposes (to dip breadsticks in, for example).
Di says
Maybe I missed it but how much pasta is this sauce good for? I’d love to use it in a penne casserole but I want to make sure it’s saucy enough. Thank you so much
Jessica says
Made this sauce with summer squash fettucine and chicken. It was outstanding, thank you for sharing!
Mary says
Have you made this using substitutes for cream cheese and heavy cream???
Kim says
I haven't, but if there are good substitutes for cream cheese and heavy cream out there, I don't see why they wouldn't work.
Jen says
This was, for a celiac, thee best Alfredo sauce, hands down, I’ve ever had. Wow! Nailed it. All I did was add ham and peas to the sauce and noodles (gluten free Barilla spaghetti) and my whole family was BEGGING for this meal every night.
PENNY LEE says
THANK YOU. This recipe is fabulous and absolutely delightful over your GF recipe for pasta. All of your recipes are fantastic and I patiently wait each week for your new release. You have made my GF journey so much easier.
Kim says
Awe, thank you so much, Penny!!! I'm so glad you're having success baking your way through my blog 🥰
Kim Porter says
I rarely comment on recipes but really need to tell you how fantastic this Alfredo sauce turned out. I followed it exactly. It’s the first time my daughter, who has a wheat allergy, was able to have Alfredo since her diagnosis. We threw some shrimp in at the end and served with steamed asparagus. Absolutely delicious.
Cathy says
Amazingly delicious!!! Thank you for sharing!
Christie Lalonde says
Thats two for two. This is the second recipe I tried of yours and it was so tasty and so fast and easy to make. I can't wait to keep baking and cooking with your amazing recipes.
Thanks😋😋😋
Kim says
Awesome, Christie!! Thanks so much 🙂
Christie Lalonde says
Thats two for two. This is the second recipe I tried of yours and it was absolutely delicious and so fast and easy to make. I can't wait to keep baking and cooking with your amazing recipes.
Thanks😋😋😋
A Kasin says
I’ve made this twice now, in the past couple of weeks. First for my Mom and sister, and they absolutely loved it! I made it again at home for my daughter and she also really really loved it. They needed gluten free and it’s been hard to make things without flour. This was super easy though.
And it really does taste just like Olive Garden’s; it’s wonderful! It is in my go-to recipe book now, and this will be the recipe I use from here in out. It’s THAT amazing!!!!!!
Kim says
Oh, wow! That's a wonderful compliment!! Thank you so much 🙂
Mary says
You are an angel for coming up with this recipe! It is soooo good you could drink it! I’m thinking you’re right about people thinking it had to be made with a r out! Thank you so much!
Kim says
Haha, thanks so much! I'm glad you like it 🙂
Pam V says
YAY!!! Thank you so much! 😃 the recipe I have uses egg yolks, cream cheese sounds much better. Can’t wait to try this!
Kim says
It's so good, Pam! Can't wait for you to try it!!
Tina Gorman says
My 3 year old was recently diagnosed with Celiac Disease. It’s hard to find good tasting recipes but this one was a hit! I didn’t have heavy cream so I used milk instead.
Cyndi in NC says
I will definitely try this recipe. I have made it at home but your recipe sounds better than the one I have. I am with you wondering why Olive Garden doesn't offer Alfredo on their GF menu and suppose the roux is why . I have had mixed luck at OG. I'm not quite as sensitive as you are so who knows what really happens in the kitchen!! Maybe their pluck the croutons out of the salad instead of a fresh one. I used to love eating out but less and less now. Oh well. Going to make your Pumpkin Bread for sure!!
Kim says
Me, too, Cyndi! I don't feel safe anywhere anymore, except Disney World. They treat people with food allergies like royalty there, and if I could I'd go all the time.
Cyndi in NC says
Love Disney but didn't know I had Celiac when I was there 3 years ago. I love Universal too but also was before the Celiac diagnoses. But I think the turkey legs might be ok and the butterbeer! *LOL*
Kim says
I've never been to Universal. We never want to leave Disney to see how it is. Haha!