Homemade Alfredo Sauce with milk is thick, rich and creamy. It is made with whole milk instead of heavy cream and only takes.
Compared to other homemade alfredo sauce recipes it is a thick and creamy and made without cream or cream cheese but you would never know it. It is one of my favorite Alfredo Sauce recipes.
This recipe was originally shared on October 23, 2011 and has been updated with more helpful information and new photos on February 13, 2022.
Yes, you can make an amazingly delicious homemade Alfredo sauce with milk instead of cream that is thick and creamy!
And you can make homemade fettuccine alfredo in 30 minutes or less.
Alfredo Sauce with Milk
Homemade Alfredo Sauce is very easy to with milk.
And it is the best Alfredo sauce recipe you can make without heavy cream cheese or cream. Once you taste this homemade milk version you will never buy jarred Alfredo sauce again!
How to make homemade Alfredo sauce with milk instead of cream
One day I was in the mood for some Fettuccine Alfredo but didn't have any Alfredo sauce on hand.
I decided to make my own alfredo sauce using a basic cream sauce and fresh parmesan cheese. It turned out so good I have never looked back.
This homemade alfredo sauce recipe made with milk is thick rich and creamy.
And by making it yourself you can season it to your own liking and it tastes so much better homemade.
Easy Alfredo sauce
This recipe will make enough Alfredo sauce to cover 1 pound of pasta.
You can divide it in half with no problem if you need to prepare a smaller amount.
Alfredo Sauce with milk ingredients
You only need 4 ingredients plus salt and pepper to make this homemade alfredo sauce recipe and 1 pound of cooked pasta.
- 1 lb. of fettuccine noodles or pasta of choice, cooked
- 4 tablespoons butter or margarine
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups of whole milk
- ½ to ¾ a cup of grated Parmesan cheese or a parmesan cheese blend
Recipe Prep
- Cook the pasta as directed on the box in the salted water before you start making the sauce. It takes about 10 minutes to cook fettucine noodles el dente.
- You need to have the pasta done at about the same time your sauce will be finished.
Directions to make the Alfredo sauce
- Step 1: Add the butter, salt, and pepper to a heavy bottomed, medium-sized pot or skillet. Heat over a medium heat.
- Step 2: Once the butter has melted add the flour and whisk until smooth, removing all lumps from the flour.
Whisk to combine the flour with the melted butter.
Whisk until the flour and butter are lump free.
- Step 3: Slowly pour the milk in and whisk until smooth again. Turn the heat up a bit to about medium-high.
- Step 4: Add ½ cup of grated Parmesan cheese, whisk until combined. Taste to see if the flavor of Parmesan is strong enough for you. If not, add the remaining Parmesan cheese.
Continue whisking until the sauce has thickened, 5 to 8 minutes.
📌Pro Cooking Tip
The sauce will thicken even further as it cools. If the sauce cools and thickens too much before you mix it with the pasta you add a splash of milk to pasta water to thin it with the sauce.
- Step 5: Pour the Alfredo sauce over the pasta and mix until the pasta is evenly coated. If you have cooked it in a skillet you can add the pasta to the skillet and toss to cover the pasta with the sauce.
Serve immediately with a crusty french bread or a slice of homemade white bread.
This homemade alfredo sauce with milk recipe is very versatile and can be used to make so many different alfredo recipes.
Recipe FAQs
You can make a rich and creamy alfredo sauce using whole milk and flour instead of heavy cream.
The difference between fettuccine and linguine pasta noodles is the shape of the pasta and the ingredients used to make the. Fettuccine pasta noodles is made with egg and are wide flat noodles. While linguine noodles are made with out egg and are a thin, narrow flat noodle.
Recipe Expert Tips
- Pot size: Use at least a 2 quart size sauce pan or a wide skillet. You don't want to use too small of a pot because you will be whisking the sauce as it cooks and thickens. If the pot is too small the sauce could splash and drip over the side of the pot making a big mess.
- Using a skillet: If using a skillet the sauce will thicken even faster.
- Thickened sauce: Alfredo sauce will thicken as it cools. You can thin it by adding a small amount of milk or pasta water.
- What kind of Parmesan cheese to use: Please use real grated Parmesan cheese for the best flavor.
- Leftovers: Leftover alfredo sauce can be refrigerated for up to a week.
- Freezing: Leftover Alfredo sauce can be frozen for up to a month. Thaw and thin with a little milk and reheat before using.
- Add ins: You can add cooked broccoli and cooked or grilled chicken if you like to make Chicken Broccoli Fettuccine Alfredo. Add the heated extras when you mix the sauce with the pasta and serve.
- Spicy alfredo: Add a ½ to 1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes to the sauce to make spicy alfredo sauce.
Check out my Alfredo Sauce Recipe page for more delicious homemade Alfredo sauce recipes.
More alfredo recipes you'll love
Check out more delicious homemade alfredo recipes below.
Print the Alfredo Sauce with milk recipe below
Email questions or recipe requests to flouronmyface@gmail.com. Follow me on Pinterest, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook.
Alfredo Sauce with milk
Ingredients
- 1 lb. box of fettuccine noodles (cooked)
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground pepper
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 cup shredded real Parmesan cheese ((plus more for garnish))
Instructions
Prep
- Cook the pasta as directed on the box in the salted water. Start boiling the pasta water about 10 minutes before you start making your sauce. You want to have the pasta ready at about the same time your sauce will be finished.
How to make Alfredo Sauce with milk
- Melt the butter in a heavy saucepan or skillet over medium heat. Add the salt and pepper to the pan and whisk together.
- Add the flour and whisk until smooth, removing all lumps.
- Slowly pour the milk into the pan and whisk until smooth.
- Add the shredded Parmesan cheese to the pan and whisk until melted and combined with the milk. Taste and adjust the amount of Parmesan cheese if needed.
- Continue whisking until the sauce has thickened, 5 to 8 minutes. The sauce will thicken even further as it cools. If it thickens too much before you can add it to your pasta thin it with a little pasta water or milk.
- Drain the cooked pasta and pour into a large serving bowl. Pour the Alfredo sauce over the pasta and toss until the pasta is evenly coated with the Alfredo sauce.
- Serve immediately with a crusty French bread.
- Makes enough sauce to cover one pound of Fettucine pasta noodles. Will make 6 to 8 serving.
Video
Recipe Expert Tips
- Pot size: Use at least a 2 quart size sauce pan or a wide skillet. You don't want to use too small of a pot because you will be whisking the sauce as it cooks and thickens. If the pot is too small the sauce could splash and drip over the side of the pot making a big mess.
- Using a skillet: If using a skillet the sauce will thicken even faster.
- Thickened sauce: Alfredo sauce will thicken as it cools. You can thin it by adding a small amount of milk or pasta water.
- What kind of Parmesan cheese to use: Please use real grated Parmesan cheese for the best flavor.
- Leftovers: Leftover alfredo sauce can be refrigerated for up to a week.
- Freezing: Leftover Alfredo sauce can be frozen for up to a month. Thaw and thin with a little milk and reheat before using.
- Add ins: You can add cooked broccoli and cooked or grilled chicken if you like to make Chicken Broccoli Fettuccine Alfredo. Add the heated extras when you mix the sauce with the pasta and serve.
- Spicy alfredo: Add a ½ to 1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes to the sauce to make spicy alfredo sauce.
Sherri
I am going to be trying this tonight with my Chicken and Broccoli Stuffed shells, The recipe I currently use has more ingredients, heavy cream, milk, butter, Parm/Romano, garlic, 1-2 doz of egg yolks depending on amount I am making. It will be nice to cut down the ingredients for a quick sauce! I will def. keep the garlic in mine though, I love the taste it gives. Thanks for a quick and easy recipe!
Arlene Mobley
Sherri
I hope you enjoy the recipe. It is great and so easy to make. Your Chicken & Broccoli Stuffed Shells sounds so good!
tania
Just tried this recipe today and I loved it. I didnt have any parmesan cheese as i am greek and we use another kind of cheese called mitzithrha, so I used that instead and also added in some garlic as we greeks love garlic and add it in just about everything.. Anyhow It was oh sooo yummy and so easy. Definately going to be making this again. These are ingredients I always have in my fridge so its perfect. Thank you so much for sharing!
Arlene Mobley
Tania
Thank you for stopping back by. I am so happy you enjoyed the recipe.
Antoinette
I never do reviews on recipes I find online, but I've got to say, this is hands down the best Alfredo recipe ever and I've tried dozens! Well done! Thank you for such a great recipe. This is definitely a keeper!
Arlene Mobley
Antoinette
Thank you so much! I am so happy you loved the recipe. I made it myself again Thursday night for dinner. I love it. Added a little ground red pepper to this time to add a nice little zing to it.
fivekitten
Just want to say thank you for posting this! It's so easy and convenient, this is our go-to Alfredo sauce recipe now. (Bow-tie pasta is the kids' favorite though.) For our family of five, I think it's more economical than buying jars (based on the ladles of sauce they pour on their pasta). Definitely tastier and more versatile! I couldn't stop dunking my garlic bread in it today! Thank your mom for us!
Arlene Mobley
Thank you so much. I am so happy you enjoyed the recipe. Homemade is so much better!
brandi
Love it !!!! I just love finding new recipes and digging through the house to see if i got everything to make it. Sure did this time, just got done making it .its awesome !
Arlene Mobley
Brandi
So glad you had a chance to try the recipe and that you enjoyed it. Thanks for stopping by to let me know!
Marie
absolutely delicious! i halved the recipe and made it in the microwave (taking care to remove and whisk regularly, every 45 sec or so), and while it likely took a little longer, it came out just fine. i used grated romano, and didn't cut the salt back enough, but it was still delicious.
thanks for posting: it's now my default alfredo sauce!
Arlene Mobley
Marie
So glad you enjoyed it. The Romano and Parmesan cheese can really be salty.
Megan
Just had to tell you… I have used this recipe twice and it is FOOLPROOF. I am not a big cook and this turned out perfectly. So easy and delicious. Thank you very much for sharing.
Arlene Mobley
Megan
Thank you for stopping by! I am so happy you enjoy the recipe.
Susan
I have been looking for a lower calorie Alfredo sauce recipe. This one definitely looks like it's a keeper!
Arlene Mobley
I hope you enjoy it Susan!
tall guy
too much salt, why is it when I try the recipe , there is always too much salt, everything else is perfect
Arlene Mobley
Bruce Sorry you weren't happy with the recipe as the many other commenters were. You should always adjust the salt and pepper in any recipe to your own taste.
Amy
I have to tell you this is the best Alfredo sauce I've ever made! And the easiest! My family is in love! Thank you for sharing <3
Arlene Mobley
Amy Thank you for trying my recipe and I am so happy you and your family enjoyed my recipe.
thuy
wow! ive just tried this recipe as a QUICK fixed! i wanted to make pasta alfredo because there wasnt anything at home and i had to heavy cream or cream cheese as stated in other recipes, so i opted to try this one! very tasty!!! will definitely be making this again!
Naomi Harris
Thanks for the recipe. Taste great my family loves it
Arlene Mobley
Naomi
Thank you for enjoying my recipe and stopping by to let me know! Enjoy!
Molie
This recipe worked great for me and the result was great! I wouldve liked however that the time it takes to make the sauce and the number of servings would be mentioned
Arlene Mobley
Molie
I've never timed making the sauce but the next time I make it I will time it and update the recipe. Glad you enjoyed it!
Darlene
I found your recipe about 6 weeks ago - and it quickly became a favorite with my family served over penne with chicken and mushrooms! We make it once a week - and again is we have company over!! I usually add about 1 tsp of garlic powder to the flour , and some dried parsley with the cheese for some green specs.... though dill would also be amazing too....
Thank you so much for the fabulous recipes.... will try the spicy chicken one next!!
Darlene
*if* we have company over 🙂
Arlene Mobley
Darlene
Thank you so much for taking the time to let me know how much you love this recipe. It is one of my families favorite and can be adapted in so many different ways like you've done. Your right I bet dill would be a great flavor to add.
kaoshavoc
Oh my goodness. This is amazing. I just could not stop eating it. I prolly put in a little more Parmesan than I should have, but after about 3 bites it transformed into something amazing. I mean the first bite I was like wow, that is the best I have had, just a bit too much Parmesan. Second bite I was like, 'wow getting better.' Third bite, I knew that I had not added to much Parmesan, I just needed to let the other ingredients put in their two cents. I put the full 2/3 cup in at first because it was all that I had left. Yes, it was the Kraft stuff in a bottle, still amazing. Now, I am going to go finish the pot :D.
Arlene Mobley
I am so happy you loved the recipe. It is one of my families favorite meals.
Alejandro
a little garlic goes great with this recipe too!