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.
Lisa
I had a big tupperware of leftover noodles from last night, and before my brain was working this morning I threw the leftover spaghetti sauce in the slowcooker to make chili. What to do with all those noodles? So i decided to make alfredo sauce. When i found your recipe, I realized it is the same recipe as the cheddar cheese sauce i make. It never occured to me that it's the same thing. Anyhow, I sauteed some garlic and mushrooms before adding the flour,butter, and it was a super easy delicious lunch, and a great way to use up those extra noodles! Thank you!
Arlene Mobley
Lisa
You're welcome. This is a great way to use up leftover pasta. Glad you enjoyed the recipe.
Lexi
Great light recipe added minced fresh garlic and red pepper flakes my boyfriend and I loved it so easy to cook and only 2 dishes to wash! Definitely recommend for a delicious week night dinner that tastes like it took hours to make and half the calories!
Arlene Mobley
Lexi so glad to hear you loved the recipe!
Ellie
Sooooo easy and delicious ! My family loved it 😍
Padmalaya
I have to say this out loud, this is the best and easiest Alfredo Sauce recipe I’ve come across. My 9 and 2-year old gobbled it up like never before. I never had the courage to try the recipes that call for heavy cream and cream cheese as I never have them on hand but your recipe though simple, packs a punch. The only change I made was that I added garlic salt instead of regular salt and the sauce was divine. How long can I refrigerate the sauce so that I can boil fresh pasta and toss it in it when needed?
Arlene Mobley
Hi thanks for stopping by to let me know you tried the recipe. All the kids in my family love it too! The Alfredo sauce will keep for 3 or 4 days in the refrigerator.
JOY
Made some tonight with our cheese tortellini. We were out of the jarred Alfredo sauce as well and started searching online for a sauce without cream cheese and stumbled across this recipe. Immediately my husband said it was good...and it takes him a while to really like something.
Arlene Mobley
Joy
I had it for dinner last night myself. I made garlic chicken broccoli alfredo and it was so good. Glad your husband loved the recipe and thanks for stopping by!
Kathy
Made this tonight and I can't thank you enough for posting this recipe. I did it exactly as written except I did throw a clove of garlic in while I made the sauce then fished it out. I have been making homemade Alfredo sauce for years. This is by far the BEST and EASIEST I have ever made. I can't thank you enough, but ty ty ty!!!!!! Can't wait to try more of your recipes.
Arlene Mobley
Hi Kathy
Thank you so much for stopping by to let me know how much you loved the recipe! It is a family favorite!
Jordan
This looks so fun and easy! I am so excited to try it out for my sisters birthday party!I am so glad I found a recipe that doesn't include any of the ingredients that I don't want in it!
Arlene Mobley
Thank you Jordan. Happy birthday to your sister. I hope she enjoys the recipe!
Casandra
Love this recipe added some garlic powered and it took it to another level. Super easy and yummy! A must try
Arlene Mobley
Cassandra
I'm glad you enjoyed the recipe and put your own spin on it!
Shelley
Absolutely AMAZING!!
Made the sauce tonight for some leftover Fettuccine Alfredo (w/chicken) that I brought home a couple days ago from a local restaurant. The leftovers didn't have quite enough sauce and their sauce tasted more like cream than alfredo. So after a quick "Google" search for alfredo not requiring heavy cream (which I rarely have on hand), I came across your recipe and I'm SOOO glad I did! I couldn't believe how easy this was! It was easy to half too, which was perfect because I was just making it for one. Other than adding a bit of garlic powder, since I prefer a garlic flavor alfredo, I followed the recipe exactly, but halved everything... it turned out perfectly! I'll never pay $10 for fettuccine alfredo again!! Thank you so much!
P.S. Glad it doesn't call for cream cheese, since that's another ingredient that I rarely have on hand. It's awesome to have such a simple, delicious recipe that can be made quickly with ingredients I almost always keep around.
Juliette
I added a few things and it is literally perfect ! Mince a few cloves of garlic and sauté the garlic in the butter, then follow the recipe as is. I also squeezed half of a lemon once the sauce thickened. It’s the perfect Alfredo!!! Love that you used milk instead of cream!!
Aubrey
I made this recipe for the first time for dinner and I absolutely loved it! It wasn't too creamy or too cheesy like some other recipes I've tried. And I'm really glad I found this because when I went shopping, I totally forgot the cream cheese that other recipes need. I am definitely making this again!
Arlene Mobley
Aubrey
Thanks for coming back to tell me how much you loved the recipe! It is the best homemade Alfredo sauce ever. And is so easy to make!
Heather
Great recipe. I added a little swiss and garlic for extra flavor. Instructions were very easy to follow..again, awesome!!
Arlene Mobley
Heather
I'm so glad you loved my Alfredo recipe. It is one of the best recipes because you can switch it up and make a new flavor like you did. I can't wait to try it with Swiss cheese the next time I make it.
Evelyn
Can this recipe be frozen
Arlene Mobley
Evelyn I have never frozen this recipe but I am sure it would freeze well. I wouldn't freeze it mixed with the pasta though as the pasta would probably turn to mush when you thawed and reheated it.
Felicia B.
My family LOVED the dish although I've been fraud try my own homemade recipe. I am keeping this handy at all times for Alfredo since it was easy and delicious. Thanks so much!!
Arlene Mobley
So glad you enjoyed the recipe Felicia!
Dog crazy
I have to admit, I thought that all the positive, rave reviews were paid reviews, or friends of the Blogger. Yes, I am typically a skeptic. But I have to say, this was by far the easiest recipe I've ever made. And not just for alfredo sauce, but easiest recipe probably ever. Also it tasted delicious! And if a non-cook like me can make it, anyone can. There are just two of us, and this made plenty of sauce, we only ate half of everything so we'll have leftovers for lunch or dinner tomorrow. I'm not a fan of pepper, so omitted it, but added some sauteed onions and broccoli. If I had chicken and mushrooms it would have gone in there too. This is now my go-to alfredo sauce! Thank you!
Arlene Mobley
I'm so glad you finally tried the recipe. It is one of the best and easiest ways to make Alfredo sauce!
Andrea Palacio
Best (and easiest) Alfredo Sauce ever! I have used powdered mixes from the store (I am almost embarrassed to say) but never again. My husband and my picky teenagers loved it. <3
Arlene Mobley
Andrea
I'm so happy to hear your family loved the recipe.
Kniko
Awesome , I grated shallots & garlic real fine and added it in the butter before going onto the other ingredients. As soon as sauce was done I poured it over fresh pasta in lg skillet and simmered till pasta was done .
Thank You for the great recipe. Like I said AWESOME !!!!
Arlene Mobley
Thank you Kniko.
KC
This is very easy to make with stuff I have on hand. My boyfriend LOVED it and said it was in the top three meals I've ever made. I like to chop up broccoli (cooked) and tomatoes to go in with the pasta, and he likes to add sautéed chicken, as well.
Arlene Mobley
KC so happy to hear you and your boyfriend loved the recipe. It is one of my very favorite recipes. We also make is with chicken and broccoli.