Do you have a taste for the bold and daring? Spice up your next pasta dish with this unique twist on a classic: Spicy Alfredo Sauce.
Packed with flavor and a hint of heat, it's a delicious way to bring a bold, zesty flair to your next meal and takes less than 30 minutes to make.
Whether you like your spicy food mild for the faint of heart, or extra hot for the true thrill seekers, this is just of my easy-to-make alfredo sauce recipes. This one is not only amazingly delicious but it offers a kick of heat.
Here's a look at what you need to know to whip up the perfect batch of Spicy Alfredo Sauce.
You'll learn the key ingredients needed to make it, and how to adjust the spiciness to the level that's just right for you.
Ready to add a fiery flavor to your pasta? Let's get cooking!
If you're not into spicy you can try my easy Alfredo sauce with milk or Alfredo sauce with half and half.
Or you can check out some of my other Alfredo recipes head over to my alfredo sauce recipe page.
Spicy Alfredo Sauce Ingredients
Below is a quick look at the ingredients and directions. You can find the entire ingredient amounts and step by step directions in the recipe card below. P. S. You can also save your favorite recipes to your personal recipe box! ⬇️
- the pasta: linguine pasta, fettuccine, penne pasta or angel hair pasta
- the homemade alfredo sauce: unsalted butter, all-purpose flour, whole milk, real Parmesan cheese.
- spicy alfredo seasonings: ground cayenne pepper, ground black pepper, salt, fresh garlic, red pepper flakes, fresh or dried parsley flakes
Recipe Prep
👇See the step by step directions below!
Before you begin the alfredo sauce recipe cook the pasta following the directions on the box. Drain well and set aside until it's time to mix the spicy alfredo sauce with the pasta.
Step By Step Directions
- Step 1: In a large skillet over medium heat melt the butter and sauté the minced garlic for 1 minute.
- Step 2: Add the flour to the skillet and quickly whisk it into the melted butter until smooth.
- Step 3: Slowly add the milk to the skillet and whisk well to help the butter and flour roux dissolve into the milk. Add the seasonings to the skillet while whisking.
📌Pro Alfredo Cooking Tip
📌To prevent scorching whisk constantly scraping the bottom of the skillet as the sauce starts to thicken.
Step 4: When you see that the sauce is starting to get thick and creamy add the shredded Parmesan cheese to the skillet. Continue to whisk the cheese into the alfredo sauce as it melts.
Step 5: Bring the sauce to a low boil. It will begin to thicken as it boils. Once the Alfredo sauce has reached the thickness you like remove the skillet from the heat.
Step 6: Add the cooked pasta to the Alfredo sauce a little at a time. Toss each addition with the alfredo sauce until the sauce has covered and coated the linguine pasta.
Makes 4 cups of spicy alfredo sauce.
📌How to adjust the spiciness of spicy alfredo sauce
The spicy flavor of alfredo sauce it is very easy to control by adjusting the amount of ground cayenne pepper and red pepper flakes that is added to the sauce.
- ½ teaspoon of ground cayenne pepper and a ¼ teaspoon of red pepper flakes will yield a mid level spicy flavor that adds just enough heat to the sauce.
- For just a slight amount of heat only add ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper and no red pepper flakes to the alfredo sauce. Taste it to see how you like it. You can always add red pepper flakes as a garnish to individual servings if it tastes too mild to you. It is better to add less while cooking because you can always add more spicy flavor. Once added you can not remove it.
📌Spicy Alfredo Sauce Add-Ins
Homemade alfredo is a dish that can be customized in many ways. Below are some add in suggestions you can toss with the creamy alfredo sauce and pasta dish.
- protein/meat add ins: grilled chicken cut into straps, cooked Italian sausage, strips of cooked steak or shrimp
- vegetable add ins: cooked broccoli, sauteed mushrooms, fresh spinach leaves, or kale.
📌Best way to reheat alfredo sauce?
There are two very easy ways to reheat alfredo sauce. Alfredo sauce tends to thicken as it cools and if you want to bring it back to its original creaminess you will need to add some liquid.
Alfredo sauce can be made with milk, half and half, cream or even buttermilk. Use the dairy you used to make it to thin the thickened sauce and pasta.
- Reheating in the microwave: To reheat in the microwave place the alfredo sauce with or without pasta in a microwave safe bowl and add about ¼ cup of milk, half and half or cream. Mix it in and heat for one minute. Remove from the microwave and mix well. If its still thicker than you would like add a splash more of the liquid and repeat until the sauce has become creamy.
- Reheating on the stove: Transfer the alfredo sauce with or without pasta to a sauce pan. Heat on low to medium, stirring occasionally. Once the sauce has warmed up slightly add about ¼ cup of milk or other dairy to the sauce pan and stir it in. Heat on low to medium adding more liquid if needed until the sauce is hot. Transfer to a bowl or plate to serve.
Recipe FAQs
A white sauce like alfredo sauce may separate if it is not cooked properly. It is important to bring the sauce to a high enough temperature and cook it long enough that the thickener, usually flour has had enough time to properly thicken the butter and dairy ingredients.
Homemade alfredo sauce should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon and should cling to the pasta.
The secret to making a smooth and creamy alfredo sauce is to use real Parmesan cheese. Canned powdered Parmesan cheese does not melt into the cream sauce like real cheese does.
📌Pro Cooking Tips
- Drain pasta well so the creamy sauce will cling to the pasta.
- To prevent scorching whisk constantly scraping the bottom of the skillet as the sauce starts to thicken.
- Whole milk: this spicy alfredo can be made using milk, half and half or cream.
- Reheating Alfredo Sauce: Best way to reheat alfredo sauce?
Enjoy!
The perfect dinner doesn’t have to be complicated. Homemade Spicy Alfredo Sauce served over linguine pasta is a 30-minute meal that is full of flavor and easy to make.
All it takes is a few simple ingredients and basic kitchen skills and you can have an unforgettable meal on the table in no time.
This dish is the perfect way to enjoy a delicious home cooked meal any night of the week!
More Alfredo Sauce recipes
Email questions or recipe requests to flouronmyface@gmail.com. Follow me on Pinterest, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook.
Spicy Alfredo Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 lb. Linguine pasta (cooked and drained well)
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 4 cups whole milk
- 1 ½ cup finely shredded Parmesan cheese (plus more for garnish)
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- ½ tsp cayenne pepper (¼ to ½ teaspoon depending on how spicy you want it)
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 tablespoon dried or fresh parsley flakes (optional for garnish)
Instructions
Recipe Prep
- Cook the pasta following the directions on the box. Drain well and set aside until it's time to mix the spicy alfredo sauce with the pasta.
For the Alfredo sauce
- In a large skillet over medium heat melt the butter and sauté the minced garlic for 1 minute.
- Add the flour to the skillet and quickly whisk it into the melted butter until smooth.
- Slowly add the milk to the skillet and whisk well to help the butter and flour roux dissolve into the milk. Add the seasonings to the skillet while whisking.
- When you see that the sauce is starting to get creamy add the shredded Parmesan cheese to the skillet. Continue to whisk the cheese into the alfredo sauce as it melts.
- Bring the sauce to a low boil. It will begin to thicken as it boils. Once the Alfredo sauce has reached the thickness you like remove the skillet from the heat.
- Add the cooked pasta to the Alfredo sauce a little at a time. Toss each addition with the alfredo sauce until the sauce has covered and coated the linguine pasta.
- Makes 4 cups of spicy alfredo sauce.
- Serves 6 to 8.
Recipe Expert Tips
- Drain pasta well so the creamy sauce will cling to the pasta.
- To prevent scorching whisk constantly scraping the bottom of the skillet as the sauce starts to thicken.
- Whole milk: this spicy alfredo can be made using milk, half and half or cream.
- Reheating Alfredo Sauce:
- ½ teaspoon of ground cayenne pepper and a ¼ teaspoon of red pepper flakes will yield a mid level spicy flavor that adds just enough heat to the sauce.
- For just a slight amount of heat only add ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper and no red pepper flakes to the alfredo sauce. Taste it to see how you like it. You can always add red pepper flakes as a garnish to individual servings if it tastes too mild to you. It is better to add less while cooking because you can always add more spicy flavor. Once added you can not remove it.
- protein/meat add ins: grilled chicken cut into straps, cooked Italian sausage, strips of cooked steak or shrimp
- vegetable add ins: cooked broccoli, sauteed mushrooms, fresh spinach leaves, or kale.
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