Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce is a creamy cheese sauce, perfect on pasta or veggies. With our copycat recipe, you can make it easily at home! You’ll love the ease of this creamy sauce. It’s the best recipe to make a copycat Olive Garden Alfredo sauce! You can easily whip up this copycat restaurant version any night of the week, and it’s going to be a hit no matter what!
Introduction
Craving your favorite restaurant meals at home? This article provides a comprehensive guide to creating a keto-friendly copycat version of Olive Garden's famous Alfredo sauce. This recipe skips the added sugar and carbs from milk, and the flour or cornstarch found in most homemade or store-bought Alfredo sauces. It's perfect for those following a low-carb diet while craving delicious flavors.
Why This Recipe Works
One of the best things about this Olive Garden Alfredo sauce recipe is that it turns out perfectly rich and creamy. This easy Keto Alfredo sauce recipe beats the one from Olive Garden and skips ingredients like flour, cornstarch and milk to make it low carb. Because the cheeses add lots of flavor already, I stick with a little salt, pepper, and garlic powder. It’s easy: this easy recipe requires just a few simple ingredients and takes about 15 minutes to make. If you’re looking for a delicious alfredo sauce to go with a quick meal, like your favorite keto pasta or low carb noodle, then it doesn’t get any easier.
Key Benefits
- Low-Carb and Keto-Friendly: This recipe is designed to be very low-carb and gluten-free.
- Gluten-Free: Ideal for those with gluten sensitivities.
- Quick and Easy: Ready in just about 15 minutes.
- Rich and Creamy: Achieves a smooth texture without flour or cornstarch.
- Authentic Taste: Delivers an authentic Alfredo flavor with garlic, Parmesan cheese, and a hint of nutmeg.
Ingredients
You’ll only need SIX ingredients in order to make this AMAZING Alfredo sauce! There are only a few main ingredients and a few spices in my keto alfredo sauce recipe.
- Butter
- Garlic
- Heavy Cream
- Parmesan Cheese: I use fresh grated from the refrigerated section in the market. For best results, when you make the alfredo sauce, you should avoid adding extra seasonings. This recipe has plenty of flavors.
- Cream Cheese (optional): It helps to thicken it without having to add something like xanthan gum. However, you can omit the cream cheese and just add more Parmesan cheese to reach the desired consistency.
- Spices: Salt, pepper, and garlic powder. For something bolder, try Italian seasoning, or choose your favorite from dried basil, oregano, or fresh parsley. You can also add a bit of red pepper for some heat!
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here’s a basic breakdown of the steps involved in making Copycat Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce. Keto Alfredo sauce only requires one pot. And you can use this step-by-step photo tutorial to see how to make it.
Read also: Lemon Olive Oil Cake (Keto)
- Melt the Butter: Melt the butter in a skillet or a saucepan over medium-high heat.
- Add Garlic: Add the minced garlic. Sauté for 2-3 minutes until fragrant. Once the garlic is fragrant, reduce the heat to medium-low. This will allow the cheeses and cream to melt into a sauce without burning or curdling.
- Add Cream and Cheese: Turn the heat to medium-low. Add the heavy cream, parmesan cheese, cream cheese (if using) and seasoning. Whisk in a medium saucepan over medium heat butter, garlic and half & half.
- Simmer and Thicken: Cook the sauce for 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it is thick enough for you. This will allow the cheeses and cream to melt into a sauce without burning or curdling. When the ingredients are all added and mixed together, let the sauce cook for about 5 to 10 minutes. The sauce thickens as it cooks so you can turn off your pan when it is thick enough for you. Add cream, broth, and cream cheese. Cook over medium heat, whisking often, until the cream cheese is melted. Add in garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper and cheese and whisk to combine. Cook for 5 minutes, until the sauce begins to thicken. Bring to a simmer over medium high heat, then keep it simmering until all is melted and mixed well. Stir often!Right after the mixture comes to a light boil, whisk in the Parmesan cheese and garlic powder. Simmer this for 5-10 minutes on medium-low heat, just until it thickens enough to coat a spoon.
- Season: Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Tips for the Best Alfredo Sauce
- Use Freshly Grated Parmesan: If you are trying to replicate that at home, be sure that you use fresh Parmesan cheese, not pre-shredded cheese. Definitely avoid using powdered Parmesan cheese. The flavor isn’t even close to the real thing! The secret to a good Alfredo sauce is using fresh Parmesan cheese. The dried, grated variety that you buy in the pasta aisle can be too strong and salty.
- Monitor the Heat: The base of the sauce should be warm, but not too hot. Make sure that you do not bring the sauce to a boil as this will cause the cheese to turn grainy.
- High-Quality Dairy: Use high quality dairy products. To keep this recipe Keto Friendly, it is important that you stick with cream.
- Avoid Extra Seasonings: When I make this keto friendly Alfredo sauce, I use fresh parmesan found in the refrigerated section of the grocery store. For best results, when you make the alfredo sauce, you should avoid adding extra seasonings. This recipe has plenty of flavors.
- Reduce Heat When Adding Cheese: Finally, when you add the cheese and heavy cream, reduce the heat of the pan to medium-low.
Serving Suggestions
This easy dinner idea pairs well with just about anything! This delicious sauce is also perfect for any pasta dish, like fettuccine noodles or any of your favorite pasta dishes. You can use keto alfredo sauce on several different dishes. They range from low carb pasta to vegetables to proteins. This delicious sauce is also perfect for any pasta dish, like fettuccine noodles or any of your favorite pasta dishes. If you’re making pasta recipes, don’t forget to make garlic bread or Caesar salad from the comfort of your own kitchen.
- Pasta: Toss with your favorite keto-friendly pasta, like zoodles or low-carb noodles. Or use a different type of pasta, like rotini, homemade ravioli, shells, or even cavatelli pasta. Cook a 48-ounce package of fresh cheese tortellini for 6 minutes in a pot of boiling water. Immediately drain it and add it to the Alfredo sauce.
- Chicken: Sliced chicken breasts are a family favorite and one that the whole family will love. Add 2 cups of chopped, cooked chicken breast, if desired, to the sauce and pasta. Enjoy this with zoodles and my cast iron chicken breast or as part of my keto chicken Alfredo bake and Cajun shrimp Alfredo to make a meal.
- Vegetables: Serve over broccoli, spaghetti squash, or zucchini noodles. It is also great over broccoli, spaghetti squash or meatballs or even just drizzled on a steak.
- Seafood: Pair with shrimp or other seafood for a decadent meal.
- Dipping Sauce: The creamy texture makes the best smooth sauce that you can also use for a dipping sauce, too! So many options for this white sauce, which is why it’s one of my favorite things to cook! It tastes wonderful on homemade pizza crust or dipped in fresh, warm breadsticks too.
Storage Instructions
If you have any leftovers from this low carb Alfredo sauce recipe, the best way to store it is in an airtight container or a mason jar for the next day (up to 5 days). Store any leftover sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days or you can freeze it for up to 3 months. Make sure to label it with the date you freeze it! If you want to freeze the sauce, it will stay good in an airtight container for up to six months. The sauce WILL separate as it thaws. Unlike the Alfredo Sauce from Olive Garden, this EASY alfredo sauce recipe reheats beautifully! You can pop it in the microwave (time will vary, depending on the amount you are reheating) and then just whisk it up again to incorporate all the ingredients. TIP: If the sauce seems to seperate, whisk rapidly on low heat to incorporate the fat back into the cream.
Keto-Friendly Considerations
This easy Keto Alfredo sauce recipe beats the one from Olive Garden and skips ingredients like flour, cornstarch and milk to make it low carb.
- Skips Milk: Most homemade Alfredo sauce or traditional Alfredo sauce recipes call for using milk. That’s also the case for store-bought Alfredo sauces. However, milk has more natural sugars and carbs than heavy cream.
- No Flour or Cornstarch: Instead of using a roux, my easy keto alfredo sauce recipe uses cheese and heavy cream for a naturally thicker, creamy sauce.
Why Make a Copycat Recipe?
I love copycat recipes. Don’t be afraid to make substitutions to see how you and your family like them. One of my favorite places to go as a kid was the Olive Garden where Fettuccine Alfredo was my go to meal. Now that I know the recipe, I can enjoy it at home whenever I want.
Conclusion
Indulge in this creamy, keto-friendly Low Carb Copycat Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce, the perfect addition to your low-carb meals! This gluten-free sauce is loaded with rich garlic, decadent Parmesan cheese, and a hint of nutmeg, delivering an authentic taste that will elevate any dish. Ideal for pasta, chicken, or vegetables, this easy-to-make Alfredo sauce is perfect for those following a low-carb diet while craving delicious flavors. You are going to want to put this Low Carb Alfredo Sauce in your weekly rotation for meal prep. It is distractingly delicious and perfect over zucchini noodles, chicken, and even eggs.
Read also: Olive oil guide for Mediterranean cooking.
Reader Feedback
I’ve received countless comments from our readers saying that this is the best alfredo sauce they have ever made.
- “This is the best Alfredo sauce Id have ever made!!!!
- “This is the best Alfredo sauce ever. Its the only recipe I ever use.
- “I have tried over a dozen Olive garden copycat recipes and this is the only one that has even been close. And it was perfect! A raving hit for my very picky Alfredo sauce family. I paired them with the copycat bread sticks and I have a very happy tribe on my hands.
Let us know?! What did you think of Olive Garden’s Alfredo Sauce Copycat Recipe? Was it the same as your experience at the restaurant, better, worse?
Additional Resources
🍔 Copycat Creations Vol 1Craving your favorite restaurant meals at home?
Read also: Olive Oil and Weight Management