This quick alfredo pasta recipe is everyone’s favorite weeknight dinner! One pan away from creamy, cheesy, pasta that’s ready in just 20 minutes!
This is a variation on my mom’s super quick alfredo pasta recipe. It has so many good things going for it – one pan, 20 minutes from start to finish {if that!}, and butter + cream! It’s seriously hard to beat. It’s one of those meals that’s just the perfect dinner if you’re busy, tired, or have an almost empty pantry 🙂 .
There are two important things you have to do to get this recipe right, but they are easy.
Thing #1: let the cheese melt completely into the cream before adding the pasta back into the pot. This will avoid clumpy cheese.
Thing #2: If you can, purchase a good quality parmesan and grate it yourself. I’ve found that the pre-grated cheeses don’t melt very well, which also will lead to clumps.
That’s it! If you have fresh parsley, of course, use it! But dried is always fine. It’s *almost* warm enough to plant parsley here and the anticipation is killing me. There are very few food things I love more than fresh herbs.
I’m telling you, make this once and your family will ask for it again and again. It’s that good and easy!
More Great Alfredo and Pasta Recipes!
- Chicken Alfredo Stuffed Shells Recipe
- Best Alfredo Sauce Recipe
- Cheesy Alfredo Pasta Bake Recipe
- Easy Chicken Alfredo Recipe
- Marinara Stuffed Shells
- Sausage Pasta Bake
- Homemade Macaroni and Cheese
Some delicious side dish ideas!
- 60-Minute Homemade Herb Bread
- Easy Green Salad + Lemon Salad Dressing
- Cucumber Salad Recipe
- Garlic Cheesy Herb Bread
Quick Alfredo Pasta Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound fettuccini pasta or any long pasta
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 2/3 cup good quality parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1 1/2 teaspoons fresh parsley or 3 teaspoons fresh
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Boil pasta according to package directions.
- Pour into a colander and leave to drain while you prepare the sauce.
- Combine cream, parmesan cheese, and butter in the same pot the pasta was cooked in.
- Bring to a simmer and stir occasionally until cheese is totally melted, about 2 minutes.
- Toss pasta, salt and pepper, and parsley together with the sauce.
- Taste to adjust seasonings and serve! Favorite toppings are bacon bits, additional cheese, and peas.
Sammi Windley says
This recipe might make better Alfredo sauce than my mom! Haha just don’t let her know that!
Michelle - Giraffes Can Bake says
This looks so yummy, I can almost smell it!
Alli says
Thank you! It’s one of our favorites.
Sarah @ Champagne Tastes says
I read somewhere that in Italy, there’s no such thing as an alfredo ‘sauce’ because the alfredo is prepared exactly like this– tossed all together with the pasta! So the jarred alfredo sauces aren’t the real deal at all– this is! Love this!
Alli says
That would actually make sense, it’s been a family recipe on my mom’s side for years and they are all full Italian! Thank you!