How to Make Fettuccine Alfredo

If you’re wondering how to make Fettuccine Alfredo, it’s probably because it’s one of the best dishes you’ve ever had.

Right?

We thought so.

Fettuccine Alfredo features long, flat strands of pasta mixed with a creamy, velvety, cheesy, white sauce. What’s not to love?

Parmesan is often used in the sauce, but it’s also delicious with a combination of Parmesan and Pecorino Romano, as in this Homemade Alfredo Sauce.

The original Fettuccine Alfredo recipe was created by a man named Alfredo at his restaurant in Rome.

He made the dish tableside, melting the butter on a warmed platter, adding the pasta and cheese and tossing them all together to create a sauce.

He didn’t use cream, though.

At some point, probably as the dish traveled to America, Fettuccine Alfredo recipes began to feature cream. Perhaps, it was an effort to replicate the creaminess of the cheese found in Italy.

Today, Fettuccine Alfredo is one of the most popular items on restaurant menus. Fortunately, it’s not hard to replicate this fabulous pasta dish at home.

Ingredients for Fettuccine Alfredo

• 2 cups heavy cream
• 8 ounces fettuccine pasta
• 3 ounces fresh Parmesan cheese, finely grated
• 2 tablespoons salted butter
• black pepper
• kosher salt

How to Make Fettuccine Alfredo

1. Place the cream in a medium saucepan over high heat. Bring it to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium. Simmer until the cream is reduced by half, which should take 20 - 30 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, boil a large pot of salted water. Add the fettuccine and give it a stir. Cook until al dente, stirring occasionally.

3. Drain the pasta and add it to the saucepan with the cream. Add the butter and grated cheese. Stir over the heat to combine.

4. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

5. Refrigerate leftovers for up to four days.

Is Fettuccine Alfredo Good for You?

If you’re wondering whether Fettuccine Alfredo is good for you, the answer is…it’s a high-calorie dish. A small serving has nearly 800 calories.

Yes, there are 18 grams of protein from the cheese and cream, but also plenty of carbs from the pasta.

In this editor’s house, Fettuccine Alfredo is a splurge meal, eaten occasionally, but with gusto. If you want to improve the nutritional profile, you could serve Alfredo sauce over zucchini noodles instead. 

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