Pasta Alfredo

The classic pasta dish with just 5 ingredients, including salt and pepper

By
Maren Ellingboe King
Maren Ellingboe King head shot
Maren Ellingboe King
Maren Ellingboe King is a Minneapolis-based food stylist and recipe developer. A former Food & Wine editor, she has worked with the likes of Sunset, Food Network Magazine, Williams-Sonoma, Target, and more. Her first cookbook, Fresh Midwest, will be published in September 2022.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Published on 12/7/22
Tested by
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Tested by Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Pasta alfredo

The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 15 mins
Total: 25 mins
Servings: 4 to 6 servings

The Origins of Fettuccine Alfredo

Classic fettuccine Alfredo was created in 1914 by Alfredo di Lelio at his restaurant Alfredo’s. Like other notable Roman pasta dishes cacio e pepe and spaghetti alla carbonara, fettuccine Alfredo is an emulsion of butter, pasta water, and Parmigiano Reggiano. 

Fettuccine Alfredo's Journey From Italy to the US

Rumor has it that American movie stars Douglas Fairbanks and Marie Pickford ate fettuccine Alfredo while on their honeymoon in Rome in 1927. They loved it so much that they started cooking it for friends when they returned to Hollywood. The popularity of the dish in America took off from there. But since American-made butters and cheeses contain less milk fat than their European equivalents, American cooks started adding heavy cream to achieve the velvety flavor and texture of the Italian recipe. 

Use High Quality Ingredients

Jarred Alfredo sauce is now ubiquitous in American supermarkets, but the original Roman recipe is simple and fast to create at home. With so few ingredients, it is best to use the highest quality products you can find. Look for European-style butter such as Président or Plugra, Parmigiano Reggiano cheese in a block, and good quality dried or fresh pasta. 

Slowly whisking the butter and cheese into the pasta water emulsifies the sauce and creates a velvety texture. It needs no accompaniment besides freshly ground pepper, but you can serve it with a simple arugula salad and crusty bread to soak up the extra sauce.

"The pasta Alfredo was excellent and a quick dish to make on a weeknight. I used freshly grated pecorino Romano and fresh fettuccine pasta, and with the butter and pasta water it made a delicious, silky sauce." —Diana Rattray

Fettuccine enrobed in a creamy alfredo sauce and garnished with grated pecorino Romano and black pepper
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • Kosher salt

  • 1 pound fresh fettuccine or other long pasta like pappardelle or linguine

  • 4 ounces (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

  • 1 cup freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, or Pecorino Romano

  • Freshly ground black pepper, for serving

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients to make pasta alfredo

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  2. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Salt the water liberally and taste it. It should taste like sea water. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente.

    Pasta boiling in a large pot

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  3. Reserve 1 cup pasta water before draining the pasta.

    Cooked pasta in a large colander with a measuring cup of pasta water

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  4. Return 3/4 cup of the reserved pasta water to the same pot over medium-low heat. Slowly add butter, a few pieces at a time, whisking until butter is melted before adding more.

    A hand whisking butter and pasta water in a large pot

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  5. Add cheese a little at a time, whisking until melted. The sauce should start to achieve a smooth, thickened texture. Make sure there are no visible pieces of cheese before you add more.

    A hand whisking cheese into the butter mixture

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  6. Add pasta to pot and toss with tongs until well coated and the sauce is velvety and smooth, about 1 minute. Use remaining 1/4 cup pasta water to thin if needed. Finish with freshly ground pepper. Serve immediately.

    Tongs tossing pasta in the pot of sauce

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

Recipe Tips

  • With just three ingredients, use the very best high-quality products you can find. European-style butter has a higher fat content, resulting in less water, more flavor, and a creamier texture. Choose either a wedge of Parmesan cheese to grate at home or cheese that has been freshly grated at the store instead of the pre-grated kind that uses anti-clumping stabilizers which will prevent the needed emulsification of the sauce. 
  • This dish is best enjoyed immediately after preparation. Leftovers can be reheated in the microwave on 50 percent power for 1 minute; however, the sauce could break, meaning the oil will separate from the milk solids, losing the creamy element and the whole point of this simple dish. It will still be delicious, but it will not look as appealing.

Recipe Variation

To make this dish with dried pasta, use 12 ounces and cook according to package directions.

How to Store

Leftovers will keep for up to three days in the refrigerator, though it’s best eaten immediately.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
320 Calories
20g Fat
25g Carbs
9g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories 320
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 20g 26%
Saturated Fat 12g 61%
Cholesterol 55mg 18%
Sodium 359mg 16%
Total Carbohydrate 25g 9%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Total Sugars 1g
Protein 9g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 155mg 12%
Iron 1mg 6%
Potassium 105mg 2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)