Add a little zing to your pasta night with this super rich and delicious Cajun Alfredo Sauce. Ultra-creamy and flavored with nutty parmesan cheese, Louisiana spices, then tossed with fettuccini pasta and juicy cajun spiced chicken.
This Cajun Alfredo Sauce is pure comfort food. It's creamy, cheesy with just the right amount of spice. Made with simple ingredients, this delicious meal comes together in just 30 minutes.
If you're looking for more delicious pasta dishes to serve at home, then try my Creamy Mascarpone Tomato Sauce and Deconstructed Lasagna.
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Why You'll Love This Homemade Alfredo Sauce
- Creamy sauce- Made with butter, heavy cream and freshly grated parmesan cheese. This Alfredo sauce is rich and silky smooth. It blows store-bought sauce away!
- Cajun flare- If you love the heartiness and spicy notes of cajun food, then you will absolutely love this delicious twist to an old classic.
- Easy to make- The sauce is made with simple ingredients and takes just 10 minutes to make.
- Versatile- Customize this sauce with your favorite pasta, meat or seafood. Or add some fresh vegetables to keep it vegetarian.
What Is Alfredo Sauce?
Alfredo sauce is a classic cream sauce, also known as a white sauce or “pasta in blanco”. The sauce is made from butter, heavy cream and parmesan cheese. It's incredibly rich and creamy and is traditionally served with fettuccini pasta.
You can enhance the flavors in this sauce by adding fresh garlic, white wine or in our case, cajun seasoning which adds a great depth of flavor and a touch of spice.
Ingredient Notes
Here are some notes on the ingredients. For a full list of ingredients, scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of the page.
- Butter- Since most store-bought cajun seasonings contain salt, I recommend using unsalted butter so your sauce doesn't end up being too salty.
- Cream- Heavy cream will create the most decadent and creamiest sauce.
- Garlic- Use fresh garlic, not jarred for the best flavor.
- Parmesan- Freshly grated parmesan cheese has the best flavor and melts silky smooth.
- White wine (optional)- To give this sauce a little boost, I like to add white wine. Make sure the wine is something you would drink.
- Cajun seasoning- You can use your favorite store-bought cajun seasoning or make your own blend at home.
- Pasta- For this recipe, I use fettuccini but you can use any type of pasta; linguini, penne, angel hair, bow tie, elbow, or macaroni all work great.
- Parsley- Use Italian parsley, not the curly kind. Adds some freshness and a pop of color.
Ingredient Note Substitutions
- Dairy- You can make a lighter version of this sauce by using a 50/50 combo of heavy cream and half and half.
- Herbs- Don't have Italian parsley, use fresh scallions or chives instead.
- Protein- I use chicken breast but feel free to use chicken thighs, shrimp, or salmon.
- Gluten free- Choose your favorite gluten-free pasta and enjoy!
Step By Step Instructions
This easy Alfredo sauce recipe comes together in just a few simple steps!
STEP 1: Sauté- Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Melt the butter, then add the finely chopped garlic. Cook just until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
STEP 2: Deglaze. Carefully pour in the white wine. Simmer for 2-3 minutes until the alcohol has burned off.
STEP 3: Whisk. Lower the heat and slowly stir in the heavy cream; followed by the grated parmesan cheese and cajun seasoning. Whisk until the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth.
STEP 4: Simmer- Simmer for a couple of minutes until desired thickness. Then, season with salt and pepper.
STEP 5: Toss. Add cooked pasta to the pan and toss until the pasta is well coated. I like to add about ¼ cup of pasta water to help thin out the sauce.
STEP 6: Serve. Add protein on top of pasta (optional). Sprinkle with additional parmesan cheese and chopped parsley. Serve and enjoy!
Expert Tips
Opt for high-quality Parmigiano-Reggiano rather than generic Parmesan cheese. The flavor is more intense and worth the extra expense.
Use fresh garlic. Always use fresh garlic cloves rather than the jarred stuff. It will give your sauce a more robust and authentic flavor.
Low and slow. Cooking the sauce over low heat helps prevent your sauce from breaking. Slowly whisk the ingredients together for a smooth texture.
Reserve pasta water. If your sauce becomes too thick once you add the pasta, simply ladle in a couple spoonfuls of hot pasta water to thin it out.
What To Serve with Fettuccini Alfredo
- Protein- Grilled chicken, shrimp, salmon or sausage.
- Veggies- Steamed broccoli, sautéed spinach, asparagus or roasted red bell peppers.
- Bread- My Easy Sourdough Garlic Bread would pair perfectly with this dish.
- Salad- Caesar, Caprese, or Arugula salad would help cut back on the heaviness of this dish.
FAQ
While heavy cream is traditional, you can use whole milk for a lighter version. However, the sauce won’t be as creamy, and you may need to use a thickening agent like flour or cornstarch.
Yes, you can make Alfredo sauce in advance. Once cool, store inside an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat over the stove on low heat. If the sauce is very thick, add a couple splashes of milk until you reach desired consistency.
As the sauce cools, it will start to thicken. If it’s too thick, you can thin it with a bit of reserved hot pasta water, cream or milk.
Yes, you can freeze Alfredo sauce, but I do not recommended this since the dairy components may separate when thawed, which will affect the texture and flavor.
Helpful Kitchen Tools
- 12-inch skillet
- Large stock pot
- Strainer
- Microplane or box grater
- Liquid measuring cup
- Measuring spoons
- Whisk
- Tongs
Storing and Reheating
Store this Cajun Alfredo Sauce inside an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 3-4 days.
Reheating
Oven- Preheat oven to 375°. Place the pasta inside an oven-safe dish. Add 1-2 tablespoon of water or milk to prevent the pasta from becoming too dry. Cover with aluminum foil (this will keep the pasta moist). Then, heat inside the oven for 10 minutes. Stir, re-cover and place back inside the oven for an additional 10 minutes until warmed through.
Stovetop- Place the fettuccini inside a sauté pan. Add a splash of milk or water to help loosen up the pasta. Heat on low heat to prevent the sauce from breaking. This will take about 3-4 minutes.
Microwave- Pour the leftover sauce and pasta into a microwave-safe bowl and loosely cover with a paper towel. Heat in the microwave on high for 2-3 minutes. Add a splash of water or milk if needed.
More Recipes To Try
Try These Recipes Too!
- Creamy Cajun Potato Salad
- Baked Tuscan Chicken
- Strawberry Burrata Bruschetta
- Easy Garlic Parmesan Bread Bites
- Pepperoni Flatbread Pizza
If you make this recipe, please leave a STAR RATING on the recipe card below. Tag me on Instagram. Follow me Pinterest for more delicious recipes.
📖 Recipe
Cajun Alfredo Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 stick Unsalted butter
- 3 cloves Fresh garlic finely chopped
- ¼ cup White wine
- 1 ½ cups Heavy cream
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese finely grated, plus more for serving
- 2 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
- 8 oz Pasta fettuccini
- ¼ cup Hot pasta water if needed
- Parsley coarsely chopped, for garnish
- Salt to taste
- Freshly cracked black pepper to taste
Instructions
Cajun Alfredo Sauce
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Melt the butter, then add the finely chopped garlic. Cook just until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- Carefully pour in the white wine. Simmer for 2-3 minutes until the alcohol has burned off.
- Lower the heat and slowly stir in the heavy cream; followed by the grated parmesan cheese and cajun seasoning. Whisk until the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth.
- Simmer for a couple of minutes until desired thickness. Then, season with salt and pepper.
- Add cooked pasta to the pan and toss until the pasta is well coated. I like to add about ¼ cup of pasta water to help thin out the sauce.
- Add protein on top of pasta (optional). Sprinkle with additional parmesan cheese and chopped parsley. Serve and enjoy!
Nutrition
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