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Monday, April 21, 2025

Conventional Fettuccine Alfredo – Finances Bytes


All of us have these dishes that transport us again to our childhood, and for me, this Conventional Fettuccine Alfredo does simply that. It’s wealthy, silky, and made with a handful of easy staples that I at all times hold stocked in my kitchen. And no, you gained’t discover any heavy cream right here! This recipe is my tackle the traditional Italian model, utilizing easy-to-find elements like fettuccine, salted butter, Parmesan, and seasonings. And at simply $0.45 a serving, this dish proves that consolation meals doesn’t have to come back with a excessive price ticket!

Overhead view of a plate of fettuccine alfredo with a fork.

Straightforward Fettuccine Alfredo rECIPE

Once I was a bit lady, my maternal grandparents lived with us. My Grandpa was a first-generation Italian immigrant within the U.S., and he at all times spoke Italian when he was at dwelling, catching up along with his mates. They tried to show me phrases right here and there, however my favourite phrase was “morire di fame” or “dying of starvation.” 😉 My Grandpa Pellegrini was obsessive about meals, and I can say with absolute certainty that my love for cooking began with him.

For this recipe, I thought-about sharing a cream or cream cheese-based American-style Alfredo sauce, however my Italian roots (and my checking account!) instructed me to stay with custom and make a fettuccine Alfredo the best way it was initially supposed with only a few easy elements: fettuccine (after all!), butter, and cheese (mmm Parmesan). I’ve additionally added some garlic to my recipe (as a result of “aglio è la vita!” aka “garlic is life!”). The unique recipe, created within the early 1900s by Alfredo di Lelio in Rome, mixed these elements with starchy pasta water to create this iconic pasta dish (with no cream added!), simply as I’ve replicated right here.


Conventional Fettuccine Alfredo

This conventional Fettuccine Alfredo is made with butter, Parmesan, and easy seasonings—no cream wanted! A comforting and budget-friendly Italian traditional.

Overhead view of a plate of fettuccine alfredo with a fork.Overhead view of a plate of fettuccine alfredo with a fork.

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  • 1 lb fettuccine pasta* ($0.98)
  • 1 stick salted butter ($0.99)
  • 1 tsp salt ($0.03)
  • 1 tsp floor black pepper ($0.17)
  • 2 cloves garlic, finely minced ($0.08)
  • ¾ cup pasta water ($0.00)
  • 1 ¼ cup grated Parmesan, divided** ($1.35)
  • ½ Tbsp recent parsley, minced ($0.05)

  • Put salted water on to boil and boil fettuccine noodles for 10-12 minutes till al dente.

  • In the meantime, you may soften butter in a big sauté pan with salt, pepper, and finely minced garlic. Prepare dinner on medium low warmth for 2-3 minutes till aromatic.

  • As soon as your pasta is cooked, pressure it, however reserve not less than 3/4 cup of the pasta water! This is a crucial step! I prefer to hold my cooked pasta off to the aspect within the now-empty boiling pot with a clear, damp kitchen towel excessive.

  • Add ¼ cup pasta water to the garlic and butter combination and whisk to mix. Let it bubble and thicken for 3-4 minutes

  • Sprinkle in half the grated Parmesan cheese, ¼ cup at a time, whereas repeatedly whisking till a easy sauce varieties. Add further pasta water, if wanted (you need to have ½ cup of reserved pasta water left to make use of.)

  • As soon as your pan sauce is finished, add the cooked fettuccine, the remaining grated Parmesan cheese, and the minced parsley. Toss to mix.

  • Prime with any remaining grated Parmesan cheese you could have (non-compulsory). Serve instantly.

See how we calculate recipe prices right here.


*I saved issues conventional and used fettuccine pasta, however you should utilize any sort of pasta you like.
**The unique recipe made by Alfredo di Lelio used Parmigiano Reggiano, which I’m certain is totally scrumptious. I personally use customary Parmesan in my model to maintain it reasonably priced and straightforward to seek out, however you probably have the actual deal, go for it! I don’t suggest utilizing canned Parmesan, although. It might probably make your sauce grainy.

Serving: 1servingEnergy: 387kcalCarbohydrates: 43gProtein: 13gFats: 18gSodium: 668mgFiber: 2g

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Tips on how to Make a Conventional Fettuccine Alfredo Step-by-Step Images

The ingredients for traditional Fettuccine alfredo.The ingredients for traditional Fettuccine alfredo.

Boil the pasta: Collect your whole elements. Now, boil a pan of salted water and add 1 lb. of fettuccine noodles. Prepare dinner them for 10-12 minutes till al dente (nonetheless with a bit chew to them). Whereas your pasta boils, you can begin on the fettuccine Alfredo sauce.

Melted butter in a skillet with salt, pepper, and minced garlic.Melted butter in a skillet with salt, pepper, and minced garlic.

Begin the sauce: In a big sauté pan, soften 1 stick salted butter and add 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp floor black pepper, and a pair of cloves finely minced garlic. Prepare dinner over medium-low for 2-3 minutes till it turns into aromatic.

Boiled Fettuccine in a colander, next to a glass jug of reserved pasta water.Boiled Fettuccine in a colander, next to a glass jug of reserved pasta water.

Reserve the pasta water: Pressure your pasta as soon as cooked, however reserve at least 3/4 cup of the pasta water! You want this to make the sauce in a while. Don’t pour all of it away. I prefer to return my cooked pasta again to the now empty boiling pot and canopy it with a clear, damp kitchen towel whereas I end the sauce.

Reserved pasta water being whisked into melted butter in a skillet.Reserved pasta water being whisked into melted butter in a skillet.

Make the sauce: Pour ¼ cup pasta water into the garlic butter combine and whisk effectively to mix. Let it thicken and bubble for 3-4 minutes.

Parmesan cheese added to a traditional alfredo sauce.Parmesan cheese added to a traditional alfredo sauce.

Now, add in half the grated Parmesan cheese, a ¼ cup at a time. Maintain whisking after every addition till a easy and creamy sauce varieties. If wanted, add in some extra reserved pasta water (you need to have ½ cup left) to assist the sauce emulsify. You don’t want to make use of all of the pasta water, solely as wanted.

Fettuccine being tossed in a homemade alfredo sauce,Fettuccine being tossed in a homemade alfredo sauce,

Add the pasta: When your do-it-yourself alfredo sauce is finished, add the cooked fettuccine to the sauce and toss to coat.

Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley added to a skillet of Fettuccine alfredo.Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley added to a skillet of Fettuccine alfredo.

Now, add within the remaining half of your grated Parmesan cheese and ½ Tbsp minced parsley. Toss to evenly distribute the cheese and parsley all through the pasta.

Traditional Fettuccine alfredo in a skillet.Traditional Fettuccine alfredo in a skillet.

Serve: In case you have any spare grated Parmesan cheese, you may sprinkle that over prime earlier than serving. Get pleasure from!

Side close up of a skillet of traditional fettuccine alfredo.Side close up of a skillet of traditional fettuccine alfredo.

What Else Can I Add?

I don’t normally add something to my do-it-yourself fettuccine Alfredo as I like the simplicity of the pasta within the buttery, garlicky sauce. However if you wish to flip it right into a extra filling meal, listed below are just a few tasty add-ins to attempt:

  • Combine in steamed broccoli, sautéed mushrooms, cooked frozen peas, recent spinach (the warmth from the sauce will make it wilt properly), or some other veggies you like on the finish
  • Prime the pasta with grilled hen and switch this dish right into a hen Alfredo!
  • Or, in case you want seafood, you may’t go mistaken with shrimp scampi
  • Combine in chopped sun-dried tomatoes (in oil) or olives
  • Sprinkle over some toasted pine nuts or walnuts for a bit crunch

In case you’ve by no means made a standard fettuccine Alfredo from scratch earlier than—don’t fear! This recipe is tremendous beginner-friendly, and I’ve acquired just a few suggestions that can assist you nail it in your first attempt:

  1. Save your pasta water. That is THE most necessary tip I can provide you! The starchy pasta water helps the sauce emulsify (come collectively) so the cheese and butter keep creamy and cling to the noodles. I like to order about ¾ cup, so I’ve loads to work with.
  2. Prepare dinner the pasta till al dente. You need it tender however nonetheless barely agency to the chew. It’ll end softening as you toss it with the nice and cozy sauce. As a common rule of thumb, you need to cook dinner the pasta for 1-2 minutes lower than the time listed on the package deal to get it al dente. This labored out at 10-12 minutes for me.
  3. Work shortly however gently. This Alfredo sauce comes collectively fairly quick, so have all the pieces able to go earlier than you begin. Maintain the warmth over medium-low when combining the elements to stop the cheese from clumping.
  4. Grate your personal cheese. The pre-shredded stuff is tremendous handy, however for the creamiest sauce, freshly grated Parmesan is the best way to go. Pre-shredded cheese is usually coated with anti-caking brokers that hold it from melting easily, which might result in a clumpy or grainy sauce. Grating it your self creates that attractive, silky texture we’re after!
  5. Whisk, whisk, whisk. When including the cheese, I like to recommend utilizing a whisk to include it into the sauce. Maintain whisking till all of the cheese is melted and totally included.

Storage & Reheating

This do-it-yourself fettuccine is unquestionably finest when served recent. Nonetheless, I’m all about lowering meals waste, so in case you’ve acquired any leftovers, hold them in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3 days. The sauce will soak into the pasta some, but it surely’ll nonetheless style good! I’d additionally retailer any leftover reserved pasta water within the fridge and blend that in throughout reheating as wanted. In case you used up all of your pasta water, common water may also work to loosen up the sauce. Reheat gently within the microwave or over low warmth, stirring typically, till warmed by way of.

Our authentic Alfredo sauce recipe was revealed 2/27/23. It was retested, reworked, and republished to be higher than ever 4/2/25.

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