How To Make Jarred Alfredo Sauce Better (2024)

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Planning to serve alfredo sauce but find the jar in your pantry bland? Read on for delicious ideas about how to make jarred alfredo sauce better!

How To Make Jarred Alfredo Sauce Better (1)

One of my favorite things about creating homemade sauces is having creative reign, with the ability to transform the flavor the way I like. But sometimes grabbing a jar of sauce from the grocery store is easy and cheap!

Throwing a jar of alfredo sauce from the pantry together with cooked pasta is easy! But it can lack flavor and uniqueness. If you find yourself in this predicament, there is no need to stress. With just a little extra time and a few simple ingredients, that bland jar can be transformed into something special.

Make a Homemade Alfredo Sauce Recipe

When you have a bit of time to go the extra mile, make your own alfredo sauce for a super easy recipe that is done in under 10 minutes. Save yourself a trip to the store and also a little cash!

What To Serve With Chicken Alfredo

Chicken Alfredo is the perfect easy meal for busy nights. It is easy to make and even easier to enjoy! Once it is ready to eat, what should you serve alongside it? Read on for 21 delicious ideas aboutwhat to serve with chicken alfredo!

How To Make Jarred Alfredo Sauce Better (2)

Check Out This Quick Web Story

You can enjoy a jar of alfredo sauce with some quick tips to spruce it up.

How To Make Jarred Alfredo Sauce Better

When you don’t have the time or just want to use up ingredients hanging out in your pantry, learn how to make jarred alfredo sauce taste better! There are several ways to do this, so pick and choose any or all of the recommendations below.

If adding garlic, saute it first, then add other desired ingredients. Cook in a skillet over medium heat for 10 minutes, stirring frequently to avoid scorching.

How To Make Jarred Alfredo Sauce Better (3)

Garlic

Adding fresh garlic cloves is such an easy, quick and affordable way to add a huge burst of flavor to jarred sauce. Either saute fresh garlic for 3 minutes in olive oil or butter or add up to 1 teaspoon of garlic powder.

Butter

Melted butter adds a creamy texture and a deliciously bold flavor to alfredo sauce. Add up to 1/4 cup, stirring over medium-low heat until melted.

Double up on buttery garlic by sauteing minced garlic IN butter. Bam!

Cheese

Since this is a creamy sauce to begin with, cheese makes the perfect addition. Add up to 1/2 cup of any melty cheese such as cheddar, mozzarella, gouda or cream cheese. Or add up to 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese.

Tip: Avoid low-fat cream cheese to avoid a low-quality, grainy end result.

Vegetables

Toss in some chopped vegetables for not only extra flavor, but for a variety of textures as well. Great options include fresh broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, onions or Brussels sprouts.

Seasonings/Spices

Extra seasonings and spices will go a long way in adding flavor to a boring jar of sauce. Some of my personal favorites include salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, dried basil, oregano, onion powder or seasoned salt.

Start with small amounts (1/2 teaspoon at a time) and add as needed, in order to avoid over-spicing.

How To Make Jarred Alfredo Sauce Better (4)

Go Spicy

Add a spicy flare for a fun and delicious zing! Yummy options include cayenne pepper (1/2 tsp), hot sauce (up to 1 Tbsp), red pepper flakes (up to 2 tsp), extra black pepper or white pepper.

Fresh Herbs

Fresh herbs are the perfect way to spruce up boring food. Finely chopped Italian parsley, chives, thyme and cilantro are great options.

How To Make Jarred Alfredo Sauce Better (5)

Milk, Heavy Cream or Sour Cream

Add a little bit of milk, heavy whipping cream or sour cream (up to 1/2 cup) toward the end of your cook time (until just heated through) for an extra creamy texture and bold flavor.

White Wine

Adding up to 1/2 cup of white wine will absolutely transform the flavor profile!

Broth

Pour in up to 1 cup of chicken broth or chicken stock for a little something extra.

How To Make Jarred Alfredo Sauce Better (6)

Meat

I love adding cooked, chopped chicken to alfredo to make it tastier. Cooked ground beef or ground turkey taste great, too. Add up to 2 cups!

FAQ About Alfredo Sauce

How to store alfredo sauce?

Store alfredo sauce in sealed containers in the fridge for up to 5 days. To extend the shelf life of this delicious sauce, freeze it!

Can alfredo sauce be frozen?

To freeze alfredo sauce, transfer to an airtight container or doubled up resealable freezer bags. Freeze for up to 4 months. When you are ready to use it, allow it to thaw completely and reheat on the stove top or in the microwave. Either way, whisk vigorously until warmed through and creamy.

Is alfredo sauce gluten free?

Alfredo sauce is typically made with butter, milk or cream and cheese. Some varieties of this sauce are thickened using flour, so be sure to check labels for ingredients containing wheat.

Is alfredo sauce cheese?

Although alfredo sauce is cheese-based, it is not technically cheese. It is a creamy white sauce containing butter, milk or heavy cream and one or two varieties of cheese.

Why is my alfredo sauce grainy?

Alfredo sauce becomes grainy when Parmesan added to it is not good quality and/or it doesn’t fully melt. To avoid this issue, use a fresh block of Parmesan cheese and grate or shred it into the sauce. To fix this issue, run the sauce through a blender or food processor.

How To Make Jarred Alfredo Sauce Better (7)

Ways To Use Alfredo Sauce

  • Replacepizza saucewith alfredo sauce on your next pizza!
  • Dip breadsticks or garlic bread into it. YUM!
  • Chicken Alfredo, of course. Top with fresh parsley and black pepper!
  • Create alfredo spaghetti or add creamy alfredo sauce to any pasta dish to create a comforting pasta alfredo.
  • Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole(best. casserole. ever.)
  • Heat it up and pour it over hot fettuccine pasta noodles or your favorite pasta.
  • Turntraditional lasagnainto a white lasagna by replacing spaghetti sauce with alfredo and beef with shredded chicken.
  • Add it to your next batch ofscalloped potatoes.
  • Mix it with cooked spaghetti squash or zucchini noodles for a healthier version of fettuccine alfredo.

How To Reheat Fettuccine Alfredo – 3 Methods!

Fettuccine alfredo is an easy, comforting dinner to make any night of the week. If you find yourself with leftovers, you can reheat and enjoy them again the next day. Read on to learn how to reheat fettuccine alfredo so it can be enjoyed again later.

Homemade Sauce Recipes

  • Thisroundup of easy sauce recipescan be used now or frozen for another time.
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  • Make your owntaco saucefor tacos, burritos and taco salads!
  • This healthy treat,Hummus without Tahini, comes together in just 10 minutes and has lots of lemon and garlic.
  • Thisenchilada saucerequires a handful of ingredients and just 15 minutes.
  • You can makehomemade buttermilkwith two ingredients and 5 quick minutes.

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How To Make Jarred Alfredo Sauce Better (8)

How To Make Jarred Alfredo Sauce Better

Planning to serve alfredo sauce but find the jar in your pantry bland? Read on for delicious ideas about how to make jarred alfredo sauce better!

4.90 from 37 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Sauce

Cuisine: Italian

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 8 minutes minutes

Servings: 4

Calories: 369kcal

Author: Megan Porta

Ingredients

  • 3 tbsp butter
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 16 oz alfredo sauce
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp pepper
  • 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper optional
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese grated
  • 1/4 cup Italian parsley finely chopped
  • 2 cups chicken cooked and chopped

Instructions

  • Melt butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and saute until soft and fragrant, approximately 3 minutes.

  • Add the jar of alfredo sauce as well as the remaining ingredients, as desired, such as salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, Parmesan cheese, parsley and chicken.

  • Cook, stirring frequently, for 10 minutes. Adjust spices and flavors as needed until desired taste has been achieved.

Nutrition

Calories: 369kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 33g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 122mg | Sodium: 1540mg | Potassium: 101mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 772IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 92mg | Iron: 1mg

Did you make this recipe?If you loved this recipe, please rate the recipe and leave a comment below!

How To Make Jarred Alfredo Sauce Better (2024)

FAQs

What can I add to a jar of Alfredo sauce to make it better? ›

Fresh herbs

Heartier herbs like thyme or oregano can be added in to simmer with the sauce. Add delicate herbs like parsley, basil, or chervil at the end to maintain their delicate, aromatic flavor. Quick tip: Swirl in a bit of leftover pesto to add another herbaceous twist to your Alfredo sauce.

What is the secret to smooth Alfredo sauce? ›

Add heavy whipping cream, a little at a time, whisking to smooth out lumps. Stir in Parmesan and pepper. Remove from heat when sauce reaches desired consistency.

How to make jarred Alfredo sauce thicker? ›

Cornstarch

The easiest way to accomplish this is to mix about a spoonful of cornstarch to 2 spoonfuls of liquid – it could be water or chicken stock or even milk. You will add this mixture, also called a slurry to the sauce and as it starts to cook, the sauce will thicken.

How can I stretch one jar of Alfredo sauce? ›

A little trick I figured out. is just to add a tiny bit of milk, maybe about tablespoon. Make sure the lid is on level, that way it doesn't spill out. And then you shake it up really good, and then you pour the rest in. Cooking Tip!

What can I add to jar sauce to make it taste better? ›

Maybe it needs a touch of salt, red pepper flakes, or some fresh garlic to liven it up. You could add dried or fresh herbs too: oregano, basil, thyme, tarragon, parsley—they're all great! Want to go next level? Toss in some chopped anchovies (or anchovy salt), olives, or some lemon zest and/or juice.

What can you add to fettuccine alfredo? ›

There are dozens of variations of fettuccine Alfredo out there. You could sprinkle in fresh herbs and lemon zest or juice to cut the richness of the cream. You could also top servings with cooked shrimp or chicken for some protein, or toss in a vegetable like cooked asparagus!

How do you make Alfredo creamy again? ›

While controlling the heat is what helps the fat (oil) not separate from the sauce in the first place, adding cream to your leftovers is what helps to revive the dish. This leaves the pasta nice and creamy again and makes sure that it's not dried out.

How do restaurants keep Alfredo sauce from separating? ›

Heating the Alfredo sauce gently and slowly in the oven with a cover ensures that it stays creamy and hom*ogenous, highlighting the importance of avoiding high heat that could result in a grainy or separated sauce.

Can I use half and half instead of heavy cream for Alfredo? ›

Yes, as a matter of fact, using half and half instead of heavy cream results in a sauce that is equally as thick and creamy. How do you thicken half and half for Alfredo? We've added a couple tablespoons of flour to this sauce recipe to make sure the sauce turns out equivalently thick and creamy using half and half.

How to keep Alfredo sauce creamy? ›

Mix the cornstarch with some cold water to create a smooth slurry, then whisk it into the sauce while cooking over medium-high heat for a few minutes. Add all-purpose flour. Another very common thickening agent that will give your Alfredo sauce a creamy texture.

How do you make jarred pasta sauce thicker? ›

Cornstarch: Make a slurry of half water, half cornstarch and whisk until smooth. Cornstarch is a powerful thickener, so start by whisking in no more than 1 tablespoon of the mixture per 2 cups of simmering sauce; stir and simmer for 2 minutes, check the thickness, and repeat with more slurry as needed.

Does pasta water make Alfredo thicker? ›

After 12 ounces of fettuccine pasta noodles are finished cooking, reserve 2 cups of the pasta water to include in your sauce. The starchy water is essential to creating a thick, creamy sauce consistency.

Is one jar of Alfredo sauce enough? ›

Typically, we like the ratio of one jar of our sauce to 1 pound (or package) of our pasta. Don't dump that pasta water.

How do you fix broken Alfredo sauce? ›

The Fix Is Simple—Add Water Back.

A generous splash of water is all it takes. Here's how fix a broken sauce: Add about ¼ cup of water to the pan and reheat the sauce to a vigorous simmer, whisking constantly. The bubbling action will help re-emulsify the butter and bring back that thick, glossy sauce.

Why does Alfredo sauce get watery after opening? ›

Alfredo sauce contains a high amount of dairy, and freezing can cause the sauce to separate and become grainy or watery when thawed. This is due to the water in the dairy products freezing into ice crystals, which can break down the emulsion of the sauce.

How do you make leftover alfredo better? ›

The goal of reheating fettuccine alfredo is to make it taste as close to fresh as possible. Pantry & Larder says you can achieve this by adding a small amount of water, cream, or milk to the dish to increase moisture and prevent the noodles from drying out.

How do you keep Alfredo sauce from getting thick? ›

Add starchy pasta water to thin the sauce, if needed. The starch in the water also helps the sauce coat the pasta instead of clumping up or pooling on the plate. I use the pasta cooking water as the base of my alfredo sauce, as done in the recipe below. Pasta water, butter and Parmesan cheese form the sauce.

Can I freeze alfredo sauce? ›

Store the Alfredo sauce: Transfer the sauce to storage containers and cool completely. A skin will form on the surface of the sauce and the sauce will thicken to a paste-like consistency; this is normal. Refrigerate for up to 5 days, or freeze for up to 1 month.

Why does my alfredo sauce separate? ›

Factors Affecting Alfredo Sauce Stability

Heat: Excessive heat can break the emulsion, causing separation of fats. Stirring: Gentle and frequent stirring can help maintain the sauce's smooth texture.

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