Make your mornings a little less hectic with these overnight breakfast recipes. Prep the night before and enjoy a warm, comforting meal in the morning.
Quick 'n' Tasty Sour Cream Alfredo Sauce
- add review
- #11700
Sour cream and butter are melted together with Parmesan cheese and light seasonings for a different twist on the traditional Alfredo sauce recipe.
serves/makes:
ready in:
under 30 minutes
under 30 minutes
22 reviews
ingredients
1 tablespoon butter
8 ounces sour cream (do not use non-fat)
grated Parmesan cheese
cracked black pepper
crushed red pepper (optional)
directions
Add the butter and sour cream to a saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir constantly until the butter is melted and blended with the sour cream. While stirring, add the parmesan cheese until the desired consistency is reached (add more for thicker sauce, less for thinner sauce).
Season to taste with black pepper and, if desired, crushed red pepper.
Pour the sauce over your cooked pasta of choice and serve hot.
recipe tips
Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese instead of pre-grated. Pre-grated cheese does not melt well because it contains extra starch.
Add a pinch of grated nutmeg.
For a lighter version, substitute half of the sour cream with Greek yogurt.
Stir in some chopped fresh herbs like parsley or basil.
If the sauce is too tangy, balance it with a small amount of sugar or honey.
Serve with a sprinkle of extra Parmesan cheese and black pepper on top.
Always taste and adjust the seasoning before serving.
Try using the sauce on veggies, salmon, as a pizza sauce, etc.
common recipe questions
Can I use low-fat or non-fat sour cream for this recipe?
It's best to use full-fat sour cream; lower-fat versions can separate when heated or become grainy or watery.
How much Parmesan cheese should I use?
Start with about 1/3 cup and add more as needed to reach your desired consistency and flavor.
Can I add garlic to this sauce?
Yes, adding minced garlic or garlic powder can add a lot of flavor.
What type of pasta works best with this sauce?
This sauce pairs well with a variety of pasta, such as fettuccine, penne, or spaghetti.
How do I achieve a smooth sauce consistency?
Stir continuously and gently over medium-low heat to prevent the sauce from becoming lumpy or separating.
Can I add protein to the sauce?
Yes, cooked chicken, shrimp, or bacon can be added for a heartier dish.
How can I thin out the sauce if it's too thick?
You can thin the sauce with a bit of milk, pasta water, or broth.
Is this sauce suitable for freezing?
Freezing is not recommended as it can separate and become grainy once thawed and reheated.
How long does this sauce last in the refrigerator?
Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.
Can I use this sauce in other dishes besides pasta?
Yes, it's also great over vegetables, chicken, or as a base for casseroles.
tools needed
Saucepan: Used to melt together the butter and sour cream for the base of the Alfredo sauce. Make sure to stir constantly to prevent burning.
Stirring Spoon: For stirring the butter, sour cream, and Parmesan cheese as they melt together to create a creamy sauce.
Grater: If using a block of Parmesan cheese, a grater is needed to grate the cheese before adding it to the saucepan. Freshly grated Parmesan is best.
Measuring Spoons: For accurately measuring out the black pepper and crushed red pepper, if using, to season the Alfredo sauce.
what goes with it?
Garlic Bread: this rich and creamy Alfredo sauce is the perfect pairing for crunchy, garlicky bread.
Grilled Chicken: smother your perfectly grilled chicken breasts in this indulgent sauce for a decadent upgrade.
Steamed Veggies: drizzle this creamy sauce over a steaming pile of vegetables for a flavor that will have you actually excited to eat your greens.
Egg Noodles: these simple noodles are the perfect canvas for this rich and flavorful sauce if you're not in the mood for more traditional pasta.
Meatballs: top your meatballs with this savory sauce for a gourmet twist on a classic dish.
nutrition data
147 calories, 15 grams fat, 2 grams carbohydrates, 2 grams protein per serving. This recipe is low in sodium. This recipe is low in carbs.
If you're a fan of the menu at this American chain of restaurants which serves a variety of foods such as burgers, steaks, pasta, and seafood then you'll love this collection of copycat recipes.
This iconic whiskey is a "Jack of all trades" when it comes to cooking. Toss it in some pasta, as a savory dipping sauce, and even bake it into something sweet.
reviews & comments
June 21, 2021
Didn't expect to like this much but it turned out very well!! I didn't have any cream for a sauce but I had sour cream. Worked great.
September 2, 2020
I made this last night although with my own spin. I had made a batch of bacon wrapped chicken tenders (~25 min @ 450F). I put oil and garlic in a pan, added the Sour Cream, ~1Cup of pasta water and 8oz cream cheese. I added salt and pepper and some pepper flakes. This was grand. I plan next time to add mushrooms and more pasta water as the "sauce" was more of a coating than a sauce, but nothing some water wouldn't thin out...Loved it!
August 12, 2020
It was something Iâve wanted to try and it did not disappoint! I added garlic powder and lots of pepper, as well as mixed shredded cheese (all Italian) and i definitely think this is a keeper
May 23, 2020
I used about 3 tablespoons of a parmesan romano grated cheese blend plus a sprinkle of garlic powder so the sauce had a lot of flavor. I stirred it on low heat for 5 minutes and put it on gluten-free fettuccine. Delicious!
October 16, 2019
I made it twice, 5he first was your recipe and it was very tasty. The next I added a dab of sour cream and onion dip (store bought) it was tasty seemed to kick it up a notch. Lol but very good recipe, it's a keeper.
January 16, 2019
My husband really liked this. He first had a steak baked potato in a restaurant and now I make it with leftovers. If we have steak, I often don't eat all of mine, so I save the most rare part of mine and freeze it. Then later I'll bake a large potato, and cut the leftover steak in thin, small pieces. I cut the potato, and make slits in the inside of the potato and put the steak in the potato. Finally I top it with Alfredo Sauce. I've tried making the sauce before, but he didn't like it and only wanted the jarred sauce, but he liked this one and it is so easy.
January 7, 2019
Tried it with minced garlic and it was fabulous!
March 28, 2018
This was terrible. I tried adding more seasonings, even added tomato sauce, but there was no saving it. It tastes like plain sour cream. I never leave reviews but I wanted to save someone from making this. It sounds like a good idea but doesnât work.
You'll note by other reviews here that plenty of people do like the recipe. So, to each their own!
April 17, 2017
This receipe needed A LOT of extras added to it to make it taste anything other than sour cream!! We added oragano, garlic, red crushed pepper (a lot!!) and the black pepper - and a LOT of Parmesan! I would not consider this to have an "alfredo" taste at all! Do not recommend!!
March 30, 2017
Great flavor! I love Alfredo but am not exactly a chef and I have picky kiddos. They loved this recipe as much as I did. I also added some garlic.
August 31, 2016
Super quick and easy recipe. I knew I could make an Alfredo sauce with sour cream and this did the trick. I used a low fat sour cream but didn't read the directions closely and used three tablespoons of butter, I added a little salt in addition to the pepper and had no problem adding the Parmesan to taste. The crushed red pepper does add a little kick, but we like that so I recommend.
August 8, 2016
I cheated - I DID use nonfat sour cream and it turned out just fine. I think the warning not to use it is because most people would heat it too high and it would curdle or something. I heated it on very low and it was good. I figured the parm and butter had enough fat that I didn't need the full fat sour cream too.
February 1, 2016
I used shredded Mozzarella instead of parmasean and a bit of milk, because the shredded cheese made it ultra thick. I thought it looked like too much butter at first, but it tastes molto good. Thanks for adding this recipe. Usually to make something this good, Id have to use my moms kitchen (all ingredients in the world) but I was able to pull this off with the limited things I have in my kitchen! kudos!
August 10, 2014
Mix with cooked noodles then you have the perfect side dish for chicken, steak or fish. To use for a main dish add noodles, chicken, shrimp and your favorite vegetables.
November 5, 2013
I was impressed that this tasted like alfredo sauce. I figured it wouldn't. It would help to know the amount of parm that the recipe is supposed to use. I used the amount suggested by Agger and it was ok, maybe too cheesy. Needed salt too but I only had unsalted butter so maybe that was why.
July 13, 2013
This recipe came in so handy when I found out I didn't have heavy cream to make alfredo sauce! I used 1 1/2-2 cups parmesan (didn't really measure, just did like the recipe said and added cheese while stirring until it got thick). I think this worked well in a pinch. It's not exactly like alfredo sauce but it's so very close and you can't beat how easy it is.
July 1, 2013
I thought this would only taste like sour cream but it had a more cream like taste to it probably from the butter. I wasn't sure how much cheese to add and I think I put too much in.
November 23, 2010
Sounds really good. I might just have to try this one.
August 21, 2006
Pretty good. I used a couple cloves of garlic at the beginning in the butter, slowly adding the sour cream, thinned with a bit of milk, and thickened in the end with the parmesan. Excellent quick Alfredo in < 5 min.
March 20, 2006
I added 1 1/2 cups cheese and it was very good. A little thick, but good.
August 6, 2004
Well it was super easy to make and very quick, but it turned out quite sour cream tasting, not quite like alfredo. I wish it would have said how much parmesan cheese to add.
May 12, 2004
So easy. So good. Thanks for this recipe!! I was in a pinch and I literally whipped this up in about 5 minutes or less!!