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Get It NowThis keto alfredo sauce recipe is the best way to satisfy comfort food cravings in minutes! Unlike some store-bought sauces, this one is naturally low carb and keto, without any unusual ingredients or thickeners, like cornstarch. Serve this easy low carb alfredo sauce recipe with all your favorite keto pasta alternatives, pair with conventional pasta for non-keto eaters at the table, or serve it with my very favorite — keto egg noodles!
Why You’ll Love This Keto Alfredo Sauce Recipe
- Rich, cheesy flavor
- Creamy texture
- Uses basic keto staples
- Ready in 10 minutes
- Just 2.8g net carbs per (generous!) serving
- Perfect on ANY pasta, keto or not!
What Is Alfredo Sauce?
Unlike traditional red sauces, alfredo is a cream sauce traditionally made with butter, parmesan cheese, and spices. Store-bought sauces may also contain thickeners (such as flour or cornstarch), vegetable oils, or other added ingredients to keep them shelf-stable.
Low Carb Alfredo Sauce Ingredients
This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for quick and easy alfredo sauce, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.
- Butter – I use grass-fed butter here, but any unsalted variety will work.
- Garlic – This keto garlic alfredo sauce doesn’t skimp on garlic! I use 6 cloves here, but feel free to reduce the amount if you want less garlic. It’s also fine to substitute garlic powder (use 3/4 teaspoon in place of the 6 cloves).
- Heavy Cream – This adds richness to the sauce while keeping it pourable. If you need an alternative and don’t mind the flavor, you can also substitute full-fat canned coconut milk. I don’t recommend almond milk, as the final sauce will be too thin.
- Grated Parmesan Cheese – This adds flavor and thickens the alfredo sauce. Grate it fresh if possible, or use a pre-grated kind. Shredded parm should also work, but might take longer to melt. As an alternative, cream cheese can act as a thickener, but the flavor is completely different, so I don’t really recommend it unless you want a more tangy cream sauce.
- Sea Salt & Black Pepper – You’ll want to add a little more than you think you’ll need, since the sauce will mellow out after mixing with ingredients like pasta or vegetables. If you don’t like the appearance of black pepper in your sauce, use white pepper instead.
- Nutmeg – It’s a classic ingredient for any easy alfredo sauce recipe, but you can omit it if you like.
How To Make Alfredo Sauce From Scratch
This section shows how to make low carb keto alfredo sauce, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
- Saute. Add butter to a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and saute until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- Simmer. Add heavy cream, bring the sauce to a gentle simmer, and continue simmering until sauce thickens and reduces by roughly 1/3. The larger your saucepan, the faster it will reduce.
- Thicken. Reduce heat and gradually whisk in parmesan cheese until smooth. Add spices to taste and adjust sauce for thickness. (Add cream if sauce is too thick, or add additional cheese if sauce is too thin.)
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Frequently Asked Questions
No need to complicate this sauce! Get answers to all your questions here.
How To Thicken Alfredo Sauce?
This alfredo sauce recipe contains no thickeners, because it thickens naturally from the cheese, unlike other jarred sauces that rely on starches or flour. If you do wish to thicken the sauce more without adding substantial carbs, you can add more grated parmesan to your liking, or try a keto friendly cornstarch substitute.
Is Alfredo Sauce Keto?
Yes, with many high-fat ingredients and minimal carbohydrates, alfredo is naturally keto friendly. Some varieties (especially store-bought ones) contain extra ingredients that increase the carb count, so check labels and recipes to know exact macros.
Is Alfredo Sauce Gluten-Free?
Traditional alfredo is naturally gluten-free, and even store-bought sauces often avoid using gluten. Always check labels to be certain, though!
How Many Carbs In Alfredo Sauce?
This alfredo sauce recipe has 2.8g net carbs per 1/4 cup serving. Carbs in alfredo sauce at the store or at restaurants can vary widely, depending on what is in them.
Storage Instructions
Store this easy keto alfredo sauce recipe in a covered container in the fridge for up to 1 week.
Can You Freeze Alfredo Sauce?
Yes, you can freeze homemade alfredo sauce. Transfer it to an airtight container (ideally a freezer bag) and freeze for 2-3 months. It may be lumpy after thawing, but follow the reheating instructions to fix this.
Reheating Instructions:
If frozen, thaw in the refrigerator overnight or reheat directly from frozen. Reheat on the stovetop or microwave at low power until warm, stirring often to break up any lumps. If it’s still not smooth, you can give it a quick blend.
Since this sauce thickens during storage, you can thin it out with a little more cream as needed when you reheat it.
What To Make With Alfredo Sauce
Now that you know how to make easy alfredo sauce with heavy cream, you probably need ideas for ways to use it. Here are some recipes you can pair with this sauce, with no wheat-based noodles whatsoever!
- Keto pasta – This sauce tastes delicious with zucchini noodles (a.k.a. zoodles), shirataki noodles, or in spaghetti squash alfredo. My absolute favorite, pictured above, are keto egg noodles.
- Easy meats – Drizzle alfredo on top of juicy baked chicken, grilled shrimp skewers, keto meatballs, or even pan seared salmon.
- Roasted veggies – Roasted asparagus, roasted broccoli, and oven roasted brussels sprouts pair well with this creamy sauce.
- Delicious dinners – Try this sauce on chicken crust pizza, swap it for the pesto in this chicken cauliflower casserole (or include in other low carb casseroles), or use it as a dipping sauce for keto pigs in a blanket.
Recommended Tools
- The Easy Keto Carboholics’ Cookbook – Complete with 100 easy keto recipes made for carb lovers!
- Saucepan – Perfect for sauces and other all-purpose cooking.
- Whisk – Ensures easy dissolving for a smooth sauce.
Easy Low Carb Alfredo Sauce Recipe
Low Carb Keto Alfredo Sauce Recipe (Easy!)
This easy keto alfredo sauce recipe needs just 4 simple ingredients and 10 minutes! Plus, homemade low carb alfredo sauce is creamy, rich, and tastes much better than the jarred ones.
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Ingredients
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Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.
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Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add minced garlic and saute for about 30 seconds, until fragrant.
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Add the heavy cream. Bring to a gentle simmer, then continue to simmer for about 5 minutes, until it begins to thicken and volume is reduced by about 1/3. (Amount of time will vary depending on the size of your saucepan.)
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Reduce heat to low. Gradually whisk in the Parmesan cheese. Keep whisking over low heat, until smooth. If using nutmeg, sea salt, and/or black pepper, stir those in, to taste. (If sauce is thicker than you like, you can thin it out with more cream.)
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280 Comments
Mari
0My son, who considers himself a connoisseur of Alfredo, tells me this is better then most restaurants he has eaten it at! I also grill some chicken tenderloin & toss them in. Delicious!
Rebecca
0This sauce is outstanding! I lightly browned about 8 chicken tenders in a little oil and then added frozen broccoli florets, let them cook on low for about 10 minutes while a made the sauce on the side. When the sauce thickened I poured it over the chicken and broccoli and let it cook on low (covered) for about 5-8 minutes more. Better then a restaurant!
Elizabeth
0Just prepared the amazing Chicken Alfredo with Spaghetti Squash for dinner. It was a huge success and totally delicious. The squash was 4lbs, so I made a double recipe of chicken and sauce since my partner is a sauce fan. Did not have fresh parmesan cheese, so I used kraft in a jar.
My first time to bake chicken at 450 degrees. It was juicy, tender and seasoned to perfection.
We have leftovers for tomorrow. (A blessing in disguise.)
Thank you so much for sharing your recipes.
DONNA L
0IT SEEMS TO ME THE GREEN CAN GRATED PARM WOULD CLUMP UP AND NOT MELT – BUT THE RECIPE DOESN’T SPECIFY FRESH OR IF THE CANNED STUFF IS OK TO USE, THOUGHTS?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Donna, As noted in the post I suggest to grate it fresh if possible.
Brenda
0Delicious and super easy to make! My family loved it 🙂
Elizabeth K.
0Where can I find the recipe? Please
Wholesome Yum A
0Hi Elizabeth, There is a pink circle at the top of the page that says, “Jump To Recipe.” You could also scroll all the way to the bottom to find the recipe card.
Sandy Knecht
0Delicious. Made this twice and making it tonight. Great for shrimp and scallops. Thank you! Yes, I use fresh Parmesan.
Wesley Rainbolt
0This was absolutely delicious. I didn’t notice the sauté the garlic in the butter before adding the cream so I just added it as my cream and butter were starting to heat up and I also added about a 1/3 cup of Parmesan because it seemed a little runny at first but that made it perfect.
Law Blank
0Super easy directions. Turned out amazing.
Gwendolyn Abshire
0This was easy, delicious and filling. I am not a fan of cooking so this was perfect for me to make. Next time I’m going to try it with chicken or shrimp. Thank you for these recipes.
Liz
0Wow this was the best Alfredo sauce I have ever had. It was better than restaurant versions. It was thick and creamy and flavorful. And best of all it was so easy to make. WhenI ate it I felt like I was cheating my diet. But its all natural ingredients and it keeps to the Keto rules. I LOVED THIS RECIPE.
Gwendolyn Abshire
0I agree!
Claudia
0Mine did not thicken. The cheese melted into a big clump surrounded by watery cream.
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Claudia, Sorry this recipe didn’t turn out as expected. A tip I have to help get a creamy sauce is to reduce heat and gradually whisk in parmesan cheese until smooth.
Anna
0Can I use salted butter?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Anna, Yes, you could do that.
Nikki
0Best and easiest Alfredo Ever! Made it with my new favorite Chicken and Sausage Alfredo with Angel Hair Miracle Noodles! Thank you!
Lafo
0Easy to follow and turns out tasty!
jan campbell
0The absolute best alfredo sauce I’ve ever had and surprisingly my gives it a 5 star as well. I’ve made it twice once with egg wraps cut into strips and again with some angel hair that we wanted to use up. This is recipe #2 of yours and we loved both! I was just looking at your white pizza with chicken crust. I’ll let you know how it turns out – fabulous I’m sure.
Jan Campbell
0Absolutely fabulous! I had some egg wraps that I rolled up and cust into noodles. Just dropped them in the sauce to warm and with the addition of chicken and a vegetable we had a wonderful meal.
Carol L
0Hi. Just made this to go with some chicken and vegetables. I thought I had low carb fettuccine, but didn’t…so I’m going to add some palm hearts rice and throw this on top. Making it to travel where there are no low carb options. One question: the salt, pepper and nutmeg, it would be nice to have a starting point. I know it’s to taste, but how much to start? 1/2 tsp? 1 tsp?
Thanks for the recipe!!
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Carol, Start with 1/2 tsp and adjust from there.
Carolyn Knapp
0Used fresh Parmesan (my cuisinart grates it in a breeze) and added it to the cream. Salt pepper nutmeg with the butter and garlic! This was quick and easy! And by far better than store bought!!! Thank you
Sandra
0The recipe is very good, but I will make one major change to it. I will be using the freshly ground Parmesan cheese from the store deli. There’s no way that I will use the Parmesan cheese in the green can. Yes,I realize that in many areas, that is all that is available. I made this last year, and it was perfect. And, surprise (!), my adult son likes it too. He also does not like the sauce that comes in a jar ( any brand ) either. I also will get the garlic crusher gadget; it looks very much like the kind that you mix pie crust mix up with, except you can rock it back & forth to chop the garlic. It’s going to be a lot easier for me to do that than to have to squeeze the garlic. Will let you all know if that thing does the job. Thank You, Maya, for posting this recipe.
Sherry Hoyt-Cline
0Made the sauce to put on Spaghetti squash mixed with asparagus, and grilled chicken. Was delicious!!! Simple. Thank you.
KW
0This recipe for Alfredo sauce is so decadent and good!!! I browned up some diced chicken breast and cauliflower and enjoyed a wonderful treat. Hubby who usually makes faces at keto kept sneaking into the kitchen for just one more taste. Thank you!
LJ
0Just made this for dinner. I didn’t have any nutmeg. My family loved it!! I can’t wait to try next time with the nutmeg. Thanks for sharing!
Sue
0Can you substitute coconut cream for the whipping cream?
Thanks Sue
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Sue, Yes, you could do that.
Mary O’C
0I liked this recipe a lot because it’s versatile and easy. I made it again this evening and folded it over sautéed sliced mushrooms, red pepper chunks and spiraled zucchini noodles. I could have folded in my cooked cooked shrimp – or even cooked chicken – but wasn’t sure the shrimp and mushrooms would go well together. Still, it was delicious, filling and very colorful.
Jennifer Maestas
0Wow…was this ever so good. Due to my husband having to watch fat intake due to surgical concerns, I used 1/2 and 1/2 but everything was the same. Thank you for this!
Melissa
0This is delicious!!! Thank you!! It’s so easy also.
Tasha
0Better than any restaurant! Simple and Delicious my tummy is happy.
Diann
0Can I substitute regular butter for the unsalted?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Diann, Yes you could do that.
Marlene DiPaul
0Hi…I was wondering, can I use coconut milk instead of heavy whipping cream for this recipe??
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Marlene, Yes, that would work.
Elise
0This is super yummy! and was very easy to make. When I reheat the sauce turns into what looks like butter or just oil? What have I done wrong? I’m not much of a cook!
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Elise, I’m glad you liked it! This sauce needs to be mixed well and stirred frequently when being reheated. It sounds like your heat might have been too high or you didn’t stir it enough. Hope this helps!
Danielke
0Neumans Alfredo Sauce contains 3 grams of carbs and 90 calories per 1/4 cup serving. 2.9 grams of carbs plus 261 calories per serving is alot of calories.
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Danielke, My sauce is made with better ingredients with no gums or artificial flavor or colors compared to store-bought brands but it’s a personal choice as to what you want to consume.
Martine
0This was delicious, even though my sauce split because I had the heat on too high. Note that If you use a large frying pan, the sauce will thicken faster. The recipe also scales down easily. I made it for one portion.
I eat mine with a poached egg on top, it really adds to the taste.
Lindsay
0Mine didn’t thicken! What did I do wrong??
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Lindsay, I recommend adding additional cheese if the sauce is too thin.
Trudy
0This is very close to the way I make Alfredo. Rich and decadent. I add cream cheese to mine as it helps thicken it and it reduces the chance of it breaking when reheated. Just found your chicken crust pizza can’t wait to try it.
Julia Mills
0Loved it and so did my family! Thank you!!!
Teresa
0Made this tonight with Healthy Noodle (from Costco) and broccoli – it was delicious! Husband and teenager loved it too.