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This 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.
Recipe Video
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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.)
Last Step: Leave A Rating!
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Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see our nutrition policy.
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277 Comments
Annette McLamb
0Thanks for sharing this recipe, looks yummy! I do have a question. I noticed on the nutritional label it says total carbs 3g, but 0 net carbs, 0 fiber. Can you explain how the net equals 0? Thanks in advance, and I love your recipes!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Annette, Sorry about that, there was a glitch and it has been fixed. The nutrition info on the recipe card is correct now.
Sonja V Sanders
0Wow, I made this with meatballs, and zoodles. Great flavor and so simple.
Adriana Gutierrez
0Looks great! I’m planning to add Buffalo Sauce to your Alfredo sauce make a keto version of a family favorite. Grilled spicy boneless chicken strips in a cheesy buffalo sauce over cauliflower or zucchini noodles.
Dan
0This was awesome Alfredo! We served it with chicken and Zoodles. There may or may not have been a fight over who could lick the bowl clean
Aurora Peterson
0Is this healthy?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Aurora, “Healthy” is a broad term and different people have different definitions. I do not give medical advice. However, in my book – yes – foods that are low in carbs and made from whole foods are healthy. I’d pair this with some zucchini noodles for a healthy meal or side dish.
Bron
0This is amazing! My ‘fussy’ eaters polished it off, with one coming back for seconds. Which is amazing because normally one has his pasta plain because he doesn’t like white sauce! We had it over cauliflower and carrots with spinach and a sprinkle of bacon … Mmmm. Highly recommend!
Katie Neil
0Today I made this for the second time and it does not disappoint. So quick and yummy. This will be one of my goto recipes. Better than any other Alfredo I have made…..thank you!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0I am so happy to hear that, Katie! Have a great day!
Susan
0Oh my goodness! So simple and delicious–thank you for posting this! (I always have all of these ingredients on hand.)
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0I am so happy you liked it, Susan! Have a great day!
Rob
0WOW!!! Just WOW!!! This is simply amazing!! Once I tweaked a couple of things, I got it to taste just like, and have the consistency, I’m used to getting in fancy Italian restaurants!! I can’t believe how simple, and YUMMY this is!! The nutmeg really makes it pop! 😀
Here’s a funny thing: I didn’t read closely and see that this is for 6 servings, so I have been eating the whole thing every time, haha!! I ran the macros, and even doing that, adding 100g of mushrooms, and 200g of roasted chicken breast, and using konjac fettucine noodles, it only comes to just over 1100 calories, and 17g net carbs! Since I do intermittent fasting, and tend to only have 1 large meal, with a couple of snacks per day, this fits PERFECTLY.
Thanks so much for publishing this!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0I am so happy to hear that, Rob! Have a great day!
Cara
0Do you think I could use this Alfredo sauce to make a Tuna mornay? (Leaving out the garlic) I’ve tried one keto version of tuna mornay before and really didn’t like it.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Cara, I haven’t tried it but I’m sure you could! Let me know how it goes if you do!
Allison P.
0Fantastic! Tips: 1. use high quality Parmesan (not the green jar, common brand). I’ve made it with both kinds and I recommend the high quality, REAL Parmesan. 2. Serve over zucchini ribbons (shave a zucchini with a potato peeler to achieve these) for a fettucini alfredo replacement. 🙂
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thanks for sharing your tips with us, Allison!
Ginger
0I can’t wait to try this! I’m going to cook it ahead of time and then refrigerate it. I will use it as the sauce for my Cali’flour pizza crusts. I’ll be adding shredded chicken, bacon, mushrooms, spinach and of course, cheese!
Do you think it will be an issue if I use cold sauce on the crust?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thank you, Ginger! That sounds delicious. The sauce is just thicker when cold, so might be more difficult to spread, but otherwise it’s fine.
Cristina Franco
0Love the Alfredo sauce! Even my kids love it. Thanks!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0I love that, Cristina! Have a great day!
Deanna
0I subbed bacon grease for the butter and we crumbled bacon into the sauce. Bacon Alfredo!!!! It was really yummy.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0I love that you added bacon, Deanna! Please come back again soon!
Katie
0How long do you think this would keep in the fridge? Thanks~ 🙂
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Katie, It keeps for a few days for sure, maybe up to about a week. Just reheat slowly because it can separate with temperature shock.
Buffie
0I’m thinking of making it and just eating it! Is that bad? Sounds delicious. Have had alfredo in years!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Go for it, Buffie! I hope you like it!
Destiny
0I’m thinking about adding sun dried tomatoes to the sauce and pouring it over some cooked chicken or shrimp and zoodles. Yum! Thank you for the recipe. 😉
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Destiny, That sounds amazing! I love sun-dried tomatoes. I even have a recipe for making them yourself here.
Stephanie, One Caring Mom
0This looks absolutely delicious. I need to go get some cream so I can make this. Alfredo is one of my absolutely favorite sauces and homemade is always the best!
Tamara Iverson
0Super easy to make. I used salted butter and 1tsp of sea salt. Came out perfect and the whole family enjoyed it over spaghetti squash with grilled chicken.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0I love that you served it with spaghetti squash and chicken, Tamara! YUM!
Keva
0Easy recipe that resulted in a delicious sauce!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thanks so much, Keva! Thanks for stopping by!
Kim Smyth
0I can’t wait to try this. I want to find your chicken Alfredo with Shirataki noodles recipe, but have been unable to find it again. Can you send me a link, I promise to make it and share how good it was on my blog. I tried your cinnamon mug cake this morning…yummy!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Kim, My chicken alfredo recipe is with spaghetti squash. I’m glad you liked the cinnamon mug cake!
cindi jenkins
0This sauce is amazing . never again will I buy jar again! I used this over garlic zoodles and shrimp. Better then any I’ve ever tried and so easy to make! Thank-you for sharing.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0I love that, Cindi! Thanks for stopping by!
Yvonne Rodriguez
0This was delicious! I didn’t realize how easy it is to make. I did add 1 cup of shredded Parmesan and the flavor was amazing! Thank You!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thank you so much, Yvonne!
Jennifer
0Can you make this and freeze it?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Jennifer, Yes, you can. Just thaw before reheating, and then heat over low heat while stirring constantly to prevent curdling.
Kathy
0Oh….My…Word…. made this for dinner tonight and just like all other reviews it WAS amazing!!!!! I did add some fresh baby spinach, sautéed mushrooms and a roasted red pepper. Served with grilled chicken breasts on top of spaghetti squash. A hit at my house.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Kathy! I am so happy you loved this, thanks for stopping by!
Raquel Dishman
0I’m thinking of adding spinach and artichoke hearts.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thank you, Raquel! That sounds delicious.
Debi
0I buy minced garlic in a jar, what measurements would I use in place of the fresh garlic cloves. This recipe sounds great and looks very easy to make. At least this way you know exactly what is in the Alfredo sauce. Thanks for sharing
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Debi, For the jar kind, usually a clove of garlic is 1/2 tsp. So, you’d need 3 tsp or 1 tbsp of the minced garlic from a jar.
Kori
0If I want to use Nutmeg, how much would be needed?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Kori, You can adjust to taste to your liking. Start with just a little bit, maybe 1/8 or 1/4 tsp, and adjust from there.
Lachelle
0Hi! I made this and had to run out the door- my husband said it was delicious! When I tried re-heating on the stove, it separated and I can’t get it back to where it was!! How would you suggest it be re-heated if it separates? I didn’t microwave it for this reason.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Lachelle, I’m so glad you liked the sauce! Sorry it separated later. Try reheating over lower heat and stir constantly as you do. If a sauce already separated, sometimes running it through a blender can bring it back together, but it doesn’t always work.
Tiffany Johnson
0This was super easy and super yummy. I mixed parmesan and cheddar for my recipe. Had a question about nutrition though. You have 3g total carb, 3g net carb and 3g protein. If that’s actually correct protein would cancel out the carb and the net carb would be zero. Please clarify. Thx
Tiffany Johnson
0Never mind! I’m thinking fiber while reading protein. The carb count looks correct. Guess I’m dreaming over here about this yummy sauce.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Tiffany, I’m glad you liked it! Protein does not cancel out carbs. Net carbs are total carbs minus fiber and erythritol.
Andrea
0Can I use a bit of half and half if I don’t have enough HWC?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Andrea! That should be fine. It might change the nutritional information a bit, but I bet it tastes delicious!
Jill
0Can you double the recipe
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Absolutely, Jill! I hope you like it!
Sherrie leding
0I fixed this for dinner tonight and added leftover rotiisseried chicken. I did have to thin it with a little more cream, but not much. I served it over cooked broccoli and it was so good.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0I love your convenient tip, Sherrie! Thanks for stopping by!
Raquel
0This Alfredo sauce is AMAZING. I ate it over spaghetti squash. That was fantastic. Next time I will try it over the zoodles. Thank you so much for this recipe.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Racquel! I am so happy you loved it! Have a great day!
Jen
0Hi there! Do you think this recipe would work with almond milk instead of HWC? I’m allergic to anything that comes from a cow. So basically, a vegan version (except for the cheese).
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Jen! You can definitely try it, but it would probably be too thin. You can try coconut cream for a vegan version!
Gaston
0This sauce is so delicious! Super easy and quick to throw together with items that are usually on hand. We toss with spiralized zucchini and sliced lemon pepper chicken. The nutmeg is essential to achieving an authentic flavor.
A comment about the net carb count: I believe it’s around 2.5g to 3 net carbs per serving. Heavy cream is 0.4g carbohydrates per tbsp. With 1.5 cups (24 tbsp) that’s 9.6g for all the cream in the batch. Divided 6 ways that’s 1.6g of carbs from the cream alone. Add 0.9g carb per clove of garlic and around 0.25g carbs for every tbsp of Parmesan and you total out to just under 3 net carbs.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Gaston, Thank you – I’m so glad you liked it. I love it with zucchini noodles, too. Thank you for the breakdown on the carb count. You are right! There was a minor rounding issue and it’s now fixed.
Ellen
0Made this tonight with Cajun Seasoned Fresh Shrimp, mushrooms and added Cajun Hard Cheese too, served over zoodles……so so good.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thank you, Ellen! That sounds awesome!
sarah
0Just made this recipe…so good! Thanks!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thanks so much, Sarah! Have a great day!
Zachary
0I made this last night without the nutmeg, 3 garlic cloves, and probably another 1/4 cup of parmesan. Seasoned the precooked shrimp with salt, pepper, paprika, roasted garlic powder, and onion powder. Cooked it in coconut oil. OMG, THAT SAUCE WAS AMAZING!!!! Also, the hint of coconut on the shrimp was a wonderful twist.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thank you, Zachary!
Michael Roberson
0How is this recipe low carb with all of the heavy cream?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Michael, Heavy cream has very little carbs, less than a gram per tablespoon.
Julie
0Heavy cream is a low carb staple! Fat good, carbs bad!
Triple
0I do not have HWC, can I use milk and cream cheese or some other alternative?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi there, I haven’t tried that combination. It has come to mind before but in my opinion the tart flavor of cream cheese is not ideal for alfredo sauce. Regular milk would also increase the carbs. Let me know how it goes if you try it!
Carol
0Can you make this ahead of time and freeze it?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Carol, Yes, you can! Make sure to stir well when you reheat to prevent curdling.
Nick
0Garlic has up to 18 carbs per clove. There’s no way the nutritional information on this is correct.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Nick, You might be thinking about the entire bulb. A clove of garlic has 1g total carbs with a little fiber, so 0.9g net carbs. The nutrition info on the recipe card is correct.
Pete
0I used mince garlic to control the portion of carbs.
Shannon
0Awesome! Just made it and I want to drink it. Lol
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thank you, Shannon!
Rachel
0Would mozzarella cheese work ok in place of Parmesan?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Rachel, No, I don’t think so.
Lynn Tremblay
0Tried this the first time for dinner tonight. Pleasantly surprised. It is delicious. Highly recommend.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thank you, Lynn!
Lisa Kirkman
0What does everyone serve it over? I can’t have pasta unfortunately.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Zucchini noodles or spaghetti squash are our favorites. Try this chicken alfredo.
Renea McClintock
0Wow! I just made this sauce last night. It was amazing!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thank you, Renea!
Emma
0This is the same recipe I use! It’s so good. I will usually add a few strips of chopped roasted red bell pepper in a jar. It will add a small amount to the carb total but it’s so yummy!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thank you, Emma! Adding roasted bell pepper sounds delicious!
Nicole
0How is this yummy sauce less then 1 net carb???! I love it but that seems so crazy to me!!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thank you, Nicole! I love it, too.
Mandi
0Would this sauce be okay to use in a Crock Pot? I’m wanting to make a Tuscan chicken dish that requires Alfredo sauce, but the store bought have ingredients I don’t need. I was thinking to make it the night before and use it the next day in the Crock Pot. Please let me know what you think. Thank you!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Mandi, Yes, absolutely! Just to clarify, I haven’t tried actually making the sauce in the Crock Pot so am not sure about that part, but once you have the sauce ready, you can definitely use it in any Crock Pot recipe. 🙂