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BEST Fettuccine Alfredo Recipe

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The recipe prices will vary based on fluctuating grocery costs. Please use what is posted as a guide.

This Copycat Olive Garden Fettuccine Alfredo recipe takes just 30 minutes to make and is better than eating out.

It serves six and costs about $5.96 to make. That’s just $0.99 per serving!

Finished Copycat Olive Garden Fettuccine Alfredo with text overlay for social media.

This Olive Garden Copycat Alfredo is bowl-lickin’ good!

Are you one who is hesitant to try a copycat recipe? You may feel nervous because you know how delicious it is at the restaurant, and you don’t want to mess it up.

But who wants to spend all that money on eating out? A copycat recipe is a perfect solution, especially when you can make this recipe for a family of 6 for less than you’d spend on one order of fettuccine alfredo at Olive Garden! 

This Fettuccine Alfredo is easy to make and comes together in just 30 minutes. It’s super creamy and tastes better when you can eat it in your own home and not wait for who knows how long to be seated at a table and wait for your food. 

Keep reading, and we will walk you through the steps to create this Homemade Copycat Fettuccine Alfredo!

Olive Garden Alfredo Recipe ingredients & Estimated Cost

Recipe Cost: $5.96
Per Serving: $0.99
  • 16-ounce package fettuccine – $1.36
  • 5 Tablespoons salted butter – $0.50
  • 2 large garlic cloves – $0.10
  • 2 cups heavy whipping cream – $1.74
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper – $0.02
  • 2/3 cup parmesan cheese – $1.38
  • 2/3 cup mozzarella cheese – $0.86

To learn more about how we price our recipes, check out Budget Recipes Explained.

An overhead picture of all of the ingredients needed to make this recipe.
Close up picture of fettuccine noodles twirled around a fork with alfredo sauce on it.

How to make Olive Garden Fettuccine Alfredo

  1. First, cook the fettuccine.
  2. Next, make the Alfredo sauce by melting the butter and then adding the garlic to cook for a minute. 
  3. Then add in whipping cream and pepper and bring to a bubble.
  4. Add in cheeses and stir until the sauce thickens.
  5. Finally, spoon the sauce over the drained fettuccine and serve.
A picture collage showing how to make this recipe.

***For complete recipe instructions and a recipe video, see the recipe card below.

Olive Garden Fettuccine Alfredo Recipe variations & substitutions

  • Add chicken to make this a classic dish. You can use grilled chicken, baked chicken, or shredded chicken. 
  • We recently made the alfredo sauce, boiled a pound of fun-shaped pasta, and threw in 2 cups of chopped leftover ham and a 12-ounce package of steamed peas for a completely different dish! Our entire family gobbled it up! See the picture of the dish below. 
Alfredo sauce with pasta, peas, and ham.

Best fettuccine Alfredo Recipe storage & serving tips

Serve: As with most recipes with dairy products, you shouldn’t leave this Fettuccine Alfredo out for longer than 2 hours. 

Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. If possible, store the alfredo sauce and the pasta separately. The sauce needs to reheat at a low, slow temperature so it doesn’t break or become grainy. 

Freeze: Because of all the dairy in the sauce, it will not freeze well. 

Cook’s Tools for Olive Garden Fettuccine Alfredo

  • large colander
  • large pot
  • liquid measuring cup
  • large saucepan
  • measuring cups
  • measuring spoons
  • wooden spoon
An overhead picture of the finished Fettuccine Alfredo on a white plate.

Fettuccine Alfredo Recipe Easy FAQs

What can I add to store-bought Alfredo sauce?

If you are short on time, you can use store-bought Alfredo sauce. However, we like to add a few things to make it taste even better! Adding a few simple ingredients to the jar will help it taste a little more fresh and homemade. Try adding two teaspoons of minced garlic, a pinch of dried basil, and a dash of salt and pepper. 

You can also make our Tomato Chicken Alfredo with store-bought alfredo sauce. 

What side dishes go with Fettuccine Alfredo?

Any green veggies, such as our Fresh Green Beans Almondine, go great with Fettuccine Alfredo. Then, serve a Caesar Salad, steamed broccoli, or asparagus to complete the meal. You can also serve our Easy Garlic Bread to dip in the yummy sauce!

Is Fettuccine Alfredo healthy?

We would not classify this dish as one of our healthy dishes. Maybe that is why it is so extra delicious tasting?! Fettuccine Alfredo does give you healthy carbohydrates, fiber, protein, and minerals. However, it does also contain saturated fat, sodium, and cholesterol. Jess likes to eat this to carb up the night before a long run the next day! Beth and Jill like to eat it in moderation while enjoying the savory taste! 

Is fettuccine alfredo just carbonara?

Alfredo is a simple, creamy sauce with the main ingredients consisting of butter and heavy whipping cream. Carbonara sauce is not quite as simple. It is typically made with onion, pancetta, garlic, raw eggs, and parmesan cheese.

What is the secret to thick alfredo sauce?

If you need to thicken the sauce, stir in some additional mozzarella cheese until the desired consistency is reached.

Get Kids Involved in making this Olive Garden Alfredo Recipe

  • Ages 2-3: Let them help measure you measure the shredded cheese. They can also help you gather the pot, sauce, pan, and whisk needed to make the recipe. 
  • Ages 4-5: Have your kiddo break up the noodles to put them into the pot of water. Put oven mitts on their hands, so no boiling water splashes on them. They can also help stir the sauce. 
  • Ages 6-8: Let them cook and stir the fettuccine noodles and help make the sauce.
  • Ages 9-11: Supervise them while they prepare the entire recipe. Remember to have them read it twice before beginning the recipe. 
  • Ages 12+: Let them prepare the entire recipe unsupervised while you do the happy dance in the corner!

Budget Tips

You will spend at least twice as much on this dish if you order it at The Olive Garden versus making the meal at home for your whole family. So save some money on your monthly food bill and make this Fettuccine Alfredo at home.

Overhead picture of Copycat Olive Garden Fettuccine Alfredo recipe on a white plate.

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A square picture of the finished fettuccine alfredo on a white plate with chopped fresh parsley.

Fettuccine Alfredo Recipe (Easy)

Recipe Cost 6.00
Serving Cost 1.00
Author Easy Budget Recipes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Italian
This Copycat Olive Garden Fettuccine Alfredo recipe takes just 30 minutes to make and is incredibly delicious. It serves 6 and costs $6.00 to make. That’s just $1 per serving!
Servings: 6 people
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes


Equipment

  • large colander
  • large pot
  • large saucepan
  • Liquid measuring cup
  • measuring cups
  • Measuring spoons
  • Wooden spoon

Ingredients
 

  • 16 ounce package fettuccine
  • 5 Tablespoons salted butter
  • 2 large garlic cloves minced
  • 2 cups heavy whipping cream
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black or white pepper
  • ⅔ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • ⅔ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
US Customary – Metric

Instructions

COOK FETTUCCINE:

  • Cook the fettuccine as per the package instructions and drain.

MAKE ALFREDO SAUCE:

  • In a medium saucepan over low heat, melt the butter. Once melted, add garlic and cook and stir constantly until the garlic is fragrant about 30-60 seconds.
  • Add in whipping cream and pepper and bring the mixture to a bubble (NOT a boil). Once bubbling, reduce the heat to simmer and simmer while stirring often until the mixture has thickened. This will take about 5 minutes.
  • Add in the Parmesan and mozzarella cheese and continue to cook and stirring occasionally until the sauce has thickened. This will take about 5-10 minutes.

TO FINISH:

  • Spoon the alfredo sauce over the drained fettuccine and serve.

Video

Notes

It’s important to go low and slow with this recipe because of all of the dairy products. If you cook the alfredo sauce over higher heats, you run the risk of the sauce breaking, separating, and becoming grainy.

Nutrition

Serving: 2cups | Calories: 735kcal | Carbohydrates: 57g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 48g | Saturated Fat: 29g | Cholesterol: 217mg | Sodium: 377mg | Potassium: 267mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 1685IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 269mg | Iron: 2mg
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finished fettuccine alfredo on a white plate.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  7. Liz says

    5 stars
    Oh, my gosh, this is an awesome recipe!! I’ve never tried making alfredo sauce at home, but it’s so easy and was a home run!

    Reply

  9. Debbie Welchert says

    This recipe looks and sounds delicious. I love that it doesn’t have a lot of ingredients in it and I can’t wait to give it a try.

    Reply

  11. Mimi says

    I’ve actually never tried Fettucine Alfredo because they are not something we make in Italy but I’ll definitely give it a go

    Reply

  17. Millie says

    This is my go-to disk when we go to the Olive Garden. Since we won’t be going to restaurants for quite some time (due to COVID-19)having a copy cat recipe is perfect! Thanks!

    Reply

  20. Taresa Lambert says

    5 stars
    Perfect to the taste and Affordable, This is a definitely keeper, Thank you for sharing , , Love it

    Reply

  21. Karen M says

    5 stars
    Made it for supper tonight. It was delicious & easy. I did use 24 oz. of fettuccine noodles, but there was plenty of sauce for that much pasta. Hubby enjoyed it. Bonus is there are leftovers.

    Reply

  22. Tavo says

    5 stars
    You guys nailed it! It definitely tasted like the Olive garden fettuccine! thanks for the recipe!

    Reply

  23. Anita says

    5 stars
    It was the first time for me preparing alfredo sauce from scratch. Turned out really well and delicious. I’m going to make my own sauce from now on. 🙂

    Reply

  24. Roxana says

    5 stars
    Wow a nice and simple recipe at such an affordable cost. Love how thorough the post it. Saves time with all these tips.

    Reply

  25. rebecca says

    5 stars
    Yum! I love how easy this recipe is and how I usually have all the ingredients on hand, so I can make it whenever.

    Reply

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