Alfredo Sauce without Parmesan Cheese (2024)

Published: by Fox Valley Foodie · This post may contain affiliate links

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

You can make a flavorful alfredo sauce without Parmesan cheese using Mozzarella cheese, garlic cloves, and Italian seasoning.

If you find yourself without Parmesan cheese when you are craving a delicious fettuccine alfredo, don't worry. This easy alfredo sauce recipe is the perfect substitute because it only uses simple ingredients and packs the same great flavor and creamy texture the whole family loves.

Alfredo Sauce without Parmesan Cheese (1)

What is it?

Traditional alfredo sauce is made with heavy cream, and grated Parmesan cheese, which is simmered together until a thick and creamy sauce forms.

This alfredo sauce recipe without Parmesan cheese omits heavy cream in place of a roux-based cheese sauce made with shredded Mozzarella cheese. This easy-melting cheese is the perfect substitute for Parmesan because its mild flavor ensures your mozzarella alfredo sauce has a similar taste and texture to the traditional sauce.

Ingredients and Substitutions

Alfredo Sauce without Parmesan Cheese (2)
  • Butter
  • All-purpose flour
  • Fresh garliccloves - Feel free to add additional cloves for more garlic flavor. Otherwise, ½ teaspoon of garlic powder can be substituted.
  • Milk - Whole milk is recommended. Heavy whipping cream or half and half can be substituted.
  • Shredded mozzarella cheese - Other cheeses that can be substituted for Parmesan include Asiago cheese, Pecorino Romano Cheese, and Gruyere cheese.
  • Italian seasoning - You can substitute fresh herbs.
  • Fresh ground black pepper
  • Optional - You can customize the flavor of this simple sauce by adding lemon juice, lemon zest, sun-dried tomatoes, or onion powder.

How to make it

Alfredo Sauce without Parmesan Cheese (3)

To make this alfredo sauce without Parmesan cheese recipe, begin by melting butter in a medium saucepan set over medium low heat on your stovetop. Once the butter has melted, whisk in the flour and continue to whisk for two minutes.

Next, add the minced garlic and continue to whisk for an additional minute. Then increase the heat to medium and begin to slowly add the milk in splashes. Whisk the liquid into the flour mixture fully before adding more. Repeat until all of the milk has been added.

For best results, melt the cheese into the sauce in batches, ensuring all of the cheese has melted before adding more. Repeat until all of the cheese has been melted, then add Italian seasoning and black pepper.

If the creamy alfredo sauce is too thin, continue to simmer it for a few additional minutes. It will thicken as it simmers. If it gets too thick, you can thin out the thick sauce with a little bit more milk.

Serve immediately over your favorite pasta.

Storing and Reheating Leftovers

Leftover mozzarella alfredo sauce should be stored in an airtight container in your refrigerator for up to one week. This sauce can be reheated in a microwave until warmed through. If the sauce thickens too much during storage, a little milk can be added to thin it back out.

Alfredo Sauce without Parmesan Cheese (4)

Alfredo Sauce without Parmesan Cheese (5)

Alfredo Sauce without Parmesan Cheese

You can make a flavorful alfredo sauce without Parmesan cheese using Mozzarella cheese, garlic cloves, and Italian seasoning.

5 from 2 votes

Print Pin Rate Save

Course: Sauce

Cuisine: Italian

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 4

Calories: 386kcal

Author: Fox Valley Foodie

Equipment

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup butter
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 ½ cups milk
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • ¼ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

Instructions

  • Melt butter in a saucepan set over medium-low heat and then sprinkle in flour. Whisk the mixture for two minutes, to prevent scorching.

  • Add minced garlic, and continue whisking until fragrant.

  • Increase the stovetop to medium heat and slowly add milk, while continuing to whisk, to prevent lumps from forming. Continue until all of the milk has been added.

  • Melt cheese into the sauce a handful at a time. Repeat until all of the cheese has been added and has melted into a smooth sauce. Then stir in the Italian seasoning and black pepper.

  • Check the consistency of the sauce. If it is too thin, let it simmer for a couple of minutes, until it thickens. If it is too thick, make sure the cheese has fully melted, then stir in a couple of splashes of milk, as needed.

  • Serve immediately over fettuccine pasta noodles.

Nutritional Information

Calories: 386kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 93mg | Sodium: 501mg | Potassium: 295mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 985IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 483mg | Iron: 1mg

Tried this Recipe? Pin it Today!Mention @FoxValleyFoodie or tag #foxvalleyfoodie!

More Alfredo Sauce Recipes

  • Pesto Alfredo
  • Alfredo Sauce without Heavy Cream
  • Sundried Tomato Alfredo with Parmesan Crusted Chicken
  • Rattlesnake Pasta

« Philly Cheesesteak Sliders

Cajun Potatoes »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply

Alfredo Sauce without Parmesan Cheese (2024)

FAQs

What if I don't have Parmesan cheese for Alfredo? ›

Shredded mozzarella cheese - Other cheeses that can be substituted for Parmesan include Asiago cheese, Pecorino Romano Cheese, and Gruyere cheese. Italian seasoning - You can substitute fresh herbs.

How do you thicken Alfredo sauce without Parmesan cheese? ›

Cornstarch

This works as a great thickening agent. 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.

What is a substitute for Parmesan cheese? ›

Asiago cheese, especially aged Asiago, is a great melting cheese and makes a good Parmesan substitute for classic Italian-American dishes. It's got a nice bite and toasty woodsiness, and those flavors get sharper the longer Asiago ages. This cow's milk cheese is widely available and reasonably priced.

Can you use cheddar instead of Parmesan in chicken Alfredo? ›

If I did not have Parmesan or similar cheese, I'd substitute a sharp cheddar (white cheddar if possible, or Havarti or even mozzarella) and add some some combination of fresh black pepper, red pepper flakes, Italian seasonings (basil, oregano), and potentially a bit of dill or rosemary.

What is a tasty substitute for Parmesan cheese? ›

Parmesan is a hard cheese made from cow's milk. Two great substitutes are Grana Padano and pecorino. Like Parmesan, Grana Padano is made from cow's milk, but is sweeter and creamier, and has a slightly nutty flavor to it. Pecorino is made from sheep's milk.

Can I use mozzarella in alfredo instead of Parmesan? ›

Parmesan is the signature flavor in Alfredo sauce but you can also combine it with other cheeses for additional flavor. You can also make a a completely different sauce/different flavor profile by swapping the Parmesan for another melting cheese such as mozzarella, Asiago, Gouda, smoked cheddar, Monterrey, etc.

How do you mimic the taste of Parmesan cheese? ›

When raw cashews are ground into a coarse powder, they resemble grated cheese. These traits all make them well suited as a foundation for cheese. Walnuts - a small percentage of vegan parmesan recipes use walnuts. They contain a lot of tannins, which produce an astringent chalky taste that mimics a good parmesan.

Can I use cheddar instead of parm? ›

Yes. But it will taste different, if you generally like parmesan that'll probably be fine. Also using parmesan instead of cheddar can make the melt different, along with changing the strength of the cheesy flavour. If you use mature or extra mature cheddar, using parmesan will make it milder, and vice versa.

What's the same as Parmesan cheese? ›

In the European Union, “parmesan” is accepted as a translation of Parmigiano-Reggiano. Within these countries, the two terms refer to the same cheese.

What to add to Alfredo sauce to make it better? ›

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's the difference between chicken alfredo and cheesy alfredo? ›

Chicken Alfredo is a classic combo of creamy Alfredo sauce, grilled chicken and oven-baked cheese, while Cheesy Alfredo features the new Alfredo sauce and two layers of cheese with baked Parmesan on top.

Why won t my Parmesan cheese melt in my Alfredo sauce? ›

The pre-grated packaged parmesan won't melt into the alfredo sauce nearly as well. Instead, buy a brick of parmesan and use a grater to grate it fresh. Don't bring to a boil. Cooking alfredo sauce over too high of heat can cause the cream to curdle and the sauce to break.

Does Alfredo have to have cheese? ›

What's in Alfredo Sauce? Alfredo sauce is made by melting butter, heavy cream, and parmesan cheese together. Unlike other pasta sauces that use tomatoes as a base, alfredo omits vegetables altogether and uses dairy products to achieve its mouth-watering flavor.

Does Parmesan cheese thicken Alfredo sauce? ›

This Alfredo sauce should be thick enough as-is. However, if you'd like to thicken it up even more, add more Parmesan than the recipe calls for. Continue whisking in cheese until the sauce has reached the desired consistency.

What is the best Parmesan cheese for Alfredo sauce? ›

If you want to make the BEST sauce, buy a chunk of Parmigiano Reggiano or domestic Parmesan and grate it with a rasp grater. The light, fine shavings will more easily melt into the hot cream to make a smooth sauce. You can also buy pre-grated fresh Parmesan — be sure it has a powdery texture, not shredded.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Pres. Carey Rath

Last Updated:

Views: 6581

Rating: 4 / 5 (61 voted)

Reviews: 84% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Pres. Carey Rath

Birthday: 1997-03-06

Address: 14955 Ledner Trail, East Rodrickfort, NE 85127-8369

Phone: +18682428114917

Job: National Technology Representative

Hobby: Sand art, Drama, Web surfing, Cycling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Leather crafting, Creative writing

Introduction: My name is Pres. Carey Rath, I am a faithful, funny, vast, joyous, lively, brave, glamorous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.