Homemade White Wine Alfredo Sauce

Oh sure, I've purchased store-bought Alfredo sauce many times over the years, and it's fine in a pinch. That said, making Homemade White Wine Alfredo Sauce takes only a few extra minutes to make on the stovetop, and you can definitely taste the number one ingredient…LOVE!

Jump to:

• The ingredient list
• Ingredient savvy
• How this recipe came to be
• The easy instructions for making white wine Alfredo sauce
• How to dry homegrown herbs
• How long will the homemade Alfredo sauce keep in the refrigerator
• Can homemade alfredo sauce be canned and stored in the pantry?
• Can this cheesy white wine white sauce be frozen?
• Variations and substitutions
• Important tips for better cooking and cleanup
• Recipe ideas using Alfredo sauce
• Printable Recipe Card

The ingredient list

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Ingredient savvy

I use heavy cream and whole milk when making this homemade Alfredo sauce. I feel the extra calories are worth the rich taste and texture the full fat ingredients provide (but that's my choice). If you prefer to use half-and-half and low-fat milk, you can easily do so to save calories.

It's best to use a dry white wine in this recipe, such as a chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, or Sauvignon Blanc. 

Freshy grated nutmeg (or ground nutmeg) works wonderfully well in white sauce of any kind. A tiny touch of of this earthy spice adds a little something that will elevate this creamy Italian cheese sauce from good to great!

When it comes to Parmesan and Romano Cheese, it's always best to use the finest you can afford. There are many forms of hard cheeses in the market, but I always steer clear of the green can version sold on the grocery store shelves and typically purchase the hard cheese wedges found in the refrigerated case of the deli.

The cream cheese is an essential ingredient in this recipe for taste and texture. I find that it's easier to use whipped cream cheese instead of the solid block, so it melts faster and incorporates easier into the sauce.

You can use as much or as little garlic in this recipe as you like. This recipe uses three cloves of minced garlic but feel free to use more (or less) depending on your taste. 

How this recipe came to be

This Italian white wine and cheese sauce came about because I had an idea for a new slow cooker pasta recipe (coming soon) and I wanted it to taste out-of-this-world. It did, but was eaten so fast that I didn't have time to take any pretty photos of the completed dish, so I have to make it again.

Until I get the new slow cooker recipe posted, I'm sharing the homemade Alfredo Sauce recipe as a stand-alone. The possibilities are endless regarding the many ways you can use this delicious white wine and cheese sauce in many other dishes.

Dried basil and oregano are my favorite go-to herbs when making any Italian-inspired dish or sauce. I've been growing fresh herbs in my backyard garden for many years, but this year I decided to hang some for drying so I could experience the taste difference using home and dried herbs. I even made a YouTube video of the process (featured below) that I hope you'll take a few minutes to watch. (Please ignore the goofy thumbnail photo). LOL

The easy instructions for making white wine Alfredo sauce

How to dry homegrown herbs

How long will the homemade Alfredo sauce keep in the refrigerator

If stored well in an airtight container this sauce will last up to two weeks in the refrigerator.

Can homemade alfredo sauce be canned and stored in the pantry?

Great question, and the answer is YES!

Here's what I found out from The Grocery Store Guy.

Can this cheesy white wine white sauce be frozen?

You bet. Store it in an airtight freezer container marked with the date and freeze for up to 4 months. Allow to thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

Variations and substitutions

If you like your food with a little kick of heat why not add a touch of red pepper flakes or cayenne red pepper to the sauce along with the white wine at the end? I think that would be delicious.

Feel free to use another type of cheese to the sauce if you're looking for a new twist. An Asiago, mozzarella, Swiss, or even smoked Gouda would make a delicious addition or substitution. Get creative. It's your sauce and I encourage you to have fun with it.

If you'd like to omit the white wine you can do so by substituting the same amount of chicken broth mixed with 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. The acidity in the vinegar will help balance the richness of the cheese.

Important tips for better cooking and cleanup

Whenever I use my box grater to shred or grate cheese, I spray it lightly with cooking spray to keep the cheese from sticking to the grater and so cleanup is quick and easy.

I also like to grate my cheese onto a piece of parchment paper. That way, when it comes time to transfer the grated cheese to the saucepan, I grab two opposite ends of the parchment paper and funnel it effortlessly into the pan without mess.

To get the most flavor from your dried herbs crush them in the palm of your hand before adding them into a dish. This releases the oils from the dried herbs and lot more flavor.

Recipe ideas using Alfredo sauce

This Alfredo Mac and Cheese is one of the best macaroni and cheese recipes you'll ever have. It's a cheese and wine lover's dream come true and it's easy to make too!!

When you want to impress but don't want to spend a lot of time preparing dinner, this easy Alfredo Ravioli Lasagna is the perfect dish to make, and it's company-worthy too!

This recipe is a favorite of all who've tried it. Chicken Alfredo Garlic Bread Pizza utilizes store-bought garlic bread and rotisserie chicken, along with an easy thick, rich homemade alfredo sauce and plenty of cheese to top it all off.

Spaghetti Squash Alfredo with Pancetta is a healthy and delicious option if you're watching your carb intake but you still want great flavor and texture.

Printable Recipe Card