
Do you need a creamy pasta fix? If so, this easy homemade Alfredo sauce with Penne pasta is it!
Whether you just arrived home from work and need dinner on the table fast or you’re looking for some weekend comfort food, this pasta recipe checks all the boxes.

When I started experimenting with vegetarian recipes for my family, this Alfredo sauce was at the top of the list. Why?
Well, it’s so incredibly easy. I usually had most of the ingredients on hand. Plus, this is a simple dish to add meat to for the meat-eaters.
How Do You Make Homemade Alfredo Sauce?
All you need is six ingredients, plus some salt, pepper, and fresh parsley for garnish. It all starts with olive oil, butter, and fresh minced garlic. When a dish starts with those three things, you know it’s going to be good.

Next, you whisk in heavy cream and lemon zest and let it thicken just a bit. Then stir in Parmesan cheese and season with salt & pepper. The last step is to stir in your cooked Penne pasta and garnish with chopped, fresh parsley.
This quickly became a family favorite and I swear it gets better and better every time I make it.
How to Thicken Alfredo Sauce
If you’re finding that the Alfredo Sauce is really runny, it usually means you’re not letting it simmer long enough. I stir the sauce until it starts to stick to the sides of the pan and I can see the bottom of the pan as I’m stirring. This lets me know it’s getting to the right consistency.
I generally cook as many meals as I can gluten-free, so I don’t add flour to this recipe, but I’ve never had a problem with it needing any flour for thickening.
Also, as soon as you add in the pasta and let it sit for a minute, it’ll start to thicken up and you’ll have a perfect plate of Alfredo sauce and pasta.

As I mentioned, if you’re making this recipe for meat-eaters too, it’s easy to grill up some chicken or shrimp on the side. They can add it to their pasta dish and be as happy as a clam. 🙂
Enjoy!

PIN THIS TO SAVE FOR LATER



Easy Homemade Alfredo Sauce Recipe with Penne Pasta
Do you need a creamy pasta fix? If so, this easy homemade Alfredo sauce with Penne pasta is it! Whether you just arrived home from work and need dinner on the table fast or you're looking for some weekend comfort food, this pasta recipe checks all the boxes.
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- Salt & Pepper, to taste
- Parsley, chopped
- 8 ounces Cooked Penne Pasta
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package directions.
- While the pasta is cooking, dice the 3 cloves of garlic and the fresh parsely, set aside.
- In a large non-stick skillet, heat the olive oil and butter. Add the garlic and cook just until the garlic is fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Whisk in the heavy cream and lemon zest and heat for about 2 minutes, until it starts to thicken a bit.
- Stir in the Parmesan and cook until thickened, another 2 to 3 minutes.
- Salt and pepper the sauce to taste.
- Stir in the cooked Penne Pasta and garnish with chopped parsley.

Julie Bonner is one-half of the TREKKN team. She specializes in helping you whip up delicious meals in your tiny RV kitchen, as well as RV organization tips and helping fellow RVers make their RV feel like home. Her favorite RVing spot is in Banff National Park in Canada where yes, the water really is that blue and the people really are that nice.
36 Super Easy Dinner Ideas for Two – The Kitchen Community
Friday 3rd of September 2021
[…] 6. Alfredo Pasta Sauce […]
Foodie Friday - 6 Delicious pasta dishes - Mummy Vs Work
Saturday 14th of September 2019
[…] Easy Homemade Alfredo Sauce Recipe with Penne Pasta – Sometimes you just want a delicious, easy, creamy pasta to give you that cheese/carb hit. This delicious recipe is that perfect combination and it is so easy to do, there are no excuses to reach for premade jars. […]
Paula @ Mummy Vs Work
Saturday 14th of September 2019
Yummy! This looks delicious and so quick to make, I need to do something like this on our busy weekdays!
Thank you for linking up with our Foodie Friday linky :)
Julie
Tuesday 17th of September 2019
Thanks Paula! :)
57+ Useful RV Kitchen Accessories: A Full-Timer's Efficient Kitchen Set Up
Monday 22nd of April 2019
[…] use a deep skillet like this at least twice a week. We enjoy a lot of one-pot meals like this Homemade Alfredo Sauce and Penne Pasta and stir-fries, so this skillet has been perfect for those. It goes from stove to oven, which I […]
Full Time RV Living: My 7 Kitchen Essentials + Tips - Trekkn
Sunday 9th of September 2018
[…] Easy Homemade Alfredo Sauce with Penne Pasta […]