Holiday Fettuccine Alfredo Recipe
Fettuccini Alfredo Recipe – We’re sharing our easy holiday Fettuccine Alfredo Recipe today. With only a handful of ingredients, this decadent pasta dish is a timeless treat that your family will love.
Why We Love This Fettuccine Alfredo Recipe
Every year we have certain holiday movies that we can’t wait to watch once the weather turns cold.
The Christmas Story is a classic we always enjoy as a family the week before Christmas. Then Lt. Dan and I like to watch Love Actually on winter nights once the kids are in bed. But my personal favorite is The Holiday with Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz.
There’s a scene in The Holiday where Iris (Kate Winslet) and Miles (Jack Black) are comparing the low moment of their twisted romantic relationships, and after hearing just how torn up the other person is feeling, they decide to make “Christmas Fettuccine” to lighten the mood.
Every time I watch this scene, instead of pondering the lesson of not getting stuck in unhealthy manipulative relationships… all I can think about is fettuccine alfredo.
Does this happen to anyone else?
Because really… Although there are many ways to prepare fettuccine, Fettuccine Alfredo is that end-all comfort dish we only allow ourselves to enjoy on rare occasions. Like Christmas.
I’m not exactly sure how Fettuccine Alfredo became popular as a Christmas Eve or Christmas Day dish, but I’d guess it has to do with how quick it is to make and how lavish it tastes.
Today I’m sharing my version of classic Fettuccine Alfredo, made with just a few quality ingredients.
What Ingredients You Will Need
- 2 packages DeLallo Fettuccine Egg Pasta 8.8-ounce packages
- 1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
- 1 clove garlic large, finely minced
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 2 cups shredded Parmesan cheese
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 2 pinches freshly ground nutmeg
- Salt and pepper
- Chopped parsley optional
- Crushed red pepper optional
How To Make Fettuccine Alfredo
Truly, there is no easier pasta dish to prepare than Fettuccine Alfredo Recipe.
Instructions…
Set a large pot of salted water over high heat and bring to a boil. Add the fettuccine and cook according to package instructions.
Meanwhile, place the butter and garlic in a large skillet over medium heat. Saute for 2-3 minutes, then add the cream and bring to a simmer. Stir in the shredded cheese, lemon zest, and nutmeg. Stir until the alfredo sauce is smooth. Then check the pasta. Once the pasta is “al dente” (cooked, but firm) scoop it out of the water (reserving at least 2 cups of water) and into the alfredo sauce. Stir and cook the pasta and sauce together for 1-3 minutes. Salt and pepper if needed, and add a pinch of crushed red pepper if desired.
If the alfredo sauce starts to tighten too much before you are ready to serve the fettuccine alfredo, stir in some of the pasta water to loosen the sauce. Serve warm with a sprinkle of chopped parsley over the top!
Get the Complete (Printable) Fettuccini Alfredo Recipe Below. Enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Do Leftovers Last?
You can store these leftovers in the fridge for 3 to 5 days. I would not recommend freezing the leftovers.
Can I Make Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo?
Yes, you can use this recipe to make a brilliant Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo recipe by simply adding grilled chicken, breaded chicken cutlets, or sauteéd chicken to the top of the pasta.
What Other Ways Can I Serve This Dish?
You can add fresh broccoli florets into the cooked pasta noodle dish when you toss them with the sauce. The broccoli will cook quickly in the hot cheese sauce. Or serve your Fettuccine Alfredo with a sizzling steak, our favorite standing rib roast, some juicy shrimp, and some roasted brussels sprouts, or your favorite vegetables.
Looking for More Pasta Dishes to Try? Be Sure to Also Try:
- Chicken Pesto Pasta
- Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta
- Greek Shrimp Pasta
- Spinach Ricotta Pasta
- Tomato Pesto Pasta with Chicken
Check out the printable recipe card below for the nutrition information including calories, protein, carbohydrates, cholesterol, and sodium percentages.
Fettuccine Alfredo Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 packages DeLallo Fettuccine Egg Pasta 8.8-ounce packages
- 1/2 cup butter 1 stick
- 1 clove garlic large, finely minced
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 2 cups shredded Parmesan cheese
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 2 pinches freshly ground nutmeg
- Salt and pepper
- Chopped parsley optional
- Crushed red pepper optional
Instructions
- Set a large pot of salted water over high heat and bring to a boil. Add the fettuccine and cook according to package instructions.
- Meanwhile, place the butter and garlic in a large skillet over medium heat. Saute for 2-3 minutes, then add the cream and bring to a simmer. Stir in the shredded cheese, lemon zest and nutmeg. Stir until the alfredo sauce is smooth. Then check the pasta. Once the pasta is "al dente" (cooked, but firm) scoop it out of the water (reserving at least 2 cups of water) and into the alfredo sauce. Stir and cook the pasta and sauce together for 1-3 minutes. Salt and pepper if needed, and add a pinch of crushed red pepper if desired.
- If the alfredo sauce starts to tighten too much before you are ready to serve the fettuccine alfredo, stir in some of the pasta water to loosen the sauce. Serve warm with a sprinkle of chopped parsley over the top!
Easy & Delicious! Even the kids loved it. Our new Christmas tradition!
Can this sauce be made ahead of time? Thanks!
Hi Molly,
Absolutely! However, it thicken as it cools. You will need to loosen it up with a little milk when you reheat it.
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I made this tonight and couldn’t stop complimenting myself! :-) Thanks for another winner!
I love it when just a handful of simple ingredients come together to create such an amazing dish. Your Fettuccine Alfredo is divine!
Tracey @ The Kitchen is My Playground
Fettuccine Alfredo really is top-notch comfort food! This looks so good!
Loooove The Holiday :) This alfredo looks divine!!
Love this comforting pasta recipe!
Love this holiday pasta!!
I just watched The Holiday this year and I’ve been planning my own Christmas Fettuccine ever since, no joke! When I saw this recipe I was like “She totally just watched The Holiday and stole my idea!” I guess we aren’t the first people to ever watch that scene then are we? Your recipe looks so good! I definitely have to try it!
I actually had never heard of Fettucine at Christmas until I saw The Holiday. But I love the idea!
I love The Holiday. I just watched it a few days ago. Maybe I should have a second showing tonight with a big bowl of this fettuccine on my lap!! Sounds delicious!
LOL! Yes you should!
HISTORY OF ALFREDO DI LELIO CREATOR IN 1908 OF “FETTUCCINE ALL’ALFREDO” (“FETTUCCINE ALFREDO”), NOW SERVED BY HIS NEPHEW INES DI LELIO, AT THE RESTAURANT “IL VERO ALFREDO” – “ALFREDO DI ROMA” IN ROME, PIAZZA AUGUSTO IMPERATORE 30
With reference of your article (for which I thank you), I have the pleasure to tell you the history of my grandfather Alfredo Di Lelio, who is the creator of “Fettuccine all’Alfredo” (“Fettuccine Alfredo”) in 1908 in the “trattoria” run by his mother Angelina in Rome, Piazza Rosa (Piazza disappeared in 1910 following the construction of the Galleria Colonna / Sordi). This “trattoria” of Piazza Rosa has become the “birthplace of fettuccine all’Alfredo”.
More specifically, as is well known to many people who love the “fettuccine all’Alfredo”, this famous dish in the world was invented by Alfredo Di Lelio concerned about the lack of appetite of his wife Ines, who was pregnant with my father Armando (born February 26, 1908).
Alfredo di Lelio opened his restaurant “Alfredo” in 1914 in Rome and in 1943, during the war, he sold the restaurant to others outside his family.
In 1950 Alfredo Di Lelio decided to reopen with his son Armando his restaurant in Piazza Augusto Imperatore n.30 “Il Vero Alfredo” (“Alfredo di Roma”), whose fame in the world has been strengthened by his nephew Alfredo and that now managed by me, with the famous “gold cutlery” (fork and spoon gold) donated in 1927 by two well-known American actors Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks (in gratitude for the hospitality).
See also the website of “Il Vero Alfredo”.(with news also about franchising).
I must clarify that other restaurants “Alfredo” in Rome do not belong to the family tradition of “Il Vero Alfredo – Alfredo di Roma”.
I inform you that the restaurant “Il Vero Alfredo –Alfredo di Roma” is in the registry of “Historic Shops of Excellence” of the City of Rome Capitale.
Best regards Ines Di Lelio
Wow! Very cool story, Ines. Thanks for sharing it with us. I’d LOVE to taste your recipe. :)