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Enjoy the rich, creamy flavor of restaurant-style Fettuccine Alfredo without worrying about leftovers. This Fettuccine Alfredo For One recipe is ready in just 15 minutes and made with simple ingredients. It’s the perfect portion of tender fettuccine coated in a delicious Alfredo sauce—great for a quick dinner or a special meal for one.
Not sure what to serve with Fettuccine Alfredo? Pair it with a crisp Caesar Salad, warm French Bread, and roasted Brussels Sprouts for a well-rounded and satisfying meal.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick and Simple: Ready in under 20 minutes, this single serve Fettuccine Alfredo recipe is perfect for any skill level.
- Rich and Flavorful: Tender fettuccine coated in a creamy, cheesy Alfredo sauce makes for a satisfying meal.
- Easily Customizable: Add protein, vegetables, or extra cheese to make it your own. Try broccoli, shrimp, or an extra sprinkle of Parmesan!
- Perfect Portion: Made for one, but the recipe can easily be doubled or tripled to serve more. Great for a quick meal for one or two!
This single serve Fettuccine Alfredo recipe is designed for one, giving you perfectly cooked fettuccine coated in a rich, cheesy Parmesan sauce. Enjoy all the flavor of the classic dish in the perfect single serving!
Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this small batch Fettuccine Alfredo recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder.
- Fettuccine: This flat, thick pasta is perfect for holding the creamy Alfredo sauce. For this recipe, use 2 ounces of dry fettuccine, which is about 2 1/8 inches in circumference. Once cooked, it yields approximately 1 cup of pasta. If you have extra fettuccine, try it in our Shrimp Fettuccine recipe. If fettuccine isn’t available, linguine works as a substitute.
For the Single Serving Alfredo Sauce:
- Butter: I use salted butter in this recipe.
- Heavy cream: Use heavy cream or heavy whipping cream (over 36% milk fat) for a rich, creamy texture. Whole milk won’t provide the desired consistency and won’t thicken properly. Half-and-half is an alternative, but it will result in a thinner sauce. If you have leftover cream, use it in recipes like Lasagna Soup, creamy Mustard Chicken, and a Mini German Chocolate Cake!
- Lemon juice: A small amount of lemon juice helps thicken the Alfredo sauce.
- Parmesan cheese: Freshly grated Parmesan melts smoothly into the sauce and provides a rich, nutty flavor. Avoid pre-packaged or jarred Parmesan, as they may not melt well, leading to a grainy sauce.
The Secret to a Perfectly Creamy Alfredo Sauce
Ever wonder how restaurants create that silky Alfredo sauce? The key is a small, but essential ingredient: lemon juice.
The acidity in lemon juice reacts with the cream, gently thickening the sauce without curdling. The butter and cream work together to balance this reaction, resulting in a smooth, rich sauce that clings beautifully to the pasta.
Adding lemon juice might seem unusual, but it’s absolutely necessary for achieving that creamy, restaurant-style Alfredo sauce. Don’t skip it—it’s the secret to perfect results every time!
Recipe Variations
- Shrimp Alfredo: Top your pasta with sautéed or baked shrimp for a flavorful seafood twist. It’s a simple way to elevate your meal.
- Alfredo with Vegetables: Mix in sautéed spinach, steamed broccoli, or roasted bell peppers for a pop of color and extra nutrients. It’s an easy way to add vegetables without compromising the creamy flavor.
- Spicy Alfredo: For a little heat, sprinkle in red pepper flakes or add a splash of hot sauce. A small adjustment can transform the dish into something bold and lively.
- Chicken Alfredo: Add tender, cooked chicken for a hearty and satisfying version. The creamy sauce and fettuccine pair perfectly with juicy chicken pieces.
How To Make Fettuccine Alfredo
These step-by-step photos and instructions help you visualize how to make a single serving of fettuccine Alfredo. See the recipe below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.
- Cook the Fettuccine: In a small pot, bring water to a boil over medium-high heat. Add the fettuccine and cook for 7-8 minutes, or until al dente. Drain the pasta and set it aside. To keep the noodles from sticking, toss them with a little olive oil or butter after draining.
- Make the Alfredo Sauce: In a 1-quart saucepan, combine the cream and lemon juice over medium heat. Add the butter and stir until it’s fully melted.
- Thicken the Sauce: Reduce the heat to medium-low and stir continuously for about 3 minutes, or until the sauce begins to thicken.
- Add the Parmesan: Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese. Keep stirring for 5-8 minutes as the sauce thickens and becomes creamy. For the best consistency, let the sauce simmer over medium-low heat until it reduces by about a third. This can take up to 10 minutes.
Note: Simmering the sauce on medium-low heat allows the water in the cream to evaporate, concentrating the dairy solids and creating a thicker, creamier sauce. This process, which can take up to 8-10 minutes, is essential for achieving the perfect consistency. Adding Parmesan cheese during this step not only enhances the flavor but also helps thicken the sauce as it melts and blends in.
- Combine and Serve: Add the cooked fettuccine to the sauce and toss gently to coat the pasta. Enjoy immediately.
Expert Tips
- Read the Recipe First: Before starting, read through the entire recipe, including any notes and photos. This will help you understand each step involved in this recipe.
- Stir Constantly: To avoid burning the sauce, stir it continuously, paying attention to the bottom and sides of the pan. This ensures a smooth, creamy texture.
- Using Half-and-Half: For a lighter version, you can substitute half-and-half for heavy cream. Keep in mind the sauce will be thinner and less creamy than the traditional version.
- Use the Right Pan: A 1-quart saucepan is the ideal size for this single serving recipe, helping you achieve the perfect sauce consistency.
- Try Different Cheeses: While Parmesan is classic, you can experiment with other cheeses like cheddar, gruyere, Swiss, or gouda to add unique flavors to your Alfredo sauce.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, linguine, spaghetti, or any similar pasta can be used as a substitute.
Lemon juice helps thicken the sauce by reacting with the cream, creating a rich and creamy texture.
Alfredo sauce can be reheated, but it may separate. Reheat gently over low heat, stirring frequently, and add a splash of cream or milk if needed to restore the sauce’s consistency.
Double the ingredients and use a 2-quart saucepan.
Keep the heat on medium-low when cooking the sauce and stir continuously to avoid overheating or separation.
Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder or you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:
If you’ve made this single serve Fettuccine Alfredo recipe, I’d love to hear how it turned out for you. Please rate the recipe and share your thoughts in the comments below.
Snapped a photo? Tag us on Instagram; we’d be thrilled to see your creation!
Fettuccine Alfredo For One
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 ounces uncooked fettuccine (2 ⅛ inches in circumference) = 1 cup cooked
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ½ teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon salted butter
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese -plus more for topping
Instructions
- Cook the Fettuccine: In a small pot, bring water to a boil over medium-high heat. Add the fettuccine and cook for 7-8 minutes, or until al dente. Drain the pasta and set it aside. To keep the noodles from sticking, toss them with a little olive oil or butter after draining.
- Make the Alfredo Sauce: In a 1-quart saucepan, combine the cream and lemon juice over medium heat. Add the butter and stir until it’s fully melted.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low and stir continuously for about 3 minutes, or until the sauce begins to thicken.
- Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese. Keep stirring for 5-8 minutes as the sauce thickens and becomes creamy. For the best consistency, let the sauce simmer over medium-low heat until it reduces by about a third. This can take up to 10 minutes.Note: Simmering the sauce on medium-low heat allows the water in the cream to evaporate, concentrating the dairy solids and creating a thicker, creamier sauce. This process, which can take up to 8-10 minutes, is essential for achieving the perfect consistency. Adding Parmesan cheese during this step not only enhances the flavor but also helps thicken the sauce as it melts and blends in.
- Combine and Serve: Add the cooked fettuccine to the sauce and toss gently to coat the pasta. Enjoy immediately.
Notes
- Read the Recipe First: Before starting, read through the entire recipe, including any notes and photos. This will help you understand each step involved in this recipe.
- Stir Constantly: To avoid burning the sauce, stir it continuously, paying attention to the bottom and sides of the pan. This ensures a smooth, creamy texture.
- Using Half-and-Half: For a lighter version, you can substitute half-and-half for heavy cream. Keep in mind the sauce will be thinner and less creamy than the traditional version.
- Use the Right Pan: A 1-quart saucepan is the ideal size for this single serving recipe, helping you achieve the perfect sauce consistency.
- Try Different Cheeses: While Parmesan is classic, you can experiment with other cheeses like cheddar, gruyere, Swiss, or gouda to add unique flavors to your Alfredo sauce.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Joanie, this isn’t really a cooking question, but I thought anyone would know the answer, it would be you. I find a lot of recipes call for nutmeg. I hate nutmeg! My tongue hates nutmeg! What can I use instead, or could I leave it out entirely?
If a recipe calls for nutmeg and you don’t like it, you can often leave it out entirely, especially in savory dishes, as it’s usually used in small amounts to add warmth. If you’d like to replace it, consider using a small pinch of cinnamon, allspice, or white pepper, depending on the recipe. For sweet dishes, cinnamon is a great substitute, while white pepper works well in creamy or savory dishes for a hint of spice without overpowering the other flavors. I hope this helps!
I made it exactly like the recipe. I highly recommend leaving out the lemon juice. Lemon juice curdles milk so it doesn’t work in this recipe.
Thank you for your feedback. I’m sorry to hear the recipe didn’t turn out as expected for you. The lemon juice is actually an important part of this recipe—it interacts with the cream to help thicken the sauce without curdling when balanced by the butter and cream’s fat content. This is a common technique used to achieve the creamy texture in Alfredo sauce.
If your sauce curdled, it could be due to overheating. Cream-based sauces should be cooked gently over medium low to medium heat, as high heat can cause the cream to separate. Stirring constantly and maintaining a moderate temperature is key. I hope this explanation helps, and I appreciate you taking the time to share your experience.
Absolutely delicious! Fantastic!
I treated myself to this dish for lunch today. Best decision. This is one of those simple recipes that when done right can make your eyes roll in the back of your head. In fact, my eyes continue to roll as I attempt to eat and type this review.
I contemplated just buying a frozen, prepackaged version or even lowering my standards and purchasing a shelf-stable jar of that gelatinous stuff that has way too many ingredients I can’t pronounce. Gross 🤢 So glad I didn’t.
Once again Joanie, you’ve brought the enjoyment of restaurant quality dishes right into my kitchen and my hands. No exaggerating, this fettuccine Alfredo rivals the last one I had from a higher end Italian restaurant. Kudos to you 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
I was so surprised. I’m a hopeless cook, and mostly just hope that everything isn’t so awful I have to throw it out and fry myself an egg. But this was so simple and so elegant and had such a smooth texture and subtle that I had to email fifteen or sixteen of my closest chums and boast a little.
They didn’t believe me, but I was so chuffed! Thank you!
I’m thrilled to hear you had such a great experience with the fettuccine alfredo recipe! Cooking doesn’t have to be complicated to be delicious, and I’m so glad you were able to impress yourself and your friends. Keep up the good work, and thanks for spreading the word!
I love Fettuccine Alfredo. I made this one time when I didn’t have heavy cream and didn’t want to go to the store for just that. I did, however, have a can of evaporated milk. It worked like a charm! It was creamy and smooth.
The sauce separated and never thickened much. The taste was ok, but it just didn’t hold together. (I used medium heat as suggested)
I’m sorry to hear the sauce didn’t meet your expectations. If the sauce didn’t achieve the right thickness, a couple of things could be the cause. First, using heavy cream is crucial for the texture, so if you used something else, that could be the issue. Accurate measurements are also essential for a consistent result, so double-checking that could help for next time.
To give you a better visual guide, don’t forget to check out the step-by-step images included in the blog post; they show precisely how the sauce should look at different stages. We’ve also detailed the unique interaction between lemon juice and heavy cream in the post, explaining how they work in synergy to create a perfectly thickened sauce. This information should set you up for success on your next try!
Terrific recipe.
Thank you!