Alfredo Sauce Recipes: 8 Ways to Use Alfredo Sauce That Aren't Pasta - Greatist

The history of Alfredo sauce has celebrity roots of the silent film variety. Its origin begins in Rome when in 1914, the owner of the restaurant Via della Scrofa, Alfredo di Lelio, was desperate to find a cure for his wife Ines' pregnancy nausea. In an effort to keep her meal simple and comforting, he tossed together hot pasta with Parmesan cheese and butter. It did the trick and she found it so appealing that the dish soon appeared on the restaurant menu as the "fatte in case" or housemade pasta.

A few years later, in 1920, the Hollywood superstar couple Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks stopped by Alfredo's restaurant and ordered the fettuccine which happened to be the pasta of the day with its humble sauce of butter and Parmesan. They were such fans of it that they collected the recipe and brought it home to California where Italian restaurants started serving it to their hungry patrons.

Alfredo fettuccine is such a classic dish that it's hard to imagine the world without it. Today, there are many variations of Alfredo sauce but the traditional ingredients of butter and Parmesan are the benchmarks of this recipe. Pasta is the natural pairing but there are so many other ways to incorporate Alfredo sauce into your recipes. It adds a cheesy flavor, velvety texture, and just the right hint of salt. Here are ideas for how to tuck it into your next dip, marinade, casserole, or vegetable roast:

1. Dressing: Swapping out ingredients like heavy cream or sour cream for Alfredo sauce in a dressing recipe adds extra flavor and creaminess to salads.

2. Marinade: Use Alfredo sauce as a marinade for your next pork loin, beef roast, or whole chicken. It not only adds flavor but also keeps the protein tender and moist as it roasts.

3. Dip: Creamy ingredients like milk, heavy cream, or sour cream can be swapped out for Alfredo sauce which transforms a neutral dairy flavor with a hint of buttery cheese. Alfredo dip is perfect for pretzels, vegetables, and crackers. Add a splash of wine and heat it up for your next fondue party.

4. Meatloaf and Meatballs: Replace half of the tomato sauce you would normally use to prepare meatballs or meatloaf with Alfredo sauce for creamy texture and cheesy flavor.

5. Pizza: Pizza was born to meet Alfredo sauce. Replace all of the pizza sauce or just a portion of it with Alfredo for extra cheesiness and a silky bed of flavor for your other toppings.

6. Vegetable Roast: Hearty vegetables like cauliflower, parsnips, potatoes, and carrots are ideal counterparts for Alfredo sauce. Slather them in it before roasting to keep the vegetables tender and to add flavor.

7. Fish and Vegetable Sauce: Alfredo sauce gussies up a fish or vegetable dish in a way that keeps it simple yet elegant all at the same time. Drizzle it over crispy roasted fish or roasted or poached vegetables for a flavor sensation that will keep everyone at the table happy.

8. Casseroles: Swap out ingredients like heavy cream, sour cream, or grated cheese for Alfredo sauce in your next casserole. It's a guaranteed win at your next potluck.