6 Best Jarred Alfredo Sauces, Tested and Reviewed
The heavenly combo of butter, cheese and heavy cream taste just as good in a jar.
Tested by Julia Morlino
We've all been there— craving a carb-loaded, dairy-filled meal after a bad day or just a hassle-free recipe. No matter the circumstances, there's nothing comfort food can't solve. Fettucine Alfredo, specifically, is a fail-proof satisfactory meal that is guaranteed to fill your stomach and your heart. There's something so warm about a big serving of pasta swimming in cheesy, creamy Alfredo and ground black pepper. Chef's kiss, some may say. But finding that high-quality, pantry-staple sauce to make those stress-free meals is no easy journey (which is where we come in).
Because tasting spoonfuls of store-bought Alfredo sauce isn't exactly appealing, our tester took one for the team and invited friends and family over for a true Italian Sunday meal of pasta and (jarred) Alfredo sauce to find the best one. You would think the combination of parmesan cheese, heavy cream and butter is easy to come by, but our tester found many Alfredos to be too heavy, bland or overly seasoned. But many passes later, we managed to find the diamonds in the rough of supermarket Alfredo sauces for your next cozy comfort meal.
Our Top Jarred Alfredo Sauce Picks
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Julia Morlino
How We Tested
Similar to how we ran our jarred red sauce taste test, we sampled 12 popular supermarket Alfredo brands solo and over a bite-sized serving of penne pasta. We heated up each sample— to mimic how you would be serving these sauces at home— and paid close attention to seasoning, texture, consistency, aftertaste and how well it coated the pasta. We also noted how authentic versus artificial tasting each sauce was, specifically catching the sharp or light cheese flavor. While we were a bit wary of jarred Alfredo sauce at first, we were pleasantly surprised by some of these picks and think you will be too.
Although the most expensive option on our list, it comes with good reason. Rao's prides itself on using the finest ingredients over artificial flavors, which definitely stood out in testing. The four-cheese blend of parmesan, romano, asiago and fontina loads this sauce with flavor to create a rich pasta coat or recipe base that boasts the same classic taste as if it were homemade. The addition of black and white pepper also gave this sauce just the right amount of spice to rid of any blandness. And it still wasn't tummy-ache-heavy despite the cheesy contents. If you're looking for that premium flavor that's easily accessible, Rao's is the answer.
You should run (not walk) to your local Trader Joe's for this Alfredo sauce. The jar was full of flavor, thanks to the natural robust blend of parmesan and romano cheese, and light enough for a more pleasant taste without being too overwhelming. Our tester found the consistency to be quite thin, but still creamy in a simple way that's not dairy overload. This sauce had a sweeter flavor of the bunch, and required no additional seasonings. Treat this as a thank you message to Joe himself, who managed to jar all the great qualities of cheese, heavy cream and butter into a tasty, high-quality Alfredo.
Prego never fails to deliver classic flavors, which is exactly what you need in a budget-friendly, accessible Alfredo. Although there are other affordable options on our list, Prego is an absolute steal for the authentic flavor it provides. Containing strong notes of garlic and parmesan cheese, this sauce is complex enough for a little oomph but not overpowering where you'd find it sickening. In fact, Prego Alfredo is made with no high fructose corn syrup, which makes it lighter on your body and over any dish. We are dreaming of shrimp Alfredo paired with this homestyle sauce.
Although labeled "classico," this Classico Creamy Alfredo is strong in flavor and incredibly rich in texture. The sharp aged parmesan, black pepper and egg yolk contents contribute to this sauce's savory palate, which wasn't great standing alone but ultimately delicious over pasta. Our tester specifically liked Classico with the penne given its thick consistency and effortless coating abilities that kept the noodles slick and smooth. The sauce also looked milky in appearance once out of the jar, also contributing to its creamy qualities.
The thick blend of Romano cheese, fresh cream and aged parmesan in this Bertolli Alfredo is what dreams are made of. Not only is Bertolli incredibly creamy and flavorsome with pepper and garlic, but the cheesy consistency and sharp taste make it one of our most delicious picks. Our tester also appreciated how versatile this sauce is, as its packed flavors and seasonings would pair nicely with chicken or fish. The bold parmesan cheese undoubtedly shines through compared to the other ingredients in this jar, but who's complaining?
If you're a sucker for smokey flavors and looking to add something special to your cooking game (without actually putting in effort), Rao's Bacon Alfredo is the ultimate solution. Enriched with uncured bacon bits and parmesan and romano cheeses, this sauce delivers the perfect balance of sweet and salty. The bacon flavor and scent remained strong straight from the jar and after a minute in the microwave, so no matter how you take your Alfredo you are certain to taste the smoke. But bacon-anything is delicious.
What Is Alfredo Sauce?
Alfredo sauce is a combination of melted butter, heavy cream and parmesan, a recipe American tourists derived from classic Italian dishes “al burro” (with butter). The tourists brought this dish back to the U.S., with the addition of parmesan and heavy cream, sparking an entirely new taste and creating the creamy, thick consistency we know today. And because Alfredo sauce neglects vegetables, it’s common to add a handful of spices like salt, pepper, garlic, parsley or Italian seasoning to elevate the taste.
What’s the Best Jarred Alfredo Sauce?
To no one's surprise, Rao's Four Cheese Alfredo is the best jarred sauce. Thanks to the thick cheese blend, it outshines their standard Alfredo and adds more cream, spice and all-around tastiness to any dish. Truthfully, who could say no to a parmesan, romano, asiago and fontina cheese combination? We also value Rao's because of its all-natural flavor and ingredients, making this sauce one of the easiest bites from our list. Hassle-free meals don't sacrifice deliciousness when it comes to this Alfredo.
