Spicy Alfredo Sauce

Ready to spice your typical Alfredo sauce up a notch? Adding in a little cayenne pepper powder is an excellent way to start, whether it’s Fettuccine Alfredo, chicken, or another concoction. Spicy Alfredo sauce can be that simple to make.

spicy Alfredo sauce
Spicy alfredo sauce with pasta

But you don’t need to stop there — try experimenting with crushed red pepper and even hot sauce, too. A tiny dash of Sriracha or Tabasco can add a unique twist to the flavor. You could also opt for a milder warmth by choosing paprika instead of cayenne pepper powder. Choose a generically labeled or sweet paprika, not hot paprika. Or for something a little smoky, try cutting the cayenne used in your spicy Alfredo sauce with a dash or two of chipotle powder. We have a recipe for that too. There are many ways to bring life to this spicy pasta sauce.

See it being made:

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spicy Alfredo sauce

Spicy Alfredo Sauce

Creamy meets a touch of fire
4.15 from 14 votes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Sauce
Servings 8 servings
Calories 286 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup salted butter
  • 1 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese grated
  • 1 clove garlic diced
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper

Instructions
 

  • Over medium heat, combine the butter and garlic in a saucepan. Stir until the butter is melted and the garlic is fragrant.
  • Add the heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, and cayenne. Stir the sauce until the cheese is melted.
  • Remove the saucepan from the heat and add in the salt and pepper. Stir until combined.
  • Serve with pasta.

Notes

No cayenne pepper powder? Use 2 tablespoons of crushed red pepper instead. Want extra heat? Try a dash of hot sauce to spice things up. A dash of Sriracha will add a little more garlic flavor, while Tabasco will provide more tang. Or try swapping in a different variety of chili powder (paprika or chipotle both can work). 

Nutrition

Calories: 286kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 8gFat: 28gSaturated Fat: 17gCholesterol: 88mgSodium: 545mgPotassium: 46mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 1005IUVitamin C: 0.3mgCalcium: 231mgIron: 0.2mg
Keyword Cayenne Pepper
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UPDATE NOTICE: This post was updated on September 10, 2024 to include new content.
4.15 from 14 votes (13 ratings without comment)
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C Bachtel

4 stars
I made this as written. We liked this recipe, but next time will change it slightly. It tasted too strongly of parmesan cheese, and the butter was “swimming” in this, so I will reduce both, probably by 1/2.