Alfredo sauce is a creamy, cheese-based pasta sauce that originated in Italy. It is usually made with just butter, cream, and Parmesan cheese. Due to its rich and creamy flavor profile, Alfredo sauce pairs wonderfully with a variety of meats. When choosing a protein to serve with fettuccine or linguine Alfredo, you’ll want to consider meats that can stand up to and complement the bold flavors of the sauce. In this article, we’ll explore some of the best meat options to serve with fettuccine Alfredo or linguine Alfredo.
Chicken
Chicken is one of the most popular and versatile meats to pair with creamy Alfredo sauce. It takes on the flavor of the sauce nicely without overpowering it. Boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs are ideal choices for this classic pairing. Chicken provides a neutral base that allows the flavors of the Parmesan, butter, and cream to shine. You can keep it simple by lightly seasoning chicken with salt, pepper, and herbs before sautéing or grilling it. Or, consider seasoning chicken with lemon, garlic, Italian herbs, cajun seasoning, or pesto before cooking for extra flavor.
Here are some quick and easy ideas for serving chicken with Alfredo:
- Sautéed or grilled chicken breast over fettuccine Alfredo
- Grilled chicken Alfredo flatbread pizzas
- Fettuccine Alfredo with blackened chicken and broccoli
- Chicken Alfredo calzones
- Baked chicken Alfredo casserole
The versatility of chicken makes it one of the best options for Alfredo. Kids and adults alike enjoy this classic pairing.
Shrimp
Buttery, garlicky shrimp is another excellent choice for pairing with creamy Alfredo sauce. The sweet brininess of shrimp provides the perfect contrast to the rich decadence of the sauce. Jumbo shrimp can be sautéed, broiled, or grilled and then tossed with hot pasta and Alfredo sauce. You can keep the flavors simple or add garlic, lemon, parsley, or red pepper flakes for extra dimension. A few ideas for shrimp Alfredo dishes include:
- Shrimp Alfredo linguine
- Cajun shrimp Alfredo
- Shrimp scampi Alfredo
- Shrimp and asparagus Alfredo pasta
- Lemon garlic shrimp Alfredo
The versatility of shrimp makes it an easy weeknight dinner option. Just a few minutes of cooking and you can have restaurant-quality shrimp Alfredo ready in no time.
Beef
Hearty cuts of beef also pair nicely with creamy Alfredo. Tender beef cuts like filet mignon, ribeye, or New York strip can be quickly seared or grilled and then sliced to top fettuccine Alfredo. The beef absorbs all the richness of the sauce while adding great texture and flavor. Marinating beef in garlic, rosemary, red wine, and olive oil before cooking infuses even more flavor. A few winning combinations include:
- Steak Alfredo with sautéed mushrooms
- Seared filet mignon medallions over fettuccine Alfredo
- Rosemary and garlic marinated flank steak with Alfredo
- Smoky BBQ Alfredo pasta with grilled steak strips
Heartier cuts of beef like short ribs or osso buco also pair nicely when braised and served over creamy pasta. The possibilities are endless for reinventing this steakhouse classic.
Pork
From pork chops to sausage, pork is another versatile option for pairing with Alfredo. Boneless pork chops can be quickly pan-seared or grilled and served sliced over creamy fettuccine. Italian sausage, either raw or pre-cooked, also complements the flavors of the cheese sauce beautifully. And bacon lends a smoky, savory flavor to any Alfredo dish. Some tasty recipes to try include:
- Alfredo with grilled pork medallions and spinach
- Fettuccine Alfredo with Italian sausage and peppers
- Campanelle pasta with Alfredo, spinach, and bacon
- Creamy Tuscan sausage and kale Alfredo
Experiment with your favorite pork products to add smoky, savory flavor to Alfredo night.
Seafood
In addition to shrimp, other types of seafood pair wonderfully with creamy Alfredo sauce. The richness of the sauce complements the delicate flavor of seafood like scallops, crab, lobster, and whitefish. You can simply sauté seafood until just cooked through and toss it with hot pasta and Alfredo. Or, add seafood to composed Alfredo dishes like seafood Alfredo casseroles or fish and shellfish Alfredo bakes. Some seafood-centric ideas include:
- Seared scallops over garlic Alfredo
- Lobster Alfredo pasta
- Alfredo with crab, spinach, and tomatoes
- Baked Alfredo with salmon and asparagus
- Halibut and shrimp Alfredo gratin
The luxurious textures and flavors of seafood make it a natural fit for pairing with rich, creamy Alfredo sauce. This is an easy way to create an impressive, restaurant-quality dish at home.
Vegetarian Options
For vegetarian and vegan options, you can build flavorful, protein-packed Alfredo dishes using veggies, beans, lentils, and meat substitutes. Sautéed mushrooms lend a rich, earthy flavor to vegetarian Alfredo. Beyond or Impossible meat crumbles also pair nicely for a meaty texture. Some more ideas include:
- Creamy Alfredo with sautéed mushrooms and spinach
- Fettuccine Alfredo with roasted vegetables
- Vegan Alfredo with lentils and sun-dried tomatoes
- Cauliflower Alfredo with chickpeas and kale
- Zucchini noodle Alfredo with meatless meatballs
With endlessly creative possibilities, Alfredo sauce can be just as tasty and satisfying without meat or dairy.
What Pasta Shapes Work Best?
When it comes to the pasta for your Alfredo dish, you’ll want to consider shapes that can catch and cling to the creamy sauce. Here are some of the top pasta shapes that pair perfectly with Alfredo:
- Fettuccine: This flat, ribbon-like pasta is the classic for Alfredo. The wide surface area allows sauce to coat each strand.
- Linguine: Similar to fettuccine, these thin, flat noodles are ideal for catching creamy sauces.
- Penne: The nooks and crannies of this tube-shaped pasta grab and hold Alfredo sauce nicely.
- Farfalle: These bowtie or butterfly-shaped pastas are fun for scooping up sauce in their folds.
- Rigatoni: Large, ridged tubes are nicely coated with Alfredo sauce.
- Campanelle: Ruffled bell-shaped pasta cupssauce in nicely.
- Conchiglie: These small seashell shapes work perfectly in seafood Alfredo dishes.
While long shapes like spaghetti or angel hair can be used, the thinner strands don’t cling to creamy sauces quite as well. Wider, ruffled, or hollow shapes are ideal.
Cooking the Pasta
Cooking pasta properly is key for any Alfredo dish. Make sure to salt the pasta cooking water generously; it should taste like seawater. Bring water to a vigorous boil before adding dried pasta. Cook until the pasta is al dente; it should still have a little bit of firmness at the center. Don’t overcook pasta or it will become mushy. For added flavor, reserve about 1 cup of the starchy pasta water to use in the sauce.
When pasta is done, drain it well but don’t rinse it. The starch on the surface helps the sauce adhere. Quickly toss hot pasta with Alfredo sauce and any additional ingredients to help the sauce coat evenly. Adding a splash of reserved pasta water helps thin and bind the sauce.
Making the Alfredo Sauce
While jarred Alfredo sauces are convenient, homemade sauce is richer, creamier, and packs a bigger flavor punch. It’s easy to make a basic Alfredo with just a few ingredients:
- 1/2 stick (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan, Pecorino Romano, or a blend
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Once melted, add the cream and bring to a gentle simmer. Reduce heat to low and let simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened slightly. Remove from heat and stir in the grated cheese until melted and smooth. Season with pepper and nutmeg. For extra flavor, add minced garlic, lemon zest, or herbs.
The basic sauce comes together in just 10 minutes. Customize it to complement your choice of meat or vegetables. Alfredo is very versatile!
Conclusion
With its rich, indulgent flavor, Alfredo sauce pairs wonderfully with a variety of meats, seafood, and vegetables. Chicken, shrimp, beef, pork, and seafood classics like crab and lobster all taste fantastic with creamy Parmesan Alfredo. For vegetarian options, sautéed veggies, beans, lentils, and meat substitutes can make flavorful meatless Alfredo dishes. Fettuccine, linguine, and penne are classic pasta shapes for catching creamy Alfredo sauce. Take your pick from these delicious ideas for meats that pair perfectly with rich, cheesy Alfredo sauce.