How to Make Jar Alfredo Sauce Better
Simple Tips to Improve the Flavor
Can you make jar Alfredo sauce better? Absolutely! And it’s so much easier than you think. I love using convenience foods for the base of a recipe and adding things that enhance the flavor.

In this post, I’ll share tips on improving the flavor of store-bought Alfredo sauce. From adding spices and herbs to incorporating vegetables and protein, these simple and cost-effective methods will elevate your Alfredo sauce to new heights. So next time you see your favorite brand on sale, stock up!
Ingredients
Here are the ingredients I use:
- Alfredo sauce (15 ounce jar)
- Chopped cooked chicken (leftovers, rotisserie chicken, or canned chicken)
- Minced garlic (either fresh or jarred)
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Red bell pepper (either chopped or sliced)
- Chopped chives (optional, for garnish)
Note: If you have to eat gluten-free food, read the ingredients on the jar of Alfredo sauce.

If you would like to print this recipe, please go to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Directions
First, pour the contents of the jar of Alfredo sauce into a medium saucepan. Turn the burner up to medium-high heat. As soon as the sauce begins to bubble, turn the heat down to low.

Add the ingredients you want. I added the chicken minced garlic, garlic powder, and onion powder. Turn the burner up to medium-low heat. Continue to cook until the mixture is hot, stirring frequently. Serve over fettuccini or your favorite pasta. Sprinkle the grated parmesan cheese over the top. Garnish with the red bell pepper and chives.


More Easy Tips
Here are some of my thoughts on how to improve jarred Alfredo sauce:
Thin Out the Sauce
If the sauce is too thick, add some broth to thin it out. You can also use cream, milk, broth, or pasta water. I prefer to use heavy cream for the richness.
Thicken the Sauce
If you want the sauce to be thicker, simmer it until some of the moisture evaporates. Be careful not to scorch it, so simmer on low heat. Another option is to add a cornstarch slurry.
Add Seasonings
Look at the list of ingredients on the jar, then add more of your favorite. For example if it has a little bit of garlic, try adding more. The same goes for oregano, Italian seasoning, or any other ingredient. If you like a little heat, add a dash or two of cayenne.
Add Meat
When I made the one in the picture at the top, I added chicken. I typically cut the meat into bite-size pieces, but you don’t have to do that. It’s also good with shrimp, pork, or even beef.
Add Vegetables
For a complete meal, also known as one-pot meal, chop or shred some vegetables into the sauce. Bell peppers, mushrooms, spinach, and even fresh tomatoes are good options.
Add Color
Brighten the sauce by adding some color. My favorite thing to add is a mixture of peppers in various colors. Tomatoes are also good for extra color.
Cheese It Up
You can also add some cream cheese or even shredded cheddar. Start with an ounce or two and add more if needed.
Add Wine
A bit of white wine delivers richness to your Alfredo, but red wine will change the color. This is a great way to add flavor without dulling the color of the sauce.

Alfredo Sauce Pizza
Have you ever tried pizza with Alfredo sauce? If not, I highly recommend it! As with any of the other things you can do with jar Alfredo sauce, you can add any other seasonings you enjoy.

It’s good with your favorite meat, such as chicken, sausage, or pepperoni. Also chop up some veggies on top for a full, delicious dining experience!
Then There’s Bacon

Yes, I did just mention bacon because … well, we all know that bacon makes everything better. Seriously, if you’re looking for a way to make a savory food taste better, try adding bacon. I use leftover bacon or even packaged bacon bits.

Mix Your Sauces
Something else I like to do is mix Alfredo with red sauce to create a whole new flavor sensation. One that we especially like is this delicious pasta and meatballs dish that I make in my Dutch oven.

You can also try mixing Alfredo sauce with different salad dressings. I use a lot of Catalina dressing to add some extra zing to … well, to almost anything.
How to Serve Alfredo Sauce on Pasta
My husband and I like fettuccini Alfredo. Since I have a gluten sensitivity, I get fettuccini pasta that’s gluten-free. You can serve this however you like, but I’ve found this to be the best way to serve this easy recipe.
After cooking the pasta and putting it on the plate or in the bowl, I scoop some pasta sauce (in this case, Alfredo sauce) over it. Then I top it with parmesan or a blend of parmesan and Romano.

Or, if you prefer, you can mix the pasta into the Alfredo sauce. For a baked dish, mix all of it and put it in a greased baking dish. Top it with mozzarella cheese and pop it into a 350Ëš oven. Bake it until the cheese on top melts and then serve it hot.
It’s always good to enjoy any pasta dish with a side salad or steamed vegetable. My husband also enjoys a slice of crusty Italian bread with butter.

Get Creative with Your Alfredo Sauce
Don’t be afraid to try something new. If you like Alfredo sauce but consider the jarred version too bland … or simply not to your taste, doctor it up. You just might discover that it turns out even better than what you’ll get at your favorite Italian restaurant.
How to Make Jar Alfredo Sauce Better

Elevate the taste of jarred Alfredo sauce by adding just a few ingredients. It's super easy to do and has a huge payoff in flavor.
Ingredients
- One 15 ounce jar of your favorite Alfredo sauce
- 1 cup of chopped cooked chicken
- 1 tablespoon of minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon of onion powder
- 1 tablespoon of grated parmesan cheese
- 1/3 cup of sliced red bell pepper
- 1 tablespoon of chopped chives
Instructions
- Pour the contents of the jar of Alfredo sauce into a medium saucepan. Turn the burner up to medium-high heat. As soon as the sauce begins to bubble, turn the heat down to low.
- Add the ingredients you want. I added the chicken minced garlic, garlic powder, and onion powder. Turn the burner up to medium-low heat.
- Continue to cook until the mixture is hot, stirring frequently.
- Serve over fettuccini or your favorite pasta.
- Sprinkle the grated parmesan cheese over the top.
- Garnish with the red bell pepper and chives.
Nutrition Information
Yield
4Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 594Total Fat 52gSaturated Fat 31gTrans Fat 2gUnsaturated Fat 17gCholesterol 173mgSodium 487mgCarbohydrates 10gFiber 1gSugar 2gProtein 22g
The nutrition information is a product of online calculators. I try to provide true and accurate information, but these numbers are estimates.
Thank you so much!! I just made the easiest and best alfredo sauce that I have made in years! Jar of alfredo, about 1T lemon juice, 2oz Neufchatel cheese, about 2T Pampered Chef Tuscan-Style Herb Chicken Meal Mix, garlic, salt, fresh pepper, bacon. AMAZING!!! Added it to cubed chicken and gluten free cheese tortellini.
Hi Ginger. You sound like me in the kitchen, always tweaking recipes to make them even better!
A lot of great tips! I’ve also added powdered milk, powdered cream, and or powdered butter to enhance alfredo sauce. That also applies to cheese sauce and any red sauce.
Hi Laurel! Thanks for the additional tips. I’m always up for trying something different. All of the things you mentioned sound really good, especially the butter!
Great tips. I use Rao’s, Rao’s and Rao’s sauces. Ditto for the pasta. Since I don’t know any better, I add some chopped fresh mushrooms to both Alfredo and Marinara dishes while they’re cooking. Also lots of grated primo shamefully expensive Parmesan to the sauce while it’s bubbling and on top before serving. Thanks for the ideas on what to add to a nearly perfect sauce.
Hi John. All of your add-ons sound wonderful!
you didn’t mention it but i have found that browning your protein and stir-frying your veggies then adding sauce can amp up flavor…remember that browning meat adds a ton of flavor to any dish…also for a real junky foody feeling try chopped or ground up spam…yum
Hi Nathan,
Great tips! Thank you for sharing!