A restaurant quality sauce you can make a home!
This creamy Asiago sauce is a rich and indulgent sauce made with asiago cheese, cream, white wine and garlic. It’s surprisingly quick using only a few ingredients. It’s perfect for a weeknight dinner that feels gourmet, and only takes just 30 minutes to make. So simple and flavorful and great for meats, pasta and veggies!
WHY THIS IS SO GOOD
This recipe was inspired by a pasta dish at this wonderful Italian eatery during a vacation some time ago. The family requested I try to reinvent this as soon as we got home, and I was so excited to tap in and recreate this dish!
I have made this so many times and it’s way better than any jarred sauce if I dare say so myself. I’ve perfected the balance of rich flavors and foolproof techniques that ensure this sauce turns out smooth, flavorful, and easy to replicate every time.
INGREDIENT RUNDOWN & PRO TIPS
Here’s some key tips for some of the ingredients.
Asiago Cheese: It’s the star of the show and adds a deep savory flavor that you won’t get from standard cream base sauces. If it’s not aged asiago, it is mild with a slightly sweet milky flavor. When aged, it has a nuttier sharp flavor with some bitterness and crumble feel. Freshly grated cheese is preferred because it melts more evenly.
Heavy Cream: This is what helps to make this rich and creamy. If you want to use milk or half and half as a substitute for a lighter version, the sauce may be slightly thinner.
White wine: It’s going to enhance and balance the flavor adding a slight acidity but sweetness. Use broth or water in place of the wine if you’d like.
Garlic: There’s a lot of garlic in this one with a lot of garlicky flavor! If you’re not a fan of garlic or a heavy garlic taste, decrease the garlic by half and only add 1 tablespoon of garlic powder then taste before adding more.
Pasta: If you are serving this with pasta like I did, penne, cavatappi, fettuccine and rigatoni are the best options because these pasta shapes hold sauce better.
Double the Sauce: If you plan on adding more ingredients such as veggies or meats, double your sauce.
Smoother Sauce: If the cheese didn’t melt as well as you liked, use a handheld blender to help give it a more smooth consistency. This is a pretty good trick that works for me with any creamy pasta sauces I make.
TIME TO COOK
The recipe card is right below with complete instructions for you, but here’s some more guidance for each step that might help.
After adding your oil and butter, once the butter is melted, make sure not to brown the garlic. It’s only recommended to cook the garlic for a few seconds to wake up the flavors and to avoid burning it. This step helps to bring the sauce together with softened garlic undertones.
Next, when you add your heavy cream, white wine, garlic and onion powders, let it warm until small bubbles appear, this is your cue to lower the heat and let the sauce thicken.
Gently simmering the sauce helps keep the sauce from separating.
Once you notice a more velvety texture, that means your sauce has thickened is ready for the next step.
When adding the cheese, stir until the cheese is melted and the sauce looks glossy.
Asiago Cream Sauce Pasta Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound pasta
- 1 teaspoon of olive oil
- 1 tablespoon of butter
- 12 large garlic cloves finely chopped of pressed
- 4 cups of heavy cream
- 1 cup dry white wine
- 1 and ½ tablespoon garlic powder
- 3 teaspoons onion powder
- 2 cups of freshly shredded asiago cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package instructions.
- Place a large pan on stove top, turn the heat up to medium high. Once the pan is hot, add the olive oil to the pan.
- Add the butter to the pan, let the butter melt. Then, add the garlic. Let the garlic only cook for a few seconds.
- Then, turn the heat to medium. Add the heavy cream, wine, garlic powder, and onion powder. Mix well.
- Let the sauce mixture come to a slight boil, then turn the heat down to medium low.
- Cook down the sauce to about ¾, for about 10 to 13 minutes.
- Now remove the pan from the heat source, then add your cheese, and mix well. Salt and pepper to taste. If you feel the cheese has not melted well into the sauce, use a handheld blender to blend your ingredients into a smooth sauce. (This always works for me with creamy pasta sauces.)
- Toss with pasta. Serve immediately.
Nutrition
Please note that I am not a nutritionist, and the nutritional information is an estimate only. It varies based on the products and brands used.
MAKE IT A COMPLETE MEAL AND VARIATIONS
While this is definitely delicious with pasta, you can use this in so many other ways.
Protein Ideas: Top some grilled chicken or sauteed shrimp with this sauce and serve with your favorite vegetable for a high protein and lower carb option. Add a protein if you’re using pasta to make this a more fulfilling meal.
Instead of Pasta: It’s also great as a sauce base for white pizza!
Vegetarian Ideas: Add sautéed mushrooms, spinach, or peas for flavor and texture and added nutrients.
Herbs: Top with fresh basil, thyme, or parsley for extra color and aroma.
Other Garnishes: Browning pancetta or diced bacon adds a nice salty and smoky flavor and gives a delicious crunch and enhances the overall texture. If using these, be careful with how much salt you add to the sauce.
Sides: Garlic bread, and a salad, or roasted veggies like broccoli are some quick and easy tasty sides to make this a complete meal.
This dish is proof that trying a new recipe or ingredient doesn’t always have to be complicated. Don’t be afraid to make it your own and try some of the suggestions mentioned earlier. You’ve got this and I hope you enjoyed it!
MORE PASTA RECIPES TO TRY
Shrimp and Roasted Tomato Pasta with Garlic Wine Sauce
This one is a little lighter but still full of flavor! This pasta is fresh and vibrant using shrimp, roasted tomatoes and a garlic wine sauce. It’s perfect for date nights and quick dinners during the warmer seasons.
This is another fast one for you to make! This quick creamy pesto comes together in minutes and packed with flavor.
Cheesy Chicken and Spinach Pasta
Craving something super cheesy and comforting? This creamy pasta with chicken and spinach is loaded with flavor, and very easy to make for any night of the week.
MADE THIS RECIPE?
♥♥♥ Please rate this recipe and leave a comment below to let me know if you enjoyed it. And follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for more delicious inspiration! ♥♥♥
Thanks for stopping by! Welcome to the Savory Spicerack! In my kitchen, there is no such thing as a bland meal. Each of my creations are just the way food should be – packed with flavor and created with love.
AMAZING! I’m a BIG Alfredo fan it was great to try a more elevated version of it. Thanks for the great recipe!
I can’t wait to try this.
I can’t believe how easy it is to make this deliciousness!
Fantastic recipe Sharee! We’ll give it a try, using graviera from the island of Naxos which is currently awaiting in the fridge:) Can’t wait to sink our teeth in the creamy pasta:)
Sending you lots of hugs,
Mirella and Panos
xoxoxo