Olive Green Alfredo Sauce Recipe

If you love rich, creamy pasta sauces with a fresh and vibrant twist, this Olive Green Alfredo Sauce Recipe is one you’ll want to make again and again. This velvety green Alfredo combines the classic buttery Parmesan flavour of traditional Alfredo sauce with spinach, basil, and garlic for a beautifully smooth sauce packed with colour and flavour. It is creamy, savoury, slightly herbaceous, and wonderfully comforting while still feeling fresh and light enough for everyday dinners.

This recipe is simple enough for beginners yet impressive enough for serving guests. The sauce comes together in about 25 minutes, making it ideal for quick weeknight meals or relaxed weekend cooking. Toss it with pasta, spoon it over chicken, or use it as a dipping sauce for warm bread.

Ingredients

For the Green Alfredo Sauce

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 cups fresh spinach
• 1 cup fresh basil leaves
• 1½ cups heavy cream
• 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• ¼ teaspoon Italian seasoning
• ¼ cup reserved pasta water

For Serving

• Cooked fettuccine, penne, or linguine
• Extra Parmesan cheese
• Fresh basil leaves
• Black pepper

How to Make Olive Green Alfredo Sauce Recipe

• Prepare the ingredients: Wash the spinach and basil thoroughly and pat dry. Grate the Parmesan cheese finely so it melts smoothly into the sauce.
• Cook the garlic: Melt the butter with olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant.
• Wilt the greens: Add the spinach and basil leaves to the pan. Stir gently for 2 to 3 minutes until the leaves soften and reduce in volume.
• Blend until smooth: Transfer the cooked greens to a blender or food processor. Blend until completely smooth and creamy.
• Add the cream: Return the green mixture to the pan and pour in the heavy cream. Stir well and simmer gently for 3 to 4 minutes.
• Finish the Alfredo sauce: Stir in the Parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Mix until the cheese fully melts and the sauce becomes silky and thick.
• Adjust the texture: Add a little reserved pasta water if the sauce feels too thick. Stir until smooth and glossy.
• Serve immediately: Toss the sauce with hot cooked pasta and garnish with extra Parmesan and basil before serving.

Tips for the Best Olive Green Alfredo Sauce

How do you keep Alfredo sauce smooth?

Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese and keep the heat low after adding it. High heat can cause the cheese to separate and turn grainy.

Can you make the sauce brighter green?

Add a little extra basil or a handful of parsley for a more vibrant green colour and fresher flavour.

Why is my Alfredo sauce too thick?

Stir in reserved pasta water a little at a time until the sauce reaches your preferred consistency.

Can you add protein to this sauce?

Yes, grilled chicken, shrimp, salmon, or sliced steak all work beautifully with this creamy green Alfredo sauce.

Serving Suggestions

• Serve with fettuccine or linguine
• Spoon over grilled chicken breast
• Use as a dipping sauce for garlic bread
• Drizzle over roasted vegetables
• Pair with baked salmon or shrimp

Storage

Room Temperature

This sauce should not sit at room temperature for more than 2 hours because of the cream and cheese.

Refrigerator

Store cooled Alfredo sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently over low heat while stirring frequently.

Freezing

You can freeze the sauce for up to 2 months, although cream sauces may separate slightly after thawing. Reheat slowly and whisk well before serving.

Nutrition

• Calories: 420 kcal
• Carbohydrates: 8g
• Protein: 12g
• Fat: 38g
• Saturated Fat: 22g
• Sodium: 620mg

Nutrition values are estimates and may vary depending on ingredients used.

FAQs

Olive Green Alfredo Sauce Recipe

Recipe by Milli RoseCourse: SauceCuisine: Italian-AmericanDifficulty: Easy

Servings

4

servings

Prep time

10

minutes

Cooking time

15

minutes

Total time

25

minutes

Calories

420

kcal

25

minutes

Creamy green Alfredo sauce made with spinach, basil, Parmesan, cream, and garlic. A smooth and flavourful pasta sauce ready in under 30 minutes.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

• 4 garlic cloves, minced

• 2 cups fresh spinach

• 1 cup fresh basil leaves

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 1½ cups heavy cream

• 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

• ½ teaspoon salt

• ¼ teaspoon black pepper

• ¼ teaspoon Italian seasoning

• ¼ cup reserved pasta water

• Cooked fettuccine or pasta of choice

Directions

• Melt butter with olive oil in a large pan over medium heat.
• Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
• Add spinach and basil leaves, then cook for 2 to 3 minutes until wilted.
• Transfer the mixture to a blender and blend until smooth.
• Return the mixture to the pan and pour in the heavy cream.
• Simmer gently for 3 to 4 minutes while stirring frequently.
• Add Parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
• Stir until the cheese melts completely and the sauce becomes smooth.
• Add reserved pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce.
• Toss with cooked pasta and serve immediately.

Notes

• Use freshly grated Parmesan for the smoothest texture.
• Do not boil the sauce after adding cheese.
• Add extra basil for a stronger herb flavour.