At times, that jar of Alfredo sauce you picked up from your quick run to the store might lack the zest you want. An absolute letdown if you ask us.
If this is you, don’t compromise on flavor or throw the Alfredo sauce out when you can give it a taste makeover by adding some spices you may already have in your pantry.
There’s no need to call us heroes, but we’ve dedicated this post to put you on the best spices to add to Alfredo sauce for that extra zing.
You should be saying hello to an upgraded sauce with extra effort and time!
Ten best spices to add to Alfredo sauce
When adding that extra tang to sauces and meals, spices should always be a top choice and not number two. So here are the ten best spices to add to Alfredo sauce to boost its flavor:
Seasoned salt
Of course, seasoned salt is first on our list because what better way to spice up your Alfredo sauce than with a perfect blend of salt, herbs, and spices?
The multi-faceted flavor profile of seasoned salt added to your Alfredo sauce will have your taste buds jubilating.
Cayenne pepper
Cayenne pepper is known for its hot and fierce flavor. It has a subtle yet apparent earthy taste. Adding this spice to your Alfredo sauce will give it the fiery tang you’ll appreciate.
Crushed Rosemary
Rosemary’s piney flavor is just one of its many core flavors. Rosemary’s general flavor has fruity, minty, sage, and peppery undertones. It is one of the best spices to add to your Alfredo sauce for that burst of zest.
Onion powder
Adding onion powder to your Alfredo sauce will give you almost the same flavor profile as fresh onions. You will get a hint of a sweet yet concentrated taste if you do.
Garlic powder
If you love the smoked caramel flavor of sautéed or smoked garlic, you’ll fall in love with garlic powder. Garlic powder doesn’t have the same bold taste as fresh garlic, but it has a sweeter tone that would make any bowl of Alfredo sauce go from a five to a ten really quick.
Oregano
Oregano is the poster ingredient for sweet, spicy, and bitter. This trio flavor combo spice will add an earthy yet subtly bittersweet flavor to your Alfredo sauce while maintaining its spicy note.
Cracked black pepper
If there’s one thing black pepper does, it is to give a hot and bold taste to your sauce. Thus, if you’re looking for a spicy yet not overbearing addition to your Alfredo sauce, this earthy and woody-tasting spice is worth the try.
Ground white pepper
If black pepper is too hot for your taste buds, white pepper is a less spicy substitute we recommend. White pepper generally has a subtle fermented flavor with a hint of must. White pepper is the fixer-upper you lean to when you want to add hot spice to your Alfredo sauce but lesser kick.
Italian seasoning
Oh! I especially love to use this as one of spices to add to Alfredo sauce. This herb blend with an Italian origin story is a perfect choice for your Alfredo sauce if you love the subtly sweet, sometimes savory, and earthy flavors of its herbs. Herbs like dried basil, dried thyme, oregano, and dried rosemary are some herbs that make up this perfect herb blend.
Dried basil
If you’re feeling explorative, you can add some dried basil to your Alfredo sauce to give it a minty flavor.
Read also: How To Keep Alfredo Sauce Creamy
Spices to add to Alfredo sauce to taste like Cajun
Apart from cajun spice itself, there are no spices that taste precisely like cajun. However, some share a similar flavor profile with cajun. Here are cajun-like spices that suffice:
Old bay seasoning
Old bay seasoning is a delicious mix of 14 spices that have been available for about nine decades. This seasoning has a perfect blend of salty, smoky, spicy, and sweet flavors. Replace one teaspoon of cajun spice with one teaspoon of old bay seasoning in your recipe.
Creole seasoning
Creole seasoning has a reputation for being similar to cajun spice. Its spicy, earthy, and salty flavors make it a perfect cajun substitute for your Alfredo sauce.
Adobo seasoning
Although slightly saltier than cajun seasoning, adobo seasoning will taste like cajun spice if you add it to Alfredo sauce because both seasonings contain the same ingredients.
Paprika and cayenne pepper
Being the two dominant ingredients in cajun spice, a paprika and cayenne pepper blend might produce the spiciness needed for your Alfredo sauce to take on a cajun taste.
How to make Alfredo sauce taste better
Asides from the spices we spoke of earlier in this post, here are some other ways you can upgrade the taste of your Alfredo sauce.
- Add about ¼ cup of melted butter.
- Add sautéed fresh garlic.
- Pour in about half a cup of melted cheese.
- Add some chopped cooked meat.
- About one cup of chicken broth works too.
- ½ a cup of white wine will do wonders for the flavor of your Alfredo sauce.
- Add some chopped vegetables and fresh herbs.
- Dairy products like milk and sour cream will lift the taste of the sauce.
How to make canned Alfredo sauce better
From garlic powder to fresh herbs and even some chicken broth, there’s a lot you can add to your canned, store-bought Alfredo sauce to boost its flavor. So we made it our responsibility to outline an assorted list of spices to add to Alfredo sauce and other delicious additives above.
Additionally, we suggest that you put your Alfredo sauce in a saucepan over medium heat and let it heat till it starts bubbling, then reduce the heat. Finally, add the extra ingredients you choose.
