Alfredo Sauce Is The Simple Shortcut For Creamy, Delicious Casseroles

A big, hearty casserole is already an easy meal you can make to feed a crowd (or just your fam) — but this dish gets even simpler when you use pre-made pasta sauce. Rich, creamy, and mildly flavored, Alfredo is a versatile addition that works perfectly in a wide variety of casseroles. We rounded up our favorite picks for jarred Alfredo sauce brands, and any of the top ones listed would be a tasty addition to this comfort food.

Alfredo works so well here because while it brings richness and creaminess, it also provides the perfect backdrop to a myriad of other flavors and cuisines — which makes sense considering it's an American invention, although inspired by Italian food. This sauce is typically made of butter, heavy cream, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and Parmesan cheese, simmered together until it gets thick and cheesy. Any casserole that complements these ingredients and incorporates a creamy white sauce would work with a jar of Alfredo. Plus, it's usually pretty affordable, with our number one pick coming in at only $5.99 at Vons.

Of course, Alfredo sauce is a staple in a chicken or shrimp pasta casserole, and a store-bought jar significantly cuts into your cooking time. All you have to do is cook your noodles, stir them into your protein and sauce, and dump the whole thing into a deep dish to bake in between layers of cheese. If your sauce is a little too thick, you can always thin it out with some water, broth, or even white wine — and if you'd like to zhuzh it up a bit, add in some black pepper, minced garlic, or fresh herbs.

But the possibilities don't end there. Try subbing out any white sauce in your favorite savory casserole recipe with Alfredo to decrease your cooking time, including pasta bakes with meat and veggies, broccoli and cheddar casseroles, or potato and veggie dishes. You can even try swapping out the cream of mushroom soup in a classic green bean casserole or easy chicken Florentine casserole for Alfredo, although you may want to add some mushrooms into the mix elsewhere if you want the flavor. And feel free to experiment with a recipe you'd like to make creamier — for instance, add the sauce into a Mexican dish with a protein, salsa, cheese, and beans; or a Mediterranean one with tuna or shrimp, olives, artichokes, and tomatoes. As long as you have a jar of Alfredo, you have an easy shortcut to creamy comfort food.