One Of The Best Grocery Store Alfredo Sauces Balances Flavor– And It's Gluten Free

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A traditional Italian Alfredo sauce recipe is a simple blend of butter and parmesan cheese, while American recipes have added cream for even more richness. Jarred Alfredo sauces are the convenient alternative to a homemade sauce, but many brands achieve a thick consistency with the addition of flour or a roux for foundation. However, there are plenty of brands that make a gluten-free option. So, we tasted and ranked several store-bought gluten-free Alfredo sauces according to flavor, sweetness versus saltiness, texture, and consistency. And one of the best store-bought Alfredo sauces is from none other than Rao's.

Coming in second place in our ranking, Rao's Alfredo sauce consists of half and half, butter, water, Parmesan, and Pecorino Romano cheeses. It uses modified food starch and egg yolks to create a thick velvety consistency that is as decadent and indulgent as its flavor. The blend of butter, half and half, and cheese struck a beautiful balance between salty, savory, and creamy. The simplicity and quality of ingredients made for a fresh taste, while the balance of flavors makes it a more versatile sauce than spicier, more complex competitors. The only downside to the sauce for strict, gluten-free diets is that Rao's doesn't certify it as gluten-free because the bottled sauces are made in the same facility as wheat flour products. So, if you're afraid of cross contamination, this might be a red flag.

We found many glowing reviews for Rao's Homemade Alfredo Sauce from Walmart customers. Many customers said it is the only jarred sauce worth buying, with one review calling it "the best Alfredo sauce ever! The creaminess, the flavor, the consistency are all on point." Customers described the texture as rich and creamy, and the flavor as "homemade" or restaurant-quality. However, not all reviewers enjoyed the Alfredo sauce, with a 1-star review complaining that it "has no flavor whatsoever. Taste[s] like water and milk. Very disappointing considering the price." Price seems to be an issue even with favorable reviews, although most positive reviews say that it's well worth the cost.

Still, out of thousands of reviews, the average score at Walmart was a very respectable 4.6 out of 5 stars. So it's safe to say that most customers were as satisfied with the product as we were. The only brand that fared better than Rao's in our ranking was Carbone, another restaurant-based competitor. The two brands always go head to head. And while Rao's doesn't win this time, we thought the Rao's brand red sauce was better than Carbone's in another pasta sauce ranking. Whether you go with Rao's or Carbone's Alfredo sauce, you can keep it a gluten free meal by serving sauce over gluten-free pasta; our favorite is the fresh pasta from Taste Republic. If you crave depth, grate some nutmeg into the sauce, or finish it with red pepper flakes.