CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It’s time to get your swirl on and celebrate National Linguine Day on Sept. 15 with a hearty bowl of the flat pasta noodles, which originated in Genoa, Italy, almost 400 years ago.
The word linguine means “little tongues” in Italian and the pasta traditionally is served with seafood in a hearty pesto or Alfredo sauce -- a rich, creamy white sauce that gives us plenty of excuses to step away from traditional red sauces.
For National Linguine Day today we couldn’t miss the chance to load our grocery cart -- with stops everywhere from Marc’s to Whole Foods -- with every creamy Alfredo we could find and conduct a taste test to see how the sauces compare.
We found 24 varieties of Alfredo sauces and used the same brand of linguine noodles for every sample. The rankings are below. Mid’s Alfredo Sauce finished No. 1 overall.
The jars ranged in price from $1.29 to $7.99.
Did sauces with cream as the first ingredient score higher than sauces with the highest concentration of water? Does cream and/or butter make a better sauce? Find out below.
And if more traditional pasta sauces like marinara are your go-to, check out our ranking of 174 red pasta sauces.
Ahh, a hearty bowl of linguine and Alfredo pasta sauce. (Photo by Yadi Rodriguez, cleveland.com)
No. 24 Alfredo, Victoria Vegan
No. 24 Alfredo, Victoria Vegan - Photo by Yadi Rodriguez, cleveland.com
Where we bought it: Whole Foods
Price: $7.99
Nutrition per serving:
Calories 70 | Fat 4.5g | Cholesterol 0mg | Sodium 350mg | Carbs 6g | Sugars 2g | gluten free
First ingredient: Cashew cream
Jar says: In 1929, an Italian family immigrated to Brooklyn, N.Y., and started a business using fresh vegetables and premium ingredients. We continue to follow their example. Our vegan marinara sauces have been enjoyed for years, so we established a vegan line to include Alfredo sauces, crafted with our own house-made cashew cream. Our vegan line of pasta sauces are dairy-free, gluten-free and non-GMO verified, maintaining the philosophy that ingredients come first.
Our thoughts: Horrible. We did not like the flavor or consistency. This sauce’s pungent taste is quite overwhelming. Doesn’t taste like what you expect an Alfredo sauce to taste like. But on a positive note, you can taste the cashew.
Buy it on Amazon $7.99
No. 23 Roasted Garlic Alfredo, Priano
No. 23 Roasted Garlic Alfredo, Priano - Photo by Yadi Rodriguez, cleveland.com
Where we bought it: Aldi
Price: $1.69
Nutrition per serving:
Calories 60 | Fat 4.5g | Cholesterol 25mg | Sodium 400mg | Carbs 4g | Sugars 1g
First ingredient: Water
Jar says: Inspired by Italy
Our thoughts: There is way too much garlic in this jar and it is on the watery side. We would not buy this again.
Available on Instacart $1.89
No. 22 Four Cheese Alfredo, Priano
No. 22 Four Cheese Alfredo, Priano - Photo by Yadi Rodriguez, cleveland.com
Where we bought it: Aldi
Price: $1.69
Nutrition per serving:
Calories 60 | Fat 2.5g | Cholesterol 30mg | Sodium 340mg | Carbs 3g | Sugars 1g
First ingredient: Water
Jar says: Inspired by Italy
Our thoughts: The overall taste is not good. The cheeses do not blend well together and it has a horrible aftertaste.
Buy it on Instacart $1.89
No. 21 Roasted Garlic Alfredo, Rao’s
No. 21 Roasted Garlic Alfredo, Rao’s - Photo by Yadi Rodriguez, cleveland.com
Where we bought it: Lucky’s Market
Price: $7.99
Nutrition per serving:
Calories 100 | Fat 9g | Cholesterol 50mg | Sodium 410mg | Carbs 2g | Sugars 1g
First ingredient: Light cream
Jar says: Over 120 years in the making. Premium, traditionally crafted. This Alfredo sauce is a rich, smooth blend of cheese, cream and butter, with an added burst of roasted garlic.
Our thoughts: The runny consistency is distracting and abnormal, almost to the point it seems greasy. You can definitely taste the garlic, however. The more you eat, the more overwhelming the garlic becomes, overtaking all other flavors.
Buy it on Amazon $7.49
No. 20 Classic Alfredo, Ragu
No. 20 Classic Alfredo, Ragu - Photo by Yadi Rodriguez, cleveland.com
Where we bought it: Walmart
Price: $1.64
Nutrition per serving:
Calories 90 | Fat 9g | Cholesterol 20mg | Sodium 320mg | Carbs 2g | Sugars 0g
First ingredient: Water
Jar says: Made with real cheese.
Our thoughts: Very plain, no flavor, no spices. If you’re looking for a bland, boring sauce this could be it.
Buy it at Target $1.79 | Buy it on Instacart $2.99
No. 19 Creamy Alfredo, Priano
No. 19 Creamy Alfredo, Priano - Photo by Yadi Rodriguez, cleveland.com
Where we bought it: Aldi
Price: $1.69
Nutrition per serving:
Calories 60 | Fat 4.5g | Cholesterol 30mg | Sodium 400mg | Carbs 3g | Sugars 1g
First ingredient: Water
Jar says: Inspired by Italy
Our thoughts: This one has no flavor. We can’t believe it says it is inspired by Italy. While it may offer up a creamy texture, the taste is bland.
Buy it on Instacart $1.89
No. 18 Rosa Alfredo, Whole Foods
No. 18 Rosa Alfredo, Whole Foods - Photo by Yadi Rodriguez, cleveland.com
Where we bought it: Whole Foods
Price: $4.69
Nutrition per serving:
Calories 90 | Fat 7g | Cholesterol 15mg | Sodium 360mg | Carbs 6g | Sugars 1g
First ingredient: Water
Jar says: Product of Italy. Premium pasta sauce made with authentic Italian cheeses.
Our thoughts: This sauce is thick, rich and creamy, but the initial taste is of nacho cheese sauce, not Alfredo. You can definitely taste the cheeses. This unique flavor got a little better the more I ate.
Buy it on Amazon $4.69
No. 17 Alfredo, Newman’s Own
No. 17 Alfredo, Newman’s Own - Photo by Yadi Rodriguez, cleveland.com
Where we bought it: Lucky’s Market
Price: $3.49
Nutrition per serving:
Calories 50 | Fat 4.5g | Cholesterol 20mg | Sodium 380mg | Carbs 3g | Sugars 1g | GF
First ingredient: Water
Jar says: 100% profits to charity since 1982
Our thoughts: The consistency is good. It smells fragrant, but the taste is below par.
Buy it on Instacart $2.69
No. 16 Creamy Alfredo, Classico
No. 16 Creamy Alfredo, Classico - Photo by Yadi Rodriguez, cleveland.com
Where we bought it: Giant Eagle
Price: $2.50
Nutrition per serving:
Calories 50 | Fat 3.5g | Cholesterol 15mg | Sodium 400mg | Carbs 3g | Sugars 1g
First ingredient: Water
Jar says: Made with fresh cream. In Rome, the earliest Alfredo sauce recipes were known as “al burro” or “with butter”. Here, fresh cream is blended with butter, aged Parmesan cheese, and a hint of black pepper for an authentically rich and creamy flavor.
Our thoughts: While you can see the spices, you can’t taste them. It is a thick and creamy sauce, just lacks punch.
Buy it at Target $1.99 | Buy it on Instacart $3.79 | Buy it at Giant Eagle $2.50
No. 15 Classic Alfredo, Great Value
No. 15 Classic Alfredo, Great Value - Photo by Yadi Rodriguez, cleveland.com
Where we bought it: Walmart
Price: $1.50
Nutrition per serving:
Calories 50 | Fat 3.5g | Cholesterol 15mg | Sodium 340mg | Carbs 4g | Sugars 1g
First ingredient: Water
Jar says: Made with real cheese
Our thoughts: While this one was not bad taste-wise, its thin, grainy texture was distracting and it could use some garlic to ramp up the flavor.
No. 14 Homestyle Alfredo, Prego
No. 14 Homestyle Alfredo, Prego - Photo by Yadi Rodriguez, cleveland.com
Where we bought it: Meijer
Price: $3
Nutrition per serving:
Calories 70 | Fat 6g | Cholesterol 25mg | Sodium 390mg | Carbs 3g | Sugars 1g
First ingredient: Water
Jar says: Made with fresh cream
Our thoughts: While this sauce had a good flavor and a creamy texture, it didn’t stick to the pasta very well. It needs to be thicker.
Buy it on Instacart $2.99
No. 13 Alfredo, Gia Russa
No. 13 Alfredo, Gia Russa - Photo by Yadi Rodriguez, cleveland.com
Where we bought it: Whole Foods
Price: $7.99
Nutrition per serving:
Calories 100 | Fat 9g | Cholesterol 50mg | Sodium 410mg | Carbs 2g | Sugars 1g | GF
First ingredient: Light cream
Jar says: Produced in a green facility. A true Alfredo made with light cream, butter and aged Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese from Italy.
Our thoughts: Wow! The overabundance of pepper hides all of the other flavors. It stings the tongue, and not in a good way. The flavor is a bit on the fatty side, like eating a stick of butter. So thin it did not stuck on noodles. Just look at the bottom of the bowl in the photo above.
Buy it on Amazon $7.99
No. 12 Alfredo, Good & Gather
No. 12 Alfredo, Good & Gather - Photo by Yadi Rodriguez, cleveland.com
Where we bought it: Target
Price: $1.29
Nutrition per serving:
Calories 90 | Fat 8g | Cholesterol 20mg | Sodium 320mg | Carbs 2g | Sugars 1g
First ingredient: Water
Jar says: Made with real cheese. No artificial colors, flavors or preservatives.
Our thoughts: Pretty bland. When tasting this sauce, you immediately think it’s missing something. A bit on the ordinary and runny side.
No. 11 No Dairy Alfredo, Primal Kitchen
No. 11 No Dairy Alfredo, Primal Kitchen - Photo by Yadi Rodriguez, cleveland.com
Where we bought it: Whole Foods
Price: $6.99
Nutrition per serving:
Calories 60 | Fat 4.5g | Cholesterol 0mg | Sodium 350mg | Carbs 4g | Sugars <1g | GF
First ingredient: Water
Jar says: Made with avocado oil. Eat like your life depends on it. In the world of real food eating, it’s the sauces, dressings and toppings that make a meal exciting.
Our thoughts: Good flavor for a dairy-free sauce. You can definitely taste the avocados and cashews. Although the unconventional oily consistency is distracting, the flavor is zesty and tangy. Tastes more like salad dressing.
Buy it on Amazon $6.29
No. 10 Alfredo, Bertolli
No. 10 Alfredo, Bertolli - Photo by Yadi Rodriguez, cleveland.com
Where we bought it: Walmart
Price: $2.12
Nutrition per serving:
Calories 110 | Fat 11g | Cholesterol 35mg | Sodium 390mg | Carbs 2g | Sugars 0g
First ingredient: Water
Jar says: Made with fresh cream. Made with real butter. With aged parmesan cheese.
Our thoughts: Good flavor but the garlic is almost overwhelming, which is interesting because the brand has a garlic version. That’s why this one ranked worse. Is it the same sauce?
Buy it on Amazon $11.17 (2-pack) | Buy it on Instacart $3.29 | Buy in at Target $2.19 | Buy it at Giant Eagle $2.49
No. 9 Roasted Garlic Parmesan Alfredo, Ragu
No. 9 Roasted Garlic Parmesan Alfredo, Ragu - Photo by Yadi Rodriguez, cleveland.com
Where we bought it: Walmart
Price: $1.64
Nutrition per serving:
Calories 90 | Fat 8g | Cholesterol 15mg | Sodium 310mg | Carbs 3g | Sugars <1g
First ingredient: Water
Jar says: Made with real cheese.
Our thoughts: Love this garlic flavor. It was true to its name. You can smell the garlic as soon as the jar is opened. The thickness is good, though it could have been creamier.
Buy it on Instacart $2.99
No. 8 Mushroom Alfredo, Bertolli
No. 8 Mushroom Alfredo, Bertolli - Photo by Yadi Rodriguez, cleveland.com
Where we bought it: Marc’s
Price: $2.29
Nutrition per serving:
Calories 70 | Fat 6g | Cholesterol 20mg | Sodium 360mg | Carbs 2g | Sugars <1g
First ingredient: Water
Jar says: Made with fresh cream. Aged parmesan cheese and portobello mushrooms.
Our thoughts: Another sauce that stays true to its name! You can see small pieces of mushroom throughout the sauce as you pour it, but the pieces aren’t so big they overpower the taste. The garlic taste could be reduced a bit though.
No. 7 Alfredo, Rao’s
No. 7 Alfredo, Rao’s - Photo by Yadi Rodriguez, cleveland.com
Where we bought it: Lucky’s Market
Price: $7.99
Nutrition per serving:
Calories 100 | Fat 9g | Cholesterol 50mg | Sodium 410mg | Carbs 2g | Sugars 1g
First ingredient: Light cream
Jar says: Over 120 years in the making. Premium, traditionally crafted. Bring home the famous taste of Rao’s Homemade Alfredo Sauce. This alfredo sauce is a rich, smooth blend of cheese, cream and butter.
Our thoughts: This one is very flavorful. You can taste both the pepper and garlic, although the pepper tended to overwhelm some of the other flavors. We wish it were a little thicker, too.
Buy it on Amazon $7.49 | Buy it on Instacart $7.99 | Buy it at Target $7.29 | But it at Giant Eagle $4.99
No. 6 Cauliflower and Milk Creamy Alfredo, Bertolli
No. 6 Creamy Alfredo, Bertolli - Photo by Yadi Rodriguez, cleveland.com
Where we bought it: Marc’s
Price: $2.29
Nutrition per serving:
Calories 50 | Fat 4g | Cholesterol 30mg | Sodium 420mg | Carbs 3g | Sugars <1g
First ingredient: Water
Jar says: Made with cauliflower and milk.
Our thoughts: Love this. You can taste subtle hints of cauliflower, which is great if you are a cauliflower fan. It’s very creamy and has a nice inclusion of garlic that’s not overwhelming, even a little sweet.
No. 5 Classic Alfredo, La Famiglia DelGrosso
No. 5 Classic Alfredo, La Famiglia DelGrosso - Photo by Yadi Rodriguez, cleveland.com
Where we bought it: Meijer
Price: $6.99
Nutrition per serving:
Calories 90 | Fat 7g | Cholesterol 35mg | Sodium 300mg | Carbs 3g | Sugars 1g | GF
First ingredient: Cream
Jar says: A legacy of great taste. Since 1914 America’s Oldest Family saucemaker.
Our thoughts: Creamy, with hints of garlic that is just the right amount. I would buy this.
No. 4 Garlic Alfredo, Bertolli
No. 4 Garlic Alfredo, Bertolli - Photo by Yadi Rodriguez, cleveland.com
Where we bought it: Walmart
Price: $2.12
Nutrition per serving:
Calories 100 | Fat 4.5g | Cholesterol 25mg | Sodium 310mg | Carbs 2g | Sugars <1g
First ingredient: Water
Jar says: Made with fresh cream. With aged parmesan cheese.
Our thoughts: Wow! What an amazing flavor -- the perfect amount of garlic in a deliciously creamy sauce. It stayed true to the description on the jar.
Buy it at Target $2.19
No. 3 Artisan Four Cheese Alfredo, Prego
No. 3 Artisan Four Cheese Alfredo, Prego - Photo by Yadi Rodriguez, cleveland.com
Where we bought it: Walmart
Price: $1.88
Nutrition per serving:
Calories 60 | Fat 5g | Cholesterol 30mg | Sodium 310mg | Carbs 3g | Sugars <1g
First ingredient: Water
Jar says: Made with real cheese.
Our thoughts: If you like a creamy cheese sauce, this is the one for you! The cheeses blend very well together. You can taste each cheese, but none overwhelm the others. Not too thick, with a nice spice to it.
No. 2 Alfredo, Little Italy in the Bronx
No. 2 Alfredo, Little Italy in the Bronx - Photo by Yadi Rodriguez, cleveland.com
Where we bought it: Heinen’s
Price: $7.99
Nutrition per serving:
Calories 100 | Fat 9g | Cholesterol 50mg | Sodium 410mg | Carbs 2g | Sugars 1g | GF
First ingredient: Light cream
Jar says: With light cream, butter, sea salt and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. No preservatives, made with simple ingredients.
Our thoughts: Our panel really enjoyed the flavor combination in this sauce -- just the right amount of salt and cheeses. You’d never know it’s a jar sauce, as it tasted fresh, light and creamy.
Buy it on Instacart $7.99
No. 1 Alfredo, Mid’s
No. 1 Alfredo, Mid’s - Photo by Yadi Rodriguez, cleveland.com
Where we bought it: Heinen’s
Price: $6.99
Nutrition per serving:
Calories 100 | Fat 9g | Cholesterol 50mg | Sodium 420mg | Carbs 2g | Sugars 1g | GF
First ingredient: Light cream
Jar says: True Sicilian pasta sauce. Alfredo done the Sicilian way. A white pasta sauce was created in 1914 by a restauranteur named (what else?) Alfredo. Mid’s take on this favorite features three varieties of cheeses for a thick, creamy and restaurant-grade delicacy that’s the perfect alternative to our true Sicilian red sauces.
Our thoughts: If this is true Sicilian sauce as the jar says, then sign us up for a trip to Sicily! This was the best flavor -- by far -- of all 24 sauces we tried. Great texture, creamy and delicious. Flavorful, and you can see and taste the spices. Rodriguez declared she would go out of her way to buy this sauce! If you are a fan of Alfredo sauces but don’t have the time to make your own, give this one a try.
Buy it at Giant Eagle $5.99 | Buy it on Instacart $6.99
San Giorgio Linguine are the noodles we used to taste test all of the various brands of Alfredo sauces.