Skinny Alfredo Sauce | Lite Cravings | WW Recipes (2024)

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A skinny take on Alfredo Sauce that tastes just as rich and creamy as the original. Super easy to make, and gluten free!

Skinny Alfredo Sauce | Lite Cravings | WW Recipes (1)

To me, there are few dishes that are as comforting as Fettuccine Alfredo. As a kid, I would order it just about any time my family went to a restaurant. If I’m being real, I would order it for most of my adult life, too. But once I started back on WW and thought more about my health, I realized that I couldn’t justify eating it as much anymore. One serving clocks in at around 35-50 SmartPoints, depending on the restaurant, and has over 2,000 calories. That’s just INSANE.

I even tried bottled sauces. Although some are okay, most of them don’t really have much flavor to me. I would need to doctor them up with other things, like I do with my Shrimp and Penne in Pink Sauce. Plus, the ingredient list on those bottles can be pretty scary.

Then, I tried making my own sauce. I’m pretty sure I’ve tried every “Light” or “Skinny” version of Alfredo sauce that the internet has to offer. None of them did it for me.

Well, my friends, I’m so pleased to share with you my own version that is pretty much years in the making. I finally got it right! This sauce is EVERYTHING.

Skinny Alfredo Sauce | Lite Cravings | WW Recipes (2)

How to make the best skinny alfredo

My Skinny Alfredo Sauce only takes about 10 minutes total and is super easy once you get the hang of it. The technique is really important to get the right consistency, so you may need to try it out once or twice before you really get it perfected. I’ll try my best to give you detailed instructions, though.

Why Almond Milk?

Almond milk is one of my favorite ingredients to use when making creamy dishes. It’s very low in points/cals and has a mild flavor. If you have a nut allergy, you could try to use coconut milk instead. Not the kind on the can–the kind that you find refrigerated near the almond milk. Skim milk could work, too, but it might increase the points/cals.

Some important tips

I’m sure I’m making this more complicated than it needs to be; the recipe really is incredibly easy. But, just in case:

First of all, buy grated cheese, not shredded. I find that it melts better. And make sure it’s the kind that you buy in a container in the refrigerated cheese section. The shelf-stable, green-container stuff won’t have nearly as much flavor.

Make sure you add the cheese in slowly, whisking until melted. Don’t be tempted to dump everything in all at once, otherwise it might clump up.

The first time I made it, I was tempted to keep thickening it because it seemed a bit too thin. When I added pasta, it looked like this:

Skinny Alfredo Sauce | Lite Cravings | WW Recipes (3)

I mean, that still looks amazing, but I like an alfredo that really coats the pasta. Just be a little patient. Let the pasta cook in the sauce a bit on low heat, and it will all come together. Like this:

Skinny Alfredo Sauce | Lite Cravings | WW Recipes (4)

Or, if you want to use the sauce for something else, like as a pizza sauce or to top some cooked veggies, let it cool for about 5 minutes. The sauce will thicken quite a bit when it sits off heat for a little while.

Skinny Alfredo Sauce | Lite Cravings | WW Recipes (5)

My favorite ways to Use the sauce for a low-ish point Meal

  • Chicken and Broccoli Fettuccine Alfredo. Combine 1 cup cooked whole wheat or high protein fettuccine (5 SP) with 1/3 cup of sauce (3 SP), 1/2 cup cooked chicken breast (0 SP), and 1/2 cup cooked broccoli (0 SP).
  • White Pizza. Use it as a sauce to top my Lightened-Up Pizza Crust.
  • Casseroles. Use this as as a substitute for canned condensed soup in your favorite creamy casserole recipe.
  • Steak or Salmon sauce. Top your protein with some of the Alfredo for a decadent meal.
  • Dip. Sounds weird, I know! But even cold Alfredo is delicious. Use it as a dip for veggies or pretzels.
Skinny Alfredo Sauce | Lite Cravings | WW Recipes (6)

I’d love to hear from you if you make this recipe! It makes my day when you share your pics on Instagram and tag me (@litecravings). Don’t forget to use #litecravingsrecipes to make sure I see it. If I don’t get a chance to scroll through my tags quickly enough, I won’t see your post. I always make a point to look through the hashtags, though, so I’ll see it there!

Skinny Alfredo Sauce | Lite Cravings | WW Recipes (7)

Print Recipe

5 from 21 votes

Skinny Alfredo Sauce

A skinny take on Alfredo Sauce that tastes just as rich and creamy and the original. Super easy to make, and gluten free!

Cook Time10 minutes mins

Total Time10 minutes mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American, Italian

Servings: 8

Calories: 62kcal

Author: Geri

Ingredients

  • 2 cups unsweetened, plain almond milk
  • 2 tbsp cornstarch
  • 4 tbsp 1/3 less fat (light) cream cheese
  • 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese use the kind in the refrigerated section rather than the green-bottle stuff.
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • cracked black pepper to taste

Instructions

  • In a medium sauce pan, whisk together almond milk , cornstarch, garlic powder, and kosher salt. Turn heat to high and bring to a slow boil, whisking frequently so cornstarch doesn't stick to the bottom of the pan.

  • Turn heat to low and continue to cook until slightly thickened, about 3-4 minutes.

  • Whisk in cream cheese, one tablespoon at a time, until melted.

  • Sprinkle parmesan cheese in slowly, whisking as you go. If you try to add all the cheese in at one time, it might clump together. Once all cheese is added, finish with cracked pepper.

  • If serving with pasta, add sauce to pasta and cook together for about a minute, to thicken the sauce. Otherwise, take sauce off heat and let cool for about 5-10 minutes to thicken up.

Notes

Click hereto determine your WW PersonalPoints for this recipe (if you are logged in to your WW app, it should calculate for you automatically).

WW Green, Blue, and Purple SmartPoints:

2 tbsp = 1 SP

1/4 cup = 2 SP

1/3 cup = 3 SP

1/2 cup = 4 SP

Nutrition Facts are based off of a 1/4 cup serving

Nutrition

Calories: 62kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sugar: 1g

Skinny Alfredo Sauce | Lite Cravings | WW Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What can I add to thin Alfredo sauce? ›

The key is to add a little bit of liquid. The most common thinner for any creamy sauce is milk, however, you can also use other liquids like water, broth, or cream. Note that the liquid has to contain moisture so it can actually work, which is why melted butter won't do.

What can I add to Alfredo sauce to make it better? ›

Heartier herbs like thyme or oregano can be added in to simmer with the sauce. Add delicate herbs like parsley, basil, or chervil at the end to maintain their delicate, aromatic flavor. Quick tip: Swirl in a bit of leftover pesto to add another herbaceous twist to your Alfredo sauce.

How do you doctor up Alfredo sauce? ›

Extra seasonings and spices will go a long way in adding flavor to a boring jar of sauce. Some of my personal favorites include salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, dried basil, oregano, onion powder or seasoned salt. Start with small amounts (1/2 teaspoon at a time) and add as needed, in order to avoid over-spicing.

What can you use instead of flour in Alfredo sauce? ›

Another option is to add some cornstarch or arrowroot powder to your sauce. These starches will help to thicken it up without adding any flour. Finally, you can try adding some heavy cream or sour cream to your sauce. This will add some richness and body to the sauce without making it too thick.

Should you put pasta water in Alfredo sauce? ›

After 12 ounces of fettuccine pasta noodles are finished cooking, reserve 2 cups of the pasta water to include in your sauce. The starchy water is essential to creating a thick, creamy sauce consistency.

How do you thicken thin Alfredo sauce? ›

The easiest way to accomplish this is to mix about a spoonful of cornstarch to 2 spoonfuls of liquid – it could be water or chicken stock or even milk. You will add this mixture, also called a slurry to the sauce and as it starts to cook, the sauce will thicken.

What else can you add to fettuccine alfredo? ›

There are dozens of variations of fettuccine Alfredo out there. You could sprinkle in fresh herbs and lemon zest or juice to cut the richness of the cream. You could also top servings with cooked shrimp or chicken for some protein, or toss in a vegetable like cooked asparagus!

What vegetables to add to Alfredo sauce? ›

Stir in big handfuls of spinach, Kale mushrooms, zucchini, onions, broccoli, spinach, squash, or grape tomatoes after the pasta is cooked. You can also substitute zucchini (zoodles) for the pasta.

What is Alfredo sauce good on? ›

Uses for Alfredo Sauce
  • Vary your Pasta Pairings. Vary your Pasta. ...
  • Use with Roasted Vegetables. Roasted Vegetable Sides. ...
  • Use it as a Pizza Sauce. ...
  • Use it as a Creamy Element in Soups. ...
  • Use it in Homemade Lasagna Recipes. ...
  • Use it on Baked Potatoes. ...
  • Use it as a Creamy Dip. ...
  • Use it with Low-Carb Pasta Alternatives.

How do you get Alfredo sauce to stick to pasta? ›

Once the pasta is in the sauce, add pasta water. This is the most vital step in the process. Starchy pasta water doesn't just help thin the sauce to the right consistency; it also helps it cling to the pasta better and emulsify with the fat and cheese you're going to be adding.

Is it cheaper to make your own Alfredo sauce? ›

This recipe for homemade alfredo sauce uses $4.33 worth of ingredients and makes 9.5 ounces, which is also roughly 46 cents per ounce. This means homemade alfredo sauce costs about the same as high quality jarred sauces, but tastes even better.

Can you freeze Alfredo sauce? ›

Store the Alfredo sauce: Transfer the sauce to storage containers and cool completely. A skin will form on the surface of the sauce and the sauce will thicken to a paste-like consistency; this is normal. Refrigerate for up to 5 days, or freeze for up to 1 month.

Why do people put flour in Alfredo? ›

All-purpose flour: To help form a roux and thicken the sauce. If you are making gluten-free Alfredo sauce, however, you are welcome to omit the flour and have a slightly thinner sauce. Or you can use a cornstarch slurry to thicken it (see details below).

What can I substitute for heavy cream in a sauce? ›

The Best Heavy Cream Substitutes
  1. Half-and-Half and Butter. A combination of half-and-half and butter makes the best all-around heavy cream substitute. ...
  2. Milk and Butter. ...
  3. Evaporated Milk. ...
  4. Coconut Cream. ...
  5. Cream Cheese. ...
  6. Greek Yogurt and Milk. ...
  7. Soy Milk and Olive Oil.
Mar 30, 2022

What is the difference between Alfredo and white sauce? ›

White sauce – also known as béchamel – is made with flour, milk, and butter. It's a basic sauce that can be used as a base for other sauces or as a topping for dishes like lasagna. Alfredo sauce, on the other hand, is made with butter, cream, and Parmesan cheese, and has a much richer flavour than white sauce.

What to do if pasta sauce is too thick? ›

If you find that your sauce is too thick, this is where you can add some of the reserved pasta water, little dribbles at a time. If you over-water and the sauce becomes too thin, just let some of the liquid cook off and you'll see the sauce thicken up again. It's pretty resilient to fumbles at this stage.

What if my white sauce is too thick? ›

Remember, though, that béchamel is so easy and forgiving, even if you get the ratio wrong, it's incredibly easy to fix: If yours comes out too thick, just whisk in more milk until the desired consistency is reached; if it's too thin, either simmer it down, allowing evaporation to thicken the sauce up, or cook a little ...

Can I use water to thin Alfredo sauce? ›

If the sauce seems too thick, whisk in a splash of milk, broth, or water until the sauce is as thinned as you like.

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