Homemade Alfredo Sauce Without Heavy Cream
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure.I’ve crafted a healthier version of classic alfredo sauce without heavy cream that’s perfect for anyone looking for a lighter style of traditional Italian alfredo sauce! This recipe combines parmesan cheese, cream cheese, skim milk, black pepper, and garlic powder to create a creamy texture ideal for serving over your favorite pasta. Ready in under 30 minutes, I’ll show you how to make this comforting sauce, great for a quick dinner and a tasty alternative to restaurant versions!
I’ve been making pasta sauce from scratch for years, and this alfredo sauce with no heavy cream is one of my favorites! I love how simple it is, and you will too: made without wheat flour, with no butter and no roux needed, I have created the creamiest homemade alfredo sauce that tastes just like the authentic version.
Instead of heavy cream, I use a combination of cream cheese, low-fat milk, and corn starch, which gives you that same super-rich mouthfeel with less fat and calories.
As a bonus, you won’t have to keep stirring your sauce, watching it continuously, trying to baby that roux! Just a few whisks after adding the cornstarch and remaining ingredients and it’ll be ready to go.
This sauce works great with any pasta shape, and I’ll often serve it with fettuccine noodles for a classic fettuccine alfredo. But when I have a bit more time, I’ll serve it with my homemade vegan pasta for a completely from-scratch Italian meal!
👩🏽🍳 Why I Love This Recipe
It’s no secret that I’m obsessed with Italian food, and over the years I’ve created over 50 vegetarian Italian recipes! I especially love making Italian pasta sauces from scratch, because they taste so much more flavorful than pre-made versions.
This is not your typical, heavy, Italian restaurant sauce, but it will make any pasta dish shine! It’s a great recipe for anyone looking to try a lighter version of Alfredo that’s packed with flavor but is lower in carbs, calories, and fat than most cream sauces.
It’s also really easy to make, so even if you’re not experienced in making sauces from scratch, the lack of a roux makes this very beginner-cook-friendly!
I always try to make my recipes adaptable to different dietary needs whenever possible, and I’m so happy to share that this recipe is already naturally gluten-free and can be made vegan with a few substitutions as well. (See my variations section below for customization ideas!)
This rich, thick cream cheese Alfredo sauce is total comfort food and great for the whole family! Packed with flavor, adults and kids alike will love drizzling this sauce over their favorite pasta variety.
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🥘 Ingredients
You don’t need a lot of ingredients to make homemade Alfredo sauce with milk instead of cream! With just some pantry items and a couple items from the refrigerator, you will have a flavorful sauce ready in no time. If you do not have these ingredients, then you can easily find them at your local grocery store.
Corn Starch: I use corn starch (sometimes called corn flour) as a great gluten-free substitute for wheat flour or all-purpose flour and in place of a traditional roux. Cornflour mixed with water creates a thicker DIY Alfredo sauce when combined with the milk!
Spices: I add in just a little bit of garlic powder, salt and black pepper – they’re all you need to add flavor to this recipe. You can use fresh garlic if you don’t have garlic powder, but garlic powder blends better into this sauce than fresh minced garlic does (you’ll end up with small garlic pieces in the sauce). I also add some freshly chopped parsley at the end of cooking to bring some fresh and bright flavors to the dish.
Low-Fat Milk: This is my substitute for heavy cream in Alfredo sauce, and I promise, you really can’t tell the difference! Any type of milk will work, but my preference is low-fat organic milk.
Water: Cold water is needed to mix with the corn starch to create a slurry. A slurry is an alternative to a roux that you can use to thicken sauces, soups, and more. It’s just corn starch mixed with water, so the water is really important for this step!
Cheese: I use a combination of cream cheese and parmesan cheeses to make this Alfredo without cream rich and thick.
🔪 How To Make Alfredo Sauce Without Heavy Cream
The recipe card below provides a complete list of ingredients and detailed instructions for making this Alfredo sauce recipe without heavy cream. For more help and my secret tips for getting this recipe right every time, check out the expert tips section.
Heat Milk On The Stove Top: I use a medium saucepan or large pot to heat the milk. Warm over medium low heat until it simmers.
Combine Corn Starch And Water: I like to multitask while I’m cooking, so while the milk is simmering, I recommend combining the cold water and corn starch in a bowl until mixed.
Thicken Sauce: Once the milk has just started to simmer, pour the cornflour mixture into the milk while whisking to prevent lumps from forming. Reduce to low heat and continue to stir until your no-cream Alfredo is smooth and thickened.
Add Cheese And Seasoning: Next, add the cream cheese, parmesan cheese, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Whisk until smooth and reaches your desired consistency.
Season And Serve: Adjust the seasoning to taste, then stir through the chopped parsley. You won’t believe that this Alfredo sauce is made without butter AND cream, because at this point it should have that thick and creamy consistency you’d find in a classic Alfredo sauce. Serve immediately, with your favorite pasta.
💭 Expert Tips
My #1 Secret Tip for making a creamy sauce without heavy cream is to ensure your milk doesn’t boil! Cook on low to medium-low heat during the entire process to prevent your milk from curdling. Gentle heat helps the sauce ingredients integrate smoothly without separating.
Boiling the sauce, on the other hand, can cause the sauce to become grainy and separate. Additionally, if the sauce is too hot, when the corn starch mixture is added, it will form large lumps very quickly. So just remember: cook low and slow, on a light simmer, the entire time!
Other Tips To Keep In Mind:
- Adjust consistency. To make a thicker Alfredo sauce recipe with no heavy cream, add more of the cornstarch mixture.
- Timing matters. Make sure you add the cornstarch slurry before you add the cheese! That will prevent lumps from forming and will ensure you get a super smooth and rich sauce.
- To make sure your sauce doesn’t separate, use a whisk when stirring vs. a wooden spoon or spatula.
- For best results, use cold water to mix with corn starch before adding to the heated milk.
- Use high-quality, fresh cheese. I always use freshly grated Parmesan cheese rather than pre-shredded varieties, which can contain anti-caking agents that hinder melting. Fresh cheese will melt more smoothly and offer a richer flavor.
📖 Variations
- Make It Vegan: Use soy, oat milk, or unsweetened almond milk instead of dairy milk. Substitute the cheese for ½ cup of vegan parmesan cheese and six tablespoons of nutritional yeast. You may need to add more corn starch to make sure this creamy pasta sauce without heavy cream is thick enough. You can also use a vegan bechamel sauce or my vegan fettuccine Alfredo sauce instead.
- Add Herbs And Spices: To give this cream free Alfredo sauce recipe a little more flavor, feel free to add white pepper, a dash of paprika, fresh coriander, oregano, rosemary or Italian seasoning.
- Thickener: Instead of using corn starch, feel free to use arrowroot powder, regular wheat flour, or tapioca flour. Keep in mind, the way this recipe is written it doesn’t need butter or a roux. If you use wheat flour, you’ll need to add butter and make a roux, and this recipe will no longer be gluten free.
- Chicken Alfredo: When I’m serving meat eaters, sometimes I’ll add in some shredded chicken breast to this pasta sauce without heavy cream! You can also make vegan chicken Alfredo by using tofu or meatless chicken tenders with pasta.
- Extra Creamy Consistency: When I’m feeling extra decadent, I’ll add some sour cream or mozzarella cheese in addition to the other ingredients!
🧊 Storage Directions
Refrigerator: Once cooled, I’ll store this sauce in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Freezer: Transfer the sauce to a freezer-safe bag or container and freeze for up to six months.
Reheating: If I’m just reheating the sauce from the fridge, I’ll just heat it in the microwave until warmed through and toss it with pasta! If I’m reheating from frozen, I’ll thaw the sauce in the fridge overnight, and then warm it on the stovetop the next day, whisking until heated through.
🍽 Serving Suggestions
Of course, any pasta will go well with this sauce! Make fettuccine Alfredo without heavy cream, or use any other pasta shape you like. Here are some of my other favorite ways to serve this sauce:
- As A Sauce Alternative: Try it instead of pizza sauce in this rustic pizza recipe or florentine pizza! You can also drizzle it over these roasted green beans and potatoes or roasted cauliflower salad instead of a traditional sauce or dressing.
- With Noodle Alternatives: Instead of regular pasta, you can pair this cream-free Alfredo sauce with palmini noodles, heart of palm noodles, shirataki noodles, zoodles, etc.
- As A Dip: Homemade Alfredo sauce without heavy cream makes a great dip for different breads. Try it with this vegan garlic bread, gluten-free focaccia, low-calorie biscuits, or these biscuits without baking powder.
❓Recipe FAQs
What Can I Substitute For Heavy Whipping Cream in Alfredo Sauce?
You can totally make a cream sauce without heavy cream and flour! One of the easiest ways to substitute heavy cream in Alfredo sauce is to use a thickener + milk.
We chose corn starch + milk because it gives that same creamy texture without the fattiness that heavy cream brings. The corn starch also allows you to thicken your Alfredo sauce recipe with milk and no flour. You can use any type of milk instead of heavy cream to pair with the corn starch. Whole milk, skim milk, low-fat milk, and different types of unsweetened dairy-free milk will all work.
Other heavy cream substitutes include: silken tofu and soy milk, cottage cheese and milk, or flour and milk.
Can you use evaporated milk instead of heavy cream in pasta sauce?
No, evaporated milk is not the same texture and will not yield the same results. You can use any type of other unsweetened milk in place of heavy cream. You may need to adjust the amount of corn starch if you use a plant based milk versus regular milk though.
How do I know if my Alfredo sauce is bad?
The easiest way to tell if your cream sauce is bad is to smell it. If it’s still good, it will have a clean, fresh smell – similar to what milk smells like when it’s good. If it’s bad, it will have a very sour, acidic and pungent smell.
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📋 Recipe Card
🎥 Watch How to Make It
Alfredo Sauce Without Heavy Cream
This recipe for alfredo sauce without heavy cream is delicious with your favorite pasta! Made with parmesan cheese, black pepper, skim milk, and garlic powder, you will want to prepare this creamy sauce for your next fettuccine alfredo recipe. This comfort food recipe is the best and family-friendly!
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 137kcal
Ingredients
- 2 cups low-fat milk 500 ml
- 2 tbsp corn starch (also called cornflour)
- 3 tbsp cold water
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- ½ cup parmesan cheese grated
- 3 tbsp low-fat cream cheese
- salt and pepper to taste
- parsley chopped
Equipment
Instructions
- Heat milk in a pot over medium heat until it starts to simmer.
- While milk is heating, combine the cornstarch and cold water in a small mixing bowl. Stir until combined.
- When milk has just started to simmer, pour the corn starch mixture into the milk while whisking continuously to ensure no lumps form. Reduce heat and continue to stir until sauce has thickened and is smooth.
- Next, add the grated parmesan cheese, cream cheese, garlic powder, salt, and pepper and whisk until smooth. Adjust seasonings if needed.
- Stir the chopped parsley through the mixture and serve immediately tossed with your favorite pasta.
Notes
- If you want the sauce to be a little thicker, add more of the cornstarch mixture.
- Toss this tasty sauce through cooked fettuccine pasta to create the perfect dinner option.
- Ensure the milk doesn’t come to a boil otherwise the corn starch mixture, when added, will form large lumps very quickly.
- Always use cold water to mix with cornflour before adding to the heated milk.
- Serve with your favorite pasta.
- For a vegan version: Use soy milk or unsweetened almond milk instead of low fat milk and substitute the cheese in this recipe for ½ cup vegan parmesan cheese and 6 tbsp nutritional yeast. You may need to add some additional corn starch to ensure the sauce is at the desired thickness.
Nutrition
Calories: 137kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 306mg | Potassium: 219mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 7g
Just made this tonight, absolutely delicious!! Definitely will make again!
Aw yay! I’m so happy to hear that Andrea!!
I used fontina cheese since I didn’t have parmesan cheese when making this recipe for the first time. It was so good. Definitely a keeper. The cold water to mix with the corn starch is important as mentioned in the notes. Adding spinach is a nice addition, too.
Awesome!! So happy to hear that you liked this recipe Mary!
This was so delicious!
Thank you so much! So glad you liked it!
Such a tasty version of Alfredo sauce! Easy too.
So glad you liked this recipe Katherine!
A great alternative that still keeps the integrity of the classic creaminess. Thanks!
Thank you so much Ann!
I loved how delicious this Alfredo sauce was! The best thing is it didn’t sit super heavy after the meal was over. Thank you!!
So happy to hear that, thanks Ned!
This was a surprise. It was so delicious. I added chicken and broccoli to it and my family ate it up (literally)! Rich and creamy without the extra calories. I will be making this again. Thank you!
Yay! I’m so happy to hear that – thanks for letting me know! 🙂
This was REALLY good. Alfredo is one of the few things I buy in a jar because it makes an easy meal and with shrimp and asparagus is my absolute favourite. Today I didn’t have a jar so I gave it a whirl. VERY good. I love that it uses regular milk and I did replace 1/3 C of the milk and all of the water with chicken broth because I had some and finish with a sprinkle of nutmeg. I’ll be pinning this recipe….Such a great back up plan or …..first plan hehe. Thank you for the recipe
Yay!! Thanks so much Leslie – so glad this turned out well for you!
This is a great recipe! I always feel that heavy cream leaves a slightly greasy sensation on my tongue, but cream cheese was just perfect! Thanks! Will definitely make it again!
Great to hear! Thanks for letting me know Ieva!