Homemade Alfredo Sauce Without Heavy Cream

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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!

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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.

📖 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 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.

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