Skinny Fettuccine Alfredo Sauce - Recipe Diaries (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Jenna · This post may contain affiliate links · 12 Comments

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Are you wondering how to make Alfredo sauce a little less calories? Plus, you can still eat this if you're on a weight loss journey. This alfredo sauce recipe uses cream cheese, reserved pasta water, and reduced fat milk to make a super decadent alfredo sauce.

Skinny Fettuccine Alfredo Sauce - Recipe Diaries (1)

If you like more easy lightened up recipes like this please try Pizza Pasta Casserole, French Onion Chicken, or Spaghetti and Meatball Casserole.

Jump to:
  • Why You Will like This Recipe
  • Ingredients for Fettuccine Alfredo
  • How to make Lighter Fettucine Alfredo Sauce
  • Other Recipes to Try
  • Lighter Fettuccine Alfredo Sauce

Why You Will like This Recipe

Let's face it. Nothing quite compares to heavy cream which is used as the main ingredient in Alfredo. Heavy cream can make anything bad taste good, not to mention butter and bacon.

I think that Alfredo sauce is probably one of the hardest dishes to make lighter but this recipe does a pretty good job with recreating it. Instead of heavy cream milk and reduced fat cream cheese is used. Parmesan is another main ingredient in Alfredo sauce which is also a must for a dish. No substitutions for that!

Ingredients for Fettuccine Alfredo

Skinny Fettuccine Alfredo Sauce - Recipe Diaries (2)
  • Unsalted butter - is the most commonly used type of butter in baking, as it allows for more control over the amount of salt in the recipe.
  • Garlic, minced - Chopped fresh garlic can take some time to chop so I often always use the freshly minced garlic that comes already made in a jar.
  • Lemon zest - This adds a nice burst of citrus flavor to the marinade to help enhance the choice of protein. Use freshly squeezed over bottled juice.
  • All-purpose flour - is a type of wheat flour that is commonly used in cooking and baking. It is versatile and can be used for a variety of recipes, including bread, cakes, cookies, and pastries.
  • Low-fat (1%) milk - can sub almond milk if you're allergic to milk
  • Neufchtel or low-fat cream cheese - I like to use Reduced-Fat Cheese because it has a lower calorie count and less saturated fat than regular cheese, but it may also have a different taste and texture. It also helps with keeping the calorie count pretty low for this recipe.
  • Parmesan cheese - is a hard, granular cheese that originated in Italy. It is typically made from cow's milk and has a sharp, nutty flavor. Parmesan cheese is often grated and used as a topping for pasta dishes, salads, and other foods.
  • Fresh parsley (optional)
  • Fettuccine - any pasta shape will work with this
  • See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.

How to make Lighter Fettucine Alfredo Sauce

Step 1: Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and lemon zest and cook until the garlic is slightly soft about 1 minute. Add in the flour and cook, stirring with a wooden spoon,1 minute.

Skinny Fettuccine Alfredo Sauce - Recipe Diaries (3)

Step 2: Whisk in the milk and ¾ teaspoon salt and cook, whisking constantly until just thickened about 3 minutes. Add the Neufchatel and parmesan cheese; whisk until melted, about 1 minute. Stir in the chopped parsley.

Skinny Fettuccine Alfredo Sauce - Recipe Diaries (4)

Step 3: Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the fettuccine and cook until al dente, 2 to 3 minutes. Reserve 1 cup cooking water, then drain the pasta and return to the pot.

Skinny Fettuccine Alfredo Sauce - Recipe Diaries (5)

Step 4: Add the sauce and ½ cup of the reserved cooking water to the pasta and gently toss to combine, adding more cooking water as needed to loosen. Season with salt. Divide among bowls and top with parmesan and pepper.

Skinny Fettuccine Alfredo Sauce - Recipe Diaries (6)

Other Recipes to Try

  • Mini Cherry Cheesecakes
  • Rotel Tacos (Tiktok Recipe)
  • Hot Ham and Cheese Sandwiches
  • THE CHEWY Chocolate Chip Cookie

If you tried this Lighter Fettuccine Alfredo Sauce orany other recipe on my website, please please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing from you! Follow along on Tiktok @jennarecipediaries

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Skinny Fettuccine Alfredo Sauce - Recipe Diaries (11)

Lighter Fettuccine Alfredo Sauce

★★★★★5 from 3 reviews
  • Author: Jenna
  • Cook Time: 20min
  • Total Time: 20min
  • Yield: 6 1x
Print Recipe

Description

Skinny Fettucine Alfredo - easy and lightened up Alfredo sauce which comes together in less than 20 minutes!

Scale

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
  • 2 teaspoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup low-fat (1%) milk
  • Kosher salt
  • 2 tablespoons Neufchtel or low-fat cream cheese
  • ¾ cup grated parmesan cheese, plus more for topping
  • 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
  • 12 ounces fresh fettuccine
  • Freshly ground pepper

Instructions

  1. Make the sauce: Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and lemon zest and cook until the garlic is slightly soft about 1 minute. Add in the flour and cook, stirring with a wooden spoon,1 minute. Whisk in the milk and ¾ teaspoon salt and cook, whisking constantly until just thickened about 3 minutes. Add the Neufchatel and parmesan cheese; whisk until melted, about 1 minute. Stir in the chopped parsley.
  2. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the fettuccine and cook until al dente, 2 to 3 minutes. Reserve 1 cup cooking water, then drain the pasta and return to the pot.
  3. Add the sauce and ½ cup of the reserved cooking water to the pasta and gently toss to combine, adding more cooking water as needed to loosen. Season with salt. Divide among bowls and top with parmesan and pepper.
  4. Makes 6 servings, per serving: 1 cup

Notes

My WW Personal Points: 10 Click here to see in recipe builder (will have to log in)

  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Boil
  • Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

  • Calories: 312
  • Sugar: 4g
  • Sodium: 453mg
  • Fat: 9g
  • Saturated Fat: 4g
  • Carbohydrates: 49g
  • Fiber: 3g
  • Protein: 13g

Keywords: lightened up alfredo sauce

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jenna says

    I updated the recipe to include the flour and parsley. I don't add salt and pepper to a recipe in the builder because those two ingredients never change the points. You can also save it and edit it yourself. FYI.

  2. Miranda says

    When I click the link to see this in my WW recipe builder, it’s missing ingredients! The salt, pepper, parsley, and flour don’t appear in my recipe builder. Broken. Thank you.

  3. Christine says

    This is a great recipe and we all loved it. I may have added more cheese but so worth it.

  4. Jeffrey Castle says

    Excellent recipe and I was able to make the sauce with much lower calories and fat content. I began with two tbsps of yogurt butter spread (Brummel and Brown) which is more than the recipe calls. Anyone with knowledge of creating a roux knows to begin with equal amounts of fat and flour. Instead of milk, I used fat free evaporated milk and fat free cream cheese. I followed the recipe from that point forward to the letter and go a flavorful, low calorie, creamy sauce that I put over brown rice spaghetti, topped with roasted squash, carrots, and onions, and topped with a grilled chicken breast. SO FULFILLING...

  5. Lisa says

    Delicious.

  6. Jenna says

    1 serving.

  7. Sharon says

    I see 10 points but is that for the whole recipe or for each serving?

  8. Patricia says

    How many points is the recipe?

  9. Cassie says

    Hello, I dont see anywhere where it shows how many pts this recipe is, or do we just calculate it ourself.

Leave a Reply

Skinny Fettuccine Alfredo Sauce - Recipe Diaries (2024)

FAQs

How do you make Alfredo sauce thinner? ›

Luckily, there's a simple fix that will have your creamy sauce back to its perfect, delicious self in no time. 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.

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

Flavor Boosters

Nutmeg: A pinch of freshly grated nutmeg can elevate the flavors in your Alfredo sauce. However, use it sparingly; a little goes a long way. White Wine: A splash of a good-quality white wine can add depth and complexity. Make sure to cook off the alcohol by simmering the sauce for a few extra minutes.

How to make an Alfredo sauce thicker without flour or cornstarch? ›

Dairy-Based Thickeners
  1. Egg Yolks. Egg yolks are a terrific thickener for many things and pasta sauce is one of them. ...
  2. Cream Cheese. Cream cheese is another method to add a creaminess to your sauce. ...
  3. Heavy Cream. ...
  4. Parmesan. ...
  5. Shredded Cheese. ...
  6. Butter. ...
  7. Plain Greek Yogurt.

How do you keep Alfredo sauce creamy? ›

Add Cheese

This first method is not only the easiest, but also arguably the most delicious. The key ingredient in Alfredo sauce is cheese—generally Parmigiano Reggiano—and lots of it. To thicken Alfredo sauce, simply add more cheese than the amount called for in a recipe until you achieve the consistency you want.

How do you make Alfredo sauce not thick? ›

We make our alfredo sauce with heavy cream, parmesan and butter. After it thickens up, we spoon out a portion, and reheat it in a saute pan, whisking frequently to keep it from burning. It is then a little thin, and we add a little more parm, and a little flour, and continue to heat to cook out any flour taste.

What can I add to fettuccine alfredo to make it taste better? ›

You could just add garlic powder, sure, but quickly sautéeing fresh garlic while your pasta cooks is a great way to layer flavor. Resnick likes to add spinach as a way to cut the richness of the sauce. Add a tablespoon or so of olive oil and a few cloves of minced garlic in a sautée pan over medium heat.

Can you add milk to jar Alfredo sauce? ›

Once melted, pour in your jar of sauce. Pour the milk into the jar and give a good shake. Start with 1/4 cup of milk and if more is desired, add another 1/4 cup. Pour the jar into the pan, add in the spices and let simmer on low.

Why add flour to Alfredo sauce? ›

You can also mix it with water to create a slurry, similar to how you would add cornstarch. Or you can cook it with butter to create a roux. If you are using fresh pasta, you can even coat the pasta with flour before cooking it. That will thicken the sauce when you combine it with the noodles.

Will cream cheese thicken Alfredo sauce? ›

Cube softened cream cheese and whisk into the Alfredo Sauce into a pot over heat until the cheese is smooth. It can take a little while for the cream cheese to melt and become smooth so be patient. Start with just a little cream cheese at a time unless you're ok with a stronger cream cheese flavor.

Can I use cornstarch instead of flour for Alfredo? ›

Third, I use cornstarch which does not require cooking out the raw flavor like flour. You simply mix it with the base liquid and add it to the pan. It will thicken out perfectly in minutes. It also makes the sauce gluten-free.

Should I add pasta water to 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 to make Alfredo sauce creamy and not gritty? ›

Things that I've learned are:
  1. don't use low fat milk -- the higher the fat content the smoother your cheese will melt/incorporate.
  2. once the base is made (the flour, butter, milk "sauce" -- bechamel?) take the pot OFF the heat.The more your heat your cheese sauce, the more it will get gritty.
May 10, 2021

Why did my homemade Alfredo sauce curdle? ›

However, if the sauce stays on the heat too long and too much water evaporates, it will break, since there's no longer enough water to hold the fat in suspension. If this happens, the sauce will look curdled and greasy.

What to do if your Alfredo sauce is too watery? ›

12 Ways To Help Thicken Your Alfredo Sauce
  1. Add more cheese. Nitr/Shutterstock. ...
  2. Reduce the heavy cream before adding cheese. Michelle Lee Photography/Shutterstock. ...
  3. Toss in some pasta cooking water. ...
  4. Make a cornstarch slurry. ...
  5. Use cream cheese. ...
  6. Don't skimp on the butter. ...
  7. Add egg yolks. ...
  8. Start with a traditional roux.
Dec 12, 2022

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 ...

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.

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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