Vegan Alfredo Sauce Recipe (2024)

Last modified: . Originally posted: By Sophia DeSantis

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This vegan Alfredo sauce recipe is easy to make, filled with healthy ingredients and tastes incredible! It's the perfect addition to dinner.

Vegan Alfredo Sauce Recipe (1)
Vegan Alfredo Sauce Recipe (2)

I love a good rich creamy Alfredo pasta but I don't like the bloated heavy feeling it usually leaves me, which is why this dairy free version is perfect!

Ingredients

In order to make this dairy free alfredo sauce you'll need the following items:

  • Broth
  • Raw cashews
  • Cooked potato
  • Cooked white beans
  • Seasonings
Vegan Alfredo Sauce Recipe (3)

How To Make Vegan Alfredo Sauce

Pasta sauces can be quite the undertaking, luckily this is not the case for this Alfredo sauce recipe! Here's the simple steps to make this delicious sauce:

  1. Blend all ingredients.Vegan Alfredo Sauce Recipe (4)
  2. Mix into your favorite pasta. Vegan Alfredo Sauce Recipe (5)
  3. Serve and devour! Vegan Alfredo Sauce Recipe (6)

Serving suggestions

Try hard to resist slurping up this creamy Alfredo sauce with a straw, and try it one of these ways instead:

  • Mix with pasta like fettuccine, spaghetti, angel hair, or gnocchi.
  • Use it to make a kids favorite creamy macaroni.
  • Top a stuffed baked potato or mashed potatoes.
  • Drizzle over hash browns for a creative brunch.
  • Use as a dipping sauce for asparagus fries or broccoli cauliflower tots.

Tips and tricks

Make sure to keep the following in mind when making this vegan Alfredo sauce recipe:

  • If you're not using a high speed blender, soak the cashews overnight or boil them for 20-25 minutes to soften them. Another method is using a coffee or spice grinder to grind them dry (not soaking) into a very fine powder.
  • I used red potatoes but any starchy potato will work, just don’t use sweet.
  • If you reheat this on the stove, it will thicken a bit. Heat slowly over low heat and add more broth if needed.
  • You can store this sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days.
  • Add spinach or mushrooms to the sauce for an extra veggie boost.
  • There is some protein in this sauce, but if you'd like to add more, mix in nutritional yeast, or serve over quinoa.

Common Questions

What is Alfredo traditionally?

Believe it or not, traditional Alfredo is simply fettuccine noodles, butter, and parmesan cheese. Over the years it has transformed into a creamy sauce featuring heavy cream and other ingredients. Since none of those versions of the sauce are vegan, I just had to create my own!

How do you thicken Alfredo sauce?

The ingredients I use in the recipe for vegan Alfredo sauce result in a pretty thick consistency as it is. If you like it thicker, heat on the stovetop over low heat stirring regularly until you reach your desired consistency.

Can you freeze Alfredo sauce?

You sure can! Seal tightly in a freezer safe container and freeze for up to three months. Defrost in the refrigerator, then reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop.

More Pasta Recipes

If carbs are your thing, (let's be real, if we could, wouldn't we eat them ALL the time?) check out these other recipes:

  • Vegan Pasta Bake
  • Roasted Red Pepper Pasta
  • Pasta fa*gioli
  • Roasted Vegetable Pasta
  • Broccoli Pesto Pasta
  • Healthy Vegan Chili Mac
Vegan Alfredo Sauce Recipe (7)

Vegan Alfredo Sauce Recipe

Sophia DeSantis

This vegan Alfredo sauce recipe is easy to make, filled with healthy ingredients and tastes incredible! It's the perfect addition to dinner.

5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Shop Ingredients

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 15 minutes mins

Course 30 Minutes or Less, Sauce

Cuisine Italian

Servings 6

Calories 146 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

Shop Ingredients on Jupiter

Instructions

  • Place all ingredients, except pepper, into a high speed blender. I like to pulse that in at the end.

  • Blend on high until nice and smooth. The heat from the blender will heat it up but you can also heat over the stove a little if you prefer. Heat over low because it will thicken a bit. Add more broth as needed.

  • Serve over your favorite pasta or any other way you want!

Notes

  • If you don’t have a high speed blender, soak the cashews overnight to soften them. You can also boil them for 20-25 minutes if you forget. Another method is using a coffee or spice grinder to grind them dry (not soaking) into a very fine powder.
  • I used red potatoes but any starchy potato will work, just don’t use sweet.
  • If you reheat this on the stove, it will thicken a bit. Heat slowly over low heat and add more broth if needed.
  • This makes 3 cups, serving size is ½ cup.

Recipe by Veggies Don’t Bite, visit our site for more great plant-based recipes.

Nutrition

Calories: 146kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 5gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 386mgPotassium: 222mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 1IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 18mgIron: 2mg

Nutrition and metric information should be considered an estimate.

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Vegan Alfredo Sauce Recipe (9)

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Reader Interactions

Comments

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  1. Mindy

    Is there a substitute for the cashews? We have a nut allergy in our house.

    Reply

    • Carla

      I would love to know this answer, too!

      Reply

      • Sophia DeSantis

        Hi Mindy and Carla! I missed this comment, so sorry! Unfortunately, cashews are the main ingredient that gives this sauce the creaminess. I do use potato and white beans in conjunction with the cashews, which gives this a lighter yet super creamy texture. I haven't tried it myself, but I have had others try using more potato and white beans instead of the cashews. I have also had others try using sunflower seeds, but you have to be careful as these have a strong flavor. So you may need to up the vinegar to counter act the flavor. You'd have to play with these ideas. Let us know if you try anything!

  2. Liron Blecher

    This sauce blew my mind !!!
    It was so close to “real” alfredo sauce and absolutely delicious.
    The fact that it was oil free and super easy to make was just the icing on the cake (or shall I say: the vegan parm on the pasta).

    Thank you so so much for sharing this recipe.

    Reply

    • veggiesdontbite

      Haha!! Love it! I am so happy you enjoyed this. Thank you so much for the great review!

      Reply

  3. Chelsee Lee

    So nice to have a vegan version of this pasta! Alfredo is a favorite!

    Reply

Vegan Alfredo Sauce Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is vegan Alfredo sauce made of? ›

Sauté 1/2 an onion and 6 cloves of garlic in a small pan for 5 minutes. Add the drained cashews, onion/garlic, almond milk, nutritional yeast, lemon juice and salt to a high powered blender and blend until creamy and smooth. Add sauce to pasta, mix and warm if needed. That's it!

What is the secret to thick Alfredo sauce? ›

Add Cheese

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.

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.

What is the original Alfredo sauce made of? ›

Real alfredo sauce is made with 3 simple ingredients: butter, Parmesan cheese and fresh fettuccine pasta. There is absolutely no cream in this dish (cream is common in most American-style alfredo sauce recipes). Make this dish with my fresh homemade pasta, fresh sourdough pasta or store-bought fresh pasta.

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.

How do you keep Alfredo sauce creamy? ›

One of the key components to making a thick and creamy Alfredo sauce is the cream. That being said, I think you could get away with using half and half or if in a real pinch, whole milk. Keep in mind that the less fat content in the dairy the thinner and less appealing the Alfredo Sauce will be.

What is the thickening agent for Alfredo? ›

Alfredo sauce has only 2 ingredients: butter and Parmigiano Reggiano. if you need to thicken the sauce because maybe you added some pasta water or too much butter, just add some more Parmigiano Reggiano.

How do you make Alfredo sauce thicker without cheese? ›

Use Flour and Water

Combine 2 tablespoons flour with every 1/4 cup cold water and whisk until smooth. Add the mixture to your sauce over medium heat, and continue to stir and cook until you've reached your desired consistency. Test with a spoon.

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.

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 flavors compliment Alfredo sauce? ›

Add basil, parsley, oregano, or rosemary to add life to the sauce. The first three herbs are classic for many Italian dishes, and rosemary is a common addition to creamy potato dishes, so adding them to a jarred Alfredo sauce makes sense.

Why is my homemade Alfredo sauce not thickening? ›

Reduce the heavy cream before adding cheese

Most basic Alfredo sauce recipes today will call for heavy cream or whipping cream to recreate the thick consistency of the original dish. One trick to help create a thick Alfredo sauce is to reduce the cream before adding freshly grated cheese (via Better Homes & Gardens).

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? ›

Alfredo should never have anything but pasta water, butter, and cheese in it. Make sure the cooking water has salt in it but remember part is salty.

What makes vegan pasta vegan? ›

Classic pasta varieties like Linguine and Spaghetti are vegan as-is, made with just durum wheat semolina flour. Make your favorite vegan mac and cheese with the Elbow macaroni pasta.

What is vegan pasta made of? ›

Making fresh vegan pasta

Mix 3 cups of flour (or semolina) with about 1 cup of water, a pinch of salt, and 1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil. If you want to give your pasta a nice warm color as if it contained eggs, you can add a pinch of turmeric or saffron to the flour.

Does Alfredo sauce have dairy products in it? ›

Plus, pretty much every Alfredo sauce recipe contains milk and is probably tricky for lactose intolerant people to digest. Luckily, the recipe for Alfredo sauce is straightforward, so making a lactose free fettuccine Alfredo won't take much effort! Keep reading to learn what you need.

Is classico Alfredo vegan? ›

This product contains 14 ingredients that are not vegan and 8 ingredients that may not be vegan.

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