Healthy meets delicious with our Better For You Alfredo Sauce recipe. Creamy, low-fat, and perfect for guilt-free dining.
Table of contents
Better For You Alfredo Sauce: A Creamy and Healthy Twist
Are you a fan of Alfredo sauce but looking for a healthier alternative? Look no further! In this blog post, we’ll explore the world of “Better For You” Alfredo sauce, a creamy and guilt-free twist on the classic recipe.
Healthy Alfredo Sauce
Traditional Alfredo sauce is known for its rich and indulgent nature, often laden with heavy cream, butter, and loads of cheese. However, the “Better For You” Alfredo sauce takes a different approach. It’s crafted to be healthier while retaining that creamy goodness that we all love.
Alfredo Sauce Cream Cheese
One of the key ingredients that sets this healthy Alfredo sauce apart is cream cheese. By using light cream cheese, you can achieve the same creamy texture without all the extra calories and saturated fats found in traditional recipes. It adds a luxurious mouthfeel that’s hard to resist.
Homemade Alfredo Sauce Cream Cheese
Making your own Alfredo sauce at home allows you to control the ingredients and customize the flavor to your liking. With this homemade Alfredo sauce cream cheese recipe, you can enjoy a delicious and wholesome sauce without any unnecessary additives.
Healthy Alfredo Sauce Recipe
This healthy Alfredo sauce recipe focuses on using skim milk and light cream cheese, reducing the overall fat content while still delivering the creamy taste you crave. It’s a win-win for those who want to enjoy a classic comfort food without the guilt.
Alfredo Sauce Cream Cheese Recipe
The combination of cream cheese and Parmesan cheese in the “Better For You” Alfredo sauce recipe creates a delightful balance of flavors. Plus, with the addition of Italian seasoning, every bite is bursting with savory goodness.
If you’re searching for a healthier twist on a classic favorite, try making your own “Better For You” Alfredo sauce. It’s creamy, it’s delicious, and it’s a fantastic alternative for those who want to indulge sensibly.
Give it a try and savor the goodness of a creamy Alfredo sauce with a healthy twist!
Healthy Alfredo Sauce: Ingredients & Equipment
To make this sauce, you will need …
Ingredients
- skim milk – aka fat-free milk. 1% or 2% can also be used. You can substitute skim milk with almond milk, soy milk, or even oat milk if you prefer a dairy-free option. Just ensure it’s unsweetened and unflavored for a neutral taste.
- Parmesan cheese – Opt for reduced-fat Parmesan cheese or use nutritional yeast for a vegan alternative. Nutritional yeast gives a cheesy flavor without dairy.
- light cream cheese – you can also use Greek yogurt or a low-fat cottage cheese for creaminess. Greek yogurt adds a tangy twist to the sauce.
- olive oil – If you want to reduce the oil content, you can use a small amount of vegetable broth or chicken broth for a lighter sauce. It will still add flavor without the added fat.
- Italian seasoning – Feel free to experiment with different herbs and spices. Fresh herbs like basil or parsley can add freshness to the sauce. You can also add garlic powder or roasted garlic for extra flavor.
- salt – If you’re watching your sodium intake, consider using a salt substitute or simply reduce the amount of salt in the recipe. You can always adjust to taste at the end.
Equipment
- skillet or saucepan
- utensil for stirring
Serving Suggestions for Healthy Alfredo Sauce
- Fettuccine Alfredo: The classic pairing! Serve your sauce over a bed of cooked fettuccine pasta. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley and a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese.
- Linguine Alfredo: Linguine noodles work well with Alfredo sauce, too. Cook linguine according to package instructions, toss with the sauce, and top with grated Parmesan.
- Penne Alfredo: Penne pasta holds the creamy sauce wonderfully. Cook penne until al dente, mix in the Alfredo sauce, and add some sautéed vegetables like broccoli or spinach for a balanced meal.
- Chicken Alfredo: Grill or sauté chicken breast or tenders until cooked through, then slice or cube them. Serve the sauce over cooked pasta and top with the chicken for a protein-packed dish.
- Seafood Alfredo: Enhance your sauce by adding sautéed shrimp, scallops, or even flaked cooked salmon. Seafood pairs beautifully with the creamy sauce.
- Vegetable Alfredo: Steam or sauté a medley of your favorite vegetables like broccoli, peas, or asparagus. Toss them with your sauce and pasta for a veggie-packed meal.
- Mushroom Alfredo: Sautéed mushrooms add a rich, earthy flavor to your Alfredo sauce. Serve it over pasta, and don’t forget a sprinkle of Parmesan and some fresh thyme.
- Alfredo Pizza: Use your “Better For You” Alfredo sauce as a pizza base instead of tomato sauce. Top with your favorite veggies, chicken, and a blend of mozzarella and Parmesan cheese for a unique twist.
- Dipping Sauce: Serve the Alfredo sauce as a dipping sauce for breadsticks, garlic bread, or even raw vegetables like carrots and celery sticks.
- Baked Alfredo: Make a baked pasta dish by combining the sauce with cooked pasta, adding some shredded mozzarella cheese, and baking until bubbly and golden for a delicious Alfredo pasta bake.
- Alfredo Bowl: Create a build-your-own Alfredo bowl station with various toppings like grilled chicken, sautéed vegetables, and different pasta options for guests to customize their bowls.
Better For You Alfredo Sauce: FAQs
This sauce is considered “better for you” because it uses healthier ingredients like skim milk, light cream cheese, and less fat compared to traditional Alfredo sauces. It aims to provide a creamy and delicious alternative with reduced calories and saturated fats.
This sauce pairs well with a variety of pasta types, such as fettuccine, linguine, or penne. You can also use it as a sauce for vegetables, chicken, or seafood.
Store any leftover sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Reheat it gently on the stove or in the microwave, stirring occasionally, until heated through.
It’s best to enjoy this sauce fresh, as dairy-based sauces like this one may not freeze well and can separate when thawed.
You can use this sauce as a creamy topping for baked potatoes, a dip for breadsticks or vegetables, or as a sauce for chicken or seafood dishes. It also makes a tasty base for your pizza!
Yes, you can easily scale up the ingredients to make a larger batch if you’re serving a crowd. Just adjust the quantities accordingly.
Other recipes you may enjoy
Better for you Alfredo Sauce Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups skim milk
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese
- 4 ounces light cream cheese
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Put the oil and milk in a pan and heat until bubbly.
- Add the Parmesan and cream cheese and stir until melted and smooth
- Stir in the Italian seasoning and salt; continue to cook over medium heat for at least 2 more minutes while stirring to thicken.
- Serve with pasta or other recipes using Alfredo sauce.
Notes
- For a tomato cream sauce, add 1 cup marinara sauce with the Italian seasoning.
- Store any leftover Alfredo sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Reheat it gently on the stove or in the microwave, stirring occasionally, until heated through.
- Freezing is NOT recommended for this recipe. It's best to enjoy this Alfredo sauce fresh, as dairy-based sauces like this one may not freeze well and can separate when thawed.
- Life Sew SavoryLife Sew Savory originally shared this recipe as part of a Healthy New Year's series on Love Bakes Good Cakes.
Nutrition
Please note that the nutritional information listed on this page is an estimation based on the products I used. Ingredients and nutritional information can vary significantly between brands. Always be sure to read labels. Please verify that a recipe fits your needs before using it. Nutrition info may contain errors, so please verify it independently. Likewise, recipes may contain errors, so please use your common sense when following them.
Originally published on April 19, 2014. Updated on January 15, 2024.
This sounds delicious and looks amazing! Going to have to try this recipe!
Yum, you had me at cream cheese. This looks delicious, and I love the fun shape of the pasta.
I have a very similar alfredo recipe. It is the best. Thanks for sharing! This looks so fun and yum!
Oh my goodness this sounds amazing! I am so putting this on my grocery list. I love Alfredo sauce but not the calories, this sounds like it might be a great win for those special occasions.
This looks great Emily! Nice to see you at Jamie's place!!
I love recipes using alfredo sauce! This looks very good!
Pinned!
Mmmm, this version of Alfredo sauce looks divine and would be way better than the yucky jarred sauces from the grocery store.
I'd love it if you could hop on over to Tell it To Me Tuesday and link up your posts with us!
http://www.sweetsillysara.com/2014/04/tell-me-about-it-tuesday_21.html