This dairy free alfredo sauce is just as rich and creamy as traditional alfredo sauce, but it's gluten and dairy free. While this vegan alfredo sauce has been tweaked to accommodate all diets, you can easy turn it into a traditional alfredo sauce by simply using classic dairy milk and cheese. This is a recipe for everyone!
Nothing is better than a bowl full of rich, creamy alfredo pasta. The thing is that not everyone can enjoy it. I have a couple of friends who can't eat dairy, and I can't enjoy anything with gluten.
Because I love my friends and readers who have dietary restrictions, I set out to create an alfredo sauce meal that anyone can enjoy. It's the perfect gluten and dairy free alfredo sauce recipe, and we're happy to share it with all of you. Unlike other vegan alfredo recipes, I even made it without cashews to accommodate nut allergies!
What's even better is that if you don't have allergy restrictions, you can simply use the same amount of traditional cream, butter, cheese, and pasta to create a super tasty classic version, too!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Simple Ingredients: This recipe only uses a few simple ingredients you can find at any grocery store.
- Easy: The entire recipe only takes about 30 minutes from start to finish.
- Healthy: The alfredo sauce is dairy free, which means you won't find any cholesterol or unhealthy fat in there.
- Customizable: It's easy to change the flavors to suit your taste or make a classic dairy alfredo version.
- Everyone Can Enjoy It: This is the perfect dish to serve at dinners or parties with guests who have food restrictions. It's so tasty that no one will ever know it's not a traditional dish.
Ingredients
- Gluten Free Penne: Penne pasta is easy to eat and has the perfect texture for holding on to the sauce.
- Fresh Spinach: Spinach adds color and flavor to the sauce.
- Dairy Free Butter: Dairy free butter adds the same richness and flavor to the sauce as traditional butter.
- Dairy Free Heavy Cream: Heavy cream is the base for the rich, creamy sauce.
- Dairy Free Parmesan Cheese: Diary free parmesan cheese adds the classic, earthy flavor of parmesan with no dairy. We found that Follow Your Heart parmesan delivered a classic nutty parmesan flavor that's indistinguishable from traditional parmesan.
- Seasoning: A blend of Italian seasoning and garlic powder gives the sauce its classic Italian flavor.
See the recipe card at the end of the post for a full list of ingredients and their exact amounts.
Flavor Variations
- Traditional: For a traditional sauce, use the same amounts of dairy-based ingredients and traditional pasta.
- Add Veggies: Vegetables like mushrooms and broccoli work very well with the sauce.
- Add Meat: Chicken, pork, shellfish, and even beef work well with this sauce.
- A Little Heat: Add a bit of cayenne for a small kick of heat that accentuates the other flavors in the sauce.
- Lemon Juice: Add a bit of lemon juice to enhance the flavor of the other ingredients in the sauce.
Instructions
- Boil the pasta according to the package directions for al dente. Then, drain and set aside.
- In a large saute pan over medium heat, saute the spinach in the olive oil until it begins to cook. Then, push it to one side of the pan and melt the butter in the pan.
- Add the heavy cream and parmesan cheese, and bring it to a slight simmer while stirring.
- When the sauce becomes creamy, mix the cooked spinach into it and simmer on low until thickened. Then, add the seasonings.
- Gently mix in the pasta and enjoy!
Expert Tips
- Cook the spinach until it begins to soften, and then begin making the sauce. Don't overcook it, or it will lose that beautiful color.
- You shouldn't rinse your pasta for this recipe. You want the starch on the pasta, so it holds the sauce when you mix it in.
- Speaking of mixing in the noodles, stop cooking them as soon as they reach al dente. If they're too soft, they'll break apart when you mix them into the sauce.
- Use high-quality dairy free products for the best flavor.
Pairing Suggestions
Pair this dairy-free alfredo sauce with gluten-free garlic bread and a simple salad. It's also a nice pairing with a vegetable side, like asparagus.
FAQ
Dairy free cream doesn't taste exactly the same as dairy-based cream, but high-quality alternatives are very close. High-quality dairy free cream mimics the flavor of traditional cream very closely, with only a minimal taste difference.
Dairy free parmesan tastes very similar to traditional parmesan, although the flavor may be a bit nuttier or earthier. In general, a high quality parmesan substitute will taste quite similar to the real thing.
Diary free milk, cream, and cheeses are healthier than traditional dairy-based items because they contain lower amounts of cholesterol and saturated fat.
This dairy free alfredo sauce has a slightly nuttier flavor than traditional alfredo sauce, but we like that. It's actually quite good and so close to the original that you might not know it.
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📖 Recipe
Dairy Free Alfredo Sauce
Ingredients
- 12 oz gluten free pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 cups fresh spinach
- 1 tablespoon dairy free butter
- 1 ½ cups dairy free heavy cream
- 8 oz dairy free parmesan
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon roasted garlic powder
Instructions
- Boil the pasta according to the directions for al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a large, preheated saute pan over medium heat, saute the spinach until it begins to soften Then, push it to the side of the pan.
- Melt the butter in the same pan. Then, add the heavy cream and parmesan. Bring to a slight simmer, stirring constantly.
- When the sauce looks creamy mix the spinach into it and simmer on low for 4 minutes.
- Add the seasonings and mix.
- Gently stir in the pasta and enjoy.
Notes
- Refrigerate this pasta for up to 4 days in an airtight container.
- Freeze for up to 3 months in an airtight, freezer-safe container. We recommend freezing the sauce separately.
- To reheat, defrost overnight in the refrigerator if frozen. Then, add the sauce to a saucepan and cook on medium-low until heated through.
- Use the highest quality dairy free products possible. Cheaper dairy free versions of cream, butter, and cheese can have a flavor that is obviously plant-based due to using cheaper ingredients.
- Be careful not to bring your sauce to a boil. Just like traditional alfredo sauce, dairy free alfredo sauce will break or curdle if it gets too hot.
Liz says
This was delicious!! I had a friend over for dinner and made this for her, but I sampled it and it was excellent.
Ieva says
Great pasta sauce - made with oat cream, nad it was every bit as creamy as the usual one.
Nora says
This dairy-free Alfredo sauce is unbelievably creamy and rich—you’d never guess it’s vegan and gluten-free! It’s so versatile and perfect for accommodating different diets, but still delivers all the cozy, comforting flavor of classic Alfredo. Love how easy it is to tweak, too—definitely a go-to for pasta nights!
Deborah says
You had me at dairy-free! I'm real picky about my alfredo sauce but this was fantastic!
Swathi says
Diary free alfredo sauce is yummy perfect with homemade pasta. I got a new pasta sauce thanks for sharing with us.