Skinny Lowfat Fettucine Alfredo with 75% less fat and all of the flavor as the original. A skinny version of the popular fettuccine alfredo pasta dish.
We are back in school which means that our nights are extra busy. I am always trying to find quick and healthy dinner recipes to feed my hungry kids before they run out the door to practice. Since my son is swimming these days, his coach wants him to eat pasta the night before a big meet. Since he loves fettuccine alfredo, I wanted to create a low-fat, healthier version of the classic alfredo sauce. He still gets his pasta which gives him the energy he needs without the extra fat that can weigh him down.
This Skinny Fettucine Alfredo is made with Horizon organic 1% milk instead of heavy cream. This is a huge calorie saver. This Skinny Alfredo Sauce has only a touch of butter, chicken broth for flavor, and parmesan cheese which has a huge bang for the buck.
I have been on the quest to make the ultimate Skinny Lowfat Fettucine Alfredo. I have found that kids seem to love alfredo sauce. When I taught kids cooking classes, my kids went crazy for my homemade alfredo sauce. Since we are trying to eat healthier in our home these days, I had to spend some time experimenting in the kitchen to create the perfect version of skinny fettuccine alfredo.
I made four different version of skinny fettucine alfredo sauce and employed 9 taste testers to be my judges. We definitely found a winner when I found all of the boys begging to lick the pan. Here's what we found in the process:
-- The low-fat cream cheese added extra creaminess but the tang from it added a bitter aftertaste.
-- Flour thickens the sauce but when too much is added, it creates a gummy paste and the flour taste is noticeable. We add just enough in this recipe to thicken it without picking up on the flavor.
-- Chicken broth adds depth of flavor and gives it a richness without the fat.
-- One minced garlic clove adds a nutty zing to the sauce without overpowering it. I tried this sauce with 1 clove, 2 cloves, and even 4 cloves and found that 4 cloves of garlic overpowered the sauce and kids could definitely pick up on it. We added one garlic clove but feel free to add a second one if you love garlic flavor.
-- Instead of using heavy cream, we used Horizon organic 1% milk. It made such a creamy sauce while saving a ton of calories and fat.
-- Parmesan cheese is one of my favorite cheeses to use in cooking since a little can go a long way. It is a strong, pungent cheese with a nutty flavor. It is perfect in this low-fat alfredo sauce.
The WINNER of the Skinny Fettuccine Alfredo Sauce competition contained the following ingredients:
Butter, Garlic, Flour, Chicken Broth, Horizon Organic 1% Milk, Salt + Pepper, and Parmesan Cheese. This has 1 tablespoon of butter where my usual alfredo sauce recipe calls for 8 tablespoons. I am already feeling good about myself. Plus no heavy cream! This lowfat alfredo sauce only calls for 1% milk. AMAZING!
Skinny Fettuccine Alfredo
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon Butter
- 1 Garlic Clove finely diced (may use two)
- 2 Tablespoons Flour
- 1 cup Chicken Broth
- 1 cup Horizon 1% Milk
- ¾ cup High-Quality Parmesan Cheese grated or shaved
- ¼ - ½ teaspoon Salt
- ¼ teaspoon Pepper
- Italian Parsley diced, optional as garnish
- 9 - 12 oz pkg. Fettuccine Noodles
Instructions
- In skillet, over medium heat, add butter and let it begin to melt. Stir in diced garlic and let simmer for 1 minute.
- Stir in flour and stir quickly to form a paste.
- Quickly stir in chicken broth and use whisk to remove any lumps.
- Stir in 1% milk. Let simmer for 6-8 minutes or until it starts to thicken.
- Turn heat to medium-low and add parmesan cheese and salt and pepper, to taste.
- Remove from heat and let thicken. Taste and add more salt, if needed.
- Meanwhile, place water in large pot and bring to boil. Generously salt boiling water.
- Add fettuccine and cook according to package instructions.
- Toss fettuccine with alfredo sauce and top with parsley and parmesan cheese, if so desired.
Video
Notes
- Use high-quality parmesan cheese (the real stuff that is refrigerated)
Nutrition
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Horizon Organic. The opinions and text are all mine.
I hope you love this Skinny Fettuccine Alfredo pasta as much as my family (and half of the neighborhood) did. Have a wonderful day!
Rhonda
I was looking for a DIY lean cuisine type of recipe when I came across this. Wow, it is delicious and so easy to make. Hard to believe there is only 257 calories per serving. I meal prepped these into 6 bowls and added a little broccoli. Thanks for this easy and wonderful recipe.
Elizabeth Reisner
I love this dish it's the one I love the most because when I want to make this dish now I know how to make it thank you.
Melissa
This was AMAZING. I had been craving fettuccine Alfredo, and stumbled upon this healthier version. It was so satisfying, and easy to make. I’ve been passing this recipe along to everyone. Thanks for this!! 🤤
Nova
Really, really good...copied the recipe exactly.
Modern Honey
Hi Nova! So glad you loved it. Thank you for trying my recipe.
Monica
This was REALLY good, easy, and light! I substituted 1/4 mirin rice wine for some of the chicken broth. I cooked up a pound of shrimp, mushrooms, red bell pepper, zucchini, and mushrooms and mixed them into the pasta at the end. I used cavatappi pasta instead of fettucine.
Jenna
Omg this was so good. I used Fairlife fat free milk and it was tasty!!
Jillian
Thank you for this recipe! My son loves it and it doesn’t make my stomach hurt like regular Alfredo does! Also I only had 1/2 a cup of Parmesan the second time I made this- and it was still incredible!
Evan R.
This recipe legit beats classic Fettucine Alfredo in my book. Less fat, less calories, same flavor. Only difference - heats up so much better the next day! Classic Alfredo is always too buttery and greasy when reheating for my taste. Thanks so much! 5/5!
Kim
Wow! What a phenomenal recipe! Our sincerest thanks for sharing a healthy alternative. This will be added to our family’s weekly rotation. The only modification was the milk. We only had skim milk on hand so if y’all are looking to thicken up the sauce, just add more flour.
Rise Myers
Or instead, just add a little more butter if using skim milk!
Kathy Peters
Oh. My. Gosh! This recipe is sooooo amazing! I really had been wanting fettuccine Alfredo since my son had it at a restaurant a few weeks ago. But I’m watching the fats right now so wanted a lower fat recipe. This is so great! I didn’t tell my son it was a lower fat recipe, and he never noticed. He had 2 helpings! I didn’t have Horizon 1% milk, so I just used my regular store brand 1% milk. I used 2 cloves of garlic, with one being a bit on the smaller side. Thank you for all the work you did to make this and share it!
Joy Miller
Due to having issues with high fat foods upsetting my stomach, three days ago I decided to give this recipe a try. AMAZING! So delicious! I used two cloves of garlic and plenty of black pepper. We both liked it so much am making it again today. My husband and I both found it creamy and did not miss the fat! Thank you for creating this.
Abri
Looks amazing! How many servings are in this recipe?
ANN
So simple to make. Delicious!
Amber
I had a little bit of doubt in mind, I thought it was going to be good but not as good as the original— how almost all substitute low cal recipes are. WAS I WRONG! WOW!!! This was SO GOOD and I am so glad I have leftovers so I can have it again tomorrow. Thank you!
Kim G
Just a housekeeping fyi... I believe the duplicate mention of salt should read 1/4 tsp Pepper.
Modern Honey
Oh my heavens, thank you so much! I appreciate it.
Dianna
Found this recipe tonight and the comments were so good I had to try it. I am so glad that I did! This is absolutely delicious and does not taste lowfat. I'll never use another recipe!
Jen
This was amazing! I stumbled upon this page when searching for basic fettuccine alfredo recipe and I am thrilled that I did. Tastes delicious and decadent with none of the heavy/greasy factor of a full fat version. Pure comfort food without the awful saturated fat of a full stick of butter! And leftovers the next day reheated beautifully. Absolutely no reason to prepare this dish any other way. This is a winner!
Babs
I followed the recipe exactly. It was wonderful… a guilty pleasure meal without all the extra calories!
Jessica
Can I sub Parmesan cheese with mozzarella? It’s all I have at the moment.