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!
Kitty
Easy and delicious! Thanks do much for creating a skinny version. We used carba-nada pasta so it was lower in carbs. Added shrimp for some protein and it was yummy! Definitely going in the rotation!
Eva
Highly recommend. This recipe is sooooo good -- you'd have no idea it's a "skinny" version it tastes JUST like the real thing! I made a stock using vegetarian Better Than Bouillon No-Chicken (instead of chicken broth-- I'm a vegetarian), and mixed in a bit of steamed broccoli when I tossed the pasta. I had 2% milk on hand so that was slightly different than what the recipe called for. I think using high quality parmesan and fresh pasta was key! I think this recipe is a home run for serving guests. Will definitely make again.
BECCA NEAR
Hi! What can I use instead of chicken broth? Vegetarian here 🙂 thanks!
Alexandra Ulloa
I’ve made this recipe about 10 times and it’s great. I use the refrigerated pasta and add sautee broccoli and carrots. Thank you for posting this!
Cindy
Thanks for the recipe. My son loved it.
Shannon
I have been trying to find good quality recipes but also less calories! This is it- husband is picky about flavors when I put us on a “diet” but said this was great- I added chicken but will add shrimp next time!! Thanks!
Cass
Alfredo is my favourite and something I avoid because of the fat, been looking for a good low fat version for years.
When adding in the chicken stock, I had my doubts but its delicious. Used more garlic than recommended, added chilli flakes and reduced fat cheddar, served with tagliatelle, king prawns and black olives, and less than 500 calories for the whole thing.
This will become a staple, excited to see what other changes can be made to make different creamy sauces!
Nidhi
Great recipe... I used fat free milk and it worked. We like it much better than the heavy restaurant alfredo
Angela De Santiago
I have made this recipe several times before, and it turns out tasty. My son really, really ikes it.
Can corn starch be used instead of flour?
Carly Perez
Thank so much for this recipe. My daughter loves Alfredo sauce but we hate the jar stuff and hadn't found a lower fat recipe she likes. Until now! She loves it.
Roxann Kopischke
I would like to know if the calorie count includes the noodles, and if it does what would be the calories without the noodles?
Peppa & George
My family loved this recipe. I prefer this over the full fat version since it’s so much lighter but still very flavorful. New family favorite!
Jessica
I have been going to the gym and dieting so I was looking for a lighter option and I followed every step I did make a side of baked Broccoli and sautéed some small shrimp as side dishes however I really didn’t even need this as this was soo good!! Thank you for the amazing recipe!!
Kathryn
AMAZING. Way faster than my full-fat recipe and so so tasty. We loved it!!!
Natalie W
Tried this recipe out and it was delicious! I added homemade zucchini noddles along with the regular noodles to give it an extra vitamin boost. Only problem is it was not exactly enough food for 3 people - I always forget that the term "serving" is generally smaller than my version of a "serving" LOL. I'll be sure to double it up next time.
Natalie W
Sorry, I meant noodles, not noddles lol
Shelley
Delicious....Thanks for the tasty recipe
Diana
Hi, is the full recipe 257 calories? Or is it per serving?
Thanks!
Dale
came out perfect. I divided it in half, half as is and the other half added a bit of grated lemon rind and garlicy shrimp!! So good. Used skim milk so added about 1/4 c. 10% coffee cream within the milk measurement. It's a keeper, thank you!
Can't see why you couldn't use veggie broth instead of chicken broth, go for it!
Kyra
i was wondering if you could replace the chicken broth with vegetable broth because I was going to make this for my family and someone in my family is vegetarian and won't have chicken broth?
Eva
I made my own broth using vegetarian Better Than Bouillon No-Chicken and it was delicious.
Amy
This was absolutely delicious!! I’ve been eating a lower calorie diet recently and stumbled on this recipe. It was absolute perfection. My whole family loved it. I will definitely make this again!
Thank you so much!
Sara S
I cannot cook, to the point that it's sad But this was so easy to make and DELICIOUS. Not only that, but I can eat this happily on my low calorie diet.