Creamy, cheesy pasta that is light on calories but big on flavor! This Skinny Fettuccine Alfredo is ready in under 20 minutes and tastes every bit as delicious as traditional Alfredo sauce!
It has been FAR too long since I’ve given you a new pasta recipe to try. What could be more delicious than a big bowl of tender noodles bathing in a super creamy, thick and cheesy, mouth-watering Alfredo sauce? Man, I just love this stuff.
I’ve been making this pasta dish for years… come to think of it, I believe this is the exact dish I made for Jeremy on our first date! See, I knew there had to be a reason I hooked him so early on. 😉 The version I’ve always made starts with half a stick of butter and a full cup of heavy cream… most likely the cause of the 10 pounds we each gained during our courtship.
But this version… guys, THIS version is so much better. Not only do I think it actually has MORE flavor than traditional Alfredo sauce, but it also won’t make you need to change into your fat pants asap. I mean, love my fat pants, but I also like being able to still fit into my favorite pair of skinny jeans occasionally too.
So what makes this recipe so awesome and “skinny”, you ask? Well for starters, I reduced the butter down to only a tablespoon, and if you want to take it even a step further, you could swap the butter for a tablespoon of olive oil, which is a healthier fat. Then… we add garlic. 4 cloves, to be exact. Garlic in Alfredo = good. Now, instead of adding a ton of heavy cream, I use a combination of chicken broth and low-fat milk. The chicken broth adds more flavor to the sauce and the low-fat milk is a great substitution for the calorie-dense cream. A sprinkling of flour thickens the sauce up, and then a generous handful of freshly-grated Parmesan cheese turns the sauce into that classic Alfredo we all know and love.
The sauce comes together while the pasta is boiling, so I can usually have this meal on the table in under 20 minutes or so. Add a side salad and some garlic bread, and you have a delicious meal that no one will ever guess is “skinny”!
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- 12 ounces fettuccine
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup low-fat milk
- 1 cup freshly-grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- fresh chopped parsley, for garnish
- In a pot of boiling, salted water, cook the fettuccine according to package directions.
- Meanwhile, melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and sauté 1 minute, stirring frequently, until fragrant. Sprinkle in flour and stir to combine. Cook for another minute then slowly pour in the chicken broth and milk, whisking to combine. Continue cooking, whisking constantly, until the sauce is bubbly and thickened. Stir in the Parmesan, salt, pepper, and nutmeg, and reduce heat to medium-low until pasta finishes cooking. Drain the fettuccine and toss with the sauce. Serve immediately and garnish with chopped parsley, if desired.
Are you making this recipe? I’d LOVE to see it! Post a photo of your creation on Instagram and use the hashtag #MyLGWRecipe. It may just get featured!
Still hungry? Try these recipe ideas:
30 Minute Fresh Tomato Marinara
Three Cheese Shrimp Macaroni and Cheese
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I’d like to dive into this dish right now! LOVE this lightened up version. PINNED 🙂
Saw this on foodgawker and made it tonight for supper. SO GOOD. Ran it through My Fitness Pal’s recipe thingy and it comes out to right around 300 calories a serving, which is amazing! Thanks for this recipe!
That My Fitness Pal app is so handy! 300 calories per serving is pretty good for a creamy pasta dish, I’d say! Thank you so much for sharing this, Alice. Glad you enjoyed the recipe! 🙂
Looks fantastic. Can’t wait to make this, I don’t think I’ll miss the heavy cream in the sauce. Pinning to my pasta board.
This was so good! Creamy, but not heavy at all. Perfect! I am going to try with fresh homemade pasta next time, which can only make this even better!
Hi, I’m visiting from nifty thrifty sunday. I absolutely love alfredo sauce. Thanks for this lighter version.
I love this lightened up version of a favorite dish! Thanks for sharing
~Crystal
I made this last night and it was great! It doesn’t taste “Skinny” because it’s still surprisingly cheesy! The chicken broth is a great want to add flavor without calories. I did add about 2-3 tablespoons of heavy cream for fear that the cheese wouldn’t emulsify in my roux (Been having that problem lately when omitting cream.)
I also cooked up some blackened chicken and threw it in the pasta. It’s my favorite addition to alfredo. 😀
This is one recipe I’ll re-use for sure!
Wow! This recipe is amazing, and definitely doesn’t skip out on taste! I was a little worried that the skinny version of this dish was going to fall flat (as some healthy versions of things do) but I just made this for my family which included a VERY picky eater and a tired mom, and they left the bowls spotless! 5 stars, will definitely be making this again 🙂
Yahoooo!! Love hearing this, Amber!
Yummy! I made it without the chicken broth and I used skim milk. Although I found 6 servings to be a little small so I’m having it for 4 lunches and still only 450 calories so not bad 🙂 It does not taste like a skinny version! It’s thick and creamy. Will be making LOTS!
Hello! This question may have been asked already but I am wondering what the calorie count is per serving. Looks delicious- I’m trying it tonight 🙂
Hey Margaret! I usually use the My Fitness Pal app to calculate calorie counts for recipes… have you tried it yet? It’s fantastic! I hope you enjoy!
Thanks for the response (I’m only seeing this now)! Yes, I use the MyFitnessPal every day 🙂
do you think you could use almond milk, in place of the low fat milk..
anyone ever try that?
Thanks
Hi Angel! You absolutely can! Let me know what you think! 🙂
Just made this tonight and O.M.G. absolutely delicious! Thanks for sharing.