How to Make a Skinny Fettuccine Alfredo Recipe

With some easy swaps, Skinny Fettuccine Alfredo is still full of creamy, garlicky, cheesy flavor but without all of the calories of a traditional alfredo sauce.

Comfort Food and Healthy Eating

We all crave comfort food from time to time. We might be stressed, cold, nostalgic or simply just want to have a certain food. No matter the reason, we all usually gravitate towards something that probably isn’t all that healthy for us!

Some of my favorite comfort foods include pasta, burgers, fries and pizza. These all have a lot of flavor, but also tend to have a lot of calories.

So, the big question is, how do you balance the need to eat healthier, while still satisfying those comfort food cravings? You certainly don’t want to just wait for special occasions to grab a big slice of pizza, right?!

One answer is to lighten up some of your favorites.

For me, I love Italian cooking, which often means lots of pasta recipes with rich sauces. And, one of my favorites is fettuccine alfredo.

A traditional fettuccine alfredo has lots of cream and butter in the sauce which doesn’t exactly qualify it as a healthier meal. But, boy is that creamy pasta delicious!

So, taking my own advice, I decided to take a look at the ingredients I use in my typical alfredo sauce and see what I could do to lighten up the calories – without sacrificing the flavor.

Making Healthy Ingredient Swaps

So, I was now on the hunt to make a light fettuccine alfredo, which meant figuring out a skinny alfredo sauce. What I came up with was a delicious creamy sauce that still has the great taste of a classic alfredo.

But, with a few easy swaps, it has much fewer calories without sacrificing flavor. And, the best part is that it’s also really quick and easy to make (with a cook time under 30 minutes). So, it’s perfect for any time you’re craving a big plate of pasta.

So, what simple swaps did I make for a more healthy fettuccine alfredo?

• Swap #1: A combination of whole milk and chicken stock in place of heavy cream. The whole milk still adds a richness and the chicken stock adds to the depth of flavor, while still keeping things light.

• Swap #2: A touch of butter rather than loads of butter. Listen, I still used butter (I mean it’s butter!), but only 2 tablespoons to sauté the garlic and add some further richness to the dish. To make sure I still had a creamy skinny fettuccine alfredo sauce, I added a little bit of cream cheese (for extra creaminess) and, of course, enough parmesan cheese to give it that delicious cheesy flavor.

• Swap #3: Vegetable noodles in place of pasta noodles. (To be honest, I don’t do this everytime I make this dish!) Sometimes I’m ok with the pasta. But, sometimes I do use zucchini or sweet potato noodles to reduce the carbs. And, surprisingly or not, they are just as hearty and comforting as pasta noodles.

Adding in Protein

And, one other thing. If needed or wanted, feel free to stir in cooked chicken breast or shrimp to bump up the protein. With this recipe, I’d use about 8 ounces of either protein.

(Note: I’m a big fan of making my own shredded chicken from the rotisserie chickens you can purchase at Sam’s Club or Costco. Cheap and easy to do. It’s great always having some shredded chicken around the house for last minute meal prep.)

Take a Chance on this Skinny Fettuccine Alfredo! 

I know some of you may be skeptical, but there is no reason to be! I guarantee that if this skinny fettuccine alfredo is on the dinner table, it will be a big hit. All the creamy flavor of a traditional alfredo but with a more healthy alfredo sauce.

Pair with a simple side salad and you have a quick, healthy meal on the table in minutes.

Enjoy!

Tips and Tricks

• I find that a whisk works best to incorporate the cream cheese into the sauce, rather than a mixing spoon.
• If peas are not your thing, you could stir in a handful or two of fresh spinach or basil. Both of which would still add color and some additional flavor.
• Grated parmesan will melt into the sauce better than shredded parmesan. I also recommend whisking the parm into the sauce.
• I don’t recommend omitting the nutmeg, it definitely enhances that flavor of the sauce. If you can find it, I do recommend whole nutmeg and grating a pinch of it into the sauce.

Ingredients Needed to Make Skinny Fettuccine

Full instructions can be found below in the recipe card

• Butter – The butter is kept to a minimum, but still enhances the richness of the sauce.
• Garlic – This may not be a traditional ingredient in an Alfredo sauce, but it really bumps of the flavor profile.
• Whole milk – You may be tempted to use 2%, low fat milk or skim milk, but whole milk when combined with the cream cheese is going to make the sauce thicker and richer.
• Chicken stock – It will add depth to the overall flavor without adding a lot of calories.
• Cream cheese – This adds creaminess to the dish. Either full fat or reduced fat can be used.
• Grated parmesan cheese – I recommend grated over shredded parm. The grated will melt and incorporate really well into the sauce.
• Nutmeg – A pinch of this really enhances and adds depth to the flavor of the sauce.
• Frozen peas – You can omit the peas, but they do add texture and color to the dish as well as flavor.
• Fresh parsley – This adds brightness to the flavor.
• Freshly ground black pepper
• Fettuccine – If you don’t happen to have fettuccine noodles on hand, linguine, or a short cut pasta such as penne, are good substitutes.

How to Make Skinny Fettucine

• Melt butter in a large skillet over medium low heat.
• Add garlic and cook until garlic is fragrant, about 30 seconds.
• Stir in milk and chicken stock.
• Increase to medium heat and bring mixture to a simmer that just starts to bubble.
• Add cream cheese and whisk until melted and fully incorporated.
• Whisk in parmesan and continue whisking until melted.
• Stir in nutmeg, peas and parsley.
• Add cooked fettuccine to skillet and toss until thoroughly coated with the sauce.
• Serve with black pepper and additional chopped parsley.

How to Elevate Skinny Fettuccine Alfredo Into a Special Date Night Meal

With a few other easy recipes, along with this creamy good pasta, you can create a wonderful date night meal or even a double date with another couple.

Here are the recipes I use to create that special evening:

• Cranberry Vodka Spritzer 
• Bacon Wrapped Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates
• Steakhouse Wedge Salad with a Twist
• Roasted Garlic and Herb Bread
• Chocolate Bundt Cake with Hot Fudge

ENJOY!

This recipe was originally posted on 01/11/2017. It was updated to improve user experience and reposted on 02/09/2021