Last Updated on November 9, 2024
Skinny Fettuccine Alfredo is just as creamy and comforting as the high-calorie original. This easy recipe is sure to please your taste buds and your waistline.
I think you will like this no-guilt Alfredo sauce…because of things like 65% less fat from using 1 tablespoon of butter instead of 4, reduced fat milk instead of heavy cream…but this tastes just as good as the high calorie recipes.
Ingredients In The Alfredo Sauce
In order to keep the calories down, the ingredients have to be lower in fat. Especially lower fat than the way I have made the sauce in the past. We’re going to use only 1 tablespoon of butter, (or olive oil works too). And, like I said, no heavy cream. Substitute 1% or 2% milk instead. I used 2% because that is what we drink normally.
For creaminess, melt 1 ounce of low fat cream cheese into the sauce, along with the freshly grated Parmesan that gives the sauce it’s signature flavor.
Use a good amount of minced garlic…because garlic goes with about everything. Amiright? Then, give the sauce a little zing with a bit of lemon zest. I promise the flavor won’t be lemony, just enhanced.
Putting It All Together
This recipe comes together so fast…like 30 minutes fast… so get your pasta water started. The pasta in the photos is homemade and you can make your own fettuccine with the instructions in this post, Homemade Fettuccine Recipe. Store-bought dry fettuccine is just fine also.
If you would like to try your hand at making your own pasta, here is a great video to watch to get you started, Homemade fresh pasta using the Marcato Atlas 150.
Start with a good-sized skillet on medium heat and add the butter, garlic, and lemon zest. Cook that for a minute then add 1 tablespoon of flour and stir that into the oil. Let the floury taste cook off for at least a minute.
Next, whisk in the milk and let this come to a boil and thicken, which will take several minutes. Once the sauce has thickened, add the cream cheese and stir it around to melt. Finally, add the grated Parmesan and stir until the sauce is creamy.
You will end up with a fairly thick sauce so to thin it slightly, reserve 1 cup of the pasta water. I added around 3/4 cup of the water to thin and that seemed about right.
Mix the cooked pasta into the sauce. Next, give it a taste and add salt and pepper as desired. Garnish with chopped parsley.
You can serve this as a main course or maybe have some slices of chicken breast or pork tenderloin with your skinny fettuccine Alfredo.
Give this a try and let me know what you think.
Skinny Fettuccine Alfredo
Ingredients
- 12 oz. fettuccine, cooked al dente per instructions
- 1 tbsp butter or olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 1 tbsp all purpose flour
- 1 cup 2% milk
- 1 oz. low-fat cream cheese
- 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup reserved pasta water
- salt and pepper to taste
- Chopped parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package instructions to al dente, drain, reserving 1 cup of the water, and return the pasta to the pan, covered to keep warm.
- Use a large skillet on medium heat and add the butter, garlic and lemon zest. Cook for about a minute to allow the garlic to get fragrant.
- Add 1 tablespoon of flour and stir it into the oil and cook for at least a minute to get rid of the flour taste. Then, add the milk while whisking to prevent lumps. Allow this to come to a boil to thicken, (3 minutes).
- Add the cream cheese and whisk it in to melt. (You can cut this up into pieces and it will melt in faster). Then add the grated Parmesan and whisk until melted.
- Add the reserved pasta water a little at a time while stirring to thin the sauce to your desired consistency. I added about 3/4 cup. Then add the pasta to the sauce and toss to combine. Give the sauce a taste and add salt and pepper as desired. I added about 1/2 teaspoon of Diamond Crystal Kosher salt and quite a few grinds of fresh black pepper. Top with chopped parsley if desired.
Notes
- Serve the Fettuccine Alfredo by itself with a vegetable and some sturdy bread. You could also combine with some cooked shrimp or bay scallops. Yum. Slices of chicken breast or pork tenderloin on the side would also be excellent.
- The calorie count includes the pasta and sauce.
Alan Howie
We tried it and liked it. One of my favorite dishes can now be a much more frequent part of our diet without excess calories. We included a boneless skinless chicken breast that we brined using one of your previous recipes. Excellent meal. Thanks Joe!
Sandy Axelrod
Another tempting recipe that tastes indulgent but is kind to the waistline!!! Thanks Joe. You’ve done it again.
Kristin Nelson
Skinny is in the name! I get to indulge!
MaryJo
Delicious easy dish that’s every bit as good as traditional Alfredo recipes without being heavy. And it won’t leave you unsatisfied like many lowfat versions do.