Skinny Fettuccine Alfredo Recipe | Gimme Some Oven (2024)

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Mmmmm, fettuccine alfredo.

I don’t know about you, but this rich and creamy and oh-so-decadent pasta is pretty much the ultimate comfort food in my book. It has long been a favorite dish of mine, and one that I always looked forward to ordering out at some of my favorite Italian restaurants on special occasions. ButImade the mistake of peeking at the nutrition facts for fettuccine alfredo a few years ago. And after seeing just how much (hint:so much) extra butter and heavy cream restaurants usually toss into this dish, I felt like it was probably time to swear it off for good.

But let’s be real — a girlneeds her favorite fettuccine alfredo every now an then.

So I set to work a few years ago experimenting and tweaking with ways to lighten up this classic dish. I stuck with the traditional ingredients (no cauliflower sauce here), although I completely nixed the heavy cream in place of low-fat milk with a roux. And lo and behold, it actually worked!!! Turns out youcan have rich and creamy and oh-so-decadent fettuccine alfredo made at home — bonus, in just 20 minutes! — with this lightened-up easy recipe. And I’m obsessed with it.

And today I thought I would bump it back to the top of the blog to re-share it with those of you who might have missed it and need some healthier fettuccine alfredo in your lives. :) I went ahead and updated the pictures from the original post that I shared about 3 years ago, but the recipe is the same and just as good as ever. So put on some water to boil, and let’s make some pasta!

Skinny Fettuccine Alfredo Recipe | 1-Minute Video

This recipe, of course, centers around its two namesake ingredients — fettuccine and alfredo sauce.

You’re welcome to use any kind of pasta you’d like for this recipe — traditional semolina, whole-wheat pasta, gluten-free pasta (if so, check out my gluten-free alfredo sauce recipe), totally up to you! My one tip as always is just to be sure that you generously salt the water before adding the pasta. This is your one opportunity to kick up the flavor in the actual pasta itself, so don’t skimp!

But the sauce — this magical sauce — is the rockstarof the recipe. As I said, no heavy cream or cream cheese is used in this recipe. All you need are:

• olive oil (a healthier fat, or you’re welcome to use butter for the flavor)
• fresh garlic (a must!!)
• flour (to thicken)
• chicken broth (more flavorful than milk; you can also sub in veggie stock)
• low-fat milk (you can use any milk, even soy)
• Parmesan cheese (if you freshly grate it, it will bemore flavorful)

Both the sauce and pasta cook quickly. So when you’re ready, drain your pasta and then add in the alfredo sauce.

Then toss them together until everything is nice and creamy and evenly coated.

Then a delicious pan of fettuccine alfredo is yours to enjoy! You’re welcome to just serveit plain…

…or you can top it with a little extra Parmesan, some fresh parsley or basil, or whatever sounds good. :)

Butthe best news? As opposed to the fettuccine alfredo recipe from Olive Garden, which clocks in at a whopping 1220 calories a serving, one serving of this alfredo sauce clocks in at 141 calories, and when combined with the fettuccine it is 450 calories a serving. Not too shabby for a thick and creamy pasta. Perfect when served with a light salad like this one.

Enjoy!

*Nutrition facts calculated with My Fitness Pal.