Alfredo Sauce without Heavy Cream

Name: Alfredo Sauce Without Heavy Cream
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 1 and ¼ cups (10 fl oz. | 300ml) light (single) cream; 2 tablespoons cream cheese (full fat); ¼ cup sour cream; ¼ cup grated cheese (see note 3); 1 fat clove (~5g) garlic (See note 1); ¼ teaspoon salt (adjust to taste); ½ teaspoon crushed black pepper (use more or less as you like); A pinch nutmeg powder

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This Alfredo sauce without heavy cream is my easy twist on the classic. It is rich, creamy, and full of flavor—even without butter, flour, or Parmesan! Ready in just 15 minutes, this recipe is perfect for quick weeknight dinners. Scroll down for tips, substitutions, and everything you need to make the perfect Alfredo sauce, every time.

Alfredo sauce without heavy cream is the latest addition to our Italian dinner rota!

Pasta al pesto and this gorgeous pasta in spinach sauce are regulars at our table. As part of my weekly meal prep, my 10-minute cream cheese tomato paste sauce and hearty marinara sauce have been weeknight saviors for years.

What I love most about my Alfredo sauce without heavy cream is how quick and easy it is to make. It’s super versatile. I add it to pasta, spoon it over vegetables, and have even used it as a dip! What I’m sharing here is a basic recipe that you can enhance however you like. See the section below for some fun ideas. I’m so excited for you -you're going to love it!

This post contains helpful notes and tips to help you make the perfect dish. However, if you are in a rush, please use the "Jump to Recipe" link above or the "Jump to" links below to get to the section you want.

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What is Alfredo Sauce?
About My Creamy Alfredo Without Heavy Cream
Ingredients
Instructions
Recipe Notes
Recipe tips
Variations
Storage and reheating
Faq
How to use this sauce
📖 Recipe
Comments

What is Alfredo Sauce?

Alfredo sauce is a simple pasta sauce that Alfredo di Lelio, a restaurateur in Rome, invented by tossing freshly cooked fettuccine with just butter and Parmigiano-Reggiano. He also added a bit of the pasta water to make the sauce smooth and consistent. The original Alfredo sauce was much lighter and creamier than the versions we usually eat. More about the traditional Alfredo sauce.

The creamy Alfredo that most of us know is an American version. It typically has heavy cream or heavy whipping cream, butter, grated Parmesan cheese, and seasonings like salt, black pepper, and nutmeg. Some variations use whole milk and thicken the sauce with flour or cornstarch.

About My Creamy Alfredo Without Heavy Cream

My easy Alfredo sauce has no heavy cream or butter and is therefore lighter than the American version. Since I also don’t use flour to thicken it, the sauce is naturally grain and gluten-free. It’s also free from nuts and soy.

You can easily make it dairy-free and allium-free with a few simple swaps—check the section below for suggestions.

Heads up: I’m here to share helpful info, not medical advice. Always double-check ingredient labels. Products can vary, and allergens can sneak in. If you have food allergies, make sure everything you use works for you.

Flavor and texture: I use light (single) cream as the base for my sauce. Instead of heavy cream, I like adding a bit of cream cheese—it gives the sauce body and a subtle tang. (Honestly, I could just call it homemade Alfredo sauce with cream cheese!) Since vegetarian Parmesan can be hard to find, I use cheddar instead. A little sour cream brings in the gentle sharpness you'd usually get from Parmesan. The result? A smooth, creamy sauce with just the right consistency to coat pasta beautifully.

Ingredients swap at a glance

Heavy cream → Light cream + cream cheese
Parmesan → Cheddar + sour cream (or use vegetarian Parmesan if available)

Alfredo sauce without heavy cream is placed in a round black bowl. The sauce has specks of seasonings. Next to the bowl, in a plate are some fettuccine pasta and cloves of garlic.

Why skip heavy cream?

I skip heavy cream in this Alfredo sauce because I prefer a lighter sauce, and I love the subtle tang that cream cheese adds. I always have some light cream in the fridge. It’s my go-to for this shahi paneer recipe, lentil carrot soup, and my macaroni and tomatoes recipe.

Ingredients

For the complete list of ingredients, their exact quantities, and the full instructions, scroll down to the printable recipe card below.

Light cream: Also known as single cream, this forms the base of this no-heavy-cream Alfredo sauce.
Cream cheese: Use full fat cream cheese to make the sauce thick and creamy.
Soured cream: This adds more creaminess and a nice tang to the sauce, enhancing its flavor.
Grated cheese: I choose mild cheddar, but you can use any fast-melting cheese you like.
Garlic: I add only one clove for a subtle flavor. Add more if you prefer a stronger garlic taste, or skip it entirely and make it an allium-free recipe.
Seasoning: Salt, black pepper, and nutmeg.

If you have any questions regarding these ingredients, feel free to ask in the comments section below and I will try my best to answer them for you.

Instructions

Once you learn how to make Alfredo sauce without heavy cream, you'll never go back to the store-bought kind. It’s ridiculously easy to make—and so delicious!

Also see the video at the end of the recipe card below.

Before you start making this sauce, measure all the ingredients and keep them ready. Peel and smash the garlic.

Heat the light cream in a saucepan over low heat. Then add the smashed garlic.

A creamy sauce is placed in a dark grey colored round pan. There is a single smashed garlic clove placed in the cream.

Add sour cream, cream cheese, and grated cheese to the warm cream.

Some grated cheese and soft lumps of cream cheese is placed on a layer of cream sauce in a round skillet.

Stir until the cheese dissolves and the sauce thickens.

To prevent the sauce from curdling, keep the heat low and keep stirring.

A white pasta sauce is cooking in a round skillet. The sauce has soft lumps on it.

Add the seasonings - salt, black pepper and nutmeg powder and mix well.

In a round skillet a creamy and smooth off white color pasta sauce has some crushed black pepper, salt and spice on it.

Keep stirring until the cheese melts and the sauce is smooth.

Smooth and creamy sauce with specks of seasoning in it is placed in a round skillet.

That's it! You have just made this easy alfredo sauce without heavy cream. Enjoy it!

Look at the section below for ideas on how to use this sauce.

Recipe Notes

Yield: These measurements will yield about 14 oz. (400 grams) of sauce.

Cheese options: I’ve used mild cheddar. You can use the stronger variety or any other cheese, such as mozzarella or Parmesan. Just note that Parmesan is often not vegetarian.

Sauce consistency: The sauce should be thick, creamy, and smooth enough to coat to pasta.

Recipe tips

Here are some tips to get the perfectly creamy and smooth Alfredo sauce every time:

Use low heat: Keep the heat low the entire time—high heat can cause the cream to split.

Keep stirring: To prevent the sauce from splitting, stir it continuously and gently.

Adding salt: Do a taste check before you add the salt. Your cheese might have more salt than mine.

Cooking the sauce: Simmer the sauce on low heat and turn off the heat when you see a few bubbles. Don't cook the sauce for too long - it will curdle.

Padma's top tip: Bring the cheeses to room temperature before putting them in the pan. This will help them melt faster.

Variations

Make it vegan: If you prefer a plant-based sauce (like my vegan pesto), you can use one of these as the base of your sauce:

Cashew cream will give your sauce a rich and smooth texture.
Coconut milk - the full-fat canned variety - for a subtle sweetness and creamy texture.
Soy milk with some blended silken tofu for a lush, thick sauce.

Make lemon alfredo: Add some fresh lemon juice and zest. Do this after removing the sauce from the heat, or it will curdle.

Add more seasonings: I have kept it simple with some basic spices, but you can take it up a few notches by adding any or all of these (as much as you prefer):

dried oregano or thyme
chili pepper flakes
sun-dried tomatoes

Add vegetables: To make the sauce more wholesome, you can add vegetables of your choice. The vegetables that will go well with this sauce are cauliflower, broccoli, and spinach.

Any doubts or questions? Feel free to ask via the comments below. I will try my best to answer them for you. - Padma

Some fettuccine pasta is thickly coated in a homemade Alfredo sauce in a green round bowl.

Storage and reheating

Fridge: Let the sauce cool down completely and put it in a fridge-safe, airtight container or jar (glass preferably). It will last for up to 3 days.

Reheating: To reheat Alfredo sauce, pour it into a saucepan and heat it on the lowest setting. Stir it slowly and gently until the sauce is warm. Don't microwave this sauce, or it will curdle.

Faq

What can I use instead of heavy cream in Alfredo sauce?

You can replace heavy cream with cream cheese in Alfredo sauce.

Use full fat cream cheese of good quality to make a sauce that is thick and creamy. You can also use a roux made with equal amounts of butter and flour.

How do you thicken Alfredo sauce without heavy cream?

To thicken Alfredo sauce without heavy cream, use a mix of cream cheese and a spoonful of sour cream.

Let the sauce simmer gently on low heat so that it thickens naturally without needing any flour or cornstarch.

How can I thicken Alfredo sauce without flour or cornstarch?

To thicken Alfredo sauce without flour or cornstarch, cream cheese is your best friend! It melts into the sauce and gives it that creamy, luscious texture.

Just make sure you simmer the sauce gently on low heat—it thickens up as it cooks and clings beautifully to pasta without needing any starch at all.

What pasta pairs best with Alfredo sauce?

Fettuccine is the pasta that pairs best with Alfredo sauce—it’s wide and flat, making it perfect for catching all that creamy sauce.

That said, penne, macaroni, and even spaghetti will work well. The key is to choose pasta with enough grooves or surface area to hold the sauce well.

Can I make Alfredo sauce ahead of time and reheat it?

Yes, you can make Alfredo sauce ahead of time and reheat it. Store the sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

When you're ready to use it, reheat it gently on the lowest heat setting, stirring slowly until it’s smooth and warmed through.

How to use this sauce

This cream cheese alfredo sauce will make your weeknight dinners easy and fun. You can use it in many creative ways to create delicious dishes!

As a sauce with your favorite pasta, fettuccine alfredo is my favorite!

Mix it with some green beans, potatoes, or mixed veggies for a creamy veggie bake. Remember to add some corn starch or plain flour (not gluten free) to the veggies to help bind the juices that the vegetables will release while cooking.

Use it with some zoodles (zucchini noodles) or any grain-free noodles for a satisfying grain-free meal.

Use this sauce as a base for your homemade pizza. It is a nice alternative to tomato sauce.

You can also use this sauce as a dip for bread, crackers, nachos or on your charcuterie board.