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    Oh My Veggies » Vegan Recipes » Gluten-free Vegan Recipes

    Vegan Alfredo Sauce

    Published: Mar 24, 2020 · by Nicole · Updated: May 17, 2022 · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe
    vegan alfredo sauce

    This vegan Alfredo sauce recipe is perfect for a quick and easy weeknight dinner, served with pasta of your choice! Ready in just 20 minutes and packed full of flavor, it is a great dairy-free alternative that everyone is guaranteed to enjoy. Oil-free and gluten-free. 

    Vegan Alfredo sauce oil-free easy
    Jump to:
    • The Vegan Alfredo sauce
    • What's to love about this vegan Alfredo recipe?
    • How to make the best dairy-free Alfredo sauce
    • Vegan Alfredo Q&A
    • Tips and Variations
    • Recipe

    My relationship with food and diet have evolved a lot over the years for sure. I started my vegetarian lifestyle nearly at the age of 12, with what I affectionately call a "junk food vegan" diet.

    When that caught up to me later in life, I moved towards a very strict 'low carb high fat', whole foods only approach. And these days I'm finding a happy balance!

    These days, I eat whatever I want as long as its meatless, whether that's a wholesome homemade meal or going out for pizza and chips. I also don't restrict or fear any food groups, which is great because I'm not sabotaging my health and happiness for the sake of at best disputable health claims. I just try to keep a balance.

    Spaghetti with vegan Alfredo sauce

    Back in the day, I probably would have served this vegan Alfredo sauce with some sort of low-carb noodle variety and missed out on flavor for the sake of saving a few calories.

    The recipe I'm sharing today, however, lives up to everything you'd expect from a creamy, flavorful dairy-free sauce! And while you can serve it with anything you wish - I served mine up with real pasta. 😉

    The Vegan Alfredo sauce

    Plate of creamy vegan pasta with tomatoes

    I can't believe it's taken me this long into my vegan journey to try Alfredo pasta. Similar recipes have appeared all over the internet, so I knew I had to give it a go and create my own version.

    Needless to say, it definitely didn't disappoint.

    Traditional fettuccine Alfredo calls for ingredients such as milk, butter and cheese, but it's still quite easy to vegan-ize.

    The secret? Cashews. Cashews + a high speed blender are your golden ticket towards taking your vegan cooking to the next level.

    Creamy vegan pasta in a saucepan

    They have a neutral flavor by themselves, but nutritional yeast and tamari work well together to create cheesiness and savory-ness.

    When making the pasta base, I also added mushrooms for extra texture and earthy undertones, plus tomatoes for a little bit of color and variety.

    If you like creamy pasta dishes that are ready in around 20 minutes, I would definitely recommend you give this one a go. The sauce is super versatile, and perfect for feeding fussy eaters!

    Closeup of vegan pasta with a creamy sauce

    What's to love about this vegan Alfredo recipe?

    It's...

    • Super creamy. Creamy pasta sauces are the key to my heart and I think many of you can relate!
    • Rich, flavourful and indulgent.
    • Undetectably vegan.
    • Gluten-free, as long as you serve it with gluten-free pasta.
    • Oil-free and butter-free.
    • Ready in just 20 minutes.
    • Made with healthy, whole food ingredients. Nothing unusual or difficult to find!
    • Perfect for a weeknight dinner.
    Vegan Alfredo sauce with spaghetti

    How to make the best dairy-free Alfredo sauce

    STEP 1: Start cooking the pasta you want to serve the sauce with according to packaging instructions. Be sure not to overcook it, however. It's much better to leave it slightly al dente.

    STEP 2: Meanwhile, prepare the Alfredo sauce by adding the cashews, plant based milk, nutritional yeast and tamari to a high speed blender and blend until smooth - this usually takes around 30 seconds.

    STEP 3: Add the halved cherry tomatoes to a non-stick frying pan face down and cook for around 2-3 minutes. Remove and set aside.

    Vegan spaghetti in a frying pan with a creamy Alfredo sauce on top

    STEP 5: When the pasta is almost ready, add onion, garlic and mushrooms to a non-stick frying pan. Cook for 3-4 minutes, until the mushrooms soften.

    STEP 6: Drain and rinse the pasta, transferring it to the frying pan. Pour in the sauce and toss everything together using kitchen tongs, until all of the pasta is evenly coated. Serve with the cherry tomatoes on top.

    Creamy vegan pasta in a saucepan

    Vegan Alfredo Q&A

    How do I make the sauce smooth?

    The key is to use a high speed blender. I have a Vitamix A2500i, which is amazing and has made a huge difference to my cooking. However, if you don't have a high speed blender, I would recommend soaking the cashews for as long as you can, ideally overnight, and make sure not to use too much liquid.

    How should I serve this sauce?

    It's super versatile! The most obvious serving suggestion is fettuccine Alfredo. You can, however, serve it with any pasta variety of your choice. I also love adding Alfredo sauce on salads, or even using it as a dip.

    Plate with vegan spaghetti and a creamy sauce

    What's the best way to store vegan Alfredo?

    Store it in an air-tight jar or container in the fridge for 3-4 days.

    Is this sauce gluten-free?

    Yes! This sauce is naturally gluten-free and great for serving with gluten-free pasta.

    Bowl with pasta in a creamy sauce with tomatoes

    Tips and Variations

    You can add vegetables of your choice to this dish, such as broccoli, zucchini or leafy greens. I love stirring in a handful of kale whenever I make fettuccine Alfredo!

    You can also add various other spices, such as cumin or dried herbs. Add a pinch of turmeric if you want to achieve a golden colour.

    Adjust how much nutritional yeast you use depending on how cheesy you want the dish to be.

    For an extra protein boost, stir in a can of beans or pulses of your choice, tofu, or tempeh. Another great trick is using bean pasta if you don't want anything to 'interfere' with the dish.

    Vegan Alfredo sauce oil-free easy

    Other vegan pasta recipes

    You can check out all my pasta and noodle recipes here, or skip to these reader favorites:

    • Butternut squash mac and cheese with tofu
    • Creamy tofu pasta
    • Vegan coconut vegetable and mushroom stir-fry
    • Tempeh pasta with roasted cauliflower
    • Nut-free creamy pasta with butter beans

    Let me know in the comments - what's your favourite pasta dish? If you give this vegan fettuccine Alfredo recipe a go, be sure to tag me on Instagram (@ohmyveggies) so I can see your creations, and leave your feedback in the comments below!

    Recipe

    vegan alfredo sauce

    Vegan Alfredo Sauce (Oil-free)

    This vegan Alfredo sauce recipe is perfect for a quick and easy weeknight dinner, served with pasta of your choice! Ready in just 20 minutes and packed full of flavor! Oil Free and Gluten Free too.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Email Recipe
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Italian
    Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
    Keyword: 30 minutes or less, Alfredo, Cashews, Dinner, earth of maria, easy, Gluten-Free, Oil free, pasta, pasta sauce, to move, vegan alfredo sauce, vegan pasta recipe, vegan pasta sauce, weeknight dinner
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 501kcal
    Author: Oh My Veggies

    Equipment

    • Saucepan
    • High speed blender
    • Non-stick frying pan

    Ingredients

    • 10 oz fettuccine gluten-free
    • 1 cup cashews soaked overnight, drained and rinsed
    • 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
    • 2 tbsp tamari
    • ¼ cup nutritional yeast
    • 10 cherry tomatoes halved
    • 1 medium red onion chopped
    • dried herbs to serve
    • 5 oz mushrooms chopped
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Start cooking the pasta you want to serve the sauce with according to packaging instructions. Be sure not to overcook it, however. It's much better to leave it slightly al dente.
    • Meanwhile, prepare the Alfredo sauce by adding the cashews, plant based milk, nutritional yeast and tamari to a high speed blender and blend until smooth - this usually takes around 30 seconds. 
    • Add the halved cherry tomatoes to a non-stick frying pan face down and cook for around 2-3 minutes. Remove and set aside.
    • When the pasta is almost ready, add onion, garlic and mushrooms to a non-stick frying pan. Cook for 3-4 minutes, until the mushrooms soften. 
    • Drain and rinse the pasta, transferring it to the frying pan. Pour in the sauce and toss everything together using kitchen tongs, until all of the pasta is evenly coated. Serve with the cherry tomatoes on top. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 501kcalCarbohydrates: 68gProtein: 20gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 60mgSodium: 610mgPotassium: 705mgFiber: 5gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 252IUVitamin C: 12mgCalcium: 123mgIron: 4mg
    Craving more veg-friendly recipes? Shop our collection of vegetarian and vegan cookbooks, including our new Vegan Thanksgiving and Vegan Christmas cookbooks!
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    Nicole is a life long vegetarian and the author of the popular vegan cookbook, Weeknight One Pot Vegan Cooking. She loves sharing her recipes and showing the world just how easy and delicious meatless meals can be!
    Learn more here.

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