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    Vegan Alfredo Sauce – Super Easy and Creamy!

    Published: Oct 3, 2018 · Modified: Jul 11, 2020 by Sina · This post may contain affiliate links · 21 Comments

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    Vegan Alfredo Sauce

    This vegan Alfredo sauce is the perfect comfort food! It’s so incredibly creamy and rich without being packed with butter and cream like traditional Alfredo sauce. And it’s super easy to make. 25 minutes is all you need!

    vegan Alfredo sauce with fettuccine with a wooden spoon with sprinkled parsley on top

    I’ve made this sauce so many times and it’s always a winner! It’s soooo good! Vegan comfort food at its best so to say!

    What You Need For This Vegan Alfredo Sauce:

    You don’t need a lot of ingredients or exotic spices for this creamy vegan cauliflower Alfredo sauce.

    Except for the nutritional yeast you should be able to find everything in any regular grocery store. And many grocery stores also have nutritional yeast these days. Just check the health food section. If you can’t find it, check out your local health food market or order it online.

    a hand picking up fettuccine with a fork in a black pan

    You’ll need:

    • cauliflower
    • cashews
    • lemon juice
    • a pinch of nutmeg
    • apple cider vinegar
    • nutritional yeast
    • unsweetened soy or almond milk
    • garlic
    • salt and pepper

    As always, you can find the full ingredient list and detailed recipe instructions in a separate recipe box at the end of this post. 

    a cauliflower, lemon halves, garlic, and cashews in a small bowl

    Why cauliflower?

    Cauliflower is super versatile and it makes this dairy-free Alfredo sauce so incredibly creamy. And it’s high in fiber and a great source of antioxidants. It’s such a healthy base for creamy vegan sauces!

    Why cashews?

    The cashews give this sauce a creamy texture and make it super rich without using any kind of butter or cream. You can enjoy this vegan Alfredo without feeling guilty or gross after eating! And like cauliflower, cashews are incredibly healthy. They’re packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

    Why nutritional yeast?

    Nutritional yeast is not only packed with vitamins, it also has a delicious nutty and cheesy taste that is perfect for vegan cream sauces.

    How to Make Vegan Alfredo Sauce:

    step-by-step-photos of the preparation of vegan Alfredo sauce (cooking of the sauce and in the blender before blending)

    STEP 1: Cut the cauliflower into florets. Place them in a sauce pan together with the cashews, the garlic, and the almond milk.

    STEP 2: Add the nutritional yeast. Stir everything with a wooden spoon until well combined.

    STEP 3: Cover with a lid and cook for 20 minutes. There won’t be much liquid left. Transfer everything into a high speed blender. Add the lemon juice, a pinch of nutmeg, the apple cider vinegar, and 1/2 cup more unsweetened almond or soy milk as well as salt and pepper.

    4 step-by-step-photos of the preparation of vegan Alfredo sauce

    STEP 4: Process until smooth. This should take about 30 seconds.

    STEP 5: Cook the fettuccine according to the instructions on the package. Set aside.

    STEP 6: Pour the blended sauce into a pan and cook for a minute.

    STEP 7: Then add the cooked fettuccine and stir until well combined. Season with salt and pepper again if you want.

    vegan Alfredo sauce with fettuccine with a wooden spoon with sprinkled parsley on top

    STEP 8: Serve immediately and sprinkle with freshly chopped parsley. Enjoy!

    Recipe Notes:

    • It’s important to have a good high speed blender for this recipe. A conventional blender most likely can’t properly process the cashews and your sauce won’t be as creamy.
    • If you want your Alfredo sauce to be really garlicky, add another clove of garlic. I used two cloves of garlic for this recipe.
    • Make sure to use all of the ingredients for the sauce. I experimented a long time with this vegan Alfredo until I was 100 % satisfied.
    • It’s super important to use unsweetened almond or soy milk. Don’t use sweetened milk for this recipe even if it’s only lightly sweetened. You will taste it!
    • If you want you could also add some veggies like spinach, peas, or mushrooms to your vegan Alfredo sauce.
    • I’ve also got a vegan chicken Alfredo with broccoli on the blog. Feel free to combine both recipes if you want to add a bit more protein to your meal.

    Vegan Alfredo Sauce – Add-Ins:

    Jazz up your vegan Alfredo sauce with some fresh vegetables or other add-ins.

    Here are my favorites:

    • mushrooms
    • peas
    • green asparagus
    • broccoli
    • cubed smoked tofu or marinated tempeh
    • sun-dried tomatoes
    • caramelized onions
    • baby spinach

    fettuccine with vegan cauliflower Alfredo sauce in a black pan with a fork and a blue napkin in the background

    Vegan Alfredo Sauce – FAQs:

    Can you freeze vegan Alfredo sauce?

    Yes, freezing this vegan Alfredo sauce is no problem. I do this all the time. The blended cashews freeze pretty well. Just freeze it in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Run it trough the blender again if there are any lumps after defrosting.

    Can you make vegan Alfredo sauce without a blender?

    No, unfortunately you need a blender for most vegan Alfredo sauce recipes. Or at least some sort of food processor. Otherwise your sauce just won’t get creamy. And as we all know, Alfredo sauce has to be rich and creamy.

    Is it possible to make a vegan Alfredo sauce without nuts?

    If you’re suffering from a nut allergy, you can still enjoy dairy-free Alfredo sauce. It’s no problem to make this sauce without the cashews. It won’t be as rich and creamy as when you’re using cashews, but it will still be good. You’d also have to use less milk.

    You could also add a bit of sunflower seed butter to make it richer. Or you could try a white bean Alfredo instead. Beans also work great as a base for creamy vegan sauces.

    More Creamy Vegan Sauces You Might Like:

    • Spinach Artichoke Pasta 
    • Pumpkin Pasta Sauce 
    • Lemon Asparagus Pasta 
    • Garlic Mushroom One Pot Pasta 
    • Vegan Roasted Red Pepper Pasta 
    • Creamy Vegan One Pot Pasta 
    • Vegan Gnocchi with Spinach and Tomatoes (you could also make this with pasta)

    I LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU GUYS!

    I hope you like this vegan Alfredo sauce recipe as much as we do around here.

    If you give it a try, I’d love to know what you think about them. Just leave me a comment and a star rating below. Your comments really make my day!

    You like my recipes and want to see more? Then follow me on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest! 

    Sina – xx

    fettuccine with vegan cauliflower Alfredo sauce in a black pan with a fork and a blue dish cloth in the background

    Vegan Alfredo Sauce

    This vegan Alfredo sauce is the perfect comfort food! It's so incredibly creamy and rich without being packed with butter and cream like traditional Alfredo sauce. And it's super easy to make. 25 minutes is all you need!
    4.78 from 27 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American, Italian
    Prep Time: 5 mins
    Cook Time: 20 mins
    Total Time: 25 mins
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 129kcal
    Author: Sina

    Ingredients

    • 2 heaped cups cauliflower
    • 1/2 cup cashews (unsalted and not roasted)
    • 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
    • 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
    • 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
    • 2 cloves of garlic
    • 2 1/2 cups unsweetened soy or almond milk
    • 1/2 cup unsweetened soy or almond milk (add after cooking)
    • 1 pinch nutmeg
    • salt
    • pepper
    • freshly chopped parsley
    • cooked fettuccine

    Instructions

    • Cut the cauliflower into florets. Place them in a sauce pan together with the cashews, the garlic, and the almond milk. Add the nutritional yeast. Stir everything with a wooden spoon until well combined.
    • Cover with a lid and cook for 20 minutes. There won't be much liquid left. Transfer everything into a high speed blender. Add the lemon juice, a pinch of nutmeg, apple cider vinegar, and 1/2 cup more unsweetened almond or soy milk as well as salt and pepper.
    • Process until smooth. This should take about 30-60 seconds.
    • Cook the fettuccine according to the instructions on the package. Set aside.
    • Pour the blended sauce into a pan and cook for a minute. Then add the cooked fettuccine and stir until well combined. Season with salt and pepper again if you want.
    • Serve immediately and sprinkle with freshly chopped parsley. Enjoy!

    Notes

    • It's important to have a good high speed blender for this recipe. A conventional blender most likely can't properly process the cashews and your sauce won't be as creamy.
    • If you want your Alfredo sauce to be really garlicky, add another clove of garlic. I used two cloves of garlic for this recipe.
    • Make sure to use all of the ingredients for the sauce. I experimented a long time with this vegan Alfredo until I was 100 % satisfied.
    • It's super important to use unsweetened almond or soy milk. Don't use sweetened milk for this recipe even if it's only lightly sweetened. You will taste it!
    • If you want you could also add some veggies like spinach, peas, or mushrooms to your vegan Alfredo sauce.
    • I've also got a vegan chicken Alfredo with broccoli on the blog. Feel free to combine both recipes if you want to add a bit more protein to your meal. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 129kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 246mg | Potassium: 161mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin C: 1.2mg | Calcium: 234mg | Iron: 1.2mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @_veganheaven_ or tag #veganheaven!
    Rate the recipe!If you like this recipe, please leave a good rating! This will help other readers.
    Previous Post: « 36 Stunning Vegan Pumpkin Recipes You Need To Try This Fall
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Ashley Alter

      October 28, 2019 at 11:01 am

      5 stars
      I do NOT have a high speed expensive vitamix blender and I made this recipe and it was velvet! So good! The trick is to get a $20 or $30 immersion blender, I have the cuisinart smart stik. I put what I want to blend in a large pickle jar, and use the immersion blender. Works great every time!

      This recipe was fabulous, we used it for butternut squash stuffed pasta shells. 10/10 will make again.

      Reply
      • Vikki D

        March 21, 2020 at 4:25 pm

        Thanks so much for this recipe, @_veganheaven_ !! I’ve rarely enjoyed Alfredo sauces, especially prior to the past four years of veganism—My momma and I recently discussed that we’ve always found Alfredo too rich for a typical serving of pasta.
        This is delightfully ‘creamy’ without being heavy. It’s what I’ve wanted an Alfredo to be; due to significant (adult-onset allergies), I have various and varying dietary restrictions.
        I appreciate that I was also able to try this entirely allergen-free: seeds, oat milk + vegan butter.
        Deliciously Easy!!
        ✨Ashley—My immersion blender also worked, right in the saucepan (cooled); it was ready to heat w/rotini, sautéed spinach+portobellos.
        The rest went in a jar😉

        Reply
    2. Spencer

      September 30, 2019 at 10:37 pm

      5 stars
      This is delicious! I love that no vegan butter substitute is used. I prefer it without the extra 1/2 cup of milk after cooking. ( I’ve tried it both ways). We usually add broccoli to it. Thank you for sharing!

      Reply
    3. Jessica

      September 18, 2019 at 11:28 pm

      5 stars
      SUPER easy and quick to make! I have really been missing alfredo sauce since going vegan but this hit the spot! My non-vegan grandma (who’s favorite dish is any kind of pasta with alfredo sauce) also loved it and couldn’t taste a difference. Thank you so much for this!

      Reply
    4. Sam

      August 31, 2019 at 6:49 pm

      Hi. I don’t have a comment so much as a question. Has anyone ever made this and canned it for later use? I would like to make this and can some in pint jars for use later in the year.

      Reply
    5. Cassie M.

      July 01, 2019 at 8:30 pm

      5 stars
      Let me just say that I am very sensitive to a lot of foods so I tried this recipe a few nights ago. AHHMAZING. My entire family loved it, I am so excited about this recipe haha if you are wondering if you should give this a try you will not be disappointed!!!!!

      Reply
    6. Stephy

      June 21, 2019 at 8:00 am

      Would you have any suggestions for garlic substitutes? I am allergic and struggle to find an alternative.

      Reply
    7. Rose Feder

      April 28, 2019 at 5:53 am

      5 stars
      I just made your Vegan Alfredo sauce and it very good. Only thing I changed was I used Silk Almond/ Cashew milk a d it worked great. Also adding peas to individual serving. Have one question can I freeze the sauce

      Thank for great sauce.

      Reply
    8. Sandra

      March 05, 2019 at 3:20 pm

      5 stars
      Definitely 5 stars!!! So easy and creamy! Even my kids loved it! My youngest has a gluten sensitivity, so I served it with brown rice spaghetti instead. So yummy!

      Reply
    9. Karen

      March 04, 2019 at 9:57 am

      5 stars
      Wow! I was a bit skeptical if a cauliflower sauce could taste like Alfredo sauce, but it was AMAZING!! Thanks so much, Sina!

      Reply
    10. Melissa

      February 05, 2019 at 6:28 pm

      5 stars
      This was soooo good. I used some vegan Parmesan cheese along w the nutritional yeast and a bit more to sprinkle On top! Amazing recipe. Thank you

      Reply
    11. Helen Wang

      February 03, 2019 at 5:25 am

      5 stars
      Hi Sina,

      Thank you so much for sharing this great Vegan Alfredo recipe. It is SOOO good!

      When I added 1.5 cups of almond mile to cook the cauliflower for 20 minutes, there was plenty of liquid left so I didn’t need the additional half cup of almond milk. Am I doing something wrong?

      Also I added more Nutritional Yeast because I guess depending on the brand, need to add more too get the cheesy taste.

      Thank you very much for the recipe!

      Reply
    12. Chardannae

      January 11, 2019 at 6:32 am

      5 stars
      Oh my goodness. Pasta Alfredo was my favorite dish when I was eating dairy. I’ve made many different kinds of sauces trying to recreate a creamy pasta somewhat like what I used to have. This is by far the best recipe I have tried. Bar none. You have a gift. Thank you for sharing it! 10 stars.

      Reply
    13. Mardy

      December 16, 2018 at 7:49 pm

      5 stars
      I can’t believe this didn’t blow up w/ comments, you are DA BOMB! This is recipe is a keeper and will replace all other vegan Alfredo recipes I have collected. Made as written = perfection! Thanks Sina!

      Reply
    14. Cyrielle

      November 11, 2018 at 5:53 pm

      5 stars
      It tried it, followed the recipe to a T and wow! The result was a creamy, onctuous deliciousness.
      I added some sauteed onioin, spinach and mushroom, and that was one of the most comforting dish of pasta I have had in a while. Just as a note, it makes for a ot of sauce (but I wouldn’t complain much), and next time I might add a little more nutritional yeast to enhance that cheesy/nutty flavour.

      Thanks for the recipe :)

      Reply
    15. Lisa is Planted365

      October 04, 2018 at 3:08 am

      5 stars
      Oh yum. I love that you used cauliflower in this! Will try it, for sure. Any suggestions for a substitution for the nuts?

      Reply
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    Hi, I'm Sina and this is my recipe blog where I share heavenly simple and sinfully delicious vegan recipes.

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