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    Home » Real Food » Pasta

    Skinny Fettuccine Alfredo

    January 13, 2021 | By Kristen Chidsey | 24 Comments | *This post may include amazon links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    Easy and Quick Fettuccine Alfredo that takes just 15 minutes to make and uses only ONE PAN! This family favorite recipe includes fettuccine, and a delicious lightened up Alfredo sauce.  It is  sure to become a go-to dinner idea!

    Made in one pan, with a creamy light alfredo sauce, this Skinny Fettuccine Alfredo is ready in just 15 minutes, making it the perfect dinner for busy nights!

    Bowl of fettuccine alfredo next to Parmesan Cheese.

    Fettuccine Alfredo has always been a favorite with my family. From the decadent, creamy sauce to the tender noodles, it is one of those dishes that screams comfort.

    But let's be honest, while absolutely delicious, it is also a dish that is pretty high in fat and calories. And while I certainly love to splurge from time to time and enjoy the traditional Fettuccine Alfredo, like my recipe for Instant Pot Fettuccine Alfredo, I find myself more often turning to this recipe for Skinny Fettuccine Alfredo.

    This recipe has been made lighter by using NO CREAM and ONLY 1 tablespoon of butter. Yet, it is still creamy and tastes decadent.

    How is this possible? The secret is that the fettuccine noodles cook with the sauce. As the noodles cook, they absorb the sauce, coating the pasta with great flavor and creaminess--without the need to add heavy cream or tons of butter.

    Better yet, this Healthy Fettucine Alfredo only takes 15 minutes to make and is made using just one pan. It is ALMOST too good to be true! ALMOST!

    Healthier Ingredients

    Ingredients for fettucine labled on white board.
    • Fettuccine Noodles: I love to use whole grain fettuccine noodles for added protein and fiber, but white fettuccine noodles work as well.
    • Milk: Instead of heavy cream, I recommend using  2% milk to make the alfredo sauce for best results, as it will give the alfredo sauce a creamy, light finish. If you only have whole milk or skim milk on hand, go ahead and use what you have!
    • Broth: Part of the secret to this flavorful dish is that the pasta is cooked in broth instead of water, adding flavor to the noodles as they cook. Use either store-bought or homemade low-sodium chicken stock or vegetable broth.
    • Parmesan: Using freshly grated is key to getting a lot of flavor into this dish. Pre-grated or jarred Parmesan cheese will not deliver the same quality of flavor.
    • Butter: Just a tiny bit of butter instead of a copious amount of butter is all that this recipe calls for and it adds JUST the right rich finish.
    • Nutmeg: A bit of nutmeg will add a nice note to the sauce. But do NOT use powdered nutmeg. Instead, use whole nutmeg grated with a Microplane. If you do not have whole nutmeg, just omit the nutmeg entirely from the sauce.

    How to Make One-Pot Fettuccine Alfredo

    • In a large 10 to 12-inch deep skillet or saute pan, combine the broth, garlic, salt, and pepper.
    • Add pasta to the pan, breaking in half if needed to fit.
    Fettuccine Noodles in large saute pan with chicken stock.
    • Over medium-high heat, bring the broth to a boil, stirring pasta every 30 seconds or so. This will keep the noodles from sticking together.
    • Once the mixture comes to a boil, reduce the heat to medium heat, and add the milk, butter, and nutmeg to the sauce.
    • Simmer for 6 to 7 minutes, stirring frequently to coat the pasta in the sauce and to keep those noodles from sticking together. If the liquid begins to evaporate before the pasta is cooked through, add 1 tablespoon of milk at a time as needed.
    • Once the pasta is tender, remove the skillet from the heat and add the Parmesan cheese, tossing to coat.
    Pan of perfectly cooked fettuccine alfredo.

    Serving Suggestions

    Fettuccine Alfredo is best served immediately after preparation, as the noodles will absorb the sauce if stored for any length of time and this dish will not be as creamy. resh.

    I love to pair this skinny fettuccine alfredo with a side salad, such as a Strawberry Spinach Salad or a Copycat Panera Greek Salad, or roasted vegetables, like Parmesan Roasted Broccoli or Roasted Asparagus, to round out the meal. And of course, no one complains about pairing this fettuccine alfredo with Homemade Garlic Toast as well.

    More Easy Pasta Recipes

    • Pasta Primavera
    • Easy Baked Rotini
    • Kale Pasta
    • Instant Pot Creamy Italian Pasta
    • White Bean Pasta

    Need more inspiration for planning meals that your family will love? Sign up for my FREE Meal Plans and each week you will get a meal plan with a shopping list.

    If you try this one-pot fettuccine recipe, I would love for you to leave a comment and review below.

    Bowl of Light Fettuccine Alfredo

    Easy Fettucine Alfredo

    Made in one pan, with a creamy light alfredo sauce, this Easy Fettuccine Alfredo is the perfect dinner for busy nights!
    5 from 20 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Italian
    Prep Time: 2 minutes
    Cook Time: 13 minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 314kcal
    Author: Kristen Chidsey

    Ingredients

    • 2 cups chicken stock or vegetable broth
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon pepper
    • 3 cloves garlic minced
    • 1 tablespoon butter
    • 1 cup milk
    • a dash of freshly grated nutmeg
    • 8 ounces linguine or fettuccine noodles
    • ¼-1/2 cup freshly grated grated Parmesan Cheese
    Prevents your screen from going dark while preparing the recipe.

    Instructions

    • In a large 10-12 inch deep skillet, add in stock, garlic, salt and pepper. Add pasta to pan, breaking in half if need be.
    • Turn the heat to high, and once the mixture comes to a boil, reduce heat to simmer (medium heat). Add in milk, butter, and nutmeg to sauce.
    • Cook for 6 to 7 minutes, stirring frequently to coat pasta in liquid.
    • Once pasta is tender, remove from heat. 
    • Add in freshly grated Parmesan cheese and toss well. 

    Notes

    • While cooking the pasta, if the liquid begins to evaporate before the pasta is cooked through, add in 1 tablespoon of milk at a time.
    • Feel free to break the pasta in half to fit in a pan or to be easier to stir around in the sauce.
    • Freshly grated nutmeg is best for Alfredo sauce, as it deepens the sauce. Pre-gated nutmeg is NOT the same--just omit the nutmeg from the sauce.
    • Freshly grated Parmesan cheese is best, as it will give this Alfredo Sauce the best flavor.
    • This pasta dish is best served fresh. If you happen to have leftovers, store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. And to reheat add a bit more stock to thin it out, as the pasta may dry out as it sits. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 314kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 16mg | Sodium: 908mg | Potassium: 352mg | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 260IU | Vitamin C: 0.9mg | Calcium: 179mg | Iron: 2.4mg
    Liked this Recipe? Tag me Today!Snap a picture and tag #amindfullmom on Instagram - I would love to see!
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    Categorized Under: 30-Minute Meals, Budget Cooking, Kid Friendly, Main Courses, Pasta, Real Food, Vegetarian Recipes

    About Kristen Chidsey

    Hi, I am Kristen, creator of A Mind "Full" Mom. I believe that making a wholesome family meal does not need to be hard or expensive! I love nothing more than to share with you delicious solutions for your hungry family.

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    1. Glen

      April 17, 2022 at 9:44 pm

      5 stars
      Great recipe. So much better and easier than my bland recipe. Did not have whole nutmeg so I used ground mace which is from the same plant but is more subtle. As you pointed out, the broth is a key ingredient, so use a good one. Best is always a home made broth.

      Reply
    2. Ashley

      January 19, 2021 at 10:32 am

      5 stars
      So easy and delicious. My kids loved it!

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        January 19, 2021 at 5:35 pm

        That is what I call a win!

        Reply
    3. Beth

      January 19, 2021 at 10:26 am

      5 stars
      You checked all my meal boxes with this recipe! Quick, easy, healthy, and little clean up!!

      Reply
    4. Michelle

      April 30, 2020 at 9:41 am

      5 stars
      This is a great dish! Very easy and oh so good! First try we didn’t leave the noodles in the stock long enough, but let it sit a while in the sauce and warmed it was perfect. We did omit the nutmeg as we didn’t have any. This will be put into our dinner rotation for sure! Thanks for the recipe!

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        April 30, 2020 at 9:43 am

        YAY! I am so glad you enjoyed so much Michelle and loved the ease of this recipe! Thanks for taking the time to leave a review.

        Reply
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