Weight Watchers Alfredo Sauce - Recipe Diaries (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Jenna · This post may contain affiliate links · 12 Comments

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Are you wondering how to make Alfredo sauce a little less calories? Plus, you can still eat this if you're on a weight loss journey. This alfredo sauce recipe uses cream cheese, reserved pasta water, and reduced fat milk to make a super decadent alfredo sauce.

Weight Watchers Alfredo Sauce - Recipe Diaries (1)

If you like more easy lightened up recipes like this please try Pizza Pasta Casserole, French Onion Chicken, or Spaghetti and Meatball Casserole.

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  • Why You Will like This Recipe
  • Ingredients for Fettuccine Alfredo
  • How to make Lighter Fettucine Alfredo Sauce
  • Other Recipes to Try
  • Lighter Fettuccine Alfredo Sauce

Why You Will like This Recipe

Let's face it. Nothing quite compares to heavy cream which is used as the main ingredient in Alfredo. Heavy cream can make anything bad taste good, not to mention butter and bacon.

I think that Alfredo sauce is probably one of the hardest dishes to make lighter but this recipe does a pretty good job with recreating it. Instead of heavy cream milk and reduced fat cream cheese is used. Parmesan is another main ingredient in Alfredo sauce which is also a must for a dish. No substitutions for that!

Ingredients for Fettuccine Alfredo

Weight Watchers Alfredo Sauce - Recipe Diaries (2)
  • Unsalted butter - is the most commonly used type of butter in baking, as it allows for more control over the amount of salt in the recipe.
  • Garlic, minced - Chopped fresh garlic can take some time to chop so I often always use the freshly minced garlic that comes already made in a jar.
  • Lemon zest - This adds a nice burst of citrus flavor to the marinade to help enhance the choice of protein. Use freshly squeezed over bottled juice.
  • All-purpose flour - is a type of wheat flour that is commonly used in cooking and baking. It is versatile and can be used for a variety of recipes, including bread, cakes, cookies, and pastries.
  • Low-fat (1%) milk - can sub almond milk if you're allergic to milk
  • Neufchtel or low-fat cream cheese - I like to use Reduced-Fat Cheese because it has a lower calorie count and less saturated fat than regular cheese, but it may also have a different taste and texture. It also helps with keeping the calorie count pretty low for this recipe.
  • Parmesan cheese - is a hard, granular cheese that originated in Italy. It is typically made from cow's milk and has a sharp, nutty flavor. Parmesan cheese is often grated and used as a topping for pasta dishes, salads, and other foods.
  • Fresh parsley (optional)
  • Fettuccine - any pasta shape will work with this
  • See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.

How to make Lighter Fettucine Alfredo Sauce

Step 1: Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and lemon zest and cook until the garlic is slightly soft about 1 minute. Add in the flour and cook, stirring with a wooden spoon,1 minute.

Weight Watchers Alfredo Sauce - Recipe Diaries (3)

Step 2: Whisk in the milk and ¾ teaspoon salt and cook, whisking constantly until just thickened about 3 minutes. Add the Neufchatel and parmesan cheese; whisk until melted, about 1 minute. Stir in the chopped parsley.

Weight Watchers Alfredo Sauce - Recipe Diaries (4)

Step 3: Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the fettuccine and cook until al dente, 2 to 3 minutes. Reserve 1 cup cooking water, then drain the pasta and return to the pot.

Weight Watchers Alfredo Sauce - Recipe Diaries (5)

Step 4: Add the sauce and ½ cup of the reserved cooking water to the pasta and gently toss to combine, adding more cooking water as needed to loosen. Season with salt. Divide among bowls and top with parmesan and pepper.

Weight Watchers Alfredo Sauce - Recipe Diaries (6)

Other Recipes to Try

  • Peanut Butter Cheerio Bars
  • Weight Watchers Meatloaf Muffins
  • Weight Watchers Slow Cooker Taco Soup (Low Sodium)
  • Banana Bread Weight Watchers (Low Point)

If you tried this Lighter Fettuccine Alfredo Sauce orany other recipe on my website, please please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing from you! Follow along on Tiktok @jennarecipediaries

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Weight Watchers Alfredo Sauce - Recipe Diaries (11)

Lighter Fettuccine Alfredo Sauce

5 Stars4 Stars3 Stars2 Stars1 Star

5 from 3 reviews

  • Author: Jenna
  • Total Time: 20min
  • Yield: 6 1x
Print Recipe

Description

Skinny Fettucine Alfredo - easy and lightened up Alfredo sauce which comes together in less than 20 minutes!

Ingredients

Scale

  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
  • 2 teaspoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup low-fat (1%) milk
  • Kosher salt
  • 2 tablespoons Neufchtel or low-fat cream cheese
  • ¾ cup grated parmesan cheese, plus more for topping
  • 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
  • 12 ounces fresh fettuccine
  • Freshly ground pepper

Instructions

  1. Make the sauce: Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and lemon zest and cook until the garlic is slightly soft about 1 minute. Add in the flour and cook, stirring with a wooden spoon,1 minute. Whisk in the milk and ¾ teaspoon salt and cook, whisking constantly until just thickened about 3 minutes. Add the Neufchatel and parmesan cheese; whisk until melted, about 1 minute. Stir in the chopped parsley.
  2. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the fettuccine and cook until al dente, 2 to 3 minutes. Reserve 1 cup cooking water, then drain the pasta and return to the pot.
  3. Add the sauce and ½ cup of the reserved cooking water to the pasta and gently toss to combine, adding more cooking water as needed to loosen. Season with salt. Divide among bowls and top with parmesan and pepper.
  4. Makes 6 servings, per serving: 1 cup

Notes

My WW Personal Points: 10 Click here to see in recipe builder (will have to log in)

  • Cook Time: 20min
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Boil
  • Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

  • Calories: 312
  • Sugar: 4g
  • Sodium: 453mg
  • Fat: 9g
  • Saturated Fat: 4g
  • Carbohydrates: 49g
  • Fiber: 3g
  • Protein: 13g

More Weight Watcher Recipes

  • Creamy White Chicken Chili
  • Weight Watchers Spaghetti Pie
  • Weight Watchers Mini Cherry Cheesecakes
  • Simple Perfect Chili Ree Drummond

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jenna says

    I updated the recipe to include the flour and parsley. I don't add salt and pepper to a recipe in the builder because those two ingredients never change the points. You can also save it and edit it yourself. FYI.

  2. Miranda says

    When I click the link to see this in my WW recipe builder, it’s missing ingredients! The salt, pepper, parsley, and flour don’t appear in my recipe builder. Broken. Thank you.

  3. Christine says

    This is a great recipe and we all loved it. I may have added more cheese but so worth it.

  4. Jeffrey Castle says

    Excellent recipe and I was able to make the sauce with much lower calories and fat content. I began with two tbsps of yogurt butter spread (Brummel and Brown) which is more than the recipe calls. Anyone with knowledge of creating a roux knows to begin with equal amounts of fat and flour. Instead of milk, I used fat free evaporated milk and fat free cream cheese. I followed the recipe from that point forward to the letter and go a flavorful, low calorie, creamy sauce that I put over brown rice spaghetti, topped with roasted squash, carrots, and onions, and topped with a grilled chicken breast. SO FULFILLING...

  5. Lisa says

    Delicious.

  6. Jenna says

    1 serving.

  7. Sharon says

    I see 10 points but is that for the whole recipe or for each serving?

  8. Patricia says

    How many points is the recipe?

  9. Cassie says

    Hello, I dont see anywhere where it shows how many pts this recipe is, or do we just calculate it ourself.

Leave a Reply

Weight Watchers Alfredo Sauce - Recipe Diaries (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between Alfredo sauce and white sauce? ›

White sauce – also known as béchamel – is made with flour, milk, and butter. It's a basic sauce that can be used as a base for other sauces or as a topping for dishes like lasagna. Alfredo sauce, on the other hand, is made with butter, cream, and Parmesan cheese, and has a much richer flavour than white sauce.

How to make jar Alfredo sauce taste better? ›

You can make the jar sauce better by adding a bit of brandy or sherry, perhaps green onion tops chopped fine to add a fresh taste, adding a bit of chopped garlic sauteed in butter, then top it off with cayenne and parmesan cheese.

What makes homemade Alfredo sauce thicker? ›

Starch-Based Thickeners
  1. Roux. The most typical way to make an alfredo sauce is to use a roux. ...
  2. Cornstarch. This works as a great thickening agent. ...
  3. Egg Yolks. Egg yolks are a terrific thickener for many things and pasta sauce is one of them. ...
  4. Heavy Cream. ...
  5. Shredded Cheese. ...
  6. Potato.

How long is Alfredo sauce good for in the fridge after opening? ›

For opened jars of Alfredo, you don't have more than a few days. Specifically, three to four days is the most common guideline for an open jar's longevity. The rule pertains not only to Alfredo but also to other cream-based sauces, whether a spinach and balsamic cream sauce or one with tomatoes and chipotle.

Is Alfredo sauce healthier than spaghetti sauce? ›

Marinara sauce is lower in calories and fat, making it a preferable sauce choice for those that are counting calories or on a low-fat diet. It also has more fiber than Alfredo sauce as it contains mostly vegetables. Conversely, high-fat diets are on the rise, making Alfredo an ideal sauce for many consumers.

What do Italians call Alfredo sauce? ›

Did you know that the term “Alfredo” is not used often in Italy? There are many different combinations of butter and parmesan similar to what we define using the name we recognize, but Italians call all of these combinations “al burro”.

How to doctor up Jar Alfredo? ›

Heartier herbs like thyme or oregano can be added in to simmer with the sauce. Add delicate herbs like parsley, basil, or chervil at the end to maintain their delicate, aromatic flavor. Quick tip: Swirl in a bit of leftover pesto to add another herbaceous twist to your Alfredo sauce.

How to keep Alfredo sauce creamy? ›

Milk, heavy cream, or sour cream.

You will get a creamier texture and a bolder flavor. If you want, you can also add some romano cheese to balance the nutty taste of the other dairy ingredients. Chicken broth: another way to improve a jar of Alfredo sauce and give it a rich flavor.

Can I use half and half instead of heavy cream for Alfredo? ›

Yes, as a matter of fact, using half and half instead of heavy cream results in a sauce that is equally as thick and creamy. How do you thicken half and half for Alfredo? We've added a couple tablespoons of flour to this sauce recipe to make sure the sauce turns out equivalently thick and creamy using half and half.

How to keep butter from separating in Alfredo sauce? ›

To prevent the Alfredo sauce from separating, one should:
  1. Use Low Heat: Reheat the sauce on the stove over a low setting. ...
  2. Stir Frequently: Regular stirring is essential in keeping the sauce uniform. ...
  3. Consider Cornstarch: A small amount of cornstarch can act as a stabilizer.
Mar 9, 2024

How do you keep Alfredo sauce from thinning? ›

Add Cheese

The key ingredient in Alfredo sauce is cheese—generally Parmigiano Reggiano—and lots of it. To thicken Alfredo sauce, simply add more cheese than the amount called for in a recipe until you achieve the consistency you want.

Can you freeze homemade Alfredo sauce? ›

Store the Alfredo sauce: Transfer the sauce to storage containers and cool completely. A skin will form on the surface of the sauce and the sauce will thicken to a paste-like consistency; this is normal. Refrigerate for up to 5 days, or freeze for up to 1 month.

Is Alfredo safe to eat if left out overnight? ›

Alfredo sauce created using dairy ingredients means that it shouldn't be kept out at temperatures below room temperature. Dairy products are prone to spoiling very quickly at room temperature, and it's not worth having spaghetti and Alfredo sauce that was left out for a long time.

Should ketchup be refrigerated? ›

However, its stability after opening can be affected by storage conditions. We recommend that this product, like any processed food, be refrigerated after opening. Refrigeration will maintain the best product quality after opening.” Who knows ketchup better than Heinz?

How to tell if Alfredo sauce is bad? ›

- Smell: Alfredo sauce that has gone bad will often have a sour or unpleasant odor different from the creamy, cheesy smell it should have. - Texture: If the sauce has separated or become curdled, it's likely gone bad. Additionally, if it's become overly thick or slimy, these are signs of spoilage.

What are the three types of white sauces? ›

It's easy to get lost when it comes to the creamy sauces of French cuisine. Learn the difference between a classic roux, béchamel, and mornay.

What is white sauce made of? ›

What Is In White Sauce? This traditional white sauce starts with a roux of equal parts all-purpose flour and butter, which gives the sauce a rich and creamy base. Whole milk thins the butter-flour mixture, turning the roux into a sauce.

What is the real name for white sauce pasta? ›

White Sauce Pasta is simply cooked pasta mixed with a silky smooth & decadent white sauce made of milk, butter and flour. White Sauce also known as Bechamel Sauce has its origin from the Italian & French Cuisines.

What is the creamy Italian sauce called? ›

Alfredo Sauce: Alfredo is a rich, creamy white sauce mixed with butter and grated Parmesan cheese seasoned with pepper, and sometimes nutmeg. Alfredo sauce is typically served on fettuccine noodles and topped with vegetables, chicken or shrimp.

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