I’m beyond excited to share this insanely scrumptious vegan fettuccini Alfredo from my new book, The Friendly Vegan Cookbook. I might go as far as to say that this is the best recipe I’ve ever developed.
You see, fettuccine Alfredo was one of my favorite dishes growing up, and because of that I was eager to recreate and perfect it vegan-style. This veganized version is just as decadent as the kind I grew up eating, except that it’s made entirely from plants!
The thick, creamy, flavorful vegan Alfredo sauce comes together like magic and beautifully blends with the long, luxurious fettuccini noodles. It’s also made without a drop of butter. Most Alfredo recipes call for upward of half a cup of butter, however you’ll see that’s totally unnecessary.
I hope you enjoy this delicious plant-based dinner recipe, which has already become a favorite in many households, and is a regular comforting meal in my own.
Experience the joy of savoring a classic favorite made vegan, without compromising on taste or texture. This vegan fettuccine recipe is bound to become a staple in your repertoire, delivering an irresistible meal that’s both kind to your palate and the planet.
Fettuccini Alfredo is traditionally made with loads of heavy cream, butter, and cheese, and because of that is not usually a dish you want to over-indulge in. But friends, this version is shockingly healthy!
The fat in this plant-based Alfredo sauce comes from raw almonds which are blended up to create an extra creamy milk, and it’s thickened with a dash of cornstarch (instead of globs of cheese). Neat, right? And yet…it tastes just as good as the unhealthy kind! It’s one of those life-hacks like banana nice cream—taking something unhealthy and making it healthy without sacrificing yumminess.
The creaminess in this dish comes from almonds. If you can, you’ll want to choose raw unsalted almonds. Other types of almonds (such as roasted almonds) will work too, but they may impart a more nutty flavor.
We call for low-sodium vegetable broth and then add salt later in the recipe—but you’re welcome to use regular veggie broth (or bouillon cubes and water) and skip the added salt later! I often use Better Than Bouillon and water in place of packaged broth since it’s a more eco-conscious option.
Cornstarch is an amazing thickener, and a little goes a long way! I always have a package of cornstarch in my pantry just for our healthy mac and cheese recipe, our one-pot pasta, and this fettuccini Alfredo—all dishes I make often.
Any type of vegetable oil will work in this recipe, but my preference is extra virgin olive oil for an extra classic Italian feel.
We use an entire medium onion which provides a delicious savory base of flavor. I like to dice the onion up quite small so it is barely noticeable in the final dish, but if you prefer bigger onion chunks, you’re welcome to give it a rough chop.
This is a dish for garlic lovers and leans on garlic for much of the flavor. Garlic cloves vary in size, so if you’re a fellow garlic lover, be sure to pick out big cloves, or else add in a few more smaller ones!
To make classic vegan fettuccini Alfredo, you’ll need fettuccini noodles, of course! Most packaged, shelf-stable fettuccini noodles are vegan. But if you’re buying fresh noodles, be sure to check the ingredients because every once in a while egg sneaks in. You can also swap in other types of noodles when you make this dish, like linguini or spaghetti or whatever pasta you have on hand.
While parsley isn’t an absolute necessity for this dish, adding a fresh green leafy garnish really finishes the dish. It ups the visual appeal and adds a nice flavor dimension. But if you’re not a fan of parsley or don’t have any on-hand, feel free to leave it off!
Vegan fettuccine Alfredo is a versatile dish that can be served in various delicious ways! Here are some serving ideas that go great with this recipe:
Feel free to mix and match these serving ideas based on your preferences and the occasion. Whether you opt for a simple classic presentation serving this dish on its own or get creative with complementary sides and toppings, vegan fettuccine Alfredo is sure to be a hit!
If you miraculously have leftover vegan fettuccine Alfredo, you can store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Keep in mind that the noodles will continue to absorb the sauce and thicken over time.
To reheat, transfer the leftovers to a non-stick pan or saucepan. Add a splash of plant-based milk or vegetable to prevent the sauce from becoming too thick. Heat over medium-low heat, stirring often until warmed through. You can also reheat in the microwave by transferring to a microwave-safe dish and adding a small amount of non-dairy milk or vegetable broth. Cover and microwave in 30 – 45 second intervals, stirring in between to ensure even heating.
Don’t miss our round-up of the best vegan pasta recipes and our full lineup of vegan dinner recipes for more plant-based dinner inspiration!
This recipe is just one of the 100 veganized family favorites you’ll find in The Friendly Vegan Cookbook. Other recipes you can look forward to in the book include:
…and 100 more. My co-author Toni Okamoto and I are the best of friends in real life and love having fun in the kitchen. We’re exited to help you cook up some magic in your own home and help you feed your family, your friends, and any vegan naysayers you’d like to impress. You can order a copy of the book here!
Vegan Fettuccine Alfredo recipe comes from The Friendly Vegan Cookbook by Michelle Cehn and Toni Okamoto, with permission from BenBella Books, 2020, all rights reserved. Photos by Zhoro Apostolov.
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Fettuccine Alfredo is one of my favorite foods, so happy to have found this delicious vegan recipe!
Soooo creamy and delicious!!
i made this for the fam and everyone loves it!! they coulndn’t believe this was vegan!
Delicious, creamy and healthy.. this was perfect. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
I made this on 12/26/21. It’s delicious with a light sprinkle of vegan parm and a side of steamed broccoli. Thank you for this easy and yummy recipe!
So glad you loved it, Kathy! It’s one of my all-time favorites 🙂
One of my favorite recipes! I make this with all types of pasta, but of course it’s best with fettuccini noodles 🙂
Ahh! One of the dishes I missed the most after going vegan was this one and knowing I can make it daily for the family and without much of a fuss is so priceless! Thank you to The Friendly Vegan Cookbook!
This is going to be a hit on Thanksgiving this year. So excited to make it for the fam!!
Just watching this video makes me hungry! I love how creamy and rich the sauce looks and I can’t wait to try it! I bet this would be amazing along with garlic bread and a vegan caesar salad, too. Yummy!
This tastes so rich and decadent but is surprisingly healthy!!! Eat up!
This looks SO good! Going on my list, for sure! Would it make any difference to soak the almonds or not?
If you’re using a standard blender, soaking the almonds will certainly help! But if you’ve got a high-powered blender like a Vitamix or Blendtec or Ninja you don’t actually need to! I’m a pretty spontaneous cook so I rarely have the forethought to soak my nuts, hehe.
I make this recipe all the time and I’m so excited to share it with you!! Hope you love it as much as I do! 🙂
I am a lazy cook – can I just add pre-made almond milk instead of making my own? Thanks!
Hi Rosie! Yes, you can! It won’t be QUITE as thick and creamy, but it will still work pretty well 🙂