This is hands down the best vegan alfredo sauce ever! It’s creamy, cheesy, garlicky and so easy to make. Ready in 30 minutes or less.
When researching this recipe, I had to go back to basics and find out what a traditional pasta alfredo really is.
Is it a cream sauce or a butter and cheese sauce? It seems that traditionally it was a butter and cheese sauce, but it has evolved to become any kind of sauce that is really really creamy and rich.
Whether there is cheese in it or not, butter in it or not, cream in it or not, is not the deciding factor.
Is it a crazy rich super creamy sauce? Then you probably nailed it.
If you love quick and easy pasta recipes then also check out our vegan vodka pasta and our hummus pasta. You’ll also love our vegan spaghetti sauce.
How To Make Vegan Alfredo
For this vegan alfredo recipe we decided to go with a cheesy garlic alfredo sauce made with coconut milk, fresh garlic and vegan butter for a crazily rich, crazily delicious sauce and some added nutritional yeast and dijon mustard for the cheesy flavor.
This is served with fettucine, lots of black pepper and some fresh parsley.
It’s so simple, so quick and seriously delicious.
You can have dinner on the table in less than 30 minutes with this meal. It’s really that quick.
Ingredient Notes
Vegan Butter: We chose to go with vegan butter for making the sauce to really get that super rich alfredo thing going on. Olive oil also works just fine though.
Coconut Milk: There is no overpowering coconut flavor in this alfredo, in fact you will hardly know there is anything coconut-y in here at all. However, it is vital that you use canned, full fat, unsweetened coconut milk. Don’t use a sweetened coconut milk as that will definitely ruin the flavor. If you are allergic to coconut milk, you can substitute a different non-dairy milk such as soy milk or almond milk. However, the result will not be as rich.
Dijon Mustard: I’m a big fan of dijon mustard for adding cheesy flavor to vegan sauces, however, any prepared yellow mustard will also work just fine.
Recipe Tips
Make It Gluten-Free: You can make this meal gluten-free if you use a gluten-free all purpose flour blend instead of the regular flour for the sauce along with a gluten-free pasta.
Storage: Leftovers keep very well in the fridge for 4-5 days and can be reheated in the microwave.
Freezing: If you want to freeze it, then don’t mix the sauce with the pasta. Freeze the sauce separately for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge and then reheat on the stovetop.
More ‘Comfort Food Style’ Vegan Pasta Recipes
- Vegan Mushroom Pasta
- Vegan Pasta Bake
- Vegan Pesto Pasta
- Vegan Mushroom Stroganoff
- Vegan Carbonara
- The Best Vegan Lasagna
Did you make this recipe? Be sure to leave a comment and rating below!
Vegan Alfredo Sauce
Ingredients
For the Fettuccine Alfredo:
- 8 ounces Fettuccine Pasta (226g) Dry Weight
- 3 Tbsp Vegan Butter (45g)
- 3 Cloves Garlic crushed
- 2 Tbsp All Purpose Flour
- 14 ounce Can Coconut Milk (400ml) Full Fat, Unsweetened
- ⅓ cup Vegetable Stock/Broth (80ml)
- 1 tsp Black Pepper
- 1 tsp Dijon Mustard
- ¼ cup Nutritional Yeast (15g)
- Sea Salt to taste
For Serving:
- Black Pepper
- Chopped Parsley
- Vegan Parmesan Cheese
Instructions
- Put the fettuccine on to cook according to package directions, when cooked, drain well and cover. If the pasta starts sticking together, toss with a small amount of olive oil.
- Add the vegan butter to a saucepan along with the crushed garlic and heat until the butter is melted.
- Sift in the flour and fry the flour in the butter briefly. Then add in the coconut milk and vegetable stock and whisk with a hand whisk to remove any lumps.
- Stir continuously until the sauce begins to boil and then continue stirring until it thickens. The sauce will continue to thicken as it cools, so it doesn’t need to be the perfect thickness when you remove it from the heat, but it must have thickened quite a bit from when you started.
- Remove from heat and add in the black pepper, dijon mustard and nutritional yeast and whisk in with your hand whisk. Add sea salt to taste.
- Toss the sauce with the cooked fettuccine and serve with chopped parsley and a sprinkle of black pepper and some vegan parmesan cheese (optional).
Video
Notes
- Coconut milk: If you have a coconut allergy or wish to use a different option, you can also make this with other non-dairy options like soy milk or almond milk. In this case use 1 and ⅔ cups (400ml) non-dairy milk. However, the result will likely not be as rich.
- Dijon mustard is our favorite for creating cheesy flavor in sauces, but you can also use any prepared yellow mustard.
- Make It Gluten-Free: Switch the all purpose flour for a gluten-free all purpose flour blend and use a gluten free pasta.
- Nutritional information includes pasta.
- This recipe was first published in September 2017. Updated with extra tips and notes.
Delicious
Thanks for your great review Sheila!
Added onion with the butter and garlic. And fresh squeezed lemon juice at the end. Would normally add green peas or broccoli with the noodles, but didn’t have any on hand. Simple and delicious!
Happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe and thanks so much for your great review!
This was delicious don’t get me wrong, but because it didn’t look or taste similar to traditional Alfredo sauce, I gave it a lower rating. Still super delicious however, tasted more like a mac and cheese sauce.
It totally tastes exactly like Alfredo sauce to me : ]
Thanks Karl!
Another delicious recipe! Made it tonight and my family gave it a thumbs up. Quick, easy and delicious. Served it with plant based Italian meatballs and peas. Thank you so much for sharing your recipes. Looking forward to trying more of your vegan recipes.
That’s great Miko! Thanks for sharing and for your wonderful review!
Great and easy recipe- I added broccoli and Chicken (I know not vegan lol) to the pot and even my picky kids loved it!
Delicious and easy sauce! The mustard and nutritional yeast helps offset any coconut flavor. If you’re looking for a little extra cheesiness, I stirred in about 1/4 of the Follow Your Heart parmesan shreds toward the end and it was lovely. Served with pasta and peas. Thank you!
Yummy! Thanks for sharing and for your wonderful review!