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.
My favorite recipe for Vegan Alfredo Sauce…!
Thanks so much Amanda!
I thought I followed the recipe exactly but the dish turned out to be very greasy I guess due to the high fat of the coconut milk? The sauce was very tasty but I won’t make it again unless I use another source of milk. Any suggestions or thoughts on why mine was greasy but other posters weren’t greasy? The coconut milk seemed coagulated vs other coconut milks I have used but it was the same brand. Thx
Hi Jim, it’s supposed to be rich, but definitely not greasy. I think if it was coagulated then it may have been something not right with that particular can of coconut milk. It does happen! If it’s too rich in general though then you can definitely use a different plant based milk.
I think my coconut milk had “aged” a little to long.
I will try again! It was definitely tasty!
Thx
That happened to me some years ago when I accidentally used coconut cream instead of coconut milk. Back then I didn’t understand the difference. Coconut cream has much more oil than coconut milk.
If yours was greasy then I would think you didn’t get the ratio of flour to vegan butter correct. If you don’t use enough flour for the roux then you’ll end up with a greasy sauce. Done right this sauce is rich and creamy and not greasy at all
This is THE BEST alfredo and it is so easy too! I have tried dozens of different recipes and this is the clear winner! I throw in some veggies and roast some asparagus for the side, and it is always a hit. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Thank you so much!
This recipe was so delicious. Thank you for all your delicious recipes.
You’re so welcome Brenda! So happy you enjoyed it.
Absolutely amazing!! First time I made it I followed the recipe as is and my family who doesn’t eat plant based couldn’t tell the difference. Only thing I could say isn’t my favorite is that even though the coconut milk is unsweetened you still get the sweeter taste. So I decided to try making it a second time using oat milk. I added extra garlic and some fresh lemon juice and it was amazing! Add some broccoli and mushrooms to it you won’t regret it!
So glad you enjoyed it Liza! Thanks for sharing and the great review!
Really delicious! I swapped the coconut milk for soy yoghurt mixed with creamed coconut, and added in some kale and grilled zucchini.
Thank you for this! Absolutely incredible. I doubled the portion and added in seasoned and broiled Broccoli, Grape Tomatoes, and Mushrooms. I’ll be making this a bunch for sure!
Sounds delicious! Thanks for the great review!
We are not vegan but wanted a non-dairy alternative. This sauce was so delicious and will definitely be my go to recipe!
So happy you enjoyed it! Thanks for the wonderful review.
Just made this last night and it came out fantastic! I couldn’t put my fork down! Thank you!
Yay! Thanks Meghan!
I made this Alfredo sauce tonight and tossed in vegan butternut pasta pillows. OMG! So delicious!
Thanks Kathy!
This was really tasty! I do feel that it was a little to much nutritional yeast for my taste but that’s a simple fix! I added some lemon juice and more salt for extra flavor it was delicious! Definitely tastes cheesy
Add broccoli and vegan chicken/ tofu for an extra yummy dinner 🙂 thanks!
So glad you enjoyed it Mak! Thanks for the great review.
This recipe blew my socks off! It’s magic, really, and so flavorful. Making it tonight for Friday Fun Day.
Thank you so much! That is awesome!
After 6 years of being vegan and trying so many different alfredo recipes, this is by far my favorite and my non-vegan husband loves it!
I have yet to try a recipe of yours that I don’t like – its fantastic to have a go to recipe blog finally!
Yay! Thanks so much Suzy!
I never leave comments but had to for this awesome recipe! I’ve been plant-based for 15 months, and I’ve been doing a lot of cooking. This is the first “cheese sauce” that’s actually cheesy and rich and satisfies that cheese need! This is a keeper. Thank you!
That is awesome Leah! I’m so pleased to hear that, thanks for sharing!
This is by far the tastiest and easiest vegan Alfredo sauce I’ve ever made. So creamy and delicious!
Thanks so much Lauren!